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Upgrade from DSLR to Mirrorless Before Antarctica Trip?

PatrickSweeney
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p.2 #1 · Upgrade from DSLR to Mirrorless Before Antarctica Trip?

You won't need the Sigma, nor an extender. Everything you'll want to take photos of will be plenty close enough.

I've been a bunch of times, and while I've hauled my 100-400 along, the only use it got was to try and get whale spouts, etc. at distance from the ship. Once you're out and walking, everything is close enough that the 200 will work fine.

As far as the cold, no big deal. You're going in the southern summer, so it will be in the 20s. I've gone with (not all at once) 7DII, 5DIII, 70D, R7, SL1, and none had cold problems.

What you must take is a dry bag. I mean it. You'll be riding to the shore in a zodiac, and there will be splashing. You might get a chance to photo from the zodiac, but it won't be moving. Once it starts, bag up, or risk loss. (You can figure how I know this, and I'm so adamant about it.) Get a dry bag. They don't have to be expensive. They don't even have to be padded, you can borrow a towel from the cabin to pad the bag.

Oh, and a tip: each morning, before you leave the cabin, take a photo of the day's program, either printed or on the TV screen. That way you'll know what the images are for that day, and where.

Feb 26, 2026 at 12:26 PM

stanj
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p.2 #2 · Upgrade from DSLR to Mirrorless Before Antarctica Trip?

bman212121 wrote:
My two cents is that mirrorless is a huge learning curve. If you're not using the camera a lot, it will gladly punish you every time you pick up the camera because you didn't know or forgot about a setting you needed to reconfigure. One example is that if you're using AF tracking, make sure you switch it from people to animal. Forget that and the camera isn't going to perform as well. Mirrorless can do a lot more, but there's a lot more options that can be set so you really need to do more prep for it to...Show more →

I respect this opinion, as MILC is different for sure. However, the only thought that I had on my mind once I finally got the R, almost two years after its release, was "why didn't I do this immediately." Yes, the EVF was slow and low resolution. Yes, it had only 32MP (I had the 5DsR). Yes the ES was ... jelly. But on the flip side, over/underexposed photos were universally a thing of the past, and suddenly basically everything was in focus. I shot little league baseball with the R and 1DX2 and in many cases the R photos were sharper, especially once the final firmware upgrade came.

One more thing: focusing in low light. Some of you know about my borderline unhealthy obsession with owls. They, and any other subject that's predominantly dark, will be much easier to focus with a MILC.

Once the R5 arrived I sold every single DSLR that I owned and the transition was complete. The fact that this opened up the possibility of the new, unique RF lenses, such as the 28-70/2.0 and now VCM lenses (and the shockingly good 24-240, speaking of a lens for a zodiac ride...), is just a nice bonus. I assume you're not leaving tomorrow, so you have a few good months to get over the culture shock.

Feb 26, 2026 at 12:27 PM

stanj
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p.2 #3 · Upgrade from DSLR to Mirrorless Before Antarctica Trip?

PatrickSweeney wrote:
What you must take is a dry bag. I mean it. You'll be riding to the shore in a zodiac, and there will be splashing. You might get a chance to photo from the zodiac, but it won't be moving. Once it starts, bag up, or risk loss. (You can figure how I know this, and I'm so adamant about it.) Get a dry bag. They don't have to be expensive. They don't even have to be padded, you can borrow a towel from the cabin to pad the bag.

A strong +1 to this. I am more of a risk taker so in my case "the other body" was in the dry bag while I sometimes took chances with the environment, but you can imagine what went through my head when I took this photo.

Oh and even the "shitty" R could focus just fine on the wave crest that was coming dangerously fast.

Feb 26, 2026 at 12:33 PM

EPSI
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p.2 #4 · Upgrade from DSLR to Mirrorless Before Antarctica Trip?

vbnut wrote:
I'm quite happy with my R3 and R5II, and IMO they are a huge advance over DSLRs, but I live in California where the weather is usual mild. If you're considering the R5II, for a trip to Antarctica, you should read this thread. It's not clear to me that this issue has been resolved by Canon.

Interesting thread, thanks! You're right that it doesn't seem to have a defined resolution yet and hard to tell how widespread the issue is. I appreciate the other commenters (rschaeffer? stanj?) perspective that Antarctic summer is unlikely to put the camera into the kind of conditions that might warrant significant concern.

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evertdoorn wrote:
Here's a suggestion: pick up a second hand R5 for a lot less money than the R5 II. Will surely keep you busy and entertained and gives you the opportunity to try mirrorless alongside your DSLR's.

After the trip, you can decide if you like it and pursue an upgrade path or not.

Yes, at the moment, I'm definitely leaning toward either an R5 or R5II as the primary purchase. If I'm going to invest in something new (to me) and do so in anticipation of this photo trip, I should probably get the biggest upgrade that suits my shooting style. These two bodies seem to be that. As someone else mentioned, for a still shooter, the R5II is an improvement, but maybe not enough to move the needle compared to the R5. The main feature I could see appreciating in the very long term (i.e. assuming this is my primary body for the next ten years) is the precapture for capturing lightning. Sounds fun.

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rscheffler wrote:
There is a learning curve with mirrorless, so it would be best that you start sooner than later. IMO, it is 100% worth the switch from DSLRs.

I don't leave until November 2026, and I agree I want time to get familiar with anything new. That's part of why I'm focused on this now (that and it's helping to channel my excitement about finally pulling the trigger on this trip).
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Uarctos wrote:
Buy a 5D4, it's cheap, extremely reliable, has zero issues with the cold, wind or whatever, it has more than adequate AF for penguins and you can shoot a whole day with one battery, has large buttons so you can use it with gloves.

This might be the first vote for my original plan! Not sure, I've lost track.

This certainly makes the most financial sense. I'm a researcher at heart and want to ensure I'm making a decision I don't kick myself for later (like stanj says in a comment, why didn't he switch earlier?) - I don't want to move to mirrorless a year or two or whenever after this trip and think "whoa! I wish I would've done this before Antarctica!" Maybe I wouldn't. Maybe I don't need to move. But I appreciate everyone's input in helping me evaluate the decision!
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brianbeatty wrote:
I'd sell what you're able to and grab the 100-400ii and used 5d4 (and R5 if able). The functionality of the R5 is very similar to the DSLRs. I can very naturally go back and forth between it and my 5dsr. The benefit of the DSLRs is they still feel more resilient, and the battery life will be much better.

The 100-400ii is an exceptional lens. For the savings vs. the 100-500, and it's compatibility between DSLRs and mirrorless, it's a no brainer IMO. If you look at some online reviews, the difference between 400mm and 500mm isn't nearly as pronounced...Show more →

This sounds like a sensible hybrid approach. And a good point that the 100-400II that I originally was planning for might make more sense for me than the 100-500 if I'm not committed to getting rid of DLSRs yet. I'm leaning toward picking up a mirrorless and might buy my first choice body asap (currently leaning R5/R5II) and learn that for a few months before deciding how to shape the rest of the kit (second mirrorless, 5DIV, one of my existing DSLRs).
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bman212121 wrote:
I don't think getting an R7 would be a play I would consider. It would be like putting a 2x teleconverter on your 5D3 for resolution, but at the expense of everything else. I think the 5D IV or R5 / R5II will offer a noticeable upgrade already.

Without a doubt I think a 100 - 400 IS II is a great lens to have. Behind a big white, I think it's one of the best lenses you can get. Dimensional it's the same as your 70 - 200MM, but for whatever reason it seems less front heavy. Put a...Show more →

Yes, I think you're right. A crop body has never been quite right for me and this trip is no reason to change my stance on that. Right now I'm leaning R5 or R5II and 100-400II. And I agree, throw a 1.4x in the bag so I know I have that if I really want the extra reach for very little size/weight penalty (likely might only use it for shooting from the ship).

Feb 26, 2026 at 01:39 PM

EPSI
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p.2 #5 · Upgrade from DSLR to Mirrorless Before Antarctica Trip?

PatrickSweeney wrote:
You won't need the Sigma, nor an extender. Everything you'll want to take photos of will be plenty close enough.

I've been a bunch of times, and while I've hauled my 100-400 along, the only use it got was to try and get whale spouts, etc. at distance from the ship. Once you're out and walking, everything is close enough that the 200 will work fine.

As far as the cold, no big deal. You're going in the southern summer, so it will be in the 20s. I've gone with (not all at once) 7DII, 5DIII, 70D, R7, SL1, and none...Show more →

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stanj wrote:
A strong +1 to this. I am more of a risk taker so in my case "the other body" was in the dry bag while I sometimes took chances with the environment, but you can imagine what went through my head when I took this photo.

Oh and even the "shitty" R could focus just fine on the wave crest that was coming dangerously fast.

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Since you both have experience with this, I would love more insight into how best to implement the dry bag. I understand there are lots of approaches and lots of different expedition ships that likely handle things slightly differently leading to the different opinions/solutions I've read. But your first hand accounts and/or lessons learned would be great to hear!

I'm assuming I'll take my Mindshift Backlight 36L (I don't think my 26L will be big enough). I understand that nothing can touch the ground, no tripods, no crouching/kneeling, etc. on landings. I use my Backlights that way already as they are designed to slip off your shoulders while leaving the waist belt buckled, spin the bag around to front, open, and work with the bag suspended from your waist. However, I've read some accounts of backpacks not working well due to conflicting with the required life jackets. Yet others say there is a tarp laid out at the landing area where you can leave your dry bag/life jacket behind and that you're not allowed to wear your backpack/bag while entering/exiting/riding the zodiac anyway for safety reasons so the conflict between backpack/life jacket shouldn't be an issue, right? I'm assuming I won't change lenses much if at all during a landing. I'll just have the two bodies with the best lenses for that landing ready to go, but have other potential gear with me just in case.

Am I trying to buy a dry bag large enough to put my 36L backpack into during the zodiac ride? I assume the raincover with the 36L isn't sufficient for any zodiac purpose? I've read accounts that say they keep one camera out of the bag in a dry bag so they have quick access on the zodiac ride. So, does this infer a dry bag for the 36L and another smaller one to keep one camera in? I've also read about people using a contractor garbage bag as the "dry bag" for their backpack. I'd be happy to buy a normal dry bag, but so far I don't know that any of the lightweight ones will fit the 36L.

I've read other accounts where people wore a poncho on the zodiac so they could keep a camera at the ready, but under the poncho, allowing them to grab shots no one else was ready for due to fumbling with cameras in dry bags. Does that sound reasonable or ill-advised?

Knowing what you know, what do you recommend are the best camera logistics for the two types of zodiac rides: one where they are ferrying you to shore for a landing and one where the zodiac ride is the outing?

Feb 26, 2026 at 02:06 PM

burningheart
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p.2 #6 · Upgrade from DSLR to Mirrorless Before Antarctica Trip?

EPSI wrote:
I've read other accounts where people wore a poncho on the zodiac so they could keep a camera at the ready, but under the poncho, allowing them to grab shots no one else was ready for due to fumbling with cameras in dry bags. Does that sound reasonable or ill-advised?

That would be me.

There is always a risk on Zodiacs, I had 2 cameras with me both film and digital, if something happened on the zodiac to the camera I still had my backup which was film.

I have to admit one day on a landing I lost my balance getting out the zodiac and thankfully I regained it before going into the water because my digital would have went in with me.

Other than that one instance I never had any other issues while on the zodiac keeping my camera around my neck and under the poncho.There were splashes when we were in motion and I sometimes had my camera out shooting, only once had to do a quick wipe. I was able to change lenses quickly when in motion as they were in a lowepro Off Trail bag (long discontinued) under my poncho.

Ironically later on several I travelled with started leaving their dry bags behind. Mind you most of our zodiac trips were not in rough waters.

In the end one has to weigh their risk tolerance, mine is quite high.

Edited on Feb 26, 2026 at 03:31 PM · View previous versions

Feb 26, 2026 at 03:15 PM

stanj
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p.2 #7 · Upgrade from DSLR to Mirrorless Before Antarctica Trip?

Oh man, where do I start

This is such a personal thing, some people like this, some people like that... Personally, the thing I like is having absolutely nothing, a dual sling strap with a wide and a long camera, plus a 3rd camera in some sort of bag - either a very long or very wide, just in case. I've gotten twice wet in a zodiac, on three trips to the Antarctic and one to the arctic. In neither case anything was damaged.

The poncho is stupid. Just don't try.

A big waterproof duffel that holds your whole camera bag is ideal, if you can have that much space. That depends on how many people they load into a zodiac. If it's 6 then you're golden, but if you have 8 people and everyone comes with a duffel then you have a problem. But this is the approach that worked best for my buddy, in part because he was (almost) the only one in the zodiac to do it.

A smaller waterproof bag - those that you roll and clip shut - are handy, and used by most, but the problem is that they're shapeless. I mean, you can fit an R5 with a 100-500 in there, but it will be flopping around. Yes it will be dry and better than nothing, but it will be awkward. If you try to get a "free form" bag that holds more than one camera then now you have multiple cameras banging against each other in the bag. Even if you don't actually get wet from the waves, it _is_ choppy and things will definitely get shaken.

Which brings me back to my philosophy: two cameras on my shoulder, a bag big enough for a 3rd body, if it's really choppy maybe some rain cover on the camera, and cross your fingers. 90% of my outings that's what I do. Below a photo of us coming back at 2am from a night cruise at McMurdo, let me tell you that was a very cold night, yours truly in orange. Because it was a 2h cruise I had *a lot* of gear with me, 3 bodies with dedicated lenses. They were in a waterproof duffel bag that's big enough to house my camera backpack if needed (Kiboko 22L, should fit the 30L) but I just had them loose, wrapped in a towel against banging. Others on that zodiac had just the rain cover on their bag. Man this was one very wet and cold night.

Feb 26, 2026 at 03:29 PM

aryaah
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p.2 #8 · Upgrade from DSLR to Mirrorless Before Antarctica Trip?

I used an Overboard Pro-Light Waterproof Backpack 20L to transport my daily photography gear from the ship to the zodiac or shore landing. It will efficiently protect your gear from water and allow easy access to your camera equipment. It packs very flat in your suitcase and I�ve used it numerous times when hiking since it is comfortable, has easy access to water bottles and is light in weight. I did have a foam wrap with Velcro closure to use as padding if needed.
A waterproof stuff sack was used to cover the camera while taking photos from the zodiac. Very easy to cover the camera to protect it from water splashes and easy to remove to allow photos.

Feb 26, 2026 at 04:50 PM

PatrickSweeney
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p.2 #9 · Upgrade from DSLR to Mirrorless Before Antarctica Trip?

No zodiac driver I've ever ridden with would permit a backpack worn while in the zodiac. Too much risk of balance problems, and person in the water. And, you will have to hand your drybag over the the crew to get onto or off of the zodiac. So, nope, no backpacks. and no, they won't let you gt on or off while holding it. You need both hands, so hand over the bag.

I used a roll-and-clip bag just fine, with a towel inside to keep the bodies (I went with two each time ashore) from banging into each other. Packing is easy. If we're going ashore then hpwever they best fit. If we are going to go zodiac cruising, and I'll be doing photos from the zodiac, then the big lens is on top.

Ashore, deploy the cameras (long straps, they have to fit over everything) and roll and clip the bag to a belt or camera strap. sometimes there will be places to put stuff down, sometimes not. Generally, if there is no wildlife at that site, you can put stuff down. Wildlife, nothing touches but your boots.

Some crews/ships have you wear your life jacket on shore, others provide barrels to dump them in and then you put whichever one you grab back on for the ride back to the ship.

Oh, and passengers on a zodiac? I've ridden as one of three, and I've been packed in with nine others. Time, place, weather plans and passenger interest will dictate the numbers.

Feb 26, 2026 at 05:01 PM

aryaah
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p.2 #10 · Upgrade from DSLR to Mirrorless Before Antarctica Trip?

Clarification:
The backpack is used to hold gear when boarding the zodiac and/or transitioning to shore. All backpacks were handed over to the zodiac driver and placed at the feet of the occupant during the zodiac excursion. The backpacks were handed over to the crew when disembarking on shore or returning to the ship in order to facilitate the transition. Agree, that no backpacks were worn on the zodiacs. Numerous occupants on the zodiacs had backpacks, some of them were large photography oriented brands.
The Overboard brand of backpacks were ideal for Antartica allowing very easy access to gear and are very protective.

Feb 26, 2026 at 06:13 PM

bman212121
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p.2 #11 · Upgrade from DSLR to Mirrorless Before Antarctica Trip?

stanj wrote:
I respect this opinion, as MILC is different for sure. However, the only thought that I had on my mind once I finally got the R, almost two years after its release, was "why didn't I do this immediately." Yes, the EVF was slow and low resolution. Yes, it had only 32MP (I had the 5DsR). Yes the ES was ... jelly. But on the flip side, over/underexposed photos were universally a thing of the past, and suddenly basically everything was in focus. I shot little league baseball with the R and 1DX2 and in many cases the R photos...Show more →

It's almost funny that I find the opposite to be true. I was out trying to photograph northern lights and was cursing the EVF because it's basically useless in really low light. With an OVF I could have seen the image to be able to frame it properly. I'm curious if you use the defaults for the EVF display or have changed them. I have Expo Sim on, Display performance Smooth and suppress lower frame rate checked. The EVF is unusable for me if it's set to power saving.

I can also prove it's definitely possible still to overexpose, miss focus, etc etc on MILC. Knowing your settings is still the best way to ensure a good result. Rscheffler pointed out a great example in another thread where he switches between single point AF and Eye AF because in one is better than the other in some situations. So MILC gives you more options for better results, but you need to know when to make use of them. That's where time with the camera and experience come in handy.

Feb 26, 2026 at 09:08 PM

stanj
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p.2 #12 · Upgrade from DSLR to Mirrorless Before Antarctica Trip?

bman212121 wrote:
It's almost funny that I find the opposite to be true. I was out trying to photograph northern lights and was cursing the EVF because it's basically useless in really low light. With an OVF I could have seen the image to be able to frame it properly. I'm curious if you use the defaults for the EVF display or have changed them. I have Expo Sim on, Display performance Smooth and suppress lower frame rate checked. The EVF is unusable for me if it's set to power saving.

I can also prove it's definitely possible still to overexpose, miss focus,...Show more →

Well, different strokes for different folks, for sure, but I shoot at night a lot (just spent two weeks in Norway, and many other night-oriented trips) and I find decidedly easier to focus at night with the MILC than with a DSLR. With a DSLR I always carried a green laser with me to illuminate a far away tree or mountain, now I can easily focus on stars. I don't know what the default settings are, but you definitely need to turn OFF "suppress lower frame rate" for night shooting. It's not like you'll give up anything in terms of frame rate

Power saving is an orthogonal setting.

And just as it's possible to die in a car despite airbags, it is possible to overexpose an image with a MILC. Heck, I bracket a lot for that reason when I'm in a hurry. But you completely save yourself the process of chimping, because you're chimping in real time as you're capturing. You still can screw up, it's just much much harder.

Feb 26, 2026 at 11:00 PM

bman212121
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p.2 #13 · Upgrade from DSLR to Mirrorless Before Antarctica Trip?

I agree with everything you said. You basically confirmed that yes I need to turn off that suppress setting for night shooting and see if I can deal with it. It sounds like it will hopefully improve what the EVF shows in night conditions. The reason why I left that checked is that the EVF is kind of like Virtual Reality glasses, if the frame rate gets low then it makes me sick watching the viewfinder. So it's not a power or concern about refresh, but whether or not I can physically stomach looking at it.

You analogy is spot on in that I didn't want to give the impression that because the car has airbags now, you can't get hurt. In fact if you didn't learn how to reposition your hands on the wheel for airbags you can get hurt in new interesting ways. It is safer overall and in the long run better, so for experienced people like yourself all of that is a non issue. For a beginner make sure you pay attention because these new cars will try to break your thumbs if you're not careful.

Feb 27, 2026 at 09:38 AM

Scott Stoness
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p.2 #14 · Upgrade from DSLR to Mirrorless Before Antarctica Trip?

EPSI wrote:
I have been ignoring mirrorless technology, advancements and cameras - so I feel a bit behind on the options and pros/cons. I have a large enough EF glass collection that I just assumed for my needs (mostly landscape photography) it didn't make sense. However, I just booked a bucket list trip to the Falklands, South Georgia and Antarctica and photography is my primary hobby and motivation for this type of travel. So it's time to critically evaluate what I want/need.

Current Gear
-5D3
-6D2
-16-35 f2.8 L III
-24-70 f2.8 L II
-70-200 f2.8 L IS II
-Sigma 150-600 f5-6.3 DG C
-2x III Extender
-Other assorted lenses not relevant to this trip

I had planned to pick up a 5DIV at some point and now in advance of this trip (Nov/Dec 2026). But maybe I need to jump to mirrorless instead? I now understand that I can use my EF glass with an adapter and upgrade/expand into RF glass as needed in future.

I used the above bodies and a subset of those lenses for an African safari in 2018 and was happy with the experience and assumed it's what I would take to Antarctica. Then I decided to prioritize a weather sealed long lens and was looking at a used 100-400 II. Because I had the 150-600mm range in my mind, I contemplated whether picking up a cropped body is worth considering as a second body. This led me down the path of "if I'm considering new bodies, should I look at mirrorless?" And now I'm down a rabbit hole.

If money was the only factor, grabbing the 5DIV+100-400II seems like the play. I'm selling several lenses that I no longer need that should more than cover used copies of those. But I'm very much a buy and hold photographer who has been shooting with SLRs for 30+ years (yikes). I'm willing to pay now and mentally amortize the costs over the many years of ownership/use I will enjoy. Especially before taking a trip like this that I might never do again. I'm very intrigued by the improved autofocus that would certainly increase my keeper rate with wildlife shots.

So far, my research has me leaning toward the R5II, but I'm open to input. In my normal shooting I gravitate toward landscape and travel photography. I enjoy shooting wildlife when the travel centers around it, but it's not what I tend to print big for display.

Assuming a 100-400II is part of the kit I will pack, should I...
-Buy a 5DIV and go with what I have (would my second body be the better sealed 5D3 or the flip screen 6D2)?
-Buy an R5II and use one of my DSLRs as my second body?
-Buy an R5II and an R7 for the APC-C crop factor to give me a 160-640 option with the 100-400?
-If I buy one or two mirrorless bodies, do I look to an RF lens instead of the EF 100-400II? I haven't looked at the RF lens lineup at all.
-Do something I haven't outlined?

Note that I don't intend to take all the lenses I listed - I'm leaning toward the 16-35, 24-70, and 100-400 with two bodies, but am still reading and researching. I want to move forward sooner than later re: bodies, especially if I go mirrorless so that I can retrain my muscle memory for the buttons/menus. Thanks for any insights!...Show more →

Nov/dec 2026 is forever away. You have lots of time to buy it and be familiar if you use it for 1/2 the weekends.

All your Ef canon lens will work just as well on Ef bodies with adapter. In fact as a Landscape/ wildlife 50/50 I prefer the Ef adapted for the variable 9 stop / Cpl. it avoids so many filters.

Ef bodies are better than dslr for a/f, eye focus, fps, pre burst, video, better buffer, don�t need microfocus adjustment.. The only thing my dslr did better are more mpx 5dsr 51mpx and cold performance cheaper batteries. But your dslr is still very adequate. The dslr are about even on dynamic range. So rf will give you significantly better in most dimensions but most people don�t need the benefits except birders or video centric people.

The best is r5ii for fps / video / recapture 45mpx. You don�t need this unless you need really high fps and birds in flight. Eg if you are a real serious birder.

The r5 is just as good except birding and heavy duty video and way less$$. The big gain is buffer fps and 45mpx for you.

The best for reach is r7 with a long lens but avoid electronic shutter. Just stay at 12fps efcs to avoid issues like distortion from low sensor read speed or vibration from mechanical shutter.

If you want to try it I suggest r5v1 and 100-500 and 1.4X. And adapt your existing rf lens. I think 100-500 is good quality and long enough for most purpose. Given you don�t currently have any long / fast lens, I doubt you need any for antartica or anywhere

Feb 27, 2026 at 11:58 PM

arbitrage
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p.2 #15 · Upgrade from DSLR to Mirrorless Before Antarctica Trip?

Since you have lots of time to get used to a MILC, I'd certainly pick up an R5II now and see how it goes for you. If you want an RF lens then the RF100-500 makes the most sense to me. You can also get the RF1.4TC if you need more reach.
I would always choose an R5II over R5 for the faster sensor scan speed, 30FPS and precapture. Also the more updated AF modes and subject detection algorithms.
You can then adapt your wider glass with RF adaptor.

I went to Falklands, S. Georgia, Antarctica in November 2014 on a small boat (50 passengers) and it was amazing. I used 1DX, 1DIV and 5D3. I used 200-400/4TC, 70-200/2.8, 24-70/4 and 16-35/4. If I was shooting Canon today I'd go back with R5II and R1 or maybe just two R5IIs. I'd take a 100-500 and one wider lens for the penguinscapes and icebergs and would likely be happy with that much more simplified kit. Because I now shoot Sony I'd take A1II (either another A1II, A1 or A7V), 300GM and TCs and one wide lens (maybe would bring my 100-400GM also).

Certainly you would always go with two cameras at a minimum and there would be consideration to have two longer lenses that would somewhat overlap in case one got damaged somehow. You could take 100-500 and your 70-200 to have that backup.

The only thing with mixing MILC with DSLR is if the MILC goes down then the 100-500 is a paperweight for the trip. If the DSLR goes down then at least all lenses work on the R5II. With that in mind I'd probably consider making both cameras MILC so you don't have that potential issue. Even if the 2nd one is a much less expensive R6(II) or R5.

I used my GuraGear Kiboko 30L (the OG version back then) and put it in a large dry bag backpack when in the zodiac going to shore. I can't remember the brand I used but I saw this nice one on Steve Perry's Galapagos gear video which he is just using an ICU inside so not needing to bring a camera bag and another dry bag: https://de.ortlieb.com/en/products/atrack

When I went there weren't any rules/laws about putting bags on the ground or kneeling and such. That made it easier to manage a big pack and big lens (200-400) on landings. Although I ended up using my 70-200 a lot more than the 200-400 on landing. I shot BIF from the ship more with the 200-400.

Have a great trip. I wish I could go back someday. It is an amazing place.

5D3/24-70 at 42mm

King Penguins - St. Andrews Bay by Bird/Wildlife Photos, on Flickr
[url=https://flic.kr/p/qKUQzn]

1DX/200-400

[/url]November 18, 2014.jpg by Bird/Wildlife Photos, on Flickr

1DX/70-200

Antarctic Tern by Bird/Wildlife Photos, on Flickr

Feb 28, 2026 at 08:04 AM

EB-1
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p.2 #16 · Upgrade from DSLR to Mirrorless Before Antarctica Trip?

brianbeatty wrote:
The benefit of the DSLRs is they still feel more resilient, and the battery life will be much better.

DSLR battery life is not better if you are shooting action. The R5 II gets far more than the 5DIV or any other 5D series. For example 14,000 frames full RAW frames at 30FPS ES in the R5 II far exceeds any 5D series battery life.

EBH

Feb 28, 2026 at 08:52 AM

artsupreme
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p.2 #17 · Upgrade from DSLR to Mirrorless Before Antarctica Trip?

Buy a lightly used minty R5 to jump into the MILC game. You will probably find that you won�t have any desire to upgrade it to an R5Ii.

Feb 28, 2026 at 10:23 AM

Uarctos
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p.2 #18 · Upgrade from DSLR to Mirrorless Before Antarctica Trip?

I can shoot an entire golf competition with a 5D4 and a 600mm f4 IS on one battery, good luck doing that with a mirrorless.

Feb 28, 2026 at 10:28 AM

artsupreme
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p.2 #19 · Upgrade from DSLR to Mirrorless Before Antarctica Trip?

Uarctos wrote:
I can shoot an entire golf competition with a 5D4 and a 600mm f4 IS on one battery, good luck doing that with a mirrorless.

If you set an R5 up right there's no issue with batteries. You couldn't pay me to go back to using my old 5DIV again as there's just too many advantages and features you are missing with the old DSLR's.

Feb 28, 2026 at 10:45 AM

cpe1991
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p.2 #20 · Upgrade from DSLR to Mirrorless Before Antarctica Trip?

EB-1 wrote:
DSLR battery life is not better if you are shooting action. The R5 II gets far more than the 5DIV or any other 5D series. For example 14,000 frames full RAW frames at 30FPS ES in the R5 II far exceeds any 5D series battery life.

EBH

What lenses are you using? I don't do well with the RF 200-800mm.

Feb 28, 2026 at 11:05 AM

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