Svalbard in September............excited

[ndwgolf]

I have just signed up for this trip in September 2016 to Svalbard .....................Yusuf is a good friend of mine so I am sure this trip will be as good as he says it will.

I currently have a Nikon 300mm f2.8 but after looking at the attached videos I think I will get myself either the very new Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 600mm f/4E FL ED VR Lens or the older Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 800mm f/5.6E FL ED VR Lens.
The difference in the two is about USD5k so I am thinking/asking would I be better off just getting the 600mm and a D7100 body (DX) which would give me 900mm with the crop factor..............I hate Teleconverters

Anyone ever been to Svalbard????

 

[boliston]

I'm off to svalbard next summer but only own one lens - a 28mm

 

[Kodiak Qc]

…which would give me 900mm with the crop factor...I hate Teleconverters

Very bad equation… that lead to so many disappointments and wrong investments!

 

[ndwgolf]

Very bad equation… that lead to so many disappointments and wrong investments!

Please explain

 

[digital]

Anyone ever been to Svalbard????

We were in Ittoqqortoormiit (Scoresbysund), NE Greenland two weeks ago and Svalbard a week ago. We circumnavigated Svalbard just over two years ago.

I have to say that, in my opinion, your trip's organiser is overselling the wildlife 'opportunities' a little. He makes it sound like wall-to-wall sightings with 'numerous Polar Bears, Arctic Reindeer, White Beaked Dolphins, Walrus, Harp Seals, Arctic Foxes, Migratory Birds and other Arctic wildlife'. In a total of just over three weeks, on two trips, we saw just five Polar Bears, for example. Reindeer and Walrus are much easier though. For reindeer, just hang around on the outskirts of Longyearbyen, and for Walrus you can approach, but not land on, Moffen Island.

I had a 5D3 and a 70D with me and switched a Sigma 150-600 between the two. I needed all of the 600 (960 on the 70D) for the Polar Bears, Orca, Humpbacks and Fin Whales that we saw.

Good luck, enjoy the trip, and then book Antarctica!

 

[digital]

I'm off to svalbard next summer but only own one lens - a 28mm

You'll need something longer!

 

[ndwgolf]

I had a 5D3 and a 70D with me and switched a Sigma 150-600 between the two. I needed all of the 600 (960 on the 70D) for the Polar Bears, Orca, Humpbacks and Fin Whales that we saw.

Would you say the 800mm is OTT...........I wouldn't mind the 600mm as due to the new construction it is now potentially hand holdable which would work great for me at home shooting birds.

 

[Kodiak Qc]

Would you say the 800mm is OTT… for me at home shooting birds.

•
The most important things to consider are:
• the forced tripod utilization
• the relative effect on the frame (this is where one makes it or brakes it):

The 600mm is twice the focal length of the 300mm and
the 800mm has only 33.3% more than the 600mm but, in this case,
will cost you 5 more grands US.
​

I would never consider using a TC on my 200~400mm ƒ4 but on a prime
long lens I sure do. On my 600mm ƒ4, the 1.4x TC takes me to 840mm
and costs me only 1 ƒ stop.

 

[Boldonian]

Always wanted to visit Svalbard . Be sure to take a trip to Pyramiden when you are there.

 

[ndwgolf]

•
The most important things to consider are:
• the forced tripod utilization
• the relative effect on the frame (this is where one makes it or brakes it):

The 600mm is twice the focal length of the 300mm and
the 800mm has only 33.3% more than the 600mm but, in this case,
will cost you 5 more grands US.
​

I would never consider using a TC on my 200~400mm ƒ4 but on a prime
long lens I sure do. On my 600mm ƒ4, the 1.4x TC takes me to 840mm
and costs me only 1 ƒ stop.

I've tried TC's and have had zero success. The new 600 mm f4 is 2 lbs lighter than the previous model and only 2 lbs heavier than my 300mm f2.8 so I am thinking possible to grab the odd hand held shot. I'm also thinking 600mm will be enough especially with the D800 or the D4s

 

[Kodiak Qc]

I've tried TC's and have had zero success.

•
Indeed, TC is not a toy but a tool. Like all/any tool, it needs the be fit to work.
AF FineTuning is the fitting of a TC. Maybe this is the reason of your experience.

 

[digital]

Would you say the 800mm is OTT...........I wouldn't mind the 600mm as due to the new construction it is now potentially hand holdable which would work great for me at home shooting birds.

Not over the top: you'll always wish you had a longer lens at some stage up there! 600 was good enough, and I could get 960 on the 70D.

I've just posted some random 600mm hand helds from off NE Greenland at www.talkphotography.co.uk/threads/sigma-150-600-mm-f-5-6-3-dg-os-hsm-sports-owners-thread.577088/page-12#post-7072668

 

[Mintchocs]

You didn't say what you want to photograph! I went there about ten years ago, all I had was a compact camera. If you are doing hikes the weight of your winter gear plus your heavy camera stuff could leave you feeling a few inches shorter!

 

[ndwgolf]

You didn't say what you want to photograph!!

Anything and everything I guess.....hoping to see some wildlife, the Northern Lights and nice ladscapes

 

[Cheffievrs]

Will you be shooting from zodiacs, if so you will need something hand holdable. so if the 6 or 8 fits the bill then thats your answer. The other thing to consider, if your on a small boat 12 or so, then luggage will be restricted, if your on a big boat, then you'll be ok.

 

[ndwgolf]

Will you be shooting from zodiacs, if so you will need something hand holdable. so if the 6 or 8 fits the bill then thats your answer. The other thing to consider, if your on a small boat 12 or so, then luggage will be restricted, if your on a big boat, then you'll be ok.

I think we will be on both the ship, zodiacs and on land. The ship is pretty large looking see below;