MF Gear for Antarctica and Patagonia Trip

[hcubell]

I am heading to Antarctica and Patagonia (Chile) in late January. I would appreciate hearing advice from those with experience photographing in those locations what cameras and lenses I should bring. I have a Sony A7RV and the Sony 24-120 and 100-400 zooms, which I don't enjoy using but I was thinking of using the Sony as my primary system, as I assume that a fair amount of shooting in Antarctica would be from the vessel and require a longer lens. Should I also bring my X2D? The longest lens I have for it is the 135mm with the TC, and changing in and out of that lens and TC is not quick and easy, particularly in crappy weather.
I gather that tripods are not allowed on shore excursions by Zodiac, but how about on ship?
Any other practical advice would be welcome as well.
Thanks.

 

[anyone]

Even though I am myself now mainly shooting in the Hasselblad system, I must admit that the Fuji ecosystem has a better range of usable lenses for such conditions: I had the GF100-200 zoom and found it quite nice (a bit large, but not very heavy), the GF35-70, and also the GF250 gets a lot of praise (no personal experience). The GFX performs nicely in bad weather (moisty and also cold weather).

 

[Mexecutioner]

The Fuji GF 500mm lens would be must for me if went there. That along with a couple more lenses. I have heard there are weight restrictions on the amount of gear if you are flying over the Drake. If you are to brave the seas this probably doesn't apply.

 

[JeRuFo]

I think you are usually allowed to use a tripod on land, just not on a Zodiac. A tripod on a ship is often not very useful, because the ship vibrates and a tripod will transfer that to the camera. Definetely bring more than one body, if nothing else than to avoid changing lenses outdoors. But I've heard plenty of horror stories of cameras acting up after being exposed to the wind and water there. Bringing a wider or normal lens on the X2D would not be strange at all, but only for nice days. I would bring it, but not for the tele side. Weather sealing is definetely important there, as are plenty of wipes to clean your filters.
Note: I've never been there specifically myself, but have heard plenty from people who went and do like to shoot in adverse conditions quite a bit.

 

[KlausJH]

Two years ago I was on a Hurtigrouten Expedition ship for four weeks in Antarctica, South Georgia and the Falkland Islands. My cameras were Sony A1, A9 II and 907x CFV II 50c. And an iPhone! Lenses 4.5-5.6/100-400 GM & TC14, 4/24-105 G, 4/16-35 G and XCD 4/21, 2.5/55V and XCD 3.2/90. I brought a tripod and never used it. In many situations it is not advised to change lenses. Zodiacs are very bumpy and there is a lot of spray (salt water!). On the ship you have swell and vibrations and wind and on shore it was not allowed unless it got disinfected. So, a tripod is of little use. A long lens 100-400 or even better a 200-600 is a must to have it on one camera and a 24-105 on the other one. The Hasselblad was great for landscapes when the condition was right. I brought it never on a Zodiac.
Bring UV filters for every lens for protection. You will need a dry bag too. My Peak Design bag slid once from my shoulder when entering the Zodiac, the crew fished it out of the water a couple of 100m away. Nothing happened, only my heart beat went up.
Some picture taken with the 907x

 

[hcubell]

The Fuji GF 500mm lens would be must for me if went there. That along with a couple more lenses. I have heard there are weight restrictions on the amount of gear if you are flying over the Drake. If you are to brave the seas this probably doesn't apply.

I don't shoot with the GFX system. I do have a Hasselblad HC 300mm lens and a TC for it, but there is no way that is being schlepped to Antarctica, so I will have to make do with the Sony for longer reach.
I am flying over the Drake Passage, so I will need to check on the weight restrictions. Fortunately, my wife will be travelling with me and she will be using her iPhone.

 

[hcubell]

I think you are usually allowed to use a tripod on land, just not on a Zodiac. A tripod on a ship is often not very useful, because the ship vibrates and a tripod will transfer that to the camera. Definetely bring more than one body, if nothing else than to avoid changing lenses outdoors. But I've heard plenty of horror stories of cameras acting up after being exposed to the wind and water there. Bringing a wider or normal lens on the X2D would not be strange at all, but only for nice days. I would bring it, but not for the tele side. Weather sealing is definetely important there, as are plenty of wipes to clean your filters.
Note: I've never been there specifically myself, but have heard plenty from people who went and do like to shoot in adverse conditions quite a bit.

I am used to shooting in horrific weather conditions and can deal with that. I have used Hasselblad X1D and X2D cameras in sub-zero snowstorms in Vermont and Iceland. As you suggest, it may make sense for me to rent a second Sony body so that I can switch between the two zooms without changing lenses.

 

[hcubell]

Two years ago I was on a Hurtigrouten Expedition ship for four weeks in Antarctica, South Georgia and the Falkland Islands. My cameras were Sony A1, A9 II and 907x CFV II 50c. And an iPhone! Lenses 4.5-5.6/100-400 GM & TC14, 4/24-105 G, 4/16-35 G and XCD 4/21, 2.5/55V and XCD 3.2/90. I brought a tripod and never used it. In many situations it is not advised to change lenses. Zodiacs are very bumpy and there is a lot of spray (salt water!). On the ship you have swell and vibrations and wind and on shore it was not allowed unless it got disinfected. So, a tripod is of little use. A long lens 100-400 or even better a 200-600 is a must to have it on one camera and a 24-105 on the other one. The Hasselblad was great for landscapes when the condition was right. I brought it never on a Zodiac.
Bring UV filters for every lens for protection. You will need a dry bag too. My Peak Design bag slid once from my shoulder when entering the Zodiac, the crew fished it out of the water a couple of 100m away. Nothing happened, only my heart beat went up.
Some picture taken with the 907x

Where did you do most of your shooting? From the vessel, the Zodiac or land? Why did you never bring your Hasselblad on the Zodiac so that you could shoot with it on land?

 

[KlausJH]

Where did you do most of your shooting? From the vessel, the Zodiac or land? Why did you never bring your Hasselblad on the Zodiac so that you could shoot with it on land?

Most of the wildlife picture were taken on land. Sometimes it was not possible due to weather conditions or there were too many seals. (Fur seals bite and attack you when you come too close). Then shooting from the Zodiac was the only possible way. Landscape pictures were mostly taken from the vessel.
If I had a X2D and a XCD 35-75 I certainly would have brought it on shore. But the 907x is too hard to handle. There are 8-10 people in a Zodiac, dressed with 5 layers and a life jacket all busy taking pictures. Most the times there were difficult conditions for a good shooting. Everything is easier on land, unless there is a lot of snow and steep slopes.
Do you go to South Georgia too? That's where you can see (and smell) 300,000+ king penguins. It was the best place for wildlife photography on the whole journey.

 

[dchew]

I was in Patagonia and Antarctica two years ago. You were allowed to bring a tripod to shore even in Antarctica, you just have to rinse and sanitize the feet when you re-board the ship along with your boots and anything else that touches the ground. The problem is you are not allowed to set any packs or bags down on the ground. You need to have a bag system you can hold onto the whole time while on shore. They are trying to minimize humans spreading viruses, etc. to different colonies.

I had the Fuji system and a technical camera. My most-used lens while moving on the ship was the Fuji 100-200. I also had the 250mm for wildlife. I think the combination of both systems would work great. If you can manage to pack it together, walk around with the X2D kit plus the Sony with long lens attached. I was on a relatively new ship that has great technology. While "anchored" in harbors for our excursions, I could get away with shooting on the ship from a tripod. See this post in the BTS thread.

Dave

 

[anwarp]

Fortunately, my wife will be travelling with me and she will be using her iPhone.

My friend’s wife calls herself a pack mule for precisely this reason !