woody73

 

Thanks for the replies about People to People. Our friends are prepared to buy the excursions but not sure about the donation to P to P. Did anyone have to donate this $ 95.

Previously on the Cuba Cruise website, the People to People registration was a "tax deductible affiliation contribution of $75"

.

 

. . . By just showing them the photo, they knew what we were after and pointed to the corner and sign where the bus passed.

Good idea!

I've used the OpTech Rainsleeve at Antarctica and the Galapagos with good results.

Woody

 

One other possibility is this: well prior to the start of the season, the expedition companies divvy up the Peninsula "touring" area amongst themselves, agreeing on which ship will be where for what window of time. The goal is to give each ship and their guests some "alone time" at each spot, making things appear as remote and devoid of human presence as possible (and of course not have too many people ashore). In your case, you may have needed to get out of where you were because you were about to intrude on another ship's block of time.

 

I found it fascinating when our expedition leader explained this whole process to us.

We heard this as well in Nov 2014.

One morning we missed a scheduled landing due to weather. Our expedition leader fortunately was able to find an alternate place to visit.

At recap that evening, the expedition leader explained the process for changing an itinerary. Before the start of the season, the expedition companies (IAATO members) select their landing spots. The schedule is shared among IAATO members. If a ship wants to visit an alternate landing, and the schedule shows no one has said they are going there at that time, the ship can simply announce it will go to that location. But if the schedule says another ship will go there, our ship would would have to inquire if they still planned to do so.

This system works well to preserve "alone time." After our morning visit to Palmer Station, on the zodiac ride back to the ship we saw an anchored ship waiting for it's time slot for its guests to visit the station.

Woody

 

. . . Boots could not be rented when we traveled, and yes we did bring them back and forth. (I can't believe it, actually.) As stines says, you must thoroughly wash them on your return from each landing; there's a disinfectant station for doing this. They were quite clean when we schlepped them home. :)

 

. . . First, on boots - check out NEOS - sort of like galoshes over your walking shoes - assures comfortable walking, light weight and easy packing.

We were on the Nov 2014 sailing to Antarctica, South Georgia and the Falklands. Although boots were available to rent, we purchased them in advance to ensure proper fit, and to use on other trips.

My wife got the Arctic Muck Boots which she fitted with New Balance insoles for arch support. They were warm and comfortable, even on long hikes.

I got NEOS, which fit over my New Balance trainers. Since the trainers were broken in, the combination of trainers and NEOS was very comfortable. Plus, they take up very little room to pack. (We shared one 29-inch checked bag.)

As others have mentioned, cleaning and disinfecting one's boots is mandatory. Our boots were clean and dry when we packed them to disembark.

Woody

 

Those of you who've gone, did any of you carry two bodies onto land at once?

 

Like Woody, I am bringing two bodies and was planning to bring them both with me on landings to keep me from having to change lenses outside. So maybe one with a wide-angle lens and one with a long one. I am having trouble figuring out, though, if that's just going to be too much hassle.

 

I'm not sure yet how I'm going to carry them...I'm thinking some sort of dry bag with backpack straps.

While on the NatGeo Explorer, I took two D7100 bodies fitted with 18-300mm and 80-400mm lenses on landings. The 18-300 was my "go to" lens (thanks Turtles for the advice!). The 80-400 lens was fantastic for isolating animals and for animal headshots.

I used the Outdoor Research "Dry Peak Bagger" mentioned in my above post. It is a dry bag with backpack straps. Just make sure you add some padding, such as a towel or bubble wrap, between your gear. The bag also has a convenient "ice axe sleeve" (an external sleeve) which was perfect for holding my monopod.

 

My plan so far is to bring four batteries for the DSLRs, so each body has one battery + one spare in case the cold kills the first one too quickly.

I too had four batteries for the two DSLRs. The Nikon batteries held up extremely well in the cold. I kept the spare batteries warm in an inner jacket pocket, and only had to change a DSLR battery once or twice while off the ship. I never had to use the "fourth" battery, which was comforting.

However, due to the conditions at one especially chilly, snowy, and windy landing, I didn't dare bringing out the DSLR. Instead, I tried using my Olympus waterproof point and shoot. Fully charged batteries only lasted a couple of minutes. Then I tried using my Canon S100 point and shoot, with similar results. But even though I had a RainSleeve for my DSLR, I wasn't about to bring it out in those conditions.

Woody

 

what brand/model bag did you end up buying?

Before our expedition, I bought the Outdoor Research "Dry Peak Bagger." It worked exceptionally well, and I was very pleased.

During our expedition, we not only dealt with wet landings, but while riding on the zodiac, we encountered snowfall, sleet, rain, heavy salt spray, and splash from waves. When seated on the zodiac, our backpacks were often exposed, as they were facing outward. Backpacks place on the floor of the zodiacs often got wet with water sloshing around the floor. There were people whose standard canvas backpacks got completely soaked through.

After the first zodiac rides, many people bought a dry bag at the onboard shop.

YMMV

Woody

 

Would welcome any suggestions for an alternate body on which I could use the 18-55 VR and 55-300 VR lenses I have. . .

 

. . . I am looking for another body so that if a challenge develops with the D3200 on the 84-day Africa Explorer HAL cruise I'm booked on next September, I will have another camera body on which I can use the two lenses. . .

DeeDee,

You've received plenty of great advice thus far.

Having been on multiple safari trips to Africa, I'll just add that if you are looking for a backup body to your D3200, and are pleased with your current camera, I'd recommend getting another D3200.

The reason is if your have a problem with your primary camera body, your can grab your backup body and continue shooting without delay.

While on safari in 2012 and 2013, I used two D5100 camera bodies, each fitted with a different lens. In 2014, I switched to two D7100 bodies. On all three trips, I could switch between the cameras effortlessly.

Woody

I would just add to try adjusting the Exposure Value. As I recall, I got great results with -1.3 EV or -1.7 EV.

Woody

 

This might help with saving battery power.

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/54201219

Tom: thank you for the informative thread.

Woody

Yes, she's using the crossed lines with rule of thirds. It's far from ideal, but it works.

Woody

 

. . . I usually take 100-200 pictures/day. Should I plan on more than two batteries/day?

You should be fine, though it depends on your shooting habits and subjects. (Video? Reviewing photos and/or showing others? Editing and deleting photos? Long shooting sessions, such as animal watching?)

Woody

 

I am curious as to how your wife liked the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40 and how well it performed under adverse :rolleyes: conditions.

Steve: although my wife has yet to use the DMC-ZS40 under adverse conditions (we have upcoming trips to Kenya for the Great Migration, Antarctica, Fairbanks for the Northern Lights, and the Galapagos), she likes the camera and would recommend it.

She especially likes:

• The spot focus feature lets her focus on a small subject, such as a bird in a tree.
  
• The 30x zoom range is nice, and will come in handy when photographing wildlife.
  
• The horizontal level is very handy.
  
• She likes having the viewfinder, especially in bright sunlight.

Some dislikes:

• There is a longer lag time between exposures than on her prior camera.
  
• The camera does not have the traditional rule of thirds grid. (It has several others.)
  
• This camera uses batteries faster than her prior camera.

Overall, she likes the camera and would recommend it.

Woody

 

Was hoping there might be a roll call for this but haven't had much luck finding one. . .

I know what you mean. We're on the Nat Geo Explorer's Nov 10 , 2014, expedition, and haven't found a roll call for that sailing either.

Woody

 

Looking for some suggestions on a good camera bag that can take the following:

 

2 camera bodies (Sony and Nikon)

2 smaller lenses

2 larger lenses (up to 300)

 

. . . Any suggestions?

Karen: I too am in the market for a new camera bag to carry two camera bodies and lenses.

For me, nearly all of my upcoming trips will include air travel. So I have to decide whether the camera bag will be my carry-on bag or personal item.

Lately, United and American have been very strict with the size of cabin bags. United now has a personal item size limit: 10" x 9" x 17" (L x W x H), and has added bag sizers for personal items at airport lobbies. United

So as I look for a new camera bag, I am mindful of whether the airlines will characterize it as a carry-on or personal item.

YMMV

Woody

 

I have a 2 year old ZS19 and like what it does. The ZS40 should be a much improved version.

 

. . . if I were the buyer and had these 4 presented to me, what I would find most important:

 

First, the ZS40 is a superzoom - so sort of fits in another category for me - if you need lens reach above all else, that puts this one above the others. If telephoto reach isn't as important, then I'd consider other things.

My wife has a two year-old ZS19, which has a Leica 20x optical zoom (24-480mm using 35mm equivalent). The Leica lens is SHARP, often outperforming my DSLR.

We have upcoming travel that will involve photographing wildlife. So my wife wanted a camera with a longer reach. She got a ZS40 which has an EVF and a Leica 30x optical zoom (24-720mm using 35mm equivalent). Once again, the lens is SHARP. The only disadvantage I'm aware of with this camera is the battery charges in the camera. So we had to buy an aftermarket battery charger.

For a pocketable camera that takes sharp photos and has an EVF, I suggest the ZS40.

Woody

 

. . . And, most dramatic of all, very early one morning a group of killer whales were spotted off our starboard bow.

Thanks for sharing such an incredible experience!

Woody

 

I have bought a 32gb Sandisk Extreme card

 

. . . I have a Canon 650D.

 

. . . Can anyone tell me, if this size will be sufficient for the approx. 2000 or more photos and also some videos I may take, or would I be better to have another one for back up.

You've received plenty of good advice so far. Here's a chart that might help further. SanDisk chart.

Woody

We've cruised many times on Disney, as well as on other lines. I think your intended equipment are very good choices.

Some thoughts about taking photos on a Disney cruise:

• There will be many photo ops with Disney characters -- many more than in the parks. Cast members will be happy to take photos with your camera, so an easy to use camera is ideal.
   
  
• Photography and video are not allowed at the shows in the main theatre.
   
  
• The fireworks will be on the starboard side.
   
  

Woody

 

. . . This is my personal favourite from my first trip.

 

And from my second trip - my favourite bird in flight shot which was purely an accident - I was aiming at the iceberg and the bird flew into the frame.

Nice photos.

The photo of the bird in flight reminds me of a cruise around Cape Horn on the Mariner of the Seas. The Cruise Director had a daily morning show, and often showed photos submitted by passengers. We had some days with extremely high winds.

After a particularly windy day, the CD showed a photo of a lounge chair in flight. A guest was on his balcony taking a picture of the ocean. The wind blew a lounge chair from the top deck over the side of the ship. The passenger just happened to snap the photo at the right moment, and didn't even know he photographed the lounge chair in flight until he reviewed his photos.

The CD did warn people not to throw lounge chairs overboard to get a photo of their own.

Woody

 

Lights began as soon as it got dark sometimes and sometimes later. . .

 

Does -20 degrees at night with a good wind attract your attention.

 

. . . Yes - I said a down jacket under my down jacket.

 

One other thing that I forgot to add. Do your shutter speed and ISO in manual and also work on manual focus. Prefocus to infinity before you go out into the dark and do not change the focus setting. It is hard for autofocus to focus on stars.

Don: I appreciate all your tips for the Northern Lights trip. I still can't get over how cold it will be. Brrrrrr!

Woody

 

You might want to be careful about wearing the patch for more than three consecutive days. . .

Bob: thank you for the heads up and for the link to the article. This will be my first time wearing the patch, and I appreciate your sharing your experience. I previously read about the dry mouth side effect, but not the withdrawal issues.

I'll now limit my use of the patch to three days, which should easily cover the time we are crossing the Drake.

Woody

 

Well, here's what the dining room looked like during breakfast on one of the mornings when we were crossing the Drake. :)

Too funny!

Woody

 

Some other birds that you may encounter off the coast of South America are:

 

. . . The Giant Petral

 

. . . And the Great Shearwater

 

Love the photos --

 

. . . Several points --

 

. . . Be prepared for anything == like a Penguin Jumping in the Zodiac.

Or a buzz by from a bird...

 

. . . Some of my best photos were while everyone was at dinner. No one on the the upper deck (except the ship photographer.

Also talk with the ship's photographer -- he knows where to get the best photos.

Nice photos!

Good tip to talk with the ship's photographer. We are scheduled to sail with NatGeo photographer Kevin Schafer. Bio Has anyone sailed with him, or familiar with his work?

Woody

 

. . . I am very fortunate in that I don't get seasick and am not bothered by the "motion of the ocean." In fact, I quite enjoy it. ;)

 

Me neither :) I get extremely bored and restless in flat seas - I need ocean waves crashing over the bow and fabulous 35 degree rocking !!

I can just picture you two and my wife at dinner during rough seas, asking each other, "Where is everyone?"

Amazing photo of the wave crashing over the bow.

Woody