Lenses for Antarctica

[Fbimages]

Hi all,
I am going to Antarctica via South Georgia and the Falklands in October and I am looking for advice on what to take with me. I will be bringing my R5 and R3 as well as my Fuji GFX. The real question is on lenses. Here is the list of the ones I will 100% pack:

-EF 100-400 ii
-RF 28-70
-EF 1.4x extender
-GF 23 (eq 18mm)
-GF 45 (eq 35mm)
-GF 250 (eq 200)
-GF 1.4x extender
That is already a substantial amount of kit, but I am hesitating on two other:
-EF 500 f/4
-RF 70-200

My biggest hesitation is on the EF 500mm as it would be the first time I leave it behind on such an important trip, but I don't know if I am going to have lots of use for it, as things will spring up on me and I need flexibility more than reach.
Has anyone been down there and could share his view on what to expect?
Many thanks to you all!
Felix

 

[AlanF]

Hi all,
I am going to Antarctica via South Georgia and the Falklands in October and I am looking for advice on what to take with me. I will be bringing my R5 and R3 as well as my Fuji GFX. The real question is on lenses. Here is the list of the ones I will 100% pack:

-EF 100-400 ii
-RF 28-70
-EF 1.4x extender
-GF 23 (eq 18mm)
-GF 45 (eq 35mm)
-GF 250 (eq 200)
-GF 1.4x extender
That is already a substantial amount of kit, but I am hesitating on two other:
-EF 500 f/4
-RF 70-200

My biggest hesitation is on the EF 500mm as it would be the first time I leave it behind on such an important trip, but I don't know if I am going to have lots of use for it, as things will spring up on me and I need flexibility more than reach.
Has anyone been down there and could share his view on what to expect?
Many thanks to you all!
Felix

No one has replied so I'll make a suggestion. The EF 100-400mm ii is an excellent lens but for the trip of a lifetime like the one you are going on, which I would love to do, it might be worth upgrading to the RF 100-500mm which does give extra reach and importantly works brilliantly with the RF 2x TC. You won't miss the EF 500 f/4 so much.

 

[Fbimages]

No one has replied so I'll make a suggestion. The EF 100-400mm ii is an excellent lens but for the trip of a lifetime like the one you are going on, which I would love to do, it might be worth upgrading to the RF 100-500mm which does give extra reach and importantly works brilliantly with the RF 2x TC. You won't miss the EF 500 f/4 so much.

Thanks Alan, I was starting to feel lonely!
I was thinking about the 100-500, there are a lot available used for a good price. I know one compromises on aperture throughout the range vs the EF 100-400, but considering the light in Antarctica, I don't think that is too relevant. Maybe I should rent one for a bit and see how it goes

 

[AlanF]

Thanks Alan, I was starting to feel lonely!
I was thinking about the 100-500, there are a lot available used for a good price. I know one compromises on aperture throughout the range vs the EF 100-400, but considering the light in Antarctica, I don't think that is too relevant. Maybe I should rent one for a bit and see how it goes

Don't worry aperture. A 500mm f/7.1. puts as many photons per penguin as does a 400 mm f/5.6! It's the amount of light that gives noise, not the iso dialed in. So, use a higher iso (1.7x) to give the same shutter speed at f/7.1 as for f/5.6 and your image won't be any noisier.

 

[snudel]

May I ask which lenses it ended up being?
My trip starts in March and I'm always thinking about whether it should be one of the Supertele or whether the RF 100-500 will be.
I want to film a lot there and have bought an R5C especially for this trip.
I think I'll take the RF 24-105 F4, RF 100-500, RF 800 f11, RF 16 and the EF 35 1.2L. Especially because you can't put anything on the ground anymore and then a Supertele weighing over 3 kg is a huge drain.