Iceland focal lengths

[JRWhite]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Spent the past month reading and re-reading a long, seven page post in the S forum section regarding lens focal lengths for Iceland and posted a few questions there. However, as the questions revolve around M10R (and SL2) I’m asking the questions here as well.

But first - my standard travel kit is an M10R and a ZM 25mm f/2.8, a CV 50mm f/1.5 and a CV 90mm f/2.8. Those three lenses are always with me. The 25 is used most (60%) with an equal split between the 50 and the 90. For working streets or for a simple one-camera-one-lens day the 25mm is the lens of choice.

Next March I'm traveling to Iceland for two weeks, as part of an organized photo tour, with my son (a Nikon guy) and plan to bring my trusty M10R and an as-yet-purchased SL2. The tour circumnavigates the country so there will be nearly daily load/unload-the-tour-bus cycles. I haven’t before participated in a photo-centric travel group and want to keep the volume and weight of my kit small. For lenses I'm planning to take the 25/50/90 for the M10R. Also planning to bring an as-yet-purchased Sigma L 28-70mm f/2.8 and Urth's M to L adapter for the SL2.

Based, again, on the many posts I’ve read on this Forum, I believe that for the most part the 25mm will be mounted on the M10R and the 90mm will be mounted on the SL2 (w/the adapter).

Regarding the 28-70mm L, a lot of folks on this Forum recommend a 24-70mm or the 24-90mm. As those lenses are much bigger than I carry normally I'm thinking the smaller 28-70mm would, regardless of the size of the SL2, be a better fit for my normally small kit. Into the future, I foresee the SL2 as solid companion to the M10R (I don't have to learn a new menu system!) and when home or traveling locally, the 28-70mm seems to be a well regarded, small utility L lens for daily carry. And I have no doubt that other L lenses will be added over time.

Questions: 

1. Regarding the telephoto focal length, instead of a 90mm, should I bring along a 135mm? Reading the many travel related posts on this Forum, a lot of folks bring along a 70-200mm or the 90-280mm. As 135mm is more into the middle of those focal length ranges, is it a more useful choice than a 90mm in Iceland in March?

2. I have a CV 15mm f/4.5 (the small non-rangefinder coupled LTM version with an M adapter) that I use when I want really wide shots. It is a very sharp, small lens which, unfortunately, is unable to support filters due to the built-in lens hood. For Northern Lights, will the 25mm be wide enough or should I consider bringing along the 15mm as well?

3. Since the 28-70mm L lens would cover the 50mm focal length, I’m thinking I should leave the 50mm at home. For those who’ve photographed in Iceland, did you get much use from the 50mm focal length?

 Many thanks for your guidance.

[Advertisement]

The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[Sandokan]

I think of Iceland as a place for landscape photography. As such i would look at the SL2 with some zooms to cover the 16-35/4, 28-70 (as you have it), and a 70-200. i would leave the M at home. I would bring along some filters for ND and polarization, either as a kit or screw on filters … with a standard thread of the largest and step up converters. 
 
My kit is the SL with Pany 16-35/4 with 77->82mm step up, 24-90 and 90-280. ND 2.0 and 3.0 and a polarizer filter with Kase magnetic adaptors

[Olaf_ZG]

Regarding zooms, as I don’t use a wide or tele a lot, my choice was for the panasonics: 70-200/4 and will be the new 14-28 from panasonic.

[RobW0]

I went to Iceland in July about 5 years ago. I was not shooting Leica then, but a full frame Nikon DSLR. It will most likely rain on you. Most of my shoots where with 24- 35 focal length. The times I used a 70-200 with teleconverter were for the puffins and whale watching. I had a Think Tank rain cover that I used on some of the waterfalls (there is one you can go behind) and on the whale watching trip. I also had a small waterproof camera that I used when we went to the Blue Lagoon. I want to go back there again someday.

[LocalHero1953]

I went to Iceland about 10 years ago with the M240, 28mm Elmarit Asph and Apo-Summicron 90. I didn't miss any other lens or camera. Others seem to like weighing themselves down with lots of lenses and cameras. I don't - then I can concentrate on photography and what I'm photographing, not kit.

In a country like Iceland, the quality and value of your photographs will ALWAYS depend on you, not (beyond certain very basic thresholds) on the quantity and quality of your equipment. It's not technically challenging to take photographs in Iceland, but it is difficult to see new things in a short trip (as I found out). 

What would I take differently next time? My Ultravid binoculars. I want to see puffins, but I doubt the world needs another puffin photo from me.

Edited November 26, 2023 by LocalHero1953

[don daniel]

vor 20 Minuten schrieb LocalHero1953:

I want to see puffins, but I doubt the world needs another puffin photo from me.

Good point, but I also doubt the world needs another Iceland landscape photo from anybody. 😂 Imagine all these people on the tour with you with all that heavy gear. How cool would that be if you only took a small bag with an M and two or three lenses with you!

[sinjun]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

I've been to Iceland. I think your standard travel kit of M10R, 25mm ZM, 50mm CV and 90mm CV would be great - compact and capable of high quality landscape shots. The 15mm CV is so small you could easily throw that in too. I personally would not bring the SL2 + zooms as it will vastly increase the size and weight of your kit. To me the real value of a Leica setup is the ability to get excellent quality from a small package. Also, I try to avoid having my camera kit dominate my holiday - in terms of wondering about what I should carry on a given day, lugging stuff around, changing cameras or lenses. All this can prevent you enjoying being there in the moment. Just my two pence - I'm sure others will have different views.

[IkarusJohn]

When travelling, even when photography is the priority, I hate being burdened with gear.

Tramping in New Zealand (not that dissimilar to what you’ll find in Iceland, I suspect - rain, distant vistas and stunning scenery) I prefer something robust, weather proof and preferably one lens.  So I take my SL and 24-90 zoom, with filters.  Very good image quality, and no lens changing.  However, as you’re in a bus, I’d add the wide zoom (the 16-35 zoom is fantastic) and a tele (I have the APO Elmarit-R 180/2.8, with the APO 2x converter).

I had the 90-280 zoom, and it was impossible - heavy and huge.  

I’d leave the M10-R behind, and take one fast M lens (0.95 Noctilux) and adapter for those times when you don’t want a large zoom.

[scott kirkpatrick]

We were in Iceland with two kids, driving a rental around the island over a period of about two weeks, in 2013.  M9 era.  As far as I can tell, a 35 mm lens did everything I needed, with a small Olympus micro-4/3 filling in for some exceptional shots.  I used a Sigma 75 (effective 150 mm) for puffins,  ponies and left-behind sailors' boots. and an Olympus 12 mm (essentially a 24-25mm full frame) for an occasional vast field of view.  Great trip, and I don't care that the world has plenty of puffin pix, these were OUR puffins.

Edited November 26, 2023 by scott kirkpatrick

[Olaf_ZG]

One thing that really surprised me during last winter, how cold the m10 feels when it is freezing. Make sure you’re able to cover your forehead…

[IkarusJohn]

16 minutes ago, Al Brown said:

@JRWhite Here are further 127 answers to your question (or thereabout).
You WILL need everything from 24 to 240. Been there 10 times. Trust me on that.
What you should bring OTOH is another question.

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!

Lovely image, Al.

[JRWhite]

3 hours ago, Al Brown said:

@JRWhite Here are further 127 answers to your question (or thereabout).
You WILL need everything from 24 to 240. Been there 10 times. Trust me on that.
What you should bring OTOH is another question.

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!

Yes, the post I referenced in the preamble. A lot of good info in those 127 answers. And a lot of variety in kit choices.

[JRWhite]

4 hours ago, Olaf_ZG said:

One thing that really surprised me during last winter, how cold the m10 feels when it is freezing. Make sure you’re able to cover your forehead…

An important safety tip, many thanks sir!

[JRWhite]

5 hours ago, LocalHero1953 said:

I went to Iceland about 10 years ago with the M240, 28mm Elmarit Asph and Apo-Summicron 90. I didn't miss any other lens or camera. Others seem to like weighing themselves down with lots of lenses and cameras. I don't - then I can concentrate on photography and what I'm photographing, not kit.

In a country like Iceland, the quality and value of your photographs will ALWAYS depend on you, not (beyond certain very basic thresholds) on the quantity and quality of your equipment. It's not technically challenging to take photographs in Iceland, but it is difficult to see new things in a short trip (as I found out). 

What would I take differently next time? My Ultravid binoculars. I want to see puffins, but I doubt the world needs another puffin photo from me.

Did you bring along a backup camera? Part of my thinking with respect to the SL2 is as a backup. In the 127 answers referenced a few responses above are discussions on the need for a second body/system just in case. Especially given the variety of meteorological conditions one might encounter. 

[JRWhite]

5 hours ago, scott kirkpatrick said:

We were in Iceland with two kids, driving a rental around the island over a period of about two weeks, in 2013.  M9 era.  As far as I can tell, a 35 mm lens did everything I needed, with a small Olympus micro-4/3 filling in for some exceptional shots.  I used a Sigma 75 (effective 150 mm) for puffins,  ponies and left-behind sailors' boots. and an Olympus 12 mm (essentially a 24-25mm full frame) for an occasional vast field of view.  Great trip, and I don't care that the world has plenty of puffin pix, these were OUR puffins.

Thank you Professor, your response targets my question regarding 90mm vs 135mm. I’m thinking the 135mm may be the better choice. And your mention of bringing along the Olympus addresses concerns I have in regard to backup. Iceland is an expensive trip for me and I’d hate for the failure of a camera body to put me out of commission on a photography tour. My M10R already made one 42 day trip to Leica USA (that story documented on this Forum) so I know stuff happens. As noted in the post above, backup is one of the reasons I’m considering the SL2. The M lenses I use most often can all be used on that system.
BTW, I couldn’t agree more regarding puffin photos, the more the merrier I say! 

[JRWhite]

6 hours ago, sinjun said:

I've been to Iceland. I think your standard travel kit of M10R, 25mm ZM, 50mm CV and 90mm CV would be great - compact and capable of high quality landscape shots. The 15mm CV is so small you could easily throw that in too. I personally would not bring the SL2 + zooms as it will vastly increase the size and weight of your kit. To me the real value of a Leica setup is the ability to get excellent quality from a small package. Also, I try to avoid having my camera kit dominate my holiday - in terms of wondering about what I should carry on a given day, lugging stuff around, changing cameras or lenses. All this can prevent you enjoying being there in the moment. Just my two pence - I'm sure others will have different views.

sinjun - back in my younger, stronger days, I was known to say, quite often, “it’s not a matter of whether you use it, it’s about knowing you could if you wanted.” I brought along everything I had. And those days started in the leather camera bag era. Multiple bodies, lots of lenses, flashes, cables, multiple roles of film, etc. I’m convinced some of my current back issues go back to hauling around a lot of gear. Today, my kit fits comfortably in a small Ona Bowery bag. No fuss, no muss, less is more. That said, do you travel with a backup body?

[JRWhite]

7 hours ago, RobW0 said:

I went to Iceland in July about 5 years ago. I was not shooting Leica then, but a full frame Nikon DSLR. It will most likely rain on you. Most of my shoots where with 24- 35 focal length. The times I used a 70-200 with teleconverter were for the puffins and whale watching. I had a Think Tank rain cover that I used on some of the waterfalls (there is one you can go behind) and on the whale watching trip. I also had a small waterproof camera that I used when we went to the Blue Lagoon. I want to go back there again someday.

Copy all re: Think Tank rain cover, many thanks!

[KFo]

Active volcanoes.  I'd take my 9000mm lens and shot from offshore 😉

[Advertisement]

Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[irenedp]

It depends on which season you go.  If you do so in the snow season, try other cameras better sealed  than the Ms.

Nevertheless, when I take the Ms out, I carry a 28 a 50 and a 75. You might want to use wider than the 28 at times but that means dwarfing mountains -rather do stitched panoramas with a longer lens-.  Conversely you may want to carry a telephoto lens like the 135 (evf advisable for both wide and long)  

I carry the 28 in one M and the 50 in another. That way I don’t need to change lenses. 

[LocalHero1953]

5 hours ago, JRWhite said:

Did you bring along a backup camera? Part of my thinking with respect to the SL2 is as a backup. In the 127 answers referenced a few responses above are discussions on the need for a second body/system just in case. Especially given the variety of meteorological conditions one might encounter. 

No. I have never had a camera fail on me in more than half a century. Of course it happens, but statistics told me it was just extra weight with no rationale. If you carry a second camera 'just in case' why not carry a third? Or a fourth?