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

[frame-it]

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[Orguy]

Thank you for the video, Mr. Seif. I have returned from my Antarctic trip (I’m the OP of this thread) and I can say I think I recognize a number of the places you showed. Paradise Bay, the “Iceberg Graveyard”? Yes it is indeed beautiful. I often thought I wish Ansel Adams had visited with his wondrous talent at portraying black and white. 

One extra interesting place we went there was Elephant Island. Due to a significant storm in the Drake Passage, the captain veered Eastward and passed right by Elephant Island. This is where Shackleton’s men wintered over while he went to get help for them. We got quite close due to the ship’s ability to  stay poistioned in place and could see the small monument erected there. 

 

[Hans-Dieter Gülicher]

Thanks. I hope to be there in October.

[dpitt]

On 1/17/2023 at 4:47 PM, stuny said:

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However, you should have a back-up camera (and batteries) in case the Q fails.

I concur. IMO a back-up camera should not weigh more and be larger than the main camera. That puts any DSLR or even Mirrorless FF out of the picture. I suppose you do not have a Leica M, and if you have I would rather consider the Q2 a backup for the M. But CL + small lens would be very nice as backup. If you need tele, have a look at a M adapter for CL with a nice vintage 135 M. The Elmar and Hektors are very light and are really good.

If the CL is costing to much, I would not hesitate taking the X2 with me as backup. You need at least an optical 35mm viewer with you, and preferably an EVF. It is very light and compact, so ideal for backup. I consider a backup the same as a 'donut' spare. You are not supposed to use it, so you do not want to notice that you have it with you until you actually need it.

[stuny]

I've never touched the X, but I do have a Dlux109 that would work as back-up to the Q, and of course the newer Dlux7.  In jpeg they both have a setting that uses software to extend the long end of the zoom x2 using interpolation to do so with remarkably little loss.

[Hans-Dieter Gülicher]

I intend to take my M10-R plus APO-Summicron 35 mm and APO-Telyt 135 mm. According ty my experiences in Alaska and Norway this should be the right decision.

[dpitt]

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1 hour ago, stuny said:

I've never touched the X, but I do have a Dlux109 that would work as back-up to the Q, and of course the newer Dlux7.  In jpeg they both have a setting that uses software to extend the long end of the zoom x2 using interpolation to do so with remarkably little loss.

I never touched the Dlux109 or Dlux7, but I have had the Dlux 3, 4 and 5. They are remarkable for their size, but I can not see them as backup for my M8/M9. With every shot I would have regrets that I did not have the M9 with me.

The X2 is even more pocketable than the Dlux 109 and Dlux 7, and has an APS-C sensor combined with a fixed 24mm Elmarit lens, maybe not exactly up to par with the M variants but very close. It produces files (16 MP) almost as good as the M9 + 35 mm Elmarit, and I rarely regret not having used the M9 instead. Of course the M9 is more enjoyable and more flexible, but with a OVF or EVF the X2 comes close and is half the weight + has possibilities for AF on a lazy day.