Is Iceland worth a few days?

[osprey48]

Thanks. A bit obvious when you think about it I suppose.

 

[Wishy]

The blue lagoon was something else when me and the other half went in Febrary. Highly recommended, and definately get in.

Also, make sure your camera doesn't mind the cold. My Exaktas got in a very bad mood, but the Exa was happy as larry.

 

[mooseontheloose]

Flying ain't easy for photographers

Here's a new question to add to my older one:

For those of you who have flown to or from Iceland, using Icelandair Airlines, what has your experience been with their carry-on baggage weight limits? For my flight I'm only allowed 6 kgs (!!) which is the lowest amount I have yet had to fly with. Normally I just get by with 10kgs with my smallish photo backpack. In my recent experiences flying (with cheaper airlines) my carry-on baggage has been weighed to make sure if it's within limits (if not, the excess has to go in checked baggage and you pay the excess fees -- airlines are sure milking every dollar they can get!). It's so ridiculous considering what people buy once they get to the duty free shops... Anyway, I'll be flying with film and paper and some photo gear so checking them is not an option.

So I just want to know if anyone has had any problems with their overweight cabin baggage recently. If so, i may have to consider other options. If not, great.

 

[bill schwab]

My most recent flight was a year ago and I had no problems with the heavy weight of my carry-on. As long as it fit in the bin, I wasn't asked any questions.

 

[tim_walls]

I flew with one of the Icelandic airlines (I forget which) almost exactly a year ago and had no problems with my Canon EOS, a few lenses including 400mm f/5.6 and a Mamiya RB67 with lenses in hand luggage. (Whether or not I then had problems lugging that lot on hikes over the Icelandic landscape is a different conversation .)

For what it's worth, I take maybe a dozen international flights a year (obviously in Europe at at least one end of the leg) and I've never yet had my hand baggage weighed. As long as you pack it so it's not 'obviously' huge, you'll be fine.

Alternatively, try plan B - stick the camera in a pram and put booties on it; parents of screaming infants get away with all sorts of murder us less selfish souls couldn't dream of at airports as with so many other places, including being able to wheel their excess baggage right up to the gate.

 

[mooseontheloose]

Thanks guys -- I was having visions of having to stuff cameras and lenses under my clothes ("is that a camera in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?") in order to meet the weight restrictions (although the pram idea is a good one!). I love my old cameras but they're heavy and getting them past the check-in counter is sometimes problematic. On my last flight to Ireland I wasn't even allowed a handbag (the saviour of women everywhere) and had to find a way to stuff the contents of that kit into my already bursting camera bag.

rachelle

 

[Vaughn]

Call me crazy, but I'd love to spend a couple months bicycling around the island with a 5x7.

Vaughn

 

[keithwms]

That is not crazy at all, Vaughn, and I would be pleased to join you!

However, two observations I made in Iceland which way give you pause: (1) there is a lot of fine sand blowing around on the southern part of that ring road - quite big dust storms are not uncommon; (2) there is quite high wind in general, too, so a bellows camera is probably best supplemented by something with a smaller drag coefficient!

 

[Vaughn]

That is not crazy at all, Vaughn, and I would be pleased to join you!

However, two observations I made in Iceland which way give you pause: (1) there is a lot of fine sand blowing around on the southern part of that ring road - quite big dust storms are not uncommon; (2) there is quite high wind in general, too, so a bellows camera is probably best supplemented by something with a smaller drag coefficient!

That is what my Rollei TLR is for! I did read a website of someone who has biked there. Definitely on the edge of extreme bike touring...oh, to be in my 30's again! If I can still bike in my early 60's (only 6 yrs away!) when my 3 boys are out of the house (or at least over 18 and can fend for themselves), it will be on my list of things to do...though returning to New Zealand for an extended bike tour is on the list, too. Perhaps I should "warm-up" by touring in NZ before heading to Iceland!

Vaughn

 

[Reid Gray]

I was in Iceland in '89 or '90. When I asked the only person at the gravel airstrip in Hofn about a rental car (he was around 18, and he dealt with tickets and luggage, fuelled the plane, swept the floor, and handled car rental), he told us he had one he didn't need to return for a week, and we could just take it for a few days. No charge, and he didn't even ask to see my license, just told us where to leave it when we were done. I guess times have changed, but I still think that's typical of Icelandic friendliness.

Anyway, the most perceptive thing I've heard about photography in Iceland is that everything is either very small and close, or very big and far away. Tiny little flowers at your feet, huge glaciers on the horizon (though it's worth getting up close to them too). If you plan your gear accordingly, you won't be disappointed.