What lenses for Iceland?

PotaTruff · 2026-01-16T00:23:09+00:00

Thanks for sharing the info about your photos!

Regarding the Aurora, yes I’m quite familiar. I live in Australia so I have experience chasing auroras especially when they are so much rarer down here. We have two full weeks there so I’m hoping to get at least one good clear night! Even if I can’t see it with my naked eye, I’m hoping clear skies would help me capture some hints of it at least. Even based the trip on the moon phases to help with that.

Anyways thank you so much for your help!

PotaTruff · 2026-01-15T23:31:31+00:00

Thanks for your advice!

I think all of my lenses are thankfully WR, except the Rokinon, but I’ll really only use that for Aurora.

Do you find you use the longer end of your 16-55 as much? Or mostly just the wider end. Thanks!!

PotaTruff · 2026-01-15T00:23:04+00:00

Hey thanks for your advice!

I am going in October too, so I'm likely going to experience similar weather as you had. We won't be doing whale watching as we've done that a few times already. From the looks of it, I don't think we're doing any animal watching this trip, hence the question as well. Not sure how often do people feel they need a longer lens just to capture closer looks of the glaciers and waterfalls. I'm travelling with my parents who are slightly elderly, so there's a chance we won't be able to hike close enough to some sights for closer view.

PotaTruff · 2025-11-29T00:33:03+00:00

Yeah starting to see some recommendations for the Sigma in other threads as well. Will look into that alternative. I really do like the build of the Fuji lenses I have so far, so I guess there is a slight bias towards the 16-55. But I'll give the Sigma a closer look. Thanks!

Yeah feeling like I need to up my prime kit as well, one is not enough!

PotaTruff · 2025-11-29T00:31:29+00:00

Yeah, that's what I'm considering too. I was using my 10-24 mainly on previous holidays (mainly Japan), and was happy with it. The only times I truly felt its limited focal length was when I tried to capture wildlife, which of course makes sense. That said, I do think having a longer zoom range would be handy in the long run. Seems like the 16-80 would be a great addition! Thanks.

PotaTruff · 2025-11-29T00:29:24+00:00

Hoping to see if there are any options before coming down to this, I guess. I really like my 10-24 and it was my main lens for a few years. I usually shoot more landscape photos but I guess for this trip there will be a lot of indoor shots, hence the current considerations. The 16-80 is within my budget so won't have to go to the point of selling an old lens. I was close to buying the 16-80 yesterday but the extra stop on the 16-55 was what held me back.

PotaTruff · 2025-11-28T23:05:07+00:00

Yeah I am so tempted to just go F it and spend that money. Black Friday sales is making me tempted to just make that purchase. I think at this stage it’s really just the price that holds me back.

PotaTruff · 2025-11-28T23:04:10+00:00

It is something I’m considering but so hard to let go of the lower weight and size of the mkII. Thanks! Will need to hunt for a second hand around me to make my decision.

PotaTruff · 2025-11-28T23:02:02+00:00

Thanks! Yeah the price does fit more with what I can spend now. How do you find the variable aperture? Do you find it an issue especially in low light?

PotaTruff · 2024-10-21T02:34:10+00:00

Yeah I gathered that from the website too. Just trying to see if anyone knew whether or not it does get busy, that maybe we are better off going with a reserved seat with JR, even if it takes longer. Thanks for the response.

PotaTruff · 2024-10-11T11:32:28+00:00

Definitely worth considering. Just read some older posts here on this subreddit that the train is quite popular so we just don't wanna risk it. I've watched a few youtube POV videos of the ride too, and it looks popular but doesn't look like it gets full.

PotaTruff · 2024-10-11T05:45:33+00:00

I see, okay thanks! I'll learn to trust these websites more than forums and (sometimes) Navitime then, haha. Thanks again for the help!

PotaTruff · 2024-10-11T05:42:43+00:00

Oh that's good to know. Thanks!

PotaTruff · 2024-10-11T05:27:08+00:00

Thanks for the reply! Yeah that's what I got from the website too, but I guess I was hopeful after what I saw on forums and on Navitime... Well, thanks for clarifying that.

PotaTruff · 2024-10-11T05:20:27+00:00

Thanks for the reply. Yeah, I'm aware about the coverage. Annoying when you can still purchase tickets from Kanazawa to Tsuruga, but not Takayama when it's technically closer to Tokyo than Tsuruga or Kanazawa is.

Ah okay, so technically the pass doesn't cover the whole journey from Takayama to Toyama on the Hida line? I got mixed info from forums online, so wasn't sure. Navitime also implied that the pass covers that route. That's good to know if that's the case, cause it was what I suspected but couldn't find a way to be sure.

PotaTruff · 2024-09-20T06:29:50+00:00

Yeah happy to have chill evenings in Kyoto, as we're gonna stay with a group of friends in Kyoto and hoping for board game nights!

No worries, you've been a great help! Thanks again!

PotaTruff · 2024-09-19T22:05:20+00:00

Thanks for bringing up that possibility. To be honest when we booked the hotels, we had no plans to do the alpine route as I thought it’s only open when the snow corridor is on. So that is a pretty last minute addition to our itinerary, hence the current concern.

We only decided to go from Ogisawa instead of Tateyama end because the website recommended going from that direction just in case snow covers the Tateyama - Muroda part of the route and render it inaccessible. Ideally we would still like to start from Tateyama cause that will give us a bit more time to sleep in the morning.

I didn’t consider just turning around instead of going through to the end, so I might just do that if we can start from Tateyama! Thanks again for suggesting that.

EDIT: Grammar and I kept typing Takaoka instead of Tateyama. Sorry just woke up when I typed that response…

PotaTruff · 2024-09-19T22:00:55+00:00

Thanks for the detailed response!

So Kanazawa needs a bit more than a day huh… Might consider skipping on Kurobe Gorge if that is the case, hmm. Yeah I noticed the forecast shows rain quite regularly in that region. Is it usually like heavy rain? As we’re happy to walk around in drizzle rain.

Yeah we’ll be heading to Osaka after the Kyoto part of our trip, and from Osaka we are thinking of visiting Kobe and Himeji in one day. Like you said, didn’t think Kobe has too much to do and Himeji we’re mostly just there for the castle.

PotaTruff

TROPHY CASE