[Bui]

Hello,

I'm aware that there are already lots of "Which lens do I need" type of topics, even for Iceland specifically, I could find some, but nevertheless, each one's (gear, preference and constraints) is difference, plus I enjoy doing this exercise so, here it is, another "Which lenses to bring to Iceland"

So finally I managed to persuade my wife to have a week in Iceland end of April. Not so much time, I know, plus we have a 2.5 years old little girl to take care of, so on one hand, I may not have too much time to do photography and exploring stuffs, but on the other hand, I need to prepare and be as efficient as possible once I'm there.

We have only hand luggage, almost haft of them is dedicated for toddler's stuffs, so I have to go absolutely light and compact. I have a small Lowepro sling-bag, and she will only accept what I can manage to put inside that bag, plus a very small tripod. With that bag, during some of our previous trips, I can pack the KP + 1 zoom + 3-4 primes (only 3 slots for lenses with 1 big slot that 2-3 small primes can stay together) + a spare battery, a polarizer filter, and a cleaner.

Now come to my lenses collection:

- Primes: DA 15mm, DA 21mm, DA 40mm, DA 70mm, F 50mm 1.7, and some old manual legacy: K24, A28, Helios 58, K55

- Zoom: DA 18-50, DA 20-40, DA 16-50 (recently acquired for a very cheap price), DAL 50-200, and a 55-300 PLM will arrive this week.

Generally, the 15, 21, 40, 70 and 20-40 go with me, but with the arrival of the 16-50, 55-300, and the possibly new experience in Iceland (I've never been in such place with such kind of unpredictable weather), the equation needs some tweaks, and here is my plan (and dilemma) so far:

- The 55-300 PLM, although new, will go with me, because it's the only telephoto lens I have (except for the 50-200 but it's not WR and much less rated)

- The 70 always goes with me so far because it's portrait is very pleasing, and it's the longest lens I have not counting the not very stellar 50-200

- The 40 normally goes with me because it's very compact. But to be honest I haven't used it a lot, although I always bring it. Nevertheless whether to bring it doesn't change much the overall compactness/weight.

- Now there is only place for 1 zoom and 1 primes, or no zoom and 2 primes. A lot of people say the landscape in Iceland is so huge that you should bring the widest lens you have. In my case it's the 15. Also if I bring the 15, the 20-40 would complement it very well, and I like the handling and rendering of the 20-40 a lot. However, I will miss the 21, it deliver stellar images and starburst for night shots. Also, I'm thinking, if I get caught in a rain a lot, the 16-50 might be better because of longer range and faster aperture. In that case, can the 16-50 @16mm replace the 15? Both the 15 and 21 are not WR. But for sure I will miss the Limiteds. Bringing both 20-40 and 16-50 would be overkill, and I will have to leave out the 70 to make space. Or should I? Can the 55-300 handle the occasional portrait shot for the 70?

- Or replace the 16-50 with the 16-85, so I will have an all-around zoom for all kind of weather, complement it by a fast prime (50 or 40), and the 55-300? This is one of the reason I started the recent thread to ask whether I should look for trading my 16-50 for 16-85.

- For you who have already been there, will I need WR and wide that much?

Thanks

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Last edited by Bui; 01-31-2018 at 06:44 AM. Reason: Some typos

[08amczb]

I would bring 15, 21, 40, F50, 70, 55-300 PLM and 20-40.
You are lacking fast frimes for night shots, I prefer F2 and below. (FA* 24, FA31, FA43, FA77...)

[Na Horuk]

Well you have a really nice collection. The problem will be that you will have too many lenses with you

I would bring 15, 21, 40, F50, 70, 55-300 PLM and 20-40.

I agree with this.
But check the weather. If it will be raining the whole time, focus on WR stuff. If not, bring primes. If you will go on trips to see landscapes, bring wide angle. If you will be in mountains, looking for elves, bring telephoto. If you will meet lots of people, bring portrait lens.

Edit: I am a wide shooter, so I would probably leave the 55-300mm at the hotel most of the time. On my trips I usually carry a kit of lenses: 14mm, 21mm, 40mm, 100mm. No zooms, nothing beyond 100mm. It works for me, but it depends on your objectives, goals

[UncleVanya]

Having a 2.5 year old along I would go with simple. My trip to England and France made with two teens, my wife, her dad, and her mentally challenged brother was an occasion where I took a Panasonic LX-7 only. Conversely I took a DSLR on a previous trip.

Bear in mind your significant others patience level...

I would think the 15, 20-40/or/16-50, 55-300, and 70 would cover everything. But I think "everything" is too much. I don't think the 16-50 is a good substitute for the 15, if you take pictures where flare could be a problem (sunrise/set, etc). I also don't know if the telephoto is needed. My short list would be, 15, 16-50, 70. The 20-40 might be a good choice but the speed and greater range means less lens changes and more photo ops.

[microlight]

I'd leave the 21 and 40, as they are duplicated by the ends of the 20-40 zoom range or by the 16-50. You can take occasional 15mm equivalents (roughly) with the 20-40 by shooting two portrait modes at 20mm and stitching in post. The 20-40, plus the 55-300PLM and the 10-17 fishy is appropximately what I'm taking to New Zealand!

I've been to Iceland six times, with various assortments of equipment. I agree with Na Horuk that you have too many lenses. Way too many. I brought the 16-50 and it was a boat anchor. It is also not very good on the wide end, and may have SDM issues. I did use a M28 a lot, and the DA15, I brought a 50-200 once and didn't use it much, but you might find the 55-300 more usable at the long end. I also brought a F50 f1.7 for low light, but didn't use it much either.

If you know how to stitch panoramas, the 21 is all you need for wide angle. The 70 is already your favorite, so you have to bring that. Those two and the petite KP and spare battery and small tripod should do it. With 24mp and the 70 you can crop a lot and still have it equal the long zoom in quality. I wouldn't worry about the WR unless you are going on some major expedition into the wilds (with a guide, please-Iceland can be dangerous!), most of the rain is Iceland comes in squalls that blow over quickly, unless there is a major storm that you wouldn't want to be out in it anyway. I found the wind to be more of a problem than the rain. You should have some kind of rain cover for your bag.

On my last trip I took two Pentax Q7s and four lenses, but they are much smaller. Have fun!

UPDATE: I see that your 16-50 has been converted to screw drive. If you can stand the weight and bulk, that would be a one lens option, although a compromise on the wide end.

If I were to go back to the APS-C format, I would go with two KP bodies and the 21 and the 70, a back up body is always a good idea and no lens switching, a kit that might even fit in your sling bag!

[derelict]

Wow, will you have time to see anything? You are going to miss your vacation because you are too busy trying to take photos and switch lenses. Me, I would bring the 21 and the 55-300. Nothing else. 21 for wide end landscapes (and back up if you need a wider framing) and the 55-300 for everything else.

[blackcloudbrew]

You may want to look through this tread as well. Lenses for Iceland trip - PentaxForums.com

[robjmitchell]

Go play with your new 16-50/2.8 and see if it delivers the image quality you like. Its the only lens that covers both landscape and Portrait. If its good enough add in either the 15 or 21ltd to cover shooting into the sun situations. Then take either the 70 or telezoom for the long end.

If you dont like the 16-50 then its simple, take 15, 20-40, 70 and telezoom.

[UncleVanya]

Go play with your new 16-50/2.8 and see if it delivers the image quality you like. Its the only lens that covers both landscape and Portrait. If its good enough add in either the 15 or 21ltd to cover shooting into the sun situations. Then take either the 70 or telezoom for the long end.

If you dont like the 16-50 then its simple, take 15, 20-40, 70 and telezoom.

I agree. This is essentially what I tried to say but not as clearly.

[WPRESTO]

Benn there (Iceland) and would recommend 15, 20-40, 70, 55-300. Make sure some of your gear is water resistant, better, get a cheap rain cover (I took a ones made by Ruggard, cheap enough to be throw-aways, It WILL drizzle and rain sometimes, and waterfalls create their own weather, and IT IS WET. A small change in wind and the front element of your lens will be soaked by the mist.

---------- Post added 01-31-18 at 02:12 PM ----------

And it doesn't have to be a waterfall that's tucked into a crevice to soak your equipment.

[mholford]

Some good advice given already.
With the trip you describe I couldn't emphasize the KISS principle. (keep it simple)
Take as few lenses as you can get away with and accept there will be a few tradeoffs. So the zooms will be very useful (16-50, 55-300) - two lenses and you have pretty much every focal range covered.
Yes, I'd probably throw my 15ltd in the bag (given it's size/weight). I also would probably throw in my 70... but you might find both get very little use.
Having a simple setup means being able to get "that shot" quickly when time is limited. Especially with young kids and short attention spans.

[redrockcoulee]

I will be revisiting Iceland this fall for a week on the return from a holiday in the Hebrides of Scotland. I will be bringing more photo gear with me than you will as we will have pinhole cameras, Hasselblad and a bunch of film. But both me and my wife are photographers and we don't have a little girl with us.

A water resistant wide to normal zoom would be the most important lens. I have all the DA primes you do plus the F 50 and I will be bringing most of the with me plus the 18-50 and 50-200 WR lenses. In your situation I think the 20-40 and maybe the 15 and 70 would be sufficient, not knowing where you are going and what you will be doing. With a non shooting wife and a little kid, less is best.

On other thing you could do is have a water resistant compact camera and carry only that some of the time so you can record your memories and both you and your wife can enjoy the time with your daughter better.

[wstruth]

I would suggest a 2 lens selection, because with a toddler in the mix you won't have time to change lenses. Unless you want a very upset wife. Remember it's a family vacation and your photography time has to work around that. Back to lenses: your 16-50 and 70 would be my recommendation. A lighter wight solution would be the 20-40 and the 70. in either case if you wanted wider you could take two shots and use software to combine. Microsoft ICE is excellent at this as well as many other software. I've found I very rarely use my 55-300 on vacations so it sits home, YMMV. I just took a business trip to Italy and my selection was a 20-40 on my KP and my G9X point & shoot and my 10-17 fisheye.

[WPRESTO]

Several people are not listing the 55-300mm as a take along, BUT, if you have any thought of going on a whale watch, and they are a blast (if the weather cooperates) you will be very glad to have that lens. As mholford recommended, 16~50mm + 55~300mm will cover 99%, 15mm is tiny. I could have captured more of the boat in a museum if I'd brought either a fish-eye or ultra-wide zoom such as the Sigma 8~16mm (image taken with Pentax 16~85mm @ 16mm). Outdoor ultra-wide images are mostly horizontals and best done by taking multi-shots then stitching in PP to make a panoramic.