ALREADY EXCITED

WOW Antartica, please tell me you saw some Emperor Penguins, they are amazing!! I too am booked to Spitsbergen and like yourself really excited. I belong to a camera club and several of our members have done this trip and haven't been disappointed, even last year there was still ice around, and some of the shots of mother bears and cubs were amazing!!!!! I am, at the moment, venturing into AV mode, having been a strictly automatic photograher todate, but now, being retired, have more time to concentrate on my photography, the downside being, the grey cells need kick starting to take in all the technology including Elements 10!!!! What camera equipment do you intend taking?

 Julia

Alterego Life is for living!

Keen to hear what others are taking camera wise. I think I'm taking a Canon 500D with an image stabalised 18-55 and 70-300, plus a Powershot SX50 so I have a bit of versatility in one bit of kit and two lenses for the SLR wiich are pretty good but won't leave me traumatised if they get doused in salt water!!! Am also pretty excted - even more so after watching the BBC programme The Polar Bear Family and Me!

Hi there - Another Canon fan, great. I have a 400D, standard lens, Tameron 10 - 24 and my absolute favourite a Sigma 150 - 500. I also have a very useful Fugifilm Finepix XP50 all weather, which has proved very efficient in wet conditions. Would really like a second Canon body, but will have to wait on that one. As I previously mentioned several memers of my camera club have done the trip and haven't been disappointed, however, as you know where wildlife is concerned there's a huge element of luck involved, but I'm sure Mr Goldstein will do his damdest to ensure we have a successful trip. Can't wait!!

As there are a few dates in July, im going on dates Tue 16 Jul - Sun 28 Jul 13 with Paul Goldstein.

Svalbard is a great place with great photographic opportunities. I was there in 2009 with Paul and im expecting great things on this return.. For those not been before its like no place on earth and will get you hooked on polar travel. I traveled to Falklands, South Georgia and Antarctica a year later. 24 hour day light is a photographers dream and we had a good light and sunshine when i was there last, in fact i got sunburnt at 2am in the morning whilst watching a polar bear and cub through a scope, only me and paul on deck, great memories.. any questions on camera gear im happy to answer what i know...See you all in July 

Matt

Looks like i made a blunder on the dates, i could make excuses of busy day etc.. but thats just excusing my lack of attention to detail and my inability to cut and paste properly

So the dates im doing with Paul are Departing UK Sun 14th till Returning UK 28th July

Specialist Photographic Departure: 15 July 2013 - Led by Paul Goldstein on the Vavilov

No probs' would hate to have heard you'd missed the boat!!!!!!! What equipment are you taking, I've been told apart from camera, lens etc that knee pads are a must???? 

In all my trips ive only ever seen people use knee pads once and that was in South Georgia when you spend more time kneeling to get eye level shots of penguins etc.. I wont be taking them.. Its a personal thing i would guess and how comfortable an individual feels on there knees. As for photographic gear i will be taking 2 bodies, one loaded with a 17-85 and another with a 100-400 at the moment but that may change to a 500 prime or 200-400 if canon release it in time (highly unlikely though).. I have 6x16gb cards which should cover 3000 images but i will back up to a data storage device coupled on an ipad.. A monopod will be taken, not sure about a tripod yet.. Will also be taking some rain protection for my gear in case the weather changes..

Hi everyone...just signed up and wanted to say hello.

Really looking forward to the trip and have loads of questions.  My kit is an EOS 5D Mk II with various lenses from 16 to 300mm. Last year I hired a 500mm for an African safari and am thinking of doing the same again plus a 1.4x converter.  Am also considering hiring a second camera body for the reasons Matt M mentioned. Are there any evening slide shows planned or have I missed them? Look forward to meeting fellow travellers.

JC

JC if you're hiring a second camera body it might be worth going for the 7D as the cropped sensor will reduce the field of view by 1.6x so a 300mm lens has the same field of view as a 480mm lens on a full frame sensor camera - see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/APS-C

I'll be using my 7D for longer shots and my 5D mk II for landscapes and close shots.

Hugh

Hi Hugh

Interesting idea. What do you think of the difference in quality, though? I worry that having got used to the quality of the full frame sensor I'd regard all the shots from the 7D as  not quite as good.  That's not to criticise it as a camera, or anyone who's got one, but one reason I bought the 5D was becasue of the image quality (obviously, I guess).

What do you think about hiring a 500mm lens?

JC

Hi Hugh

Interesting idea. What do you think of the difference in quality, though? I worry that having got used to the quality of the full frame sensor I'd regard all the shots from the 7D as  not quite as good.  That's not to criticise it as a camera, or anyone who's got one, but one reason I bought the 5D was becasue of the image quality (obviously, I guess).

What do you think about hiring a 500mm lens?

JC

Hi JC

The 5D is definately better when using higher ISO settings, I generally don't print my photos bigger than A4 (they mostly go on a couple of digital photo frames and my website) so any quality differences aren't apparent. For me the advantage of the cropped sensor on the 7D (plus more focussing facilities) outway possible quality differences with the 5D for longer distance wildlife shots, plus all my lenses are EF mount so I can use them on either body.

I did consider hiring a long prime lens but my home city is now almost bereft of high end camera shops, based on previous wildlife trips it would be handy to have a fast prime telephoto lens for low light conditions but they are quite heavy and too expensive to purchase for one trip.

I'm probably going to bring a monopod in case I need it on deck, a tripod would probably be too cumbersome.

 Hugh

Hi hugh

I do sometimes print at A2 and I have one A1 image on my wall, though like you, I usually send to my website or print smaller into photobooks.  Re hiring a lens: I've used Lenses for Hire in the past and will be doing so again.   They deliver and pick up, and make the whole experience really easy. The 500mm is a big lens, but worth it I reckon  esp with the 1.4 converter. I'm only going on this trip once!

JC

Hi JC,

I've just had a look at their website, looks interesting.

Thanks.

 Hugh

I use a 7D and have images blown up on to large canvass and have no problem with image quality.. On paper the 7D would be an advantage for wildlife over the 5dmk2 for a couple of reasons, increased FPS, more AF points and obviously the 1.6 crop factor but its personal choice as is all photography. The 500 + 1.4tc would give you great reach as long as you have an alternative lens should subjects get much closer.. When I was there in 2009 a prime would really be the only option as bears were distant, however many of the recent trips have seen bears much closer so a range of accessible lens would be my suggestion or a zoom such as a 100-400 or 50-500 if shooting sigma. It’s the old Prime versus Zoom debate and one I won’t get into here, once canon release the 200-400 this will be the lens of choice given is sharpness of a prime and versatility of being a zoom, a reason why im holding off buying the 500 prime.. Many people take tripods on this trip for using on the ship.. There is allot of waiting and scoping for movement in the snow scape so tripods really help but again its personal choice as they can’t be used in the zodiacs but then again neither can monopods..

RegardsMatt

 

Just to add regarding ISO capabilities. I fully agree that full frame or 1.3 crop is better than 1.6 but it makes very little difference in the Arctic given 24 hour sunlight and shooting with Snow. I used a very basic Crop SLR set up in South Georgia and Antarctica and had no issue and very little noise. The only time that iso might go higher is if bad weather turns up or shooting against the dark grey of cliffs in poor light but a 7D is fine in my opinion. But again it’s all subjective, If you were going to hire then why not just go with a 5dmk3, the wildlife togs alternative to the 1dx..

Regards Matt

Hi

Im based in London and joining the July 14-28 trip with Paul also!

I like wildlife shots but also dabble with landscapes--anyone else taking a tripod or doing some landscape stuff.

 Be great to meet you all and its not that far off!

 

Colin

Hi all Is there going to be a London evening pre trip?. I woul love to pick the brains of someone who has been on it (eg Matt?.) re kit and clothes etc. I'd there isn't an official one I'd b happy to arrange a get together in London. Thanks for all advice re camera lens and tripods. I am planning to take a tripod for use on the ship. Will I need a monopod for use in the dinghy? Re other landscape kit raisd by trimx... I'm taking everything inc filters because Sod's law dictates that whatever I don't take is just what I will need:-( Matt... I hadn't thought of hiring a mk 3 as the other body. What do you see as advantages? JC

Hi all Is there going to be a London evening pre trip?. I woul love to pick the brains of someone who has been on it (eg Matt?.) re kit and clothes etc. I'd there isn't an official one I'd b happy to arrange a get together in London. Thanks for all advice re camera lens and tripods. I am planning to take a tripod for use on the ship. Will I need a monopod for use in the dinghy? Re other landscape kit raisd by trimx... I'm taking everything inc filters because Sod's law dictates that whatever I don't take is just what I will need:-( Matt... I hadn't thought of hiring a mk 3 as the other body. What do you see as advantages? JC

Hi John C

Yes indeed there is apparently a London pre trip get together at 7pm on 25 June at 21 Albermarle St but you need to register. I did this but so far have no email back yet so may ask whats the update.

 

Glad you are taking all the gear also!!

 

As most of us will--I have already started buying more flash cards and "bits for trip"..

 

even if no formal pre trip meet happens we can always sort something ourselves so lets see what happens.

 

Col (trimix)

Many thanksCol..I hadn't heard about it.

Will email Exodus for more info.

Look forward to seeing you there. Who else on here is going? How many fellow adventurers are London-based? 

JC

Well John

 Theres you and me from London and all our gear, so not much room left on the ship perhaps!

BTW all I spoke to Exodus today who were very helpful and the evening London pre trip session is still on track as per email above dates etc.

my number is 0751 526 1137 also.

I remember when my kids were teenagers and went on school trips, they were always concerned taht their bags would be far bigger (or smaller) than their friends'.  I think I'm going to get the same anxiety on this trip. I usually put my camera bag and laptop in a wheelie bag so it goes as carry-on, even on EasyJet where you can only take one bag into the cabin. On this trip we've asked to take 'soft sided' luggage as it is easy to store. Hmmm... then I thought maybe take my camera bag and a separate bag for the laptop, leaving behind the wheelie bag.

Any thoughts?  What about Matt, who's been on the trip before? 

JC

Im northern based so unavailable for anything that exodus arrange in the south.

You do need really to take soft sided bags for your main luggage as storage in the cabins is very limited, exodus do sell them and they last for along time and very durable. Monopods as far as i remember are not to be used in the zodiacs, you either handhold or use the sides of the zodiac for support and crouch in the bottom. I could be wrong though but i dont remember anyone using them on my last 2 polar trips.. The zodiacs are snug so it needs clients to work together when photograph opportunities arise.. Polarizer is a must for landscape work, i guess if you like landscapes photography it would be worth bringing ND Grade Filters or alike, i will just take a Polarizer for wide angle work..

John, i think the 5dmk3 is a fantastic body as it inherits AF from the 1dx, it also has 61 point AF and more FPS the the 5dmk2.. Its very much the choice of many wildlife photographers over the 1dx because its much more affordable. If you google John e marriott he is a pro that uses 5dmk3 as his weapon of choice.. His images speak for themselves..

Hi Matt

Thanks...all that advice is very useful.Will check out the mk3 hire situation.

Given how 'snug' the Zodiacs are, I assume why will accommodate a long lens? The 500mm which I hired for Kenya safari last year is a bit of a monster, long and wide. The updated one is lighter but not sure it is any shorter/narrower.  Also...is it normal to take two camera bodies into the zodiac?

Apologies for bombaring you with q's.

Sorry you're not based down here for a get-together.

JC

John, 500 is no problem.. Many clients take big primes.. As far as i can remember the Zodiacs take 10 people plus driver so its just a case of working with other clients should there be an open water photo opportunity. Everyone wants to get an image but chaos results in no one getting anything, its a case of taking in turns in some instances.. As for 2 bodies, yes 100% standard practice, would you really want to miss a shot because your changing lenses, i know i dont.. All the gear you take in the zodiac has to fit in a backpack and be on you back for going down the gangplank as you need to have both hands free to hold on to the railings... The weather is normally good and we had many days of fantastic weather last time to the degree that i got sunburnt at 2am in the morning watching a polar bear and cub through a spoyying scope.. 24 hour sunlight dont forget, photographers dream.. plenty of cards and regular backups. i have a 500gb storage device that i take and have 6 x 16gb cards which should be good for 3000 images :)

Thanks again, Matt.

Apologies for trying to use you as the main resource for my q's, but two more q's if you don't mind:

How similar is the 5D mk III to use (compared to the Mk II)? I don't want to miss a shot while fiddling with the controls any more than while changing lenses. As I'm so familiar with the MkII the controls seem intuitive.

Back to the kit issue: I assume you take a laptop with you in addition to your camera bag. If so, how do you  transport it on the plane? Do you have a huge camera bag that takes the laptop as well as your kit, or a separate computer bag? (I know some airlines eg Easyjet only allow one piece of hand luggage, which is why I put my camera bag and laptop in a wheelie bag.

 Thanks again.

JC

 

 

JC