topic GREENLAND - Advice from Greenland-experienced photographers on what equipment to bring in Gear Guide

GREENLAND - Advice from Greenland-experienced photographers on what equipment to bring

garymak — Tue, 07 Jan 2025 21:46:19 GMT

I'm planning a trip to Greenland this summer.

I would like to solicit suggestions / tips from photographers with first hand experience in Greenland on lenses and accessories and other tips, given the limitations of travel there.

What equipment (lenses, accessories) did you find essential? What are some dangers (besides polar bears!) to watch out for? What worked, what didn't? Thoughts on "if I were to do it over again, here's what I'd do..."

PLEASE: While good intentions are appreciated, I ask forbearance in responding to all those photographers unless you have actually been to Greenland specifically (not Iceland, Alaska, some other cold remote place, etc.)

Background: I've been to Iceland & Alaska (many times) before and will be hitting Iceland again before and after. We'll be in Greenland for about 12 days, more than likely early JULY, traveling from Nuuk up to Ilulissat via boat and plane. We're planning a few boat trips for "whale watching", as well as the usual stops for glacier and iceberg watching. Would like to do some bird photography as well. All local travel by boat and small plane of course.

Equipment Plan: R5 + RF 100-500mm ƒ5.6-7.1 L IS USM, + 24-105mm ƒ4 L, + polarizers, grad ND, low tripod (MTPIXI-B Mini-Tripod with Wembley Arca-Swiss Adapter), (also monopod perhaps), + Backup camera: GX-1 MkIII, + 430EX III-RT Flash, + Wandrd Prvke 21L Camera Backpack + one or two of Sea-to-Summit Dry Bags.
Also: Canon Binoculars 10x30 IS II.

Assumption is I need to carry this on my back all day most days. So weight is a consideration not only for those puddle-jumper flights but also my back. Another assumption is that, similar to safaris in Africa, due to the outdoor nature of things and rough settings, there is not going to be much opportunity for safe lens changing during the day.

I should add that I'm a well-seasoned traveler and photographer but I'm not 30 anymore and thrill-seeking and exhausting early morning summit climbs (or any time of day, really) for "nice views" are long since in my rear view mirror and off my list of "must dos."

I welcome any thoughts, suggestions, recommendation, tips, tricks, cautions, "What worked for you, what didn't," what kind of settings (ss/ƒ-stop/IS) did you find you most frequently used and how did it work out?

Much obliged and thank you in advance.

Re: GREENLAND - Advice from Greenland-experienced photographers on what equipment to bring

ebiggs1 — Wed, 08 Jan 2025 16:07:09 GMT

"... tips from photographers with first hand experience in Greenland .."

I doubt that line will be long.

However, I see Greenland as no different than any other location but since you don't want advice or suggestions from non-Greenland travelers I digress.

Re: GREENLAND - Advice from Greenland-experienced photographers on what equipment to bring

garymak — Wed, 08 Jan 2025 19:25:56 GMT

Thank you for your response. And the opportunity to clarify. Appreciate it. Yes, I'm aware that that might be the result. That's totally fine. I'm not looking for speculative opinions based on adaptations from other experiences in other "similar" places. I have plenty of that already based on my own (and other photographer friends') extensive experiences in other "similar" locations. (I assume your comment that "no different than any other location" doesn't refer to comparisons with say, Kenya, Japan, Costa Rica, etc., but rather "similar" Nordic/arctic type geographic locations.)

In any case, each location has a unique set of circumstances, whether that be geographic/environmental, political, cultural, etc., that impacts the experience, and while for one level, a "general consideration" can be given for "similar regional environments" (e.g.,. "Scandinavia in the winter") with comparisons made for a quick, overall understanding. But on a deeper level, however, each one has its own unique set of conditions and circumstances that need to be taken into consideration. Sometimes little things, if not considered, can make or break the experience and success of the visit. In the end, region "A" might be almost the same as region "B", but you will never know that with any certainty by someone's speculation, only by the stated experiences of people who have actually been there. That's what I am looking for, hence the question.

If there is no further response because no one has that experience, then that's fine. No harm, no foul. I was just trying to save all of us a lot of time by avoiding responses based on speculative opinions. I've got that already.

Re: GREENLAND - Advice from Greenland-experienced photographers on what equipment to bring

shadowsports — Wed, 08 Jan 2025 20:05:09 GMT

Greetings,

Anything you did in Alaska and Iceland that worked is going to be extremely similar to Greenland. I've been to Alaska and the biggest differences between the two is latitude, temperature and the amount of ice versus dirt. July is not a great time of year for Northern lights. You'll be looking at anywhere from 16 to 20 hours of daylight each day.

I did compose a reply but decided to respect your request. However, I'll say again that anything that worked for you in Iceland and Alaska is going to work for you in Greenland as well. Condensation is going to be one of the biggest issues you'll probably face. That's not speculation. 😄. I'm sure you'll have a great trip.

Re: GREENLAND - Advice from Greenland-experienced photographers on what equipment to bring

garymak — Thu, 09 Jan 2025 20:36:09 GMT

" Condensation is going to be one of the biggest issues you'll probably face. "

Thanks for that reminder!! Appreciate it.

Re: GREENLAND - Advice from Greenland-experienced photographers on what equipment to bring

jrhoffman75 — Sun, 16 Nov 2025 23:51:08 GMT

@garymak wrote:

I'm planning a trip to Greenland this summer.

I would like to solicit suggestions / tips from photographers with first hand experience in Greenland on lenses and accessories and other tips, given the limitations of travel there.

What equipment (lenses, accessories) did you find essential? What are some dangers (besides polar bears!) to watch out for? What worked, what didn't? Thoughts on "if I were to do it over again, here's what I'd do..."

PLEASE: While good intentions are appreciated, I ask forbearance in responding to all those photographers unless you have actually been to Greenland specifically (not Iceland, Alaska, some other cold remote place, etc.)

Background: I've been to Iceland & Alaska (many times) before and will be hitting Iceland again before and after. We'll be in Greenland for about 12 days, more than likely early JULY, traveling from Nuuk up to Ilulissat via boat and plane. We're planning a few boat trips for "whale watching", as well as the usual stops for glacier and iceberg watching. Would like to do some bird photography as well. All local travel by boat and small plane of course.

Equipment Plan: R5 + RF 100-500mm ƒ5.6-7.1 L IS USM, + 24-105mm ƒ4 L, + polarizers, grad ND, low tripod (MTPIXI-B Mini-Tripod with Wembley Arca-Swiss Adapter), (also monopod perhaps), + Backup camera: GX-1 MkIII, + 430EX III-RT Flash, + Wandrd Prvke 21L Camera Backpack + one or two of Sea-to-Summit Dry Bags.
Also: Canon Binoculars 10x30 IS II.

Assumption is I need to carry this on my back all day most days. So weight is a consideration not only for those puddle-jumper flights but also my back. Another assumption is that, similar to safaris in Africa, due to the outdoor nature of things and rough settings, there is not going to be much opportunity for safe lens changing during the day.

I should add that I'm a well-seasoned traveler and photographer but I'm not 30 anymore and thrill-seeking and exhausting early morning summit climbs (or any time of day, really) for "nice views" are long since in my rear view mirror and off my list of "must dos."

I welcome any thoughts, suggestions, recommendation, tips, tricks, cautions, "What worked for you, what didn't," what kind of settings (ss/ƒ-stop/IS) did you find you most frequently used and how did it work out?

Much obliged and thank you in advance.

What did you ultimately decide to bring and how did it work out? I will be going there in July 2026.

Re: GREENLAND - Advice from Greenland-experienced photographers on what equipment to bring

garymak1 — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 06:29:34 GMT

As per my original outline of what I was planning to bring, here’s what I brought and what worked and what didn’t:

R5 + RF 100-500mm ƒ5.6-7.1 L IS USM, + 24-105mm ƒ4 L, + RF tele-extender 2X, polarizers, grad ND, lightweight carbon tripod, monopod, + Backup camera: GX-1 MkIII, + 430EX III-RT Flash, + Wandrd Prvke 21L Camera Backpack + one or two of Sea-to-Summit Dry Bags. Also: Canon Binoculars 10x30 IS II, Domke® Photographer’s Vest, Merrell® Moab 3 Waterproof Hiking Shoes.

Here's a sampling of images with technical data:

R5 + RF 100-500mm L , used it a lot for whales and birds.

Exif: Model: Canon EOS R5 Exif: F number: 13.0 Exif: Exposure time: 1/200 s Exif: ISO speed rating: 100 Exif: Lens Model: RF24-105mm F4 L IS USM Exif: Lens focal length: 76.0 mmExif: Model: Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III Exif: F number: 11.0 Exif: Exposure time: 1/125 s Exif: ISO speed rating: 100 Exif: Lens Model: 15.0-45.0 mm Exif: Lens focal length: 27.4 mmExif: Model: Canon EOS R5 Exif: F number: 13.0 Exif: Exposure time: 1/125 s Exif: ISO speed rating: 100 Exif: Lens Model: RF24-105mm F4 L IS USM Exif: Lens focal length: 50.0 mmExif: Model: Canon EOS R5 Exif: F number: 10.0 Exif: Exposure time: 1/200 s Exif: ISO speed rating: 100 Exif: Lens Model: RF24-105mm F4 L IS USM Exif: Lens focal length: 105.0 mmExif: Model: Canon EOS R5 Exif: F number: 8.0 Exif: Exposure time: 1/1000 s Exif: ISO speed rating: 250 Exif: Lens Model: RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM Exif: Lens focal length: 500.0 mm CanonExif: Model: Canon EOS R5 Exif: F number: 8.0 Exif: Exposure time: 1/800 s Exif: ISO speed rating: 500 Exif: Lens Model: RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM Exif: Lens focal length: 500.0 mmExif: Model: Canon EOS R5 Exif: F number: 8.0 Exif: Exposure time: 1/1250 s Exif: ISO speed rating: 400 Exif: Lens Model: RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM Exif: Lens focal length: 500.0 mmExif: Model: Canon EOS R5 Exif: F number: 11.0 Exif: Exposure time: 1/1250 s Exif: ISO speed rating: 800 Exif: Lens Model: RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM + EXTENDER RF2x Exif: Lens focal length: 600.0 mmExif: Model: Canon EOS R5 Exif: F number: 9.0 Exif: Exposure time: 1/1600 s Exif: ISO speed rating: 400 Exif: Lens Model: RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM Exif: Lens focal length: 500.0 mmExif: Model: Canon EOS R5 Exif: F number: 6.3 Exif: Exposure time: 1/2500 s Exif: ISO speed rating: 800 Exif: Lens Model: RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM Exif: Lens focal length: 145.0 mmExif: Model: Canon EOS R5 Exif: F number: 6.3 Exif: Exposure time: 1/2500 s Exif: ISO speed rating: 800 Exif: Lens Model: RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM Exif: Lens focal length: 151.0 mmExif: Model: Canon EOS R5 Exif: F number: 6.3 Exif: Exposure time: 1/2500 s Exif: ISO speed rating: 640 Exif: Lens Model: RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM Exif: Lens focal length: 123.0 mmExif: Model: Canon EOS R5 Exif: F number: 5.6 Exif: Exposure time: 1/2500 s Exif: ISO speed rating: 2000 Exif: Lens Model: RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM Exif: Lens focal length: 300.0 mmExif: Model: Canon EOS R5 Exif: F number: 9.0 Exif: Exposure time: 1/400 s Exif: ISO speed rating: 500 Exif: Lens Model: RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM Exif: Lens focal length: 500.0 mmExif: Model: Canon EOS R5 Exif: F number: 8.0 Exif: Exposure time: 1/800 s Exif: ISO speed rating: 400 Exif: Lens Model: RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM Exif: Lens focal length: 270.0 mmExif: Model: Canon EOS R5 Exif: F number: 13.0 Exif: Exposure time: 1/100 s Exif: ISO speed rating: 100 Exif: Lens Model: RF24-105mm F4 L IS USM Exif: Lens focal length: 105.0 mmExif: Model: Canon EOS R5 Exif: F number: 13.0 Exif: Exposure time: 1/100 s Exif: ISO speed rating: 100 Exif: Lens Model: RF24-105mm F4 L IS USM Exif: Lens focal length: 45.0 mm

R5 + RF 24-105mm ƒ4 L: used it most of the rest of the time for landscape and other non-boating, non-bird shots.

R5 + RF 16mm ƒ2.8: used it occasionally for wide open landscapes such as glaciers or volcanic areas. Could have used the 24-105mm, but sometimes the 16mm was better. It is tiny and doesn’t weigh much, so why not bring it? I thought…

RF Extender 2X: opportunities were limited to use it. Although the whales are often far away, putting the tele-extender onto the 100-500mm lens rendering it into a 600mm-1,000mm lens was ineffective because of the movement of the boat and the very small field of view. It became impossible to even find the whales through the viewfinder since there’s just a small field of view and a lot of rocking making it very difficult to find or focus with it. (I did use it for a couple of whale shots early on, included here, and realized the problems with using it, so didn't use it after that.)

Another issue is with birds in flight. They are fast moving and at 1,000mm you can’t even find them in the sky, let alone focus and lock in. With some practice I used my 100-500mm lens at no more than 300mm, which gave enough field of view to pick up the bird and let the autofocus lock in on the bird, and I either waited for the bird to fly towards me or if flying parallel to me, find the bird in the view finder, lock on the focus and then zoom out to 500mm. Most of the time I let the bird fly into me and took it at 300mm.

A few other things proved very useful:

- The Merrell® Moab 3 Waterproof Hiking Shoes (or whatever your favorite brand is.) You don’t need above-the-angle hiking boots, but a rugged-soled waterproof hiking boot is a must. The terrain is often rugged, getting on and off boats can be a challenge.

- My Domke®-photographer’s vest. I often travel with a photo vest for the obvious reasons, but also because of the tight weight restrictions on domestic flights, such as you would take in Greenland. Funny, they don’t care what passengers weigh, but they are rather strict about the weight of carryon bags! On both flights I took within Greenland I had to basically empty out my camera bag and put lenses, cameras, batteries in my photo vest as they wanted to check my camera bag! No way! So I shoved the R5 and the RF 100-500mm lens and the 24-105mm lens, and the RF tele-extender 2X, and my Backup camera: GX-1 MkIII, and my 430EX III-RT Flash all into the photo vest, and “passed” the weight restrictions on carry-on bags, and just walked onto the plane. After I got on board, I just replaced everything into my recently emptied camera bag! A stupid bit of charade, but you need to prepare for that!

- Monopod: I used this a lot, especially on boats for whale watching. The camera was always at the ready on the monopod and I didn’t have to hold it for 2 hours which would have hurt my hands. Ditto for the puffins. I think I only used the tripod a couple of times and could have done without it. It’s daylight almost round-the-clock in July in Greenland and Iceland.

- Both Greenland and Iceland are cloudy/overcast a lot at that time of year, so a monopod would help steady shots at lower shutter speeds.

- Didn’t use the flash much, but I always bring a flash anyway.

- Polarizers: most of the time it was overcast and not very bright, so a polarizer wasn’t useful.

- Back up camera: very useful, especially on boats where rain and rocking make changing lenses problematic. The G1-X III was good to have as a wider angle/up close camera when I had the 100-500 on the R5.

-Day pack: just a day pack to put your gear in for the day. The 21L pack I used for storing and moving all my camera gear, but for just a day out - especially on a boat - I don’t need everything, and a smaller, lighter daypack is what I used. It wasn’t a photographer’s back pack, just I lightweight 10L or so backpack I modified and packed with some inserts.

In the end, I would pack the same equipment, not a tripod though. I don’t think I’d change the lenses as with these 3, there really wasn’t any length that I didn’t have that I wished I had.

That’s about it…