Antarctica - how much photo equipment do I need/ how much would you bring?

[Orguy]

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I am going on a cruise to Antarctica in March and I will be on the continent for five days. We will be sailing, kayaking, hiking and paddling Zodiacs. I wonder if it would be a mistake to take only my Q2? I know closeups of animals are impossible, but most photos are more interesting to me if they show some context. I also have an old Nikon D700 with a 24-120 zoom lens I could bring, but of course the image quality doesn't match the Leica.

 

What would you suggest? 1) Content myself with only the wider angle Q2, albeit croppable 2) also bring the D700, or 3) rent some good equipment up to say with a 600 or 800 mm lens? I sure have grown to love the simplicity and convenience of carrying only the Q2 - but am I squandering the photo opportunity of a lifetime by doing so?

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[frame-it]

have a look at these threads:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Qwertynm]

vor 4 Stunden schrieb Orguy:

What would you suggest?

The links posted above, although helpful, don’t really answer the question on how do YOU take pictures? If you’re not a tele-guy, why rent a body with an 800mm tele? If it’s not a phototrip first and foremost (sounds like it isn’t) why bother with multiple systems? I think the Q2 is the perfect companion for trips like these where you want to document the journey but not take pictures of everything all the time. 

[Hans-Dieter Gülicher]

I will go to Chile/Anarctica in October by Hurtigruten. My equipment will be M 10-R, APO-Summicron 35 mm (new) and 75 mm.

Last year August I made the similar trip to the Aleutes by Hurtigruten (3 weeks) and following in September by mobil home through Western Canada (5 weeks) using the above equipment. I have Q2 and S3 but I prefere my M 10-R.

Regards Hans

[jaapv]

If your shore trips are on Zodiacs I would take an Ewa-Marine flexible underwater housing. No camera, even weathersealed, is watertight except things like the XU. Salt water is never a good idea on any normal camera body.

https://www.ewa-marine.com/products/photo/slr/d-b/

[Hans-Dieter Gülicher]

Np problem, Jaap.

[stuny]

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At least when you are on land you can go right up to the animals - They have not learned to fear humans, so the Q2 will be fine for that.  And don't forget the ability to crop.  Even in the Falklands, penguins have no fear of humans:

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[DavidJohn]

I  have ruined many holidays in the past by lugging around every piece of equipment I own.  I was a slow learner—it took me decades to realize that it's better to go light and simple.

Why take powerful lenses to capture encyclopaedia-style photos of animals?  They're a pain in the neck (and shoulder) to carry around, and the photos will just be images that you can find in books.

Just take the sublime Q2 and a couple extra batteries.  Get context.  Capture decisive moments.  Make it work.  You'll accomplish much more, and see much more, when you don't have to think about which camera and lens to use.  But don't get the camera soaked.  Follow Jaap's advice and get the flexible housing.  It isn't all that expensive.

 

[Farrell Gallery]

I tend to travel on a minimalist basis. Unless I had a specific need for a telephoto or ultra wide lens, it would be the Q2 and the extra battery / charger. As I've done on UK / Route 66 trips 

[Sonnelacht]

Typical WOM Leica Users advices ;-)))

Take at least your Nikon to get a little more variety in picture angles and two spare batteries in the cold. The best thing with that solution will be that you do not always have to take care for your photographic jewel - if the Nikon will get some scratches more or some water drops, who cares? I think it will be agood compromise, even in terms of pictuere quality!

[Hans-Dieter Gülicher]

I  am convinced my M is the best to take with. Easy to carry, handy and powerfull. I am ansolutely suposed I mostly will use the 35 mm Summicron (my experience on the Aleutes und in Western Canada) and do some cropping later at home.

[jaapv]

2 hours ago, DavidJohn said:

They're a pain in the neck (and shoulder) to carry around, and the photos will just be images that you can find in books.

Well, that depends on the skill of the photographer, not on the gear... 

[Phil75]

Definitely take the Nikon with zoom with you, you might find it rather useful for taking animal photos during boat excursions (weight then shouldn't be an issue). I'd recommend renting a (or buying pre-owned) tele converter additionally for your Nikon. 

[MKHB]

Nikon D4 & 300mm 2.8 VR plus TC 14 1,4 Converter. You can buy before & sell after the holidays with minimal loss.

 

Since we are in the L Forum, Leica SL2-S & 90-80 will work also.

 

Most important keep the batteries warm!

[Daniel C.1975]

I believe a trip to the Antarctica would be for most of us a once in a lifetime trip (a bit like a safari trip to Africa - just colder ) .

Therefore my assumption is that the photos to be taken on such a trip a three folded: 

1. some documentary work of the trip with people, people in their environment, ... the daily life on the trip: Q2 or M with a 28, 35 or 50 permanently attached (taste) I would go for the Q2 as a always around my shoulder camera

2. Landscape, Seascape and such stuff: For sure at least one very good zoom. In my world this would be the SL2(s) with the 24-90 and good filters (gradient grey, polarizer etc.), plus a nice Telephoto Zoom (I don't own one any more) but I for sure would buy one just for the trip and sell it afterwards again. In my world: Leica 90-280 (in principle too short) or one of the Bazooka Sigma zooms.

3. Wild animals: Long zoom - same as Landscape. And I would not go for a fixed one, even if the quality would be higher. A zoom gives you more flexibility as you might not be able to move a lot back and forth (being on boat, in a car or in a hut...). 

 

I would not carry all the stuff always with me, but be candid when to take what with me. On the other hand. With a good photo back pack a Q2 with a SL2(or Nikon) and two Zoom Lenses would not be too heavy. 

But to have the opportunity of some real wild life shots and than standing there with only the Q would kill me. Certainly

 

In general I agree with some of the above statements to travel as light as possible, but this seems to me to be a very special occasion. 

 

To your case in specific: Take the Q2 and the Nikon with the 24-120 plus a telezoom (I would buy used and sell afterwards). But for sure: Don't leave the Q2 at home  

[Anbaric]

I would want to supplement the Q2 and its fixed prime with something more versatile for a special trip like this. As you'll be on a cruise, you can presumably choose the appropriate gear for the day's acitivities without having to lug the rest around. Since you have some Nikon gear, you might want to consider a Nikon dSLR. The D700 is still a decent camera if you don't need to crop hard or work at high ISO, but I would perhaps think about a D850, which needs to make no apologies to the Q2 for its image quality when paired with a suitable lens. As with the D4 mentioned above, you can buy a secondhand D850 for a very reasonable price by Leica standards, and sell it on afterwards if you no longer need it. The 24-120mm f/4 VR would be fine, but if you have one of the less well regarded earlier versions you might want to consider upgrading. Of course if you think you'd have to upgrade both the camera and the lens, there are lots of other alternatives, including from Leica. I'd want at least one longer lens too, probably a versatile telezoom.

[Orguy]

6 hours ago, jaapv said:

If your shore trips are on Zodiacs I would take an Ewa-Marine flexible underwater housing. No camera, even weathersealed, is watertight except things like the XU. Salt water is never a good idea on any normal camera body.

https://www.ewa-marine.com/products/photo/slr/d-b/

This is a very valuable tip I hadn’t considered. I can imagine it might get splashy in the Zodiacs.

I notice in the reviews some people talk about certain cameras being difficult with the housing due to using the controls, fit in the bag (tearing) etc. 

So: have any of you used the Q2 in this housing? How well did it work?

I have the SF40 flash. Will this fit in the bag with Q2 attached? Should I consider upgrading to a different one (SF60?) or is the SF40 sufficient in your experience?

Thanks everyone for your help!

[Stuart Richardson]

If it were me, I would miss some sort of telephoto, even if it were not that long. If I were trying to put together a small/light kit with good capability for a trip like this, I would take one of the higher resolution M's like the M11 or M10R with a wide angle (24, 28 or 35mm), a medium long (50 or 75) and a telephoto (135mm). Those three lenses in M mount are compact and the high resolution will allow for cropping in post. If it were me with the equipment I have, I would take the SL2, sigma 24mm 3.5, APO Summicron 35, APO Summicron 50 and the 90-280mm. A heavier kit to be sure, but weather sealed and accurate from 24mm to 280mm. I imagine Nikon could give you something similar. I think the Q2 is a really wide camera and if you are on a boat where you cannot control the distance to the subject, the shore, icebergs and mountains are going to look really far away...

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[jaapv]

28 minutes ago, Orguy said:

This is a very valuable tip I hadn’t considered. I can imagine it might get splashy in the Zodiacs.

I notice in the reviews some people talk about certain cameras being difficult with the housing due to using the controls, fit in the bag (tearing) etc. 

So: have any of you used the Q2 in this housing? How well did it work?

I have the SF40 flash. Will this fit in the bag with Q2 attached? Should I consider upgrading to a different one (SF60?) or is the SF40 sufficient in your experience?

Thanks everyone for your help!

I don't own a Q but I use it for the CL and TL for snorkeling. The touch screen works though the plastic and the shutter and switch can be operated, obviously with a plastic layer in between.  Of course it is easier to operate the camera naked, but for the intermittent use in wet conditions it is quite doable - and it is easy enough to pull the camera out once you are on dry land. It is not that expensive and a godsend when you need it.

Remember to store it with the bellows for the lens compressed. They are quite stiff and tend to pull away from the lens if left extended over a period of time, especially in cold conditions.

Use a Peak Design strap, as you will want to remove it when in the housing. BTW, the plastic is quite thick and tough. I wonder how one could tear it.

There are special models for camera with flash. EWA has a good customer service and they will advise you which bag to use for your particular combo and camera. But do you need flash? You will have long days that far South in summer.

[jaapv]

25 minutes ago, Stuart Richardson said:

If it were me, I would miss some sort of telephoto, even if it were not that long. If I were trying to put together a small/light kit with good capability for a trip like this, I would take one of the higher resolution M's like the M11 or M10R with a wide angle (24, 28 or 35mm), a medium long (50 or 75) and a telephoto (135mm). Those three lenses in M mount are compact and the high resolution will allow for cropping in post. If it were me with the equipment I have, I would take the SL2, sigma 24mm 3.5, APO Summicron 35, APO Summicron 50 and the 90-280mm. A heavier kit to be sure, but weather sealed and accurate from 24mm to 280mm. I imagine Nikon could give you something similar. I think the Q2 is a really wide camera and if you are on a boat where you cannot control the distance to the subject, the shore, icebergs and mountains are going to look really far away...

Well, we are in the Q forum. Personally I would take a CL with the three zooms. and the SL with the Sigma 150-600. Having the same mount you create redundancy, should one camera fail. And absolutely two chargers for the CL The SL can be charged through USB, should the need arise. Plus sufficient batteries. I have learnt the hard way that one should have alternatives with the nearest camera shop thousands of Kms away and unreachable. But I am not the OP. (I wish I were - I would love to visit the Antarctic)