Holiday trip (to Norway), what should I take? What not to forget?

[neuroanatomist]

I'd take the 5DII, 24-105mm, and the 50mm prime. Take the tripod, and lots of CF cards.


On my trip to China, I took close to 2,000 shots and from the 5DII had a bit over 600 'keepers,' of which nearly 400 were taken with the 24-105mm. For walking around at night, I used the 35mm f/1.4L - and that's why I'd recommend the 50/1.4 as well.


Have a great trip!

[Lars]

I am from Norway, and has travelled around in my home country a bit. First, the gear you might need. I assume you will be interested in the nature, most people come to Norway to enjoy the scenery. Bring a wide-angle. Perhaps a ultra-wide, if you don't have one. If you only bring your 50mm, you will regret, guaranteed. If you decide to visit the western or northern parts of Norway, the scenery is difficult to catch without a wide-angle.


If you stay at western or northern Norway, you might also consider a tele-lens. Whale-safari is quite popular, and you can get lucky to see killer whales or other species. Not the easiest to shoot with a 50 mm. A tele lens or harpoon would be better. You might also want to visit the bird colonies, and possibly spot an eagle and a lot of sea-birds.


Then, a walkaround lens (24-105 for instance).


Bring some protection (for your camera) to keep you gear dry, if you have some.


Just for your information, the possibilities to rent lenses in Norway is as far as I know, non-existing. I have tried to find some in Bergen where I live, but without any luck. On the plus side, camera equipment is usually cheaper in Norway than the rest of Europe (I compared prices in Paris and Bergen, and Bergen won!!! Not by much, though, but still) The rest is more expensive, though.


Advices for places to see: My honest opinion is that Norway has the least interesting capital of all the scandinavian countries. If you want city life, go for Copenhagen, Stockholm or Helsinki instead. The most special nature is found in the west and north. Bergen is a nice place to start if you want to experience the fjords, as well as mountains (not too common in the Netherlands, I guess). The train trim to Flåm is a must for most tourists, and very popular and crowded. A boat trip Flåm to Gudvangen is also nice, and you can experience some of the deepest and narrowest fjords. One popular one-day trip is called Norway in a nutshell. Further north in the western part of Norway, you can experience the wild coast, whale safari and ferry to the westernmost island in Norway. This is a very nice trip, and special scenery with a mixture of flat and mountainous islands. Florø would be a nice base-camp for this. Then I would travel to Lofoten, and stay at the small fishermans villages. Beatiful scenery, and I recommend to rent a bike to get around. You get much closer to the nature by then. North cape attracts a lot of tourists, leaving most of them dissapointed either due to the price to enter the plateau, or the foggy weather.


KLM have direct flights to Bergen for a reasonable price.


I will probably be in Bergen or Voss (google-maps if you want to know where it is, a very nice village) in about eigth to ten days from now. If I have time, I can spend a day showing you around.


Lars

[Sheiky]

WOW guys! First of all, thanks for the great information and opinions!


Since it's quite late and it's quite a lot of info, I will get back on all of your replies when I have time to get a map next to me and see what you're talking about.


I've read everything and there are a few things that seem to pop up more than once. First of all I believe that I have to ditch the 50mm lens adventure. I will definitely bring the 24-105. Which is my most used lens anyway. I have the feeling that it will be good enough for the entire journey. Better yet, it might not be wide enough []


I'd love to bring all my stuff, but unfortunately I have a bad shoulder. An hour with my fully filled camera bag is ok at this point, but I'm not sure how much I will enjoy it when we're going on a hike or something. That's why I wanted to travel light. I will definitely take a tripod by the way. I might need it for cooking a stew over a fire []


One other thing is that we'd love to see the entire country, but I feel that if we want to see stuff, but also enjoy good time, we shouldn't aim too high. At this point I think we'll not be travelling much higher North than Bergen. Which is about 1500km (app. 1000 miles) from were we live. The North Cape sounds very cool, but at 3000km it's going to be more driving than I like. If we like Norway, we''ll be back for more later on []


Again, great thanks for all the replies so far. I will read them more thoroughly tomorrow and try to answer to them(if I have time[|-)])


Thanks!


Jan


Ps: Lars, I might accept your offer[] It sounds very nice! Thanks

[neuroanatomist]

I'd love to bring all my stuff, but unfortunately I have a bad shoulder. An hour with my fully filled camera bag is ok at this point, but I'm not sure how much I will enjoy it when we're going on a hike or something. That's why I wanted to travel light.

One suggestion, depending on budget and time to get something ordered before you go - get the gear off your shoulder(s). I've had good luck with a 5DII (with grip) + 24-105mm in a Lowepro Toploader Pro 65 AW attached to my waist with a Lowepro S&F Deluxe Technical Belt. You can attach a lens case to the other side, the Lowepro Lens Case 9x13 is optimal for a 70-200mm f/4L IS with hood reversed.


Another option, less modular but also less expensive, would be a belt pack like theLowepro Inverse 200 AW. That was actually my first camera bag (which I soon outgrew) - it would fit 5DII, 24-105mm f/4L IS, 70-200 f/4L IS, and ride comfortably on your waist. It's got straps to hang a tripod on the bottom, and a pull-out rain cover, too.

[qwRad]

Hehe nice coincidence, I'm going to Norway too very soon so I'm going to borrow this thread a little bit I'm leaving on the 21st (Thursday) and we will stop in Levitunturi (in northern Finland) and then cross over to Norway near Kilpisjärvi. We have not set the timetable just yet but probably aim to be back in Levitunturi by Friday the 29th so around a full week in Norway.


Our plan at the moment is to go from south towards north: see the Lofoten first and then drive up the coast towards Nordkap. Do you (Lars especially) think this would be a reasonable plan or do we need more than about 5 days for driving from Lofoten to Nordkap with reasonable amount of sightseeing on the way. I would prefer not to drive more than about 350-400km per day.


And to the main point. On that route (Lofoten - Nordkap) what are the best spots for photography or just generally awesome must see places? Is there any glaciers nearby? Where is the best chance to see whales? Best cliffs/fjords? Etc?

[Lars]

I must admit that I am most familiar with the scenery from Lofoten and southwards, mostly since I spent half a year in military service in Harstad (just north of Lofoten), and cycled home from Harstad to Voss when I finished (1750 km). I also cycled in Lofoten with some friends some years ago. Three days with heavy rain forced us to abandon the camping the fourth day [st]. We were soaking wet.


Just east of lofoten lies Saltfjellet, where there are some glaciers, and also the largest in mainland Norway, Svartisen. But since you arrive further north, it might be a too long diversion. I would anyway suggest a day in Tromsø, perhaps the most friendly town/city in Norway with lots of night clubs, pubs and cafés. It has a very famous church with modern architecture, inspired by icebergs and the norther lights, I think.


There are also some nice mountains in Lyngen (called Lyngsalpene in Norwegian) that are quite breathtaking, particularly if you are used to the rather flat Finland. I have not been on whale safari in this area, but know that there are good chances in Vesterålen, that lies just north of Lofoten. Killer whales are often seen, usually in groups.


Most towns and cities in Finnmark was destroyed by the nazis during the last war, so don't expect the pittoresque small villages like those in Lofoten. But I have to admit that even though I was born in Finnmark (Kirkenes, close to the Russian (then Soviet) border), I know very little of that area (lived there for three years, only). But Karasjokk or Kautokeino might be worth a stop to experience the sami way of living, and perhaps spend a night in the traditional tents (lavvo).


These are just some quick thoughts, and I am sure that I have missed some spots that is worth a visit. But Lofoten is anyway worth the trip alone, for sure.


If you want detailed maps, I suggest www.gislink.no rather than googlemaps. Gislink is more correct, and more like a proper map. Not sure if it works on mobile phones, though.


Lars

[qwRad]

Thanks a lot for the tips! Hopefully it won