Simplifying my travel setup

[Pierre68]

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Hi every one. I am a fan of Iceland myself. I have been there 3x and plan to go there again.

The first time 20 years ago was for a 3 weeks self sufficient trek in the highlands. I use a Canon DSLR with 2 zooms: 24-105 and 75-300. It was a very convenient and light combo that deserved me well. I think it was a good compromise between photographic abilities and weight. The weather was really nasty during this trek so I used a waterproof protection on the camera most of the time. This makes me think a M camera would not be ideal for landscape photography as you will inevitably encounter rain fall or find yourself in the spray of a waterfall or on a beach with the wind blowing sand all over the place and the M is not weather proof... And I will not even talk about changing lenses in those conditions.

The second time I visited Reykjavik for one week to take pictures during the music festival Iceland AirWaves. Most Icelandic cities are very colorful and there are animations like live music in bars and the people are friendly so there are some great opportunities for street photography. During this trip I used the M10R with 35mm f/1.4 FLE, 50mm Noctilux f/0.95 and 90mm Apo-Summicron. That was the ideal combo for what I had planned, light and discreet for street photography and live music. I brought the SL2-S with the 3 Leica zooms (16-35, 24-90 and 70-280) during this trip but they stayed in the hotel room the whole week...

The third time was a 2 weeks family trip around the island with a rented car. I brought the S 007 with 5 S lenses: 24, 35, 70, 120 and 180. The gear stayed in the trunk of the car in a F-Stop Ajna backpack and I usually carried just the camera with two lens on each photo outing in a messenger bag. Took lots of nice landscape picture during this trip, but I though I might as well have taken the SL2 with 2 (or 3 zooms) to carry less gear and avoid changing lenses in an hostile environment... Dust on the inso was a real issue during this trip, but I had everything to clean the sensor during our hotel stays.

Another thing I discovered is that I used my iPhone 14 Pro à lot during this trip and honestly some pictures came out really well and it was hard to tell for just my computer screen which picture was taken with the iPhone and which picture was taken with the S 007... So I am not afraid to say an iPhone could make for a decent (and very light) back-up camera if weight is an issue.

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[RexGig0]

I have never traveled to Iceland, but, traveling with a “trinity” of pro zoom lenses is not something I would want to do, unless I were being paid, quite handsomely, or, if I had the personal wealth to afford to pay someone to help carry the load. I have traveled with two Nikon D700 cameras, with 14-24mm f/2.8 and 24-70mm f/2.8 pro zoom lenses. I did consider bringing a telephoto lens, for birds, and, rather soon, it became apparent that it would have been an overly-bothersome burden.

A reason that I bought a flat-field, low-distortion 50mm lens, recently, is so that I can shoot a series of images, and then stitch them, during post-processing. (Cosina Voigtlander 50mm APO Lanthar VM.) I have yet to actually stitch images, but have become reasonably comfortable with the idea of doing so. 

If being herded-about, with a group of fellow travelers, on a pre-established itinerary, I believe that I would rather use just one lens, probably a 35mm f/1.4, for almost all of my images. 

I do not have a ~60MP Leica or Sony camera, for reference, but have used 46MP and 50MP DSLRs. Having such high-resolution cameras substantially reduces the need for toting longer telephoto lenses. A shoulder injury, that required lengthy rehabilitation, prompted me to acquire a Zeiss Otus 85mm DSLR lens, because I was concerned that it would be quite some time before I would be able (or willing) to use long-length telephoto lenses. A reason that I bought the above-mentioned Voigtlander 50mm APO Lanthar VM is because respected reviewers have indicated that it plays at the Zeiss Otus level, and also competes quite well with the Leica 50 APO.

I do prefer to travel with two camera bodies. I am clumsy, and know what it is like to drop a camera, at the beginning of a trip.

Edited February 5, 2024 by RexGig0

[ktmrider2]

I have been to Iceland a couple times and am presently a full time traveler between Alaska, Philippines, NZ, Vietnam and the USA just this past year.  I am presently in the Philippines diving and just spent a month in NZ.  My only camera with me at the present time is a Ricoh GR3.  Of course, it only has a 28 equivalent focal length.  I would be lying if I said I was totally happy with it.

However, remember KISS?  When I travel with an M , I carry a 35 and a 90.  Have never wanted more.  Keep it simple, keep it light and you will be much happier.

[jimtong]

I have done Iceland with Leica M 240 with 35mm cron, WATE, and 90mm F2.8 Tele-Elmerit. A backup Fujifilm X100F. Most of the time the WATE is on my camera body.

I prefer minimalist setup but Iceland was my once in A lifetime trip, therefore I brought with me more stuff. If you are renting a car, no harm bringing more equipment. 
 

Lastly enjoy the moment, do not be too focus on photography and forgot to enjoy the scenary.

Edited February 24, 2024 by jimtong