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Which camera to take in Iceland?


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Please note I have posted this in the SL forum too

 

Hi all,

 

I will be visiting Iceland for the first time this October and l am unable to make up my mind on whether to take the Q or the SL with 24-90. I know the SL is more versatile and of course weather proof, but I am leaning towards the Q for the following reasons:

 

- I mostly shoot at 24mm with the SL, and the Q’s lens is more like 26 so very close to the SL setup.

 

- That 28 mm lens is astonishingly good

 

- It is so light and more “manoeuvrable”

 

However, in SL’s favour is better dynamic range and of course better focal length coverage. I think weather sealing is not important to me as I would never put my cameras in “harm’s way”.

 

l would be very interested in your thoughts particularly if you have taken any of these cameras to Iceland or similar locations.

 

Thank you in advance.

 

Reza

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Well, someday I will go to Iceland and I guarantee you that I will take the Q AND my Canon 5D3 with the 11-24 f/4 lens. There’s a spectacular church (Hallgrimskirkja) in Reykjavik that I very much want to photograph. It demands ultra-wide angle. Otherwise, I’ll be mostly be using the Q.

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Where do you go to Iceland for? Mostly the idea is that people go for the unique landscapes, isn’t it? Or are you visiting your aunt? And these landscapes you want to print big if they turn out to be great photoos. So if these assumptions are all correct I really do not understand why you even think of leaving home any quality camera’ve got.

Look at what’s possible here: https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/281016-jokulsarlon-iceland-leica-m10/

Edited by otto.f
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Where do you go to Iceland for? Mostly the idea is that people go for the unique landscapes, isn’t it? Or are you visiting your aunt? And these landscapes you want to print big if they turn out to be great photoos. So if these assumptions are all correct I really do not understand why you even think of leaving home any quality camera’ve got.

Look at what’s possible here: https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/281016-jokulsarlon-iceland-leica-m10/

I do rather agree. A trip to Iceland for most is a one time visit and the landscape is so special you need quality kit and versatility. When I went I had a Fuji XPro2 and a range of lenses from wide to telephoto and used them all - it was before I had a Q. This year, another one off trip to the Lofotens and Senja. I took the best equipment I had: Q for portability, D850 with 24-200 lenses for tripod work. Both were well used. Bottom line is that only you can decide. You are carrying the equipment. You know the purpose of your trip and where you will be going. You know what you will do with pics afterwards. You know the type of photograph you like taking - macro, wildlife, landscape, architecture. Iceland offers it all.

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Was that in Iceland?

 

Yes, looking through the pictures most of them were @24mm - for the sake lightness I would just take the Q next time. Results from Q vs. 5DM3 are much better, maybe different with SL ;)

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I have been in iceland in june. I had my Fuji X-E2 and my Q with me. Well, I took more images with the Fuji but taking only the Q with me would not have been a disadvantage.

I posted a few shots in the Q image thread. Maybe this helps you with your decision.

But on the other hand, I would always bring a second camera to such places like iceland in case one camera fails.

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I would decide depending on the nature of the trip and what you intend to do with any photos you take.

 

If you're travelling alone and intend to spend a fair amount of time on photography take both cameras. If you're there with family or friends and doing typical touristy stuff then take the Q, which will be much less of a burden to carry around all day.

 

Sometimes I just rely on my iPhone camera, but I'd take a 'proper' camera to Iceland, somewhere that's on my to do list!

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I agree with viramati: bring both because of the range that 90mm can bring. In addition, what is the chance to go back to Iceland again to take pictures? Not sure whether I’d violate the forum rule but I attach my Iceland photo album below just to show the Icalandic landscape and possible ranges to contemplate. The photos were taken before the Q was born.

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/10121023@N08/albums/72157668854240745/with/26996644364/

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Well, someday I will go to Iceland and I guarantee you that I will take the Q AND my Canon 5D3 with the 11-24 f/4 lens. There’s a spectacular church (Hallgrimskirkja) in Reykjavik that I very much want to photograph. It demands ultra-wide angle. Otherwise, I’ll be mostly be using the Q.

 

It's a curious church, but not really a highlight of the spectacular things in Iceland. This was M9 with 21mm.

 

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

 

Edited by sls
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I've used Q, M9 and M10 in Iceland, also a Sony A7R with M lenses. 

 

For all the myriad things there are to photograph, I would be happy with the Q alone. A 90mm would come in useful occasionally, for example whale-watching and a few waterfalls that you cannot get too close to, it's just a matter if you want to carry it around. 

 

I took a set of Lee 75 filters that are fun for waterfalls. This was using the Q, 30 second exposure with 10 + 5 ND at f/1.7. It was manually set up, but the Q could meter this on auto. 

 

You have to go at least twice, summer and winter, and be lucky with the weather.

 

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

Edited by sls
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I’m envious. Definitely on my list of photos there. Thanks.

 

 

I tried that church with the Q on another trip and it didn't really work.

 

Looking over my images, the Q really is a dream in Iceland. These are the famous basalt rocks on the black beach at sunset, taken with the Q. I like it because someone told me that the blue on the flag (red and white are fire and ice, obviously) is the colour of the rocks when the Danes used to approach from the sea. From this you can see what they were on about. 

 

Daytime, the rocks are grey and the image is completely different. You do have to get your timings right in Iceland.

 

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

Edited by sls
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I tried that church with the Q on another trip and it didn't really work.

 

Looking over my images, the Q really is a dream in Iceland. These are the famous basalt rocks on the black beach at sunset, taken with the Q. I like it because someone told me that the blue on the flag (red and white are fire and ice, obviously) is the colour of the rocks when the Danes used to approach from the sea. From this you can see what they were on about.

 

Daytime, the rocks are grey and the image is completely different. You do have to get your timings right in Iceland.

 

44011504722_101f742de9_z.jpg

Very unique. Special. Thanks.

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I’m envious. Definitely on my list of photos there. Thanks.

 

 

I suspect the wide angle images you see of that church from the front are taken at 3 in the morning on a long exposure. There is a big area in front of the church that always has people, the first time I was there there was a classic car meeting going on. 

 

So to get the image you need a wide angle and insomnia.

 

Of course if you go in June or July it's light at 3 in the morning.

Edited by sls
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I’m envious. Definitely on my list of photos there. Thanks.

 

Dan

 

Since it was before my Q days it would not be appropriate to publish any shots here but you are welcome to look at them on Smugmug

https://adkphotos.smugmug.com/Iceland/

 

The church ones are at the end. They were taken with a 14mm prime so that means about 20/21mm in FF terms. I'm not sure I would regard it as 'a curious church'. For me it is a quite spectacular piece of architecture with an internal feeling of a peaceful and calm space. The opera house should also be on your list. I went with a group of about 18 - tourists and not photographers (my wife wouldn't cope with too many photographers - one is more than enough for her at times!). The problem was I was always embarrassingly the last to get back on the mini-bus - waiting for the light, etc. My experience of going to the Lofotens with a small group of four (excluding my wife!) and a professional photographer highlighted the difference. It's really about deciding whether photography is key as well as spending the kid's inheritance.

 

Andy

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