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    Trip to Iceland

    I am going to Iceland on Wednesday. All a bit quick really as I didn't realise I was going anywhere until this morning!

    My son and his wife arranged the trip some time ago, but she is a bit "under the weather" at the moment and on medical advice, she should not fly. With insurance, the trip would have been refunded because it was medical advice, however, being young, they didn't consider taking out any insurance cover ............ oops!

    So they were going to lose the lot until Mrs C (Guardian Angel and staunch defender of her little chicks against all the evils of the world) steps in and refunds the cost of their holiday and pays the not insubstantial cost of changing names on tickets etc.

    Trips pre-booked are:

    Northern Lights
    Whale Watching
    Blue Lagoon

    Is there anything else I should consider while we are there?

    We are OK for clothing, outerwear, base layers etc, but not to sure about trousers and boots. I have outer waterproof breathable trousers. Is that OK, or should I buy some Sallopets? Equally, I have good hiking boots that are waterproof and breathable. Is that good enough or do I need to buy something more specific?

    Now down to the camera gear: I have to travel light because we are going with Cheepo Airlines. That's the one where they draw your names out of a hat and four lucky travellers get the chance to kickstart the engines. They also have outside toilets!

    So I am considering:

    Body with spare batteries and CF cards.
    17-40mm f4
    24-70mm f2.8
    70-200mm f2.8
    1.4x extender
    Small tripod
    Lee Filters

    Anything you would add, or even better, anything I can ditch from that lot? Any advice would be most welcome.
    Colin

    #2
    Re: Trip to Iceland

    Take your own bag because they chargec10p for their carrier bags and of course you will need your shopping list, some good deals in there at the moment.
    Trev

    Equipment - According to the wife more than a Camera Shop got

    Flickr:
    https://www.flickr.com/photos/trevb2639/

    Comment


      #3
      Re: Trip to Iceland

      Originally posted by Trev B View Post
      Take your own bag because they chargec10p for their carrier bags and of course you will need your shopping list, some good deals in there at the moment.
      Took me a minute there but penny dropped.
      https://www.flickr.com/photos/150977425@N05/

      Comment


        #4
        Re: Trip to Iceland

        Took me a minute there but penny dropped.
        Me too. You can always rely on Trev to up the humour stakes.

        Back to the plot, I have just checked out the weather forecast for Iceland and it is cloud and showers all week ........... not much chance of seeing the Northern light then!
        Colin

        Comment


          #5
          Re: Trip to Iceland

          Colin, now being serious I've been with someone today that's just spent two weeks there and sadly did not see the lights at all. However he's come back with some stunning shots of the place. I've just phoned him to see what gear he took, quite basic 5D MklV, 24-105, 17- 40, Light tripod, plus batteries, cards, Chargers etc. He said that's all he need nothing else. I would add he's a good photographer very much into landscape and know's what he's talking about. Hope this is of some help.
          Trev

          Equipment - According to the wife more than a Camera Shop got

          Flickr:
          https://www.flickr.com/photos/trevb2639/

          Comment


            #6
            Re: Trip to Iceland

            Hope this is of some help.
            Thanks Trev, very helpful. I have only added my 70-200mm for the whale watching as I thought images would be just specks if I used the 24-70mm.
            Colin

            Comment


              #7
              Re: Trip to Iceland

              I think it's rather hypocritical of Iceland to offer whale watching trips as it is one of only two countries (with Norway) which continues commercial hunting of whales, which I doubt they mention to tourists. Personally I would boycott both countries. As Japan has just announced it is also starting commercial whaling again I'd like to boycott their products as well, but that's impossible for a photographer...………..
              EOS 6D, 6D Mk II, 80D, 70D, 100D, 200D, M50, M100. Canon 10-18, 18 - 55, 55 - 250 IS STM lenses, Canon 16 - 35 mm F4L, 35 mm EF-S macro, 50 mm F1.8 STM, 60 mm EF-S macro, MPE-65 macro, 85 mm F1.8, 200 mm F2.8 L II, M 15 - 45 mm, M 22mm F2, M 32mm F1.4. Sigma 24 - 35 F2 Art, 135 mm F1.8 Art, 17 - 50 F2.8 DC, 105 mm OS macro, 100 - 400 C, 150 - 600 C.

              Comment


                #8
                Re: Trip to Iceland

                ...which continues commercial hunting of whales, which I doubt they mention to tourists.
                I'll be sure to mention it on your behalf.
                Colin

                Comment


                  #9
                  Re: Trip to Iceland

                  Originally posted by Richard W View Post
                  I think it's rather hypocritical of Iceland to offer whale watching trips as it is one of only two countries (with Norway) which continues commercial hunting of whales, which I doubt they mention to tourists. Personally I would boycott both countries. As Japan has just announced it is also starting commercial whaling again I'd like to boycott their products as well, but that's impossible for a photographer...………..
                  Not sure what this has to do with Colin's question.
                  I think all countries and individuals are hypocrites to a certain extent but if you want to take some sort of moral high-ground, you could sell your Japanese gear and try a different hobby.

                  John

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Re: Trip to Iceland

                    Originally posted by Swanny48 View Post
                    Not sure what this has to do with Colin's question.
                    I think all countries and individuals are hypocrites to a certain extent but if you want to take some sort of moral high-ground, you could sell your Japanese gear and try a different hobby.

                    John
                    Well said
                    Trev

                    Equipment - According to the wife more than a Camera Shop got

                    Flickr:
                    https://www.flickr.com/photos/trevb2639/

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Re: Trip to Iceland

                      Back to the original question. I've been to Iceland twice in recent years although one was just two days in Reykjavik as part of a cruise.
                      I wouldn't go too far with warm clothing, it's not as cold as people tend to think. I bought a reasonable down (or similar) coat and spent most of the week carrying it as it was too warm. You might want to take clip-on ice grippers though. I think the selection of lenses is fine although it obviously depends on how close you can get to the whales, 200 may not be enough. I was on a specialist landscape holiday for a week in South East Iceland and we were lucky enough to have one good Northern Light show.
                      It's a fantastic place for photography and I'm sure you'll come back with some wonderful shots, with or without the Northern Lights

                      John
                      Last edited by Swanny48; 31-12-2018, 10:38.

                      Comment


                        #12
                        Re: Trip to Iceland

                        I expect that you already have this in your kit bag, but in case you haven’t, I’d pack a cable release as well. It’ll be useful if you do get to see the northern lights.
                        If I were going I’d probably take my 80 rather than the 5D3 as its lighter to carry and I find that the rotatable screen is invaluable for long exposure and awkward shots. Its low light performance is not as good but its a compromise.

                        Ian
                        Ian

                        Flickr page https://www.flickr.com/photos/154026104@N07

                        Comment


                          #13
                          Re: Trip to Iceland

                          I did the trip a couple of years ago Colin and agree with earlier comments
                          Camera kit - Looks like you have covered the bases. I would add some protection in case it is raining (hope it doesn't)
                          Clothing - As earlier said I found it was not as cold as I was expecting (Layers rather than big thick clothes gives flexibility)
                          Gloves - A good pair of gloves (I use sealskins) provided warmth and wet protection in the day plus a very thin pair of glove liners were handy for the night
                          Torch - The guides emphasised the need for a red torch light for nighttime shooting but I found it did not need it to make camera adjustments and suspect you will be the same
                          Locations - if you get the chance to add the Ice beach (known also as the Diamond Beach) to your itinerary its highly recommended https://guidetoiceland.is/travel-ice.../diamond-beach
                          Nothing left to add other than to wish you luck with the weather
                          Cheers
                          Dave

                          Comment


                            #14
                            Re: Trip to Iceland

                            +++++ Stop Press +++++

                            Trip cancelled. Holiday company stated it was too late to change names on the documents, so it's down to my son and wife to either use it or lose it.

                            I am pretty sure that if I put my mind to it, I could book a holiday to Iceland in the time allowed, but the existing Holiday Company are unable/unwilling to change a couple of names on a computer screen. It's not even the full names, as the surnames are all the same.

                            Disappointed though we are, it may be for the best in that it was not the trip that Mrs C would have arranged. She is not a fan of low cost airlines, the hotel was very much budget and it meant flying from Luton, which is a bit of a long walk from deepest darkest Dorset. So at least she can now arrange the trip that she is happy with.

                            Many thanks for all of your help and advice and I am sure we will put it to good use later in 2019. As a consolation, Mrs C is now looking at a few weeks in China. Not quite sure of the logic of that, but as I am not totally fluent in "wife" it's safer just to run with it!
                            Colin

                            Comment


                              #15
                              Re: Trip to Iceland

                              Thats a shame Colin.....as for the original question (appropriate to whaling and non-whaling states)...I would consider a 1" compact like the Canon G7X MkII....capable of amazing quality and a catch all pocketable camera to capture any opportunity.
                              Brian Vickers LRPS

                              brianvickersphotography.com

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