Usually if conditions are good enough for Zodiac cruising you usually won’t have to worry about gear getting wet, at least not from ocean spray.
You do want to be able to get your camera in and out of whatever bag, case or pack you decide to use. It’s when going from the ship to shore or returning from longer zodiac cruises that the ride gets bumpy and wet. A good driver will tell you to stow your gear if you’re going to get a wet ride. Keep your pack propped up on your feet then in case the floor of the Zodiac starts getting full of water. Have fun!

Thanks for your helpful piece on equipment. I’m going to the Falklands, South Georgia and the Peninsula in January. I have a Kata photo backpack with a rain cover that I really like. I’m planning on taking a D750 and D500 with 24-120 and 70-200 lenses, respectively, plus a 300 pf. I plan to pack each inside zip lock bags for transfers to and from shore. I think that should work.

I’m interested in how you protect your cameras on Zodiac cruises — my ship to shore solution wouldn’t work for those.

For those cruises, I’m thinking of forgoing the D500 and just taking the D750 with the 24-120 packed in a dry bag, or possibly a waterproof camera bag like this:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LZEUV9X/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_8?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A3EB8VK0XP1HIP.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Paul

Hello Kira!
Great timing as I’m here working on a more generic gear list pertaining to winter travel shooting.

A go-to lens, on my Nikon’s, for shooting in Antarctica is a 28-300mm just to give you an idea of a very useful range. Keeping your gear to a reasonable minimum, especially since you’ll be traveling to other locations, is a great plan. Where a longer telephoto lens will be helpful is if you like to photograph birds. You’ll have plenty of them flying around the ship as you sail across the Drake.

If you do get the 18-400mm then I would also take the 10-20mm if you go with the 2 lens approach. Keep in mind that you’ll want to be changing lenses as little as possible, especially when out in the Zodiac. I’d be starting out with the 18-400mm mounted when in the Zodiac.

Hope that helps. Enjoy!

I will be taking my 80D and currently have a 10-20, 17-70 2.8, 18-250 and was considering to buy the new Tamron 18-400 but not sure if that range will be necessary? Would like to stick with taking 2 lens!

Thanks in advance for any input!

Kira

I take two pair of light weight glove liners (with touch screen ability), 2 pair of heavier gloves and a pair of heavier rubber gloves like commercial fishermen use. The rubber glove should be large enough to put on while wearing the thin glove liners. Also, the rubber gloves are used only when in the Zodiac to keep your hand dry while moving about quickly. You’re going to be hanging onto ropes at that time and getting splashed. Don’t forget hand warmers if you have issues being out in the cold. One of those placed inside you hat while out shooting can really help.

Hope that helps!

I would definitely take the 24-85mm even though there’s a little redundancy with focal lengths. The 28-300mm can be a bit soft at 28mm so opt for the 24-85 when doing mostly wide angle shots if you can. Great if you have 2 bodies, which I recommend, but I understand if that’s not possible. The less switching of lenses you have to do the better, especially when out shooting in the Zodiacs.

Thanks for the comment! Have a great time. I’m back down there in March.