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Archive 2018 · Yellowstone and Grand Tetons gear check after reading through previous q...

chvvkumar
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Yellowstone and Grand Tetons gear check after reading through previous questions

Hello all,

I am planning a two week trip to the above two NPs. It will be from the 21st of September through the 6th of October. Here is what I plan to take with me. I don't expect to hike much since this is going to be a strictly photography trip.

Bodies:
6D MKII and 60D

Lenses:
Canon 100-400 II (own this lens)
Canon 16-35 f2.8 III (will rent in Bozeman)
Canon 50mm F1.8 STM
Tokina 11-16 II (mainly for backup for 60D but will work on the FF body at 16mm in a pinch)
Kenko 1.4X TC tested to work with the 100-400 II and the 60D, will not work on the 6D MKII)

Support:
Induro CLT204 Tripod with SIRUI K30X ball head
SIRUI P-326 monopod with pan-tilt head

Accessories:
CPL specifically for the geysers and assortment of ND filters (3, 6 and 10 stop).

Setup:
60D + 1.4x + 100-400II most of the time unless low light demands a FF in which case I'll swap the body
6D MKII + 16-35 III

Since this is going to be my first trip would this cover most normal use cases? I understand that Yellowstone demands as long telephoto as you can get but my budget won't allow me to rent the 500mm or 600mm lenses (without sacrificing the UWA).

Thank you for your input!

Sep 15, 2018 at 12:40 PM

xterra07
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Yellowstone and Grand Tetons gear check after reading through previous questions

If 16-35mm III is waiting for you in Bozeman, great, but places like www.lensrentals.com can ship to Bozeman or anywhere, and get it to you within 48 hours or less, just so you know for future.
16-35mm f/4 would be great for landscapes too. f/2.8 III has a nicer starburst but f/4 is great too.

I would favor 6D II vs 60D, the extra "reach" can come second to things like low light detail extraction (better on full frame sensor), so if you're up near sunrise I would definitely prefer 6D II.

I would miss the 24-70mm range for landscapes. Without great clouds especially. 50mm helps.

Someone would have to carry the 500mm if you rented it, by itself it's ok.

Sep 15, 2018 at 01:02 PM

chvvkumar
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Yellowstone and Grand Tetons gear check after reading through previous questions

xterra07 wrote:
If 16-35mm III is waiting for you in Bozeman, great, but places like www.lensrentals.com can ship to Bozeman or anywhere, and get it to you within 48 hours or less, just so you know for future.
16-35mm f/4 would be great for landscapes too. f/2.8 III has a nicer starburst but f/4 is great too.

I am trying to get the 16-35 iii reserved but no luck so far. I will have to go with Borrowlenses.

I would favor 6D II vs 60D, the extra "reach" can come second to things like low light detail extraction (better on full frame sensor), so if you're up near sunrise I would definitely prefer 6D II.

That was my thought as well but I can definitely switch bodies if light turns out to be more critical than reach depending on circumstances. I also have the 100-400 MK1 so I can bring that along as well if needed and leave the MKII on the 6DMKII and switch lenses on the 60D.

I would miss the 24-70mm range for landscapes. Without great clouds especially. 50mm helps.

It is supposed to be cloudy during the time I will be there but weather is unpredictable so who knows how it is going to turn out.

Someone would have to carry the 500mm if you rented it, by itself it's ok.

I will be by myself so that would be a problem (especially with juggling two bodies, two telephotos and other lenses).

I appreciate your reply

Sep 15, 2018 at 01:18 PM

Camperjim
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Yellowstone and Grand Tetons gear check after reading through previous questions

IMO you are going to be excessively burdened with gear. I long since quit using ND and other filters. I cannot imagine why you would want one for shooting geysers. I was in Yellowstone a few weeks ago and took almost every shot with a mid range zoom. I used it for almost all my wildlife shots: moose, bison, antelope, elk, bears. The vast majority of those shots were under 50 or under 25 yards. If you a determined to try for wolves, good luck. You are unlikely to get closer than a half mile and no telephoto is going to give you much. I did use my UWA lens a few times.

You may not "hike" a lot, but plan on doing plenty of walking. When I shot the main geyser fields around Old Faithful, I was over 10 miles of walking each day. I was able to see all the majors (Grand, Giant, Daisy, Riverside, Castle, Grotto, Lion, and Beehive). Believe me that took a lot of walking and a couple of dead runs. One camera with a zoom and an extra UWA is more than enough. You might want to do Grand Prismatic and shoot it from both the overlooks on the South and the North sides. That will also add some miles.

Sep 15, 2018 at 02:39 PM

roicead
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Yellowstone and Grand Tetons gear check after reading through previous questions

i go to the tetons every year. we're leaving tomorrow and heading through the dakotas to glacier then down to the tetons (we skip yellowstone, it's fun once, but it takes forever to drive through).
my 6d usually has the 24-70mm f/2.8 L on it with the 16-35mm L nearby. i shoot landscapes with this setup.
the 7d mk ii usually has the 100-400mm L on it with the 70-200mm f/4 L in the bag. i could probably count on one hand the number of shots i've taken with the 70-200mm out west, but i know the one time i leave it i'll need it. i shoot wildlife with this setup. last year i only took 1 body (the 6d) and it worked out, but i missed the second body.
juggling 2 bodies isn't a problem. everything i take fits in a backpack (5.11 rush 12) that i take every time i get out of the car to shoot. inside everything is wrapped in lens wraps. if i need to switch up quickly it's just a matter of opening the bag and grabbing what i need.
the thing that makes the biggest difference is bag organization. cameras and lenses only in the main compartment with cameras on top, filters in a molle add on pouch. i have one smaller compartment for charged batteries and unused cards, another for used batteries and cards.
for wildlife in the tetons check the south side of the park in the early morning and around sunset, especially moose wilson rd. for landscapes just drive the whole park, the possibilities are endless.

Sep 15, 2018 at 02:42 PM

chvvkumar
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Yellowstone and Grand Tetons gear check after reading through previous questions

Camperjim wrote:
IMO you are going to be excessively burdened with gear. I long since quit using ND and other filters. I cannot imagine why you would want one for shooting geysers. I was in Yellowstone a few weeks ago and took almost every shot with a mid range zoom. I used it for almost all my wildlife shots: moose, bison, antelope, elk, bears. The vast majority of those shots were under 50 or under 25 yards. If you a determined to try for wolves, good luck. You are unlikely to get closer than a half mile and no telephoto is going...Show more →

I am starting to realize this. May be I should just cut it down to:

Two bodies
16-34-f2.8iii,
24-70ii and
100-400ii+1.4x.

Thank you for the information about the walking part. I was planning to include a hydration bag to the backpack (which has a compartment just for the bag) but I may have to plan for snacks on the go.

The ND filters are for if there are storms or if it is very overcast and to remove people in the frame if needed. The CPL is the one mainly for Geysers and after rain shots. The idea for using CPL for geysers was from reading through this article:

http://www.jairophoto.com/blog/photography-guide-to-yellowstone-national-park/

---------------------------------------------

roicead wrote:
i go to the tetons every year. we're leaving tomorrow and heading through the dakotas to glacier then down to the tetons (we skip yellowstone, it's fun once, but it takes forever to drive through).
my 6d usually has the 24-70mm f/2.8 L on it with the 16-35mm L nearby. i shoot landscapes with this setup.
the 7d mk ii usually has the 100-400mm L on it with the 70-200mm f/4 L in the bag. i could probably count on one hand the number of shots i've taken with the 70-200mm out west, but i know the one time i leave it...Show more →

I have the F-Stop Kenti backpack. It can hold two bodies with lenses and a couple extra lenses no problem as well as batteries and filters. I plan on having one body+100-400ii in one compartment, another body+24-70 in the other with the 16-35 by in a belt pouch for easy access.

The bag also fits a hydration bag and I will strap the tripod to the exterior of the bag.

Sep 15, 2018 at 02:59 PM

Camperjim
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Yellowstone and Grand Tetons gear check after reading through previous questions

One camera, one bottle of water ... good for hours.

Sep 15, 2018 at 04:09 PM

Jeffrey
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Yellowstone and Grand Tetons gear check after reading through previous questions

Don't get too anal about it, Just take whatever gear you would take to any landscape shoot or national park. Stick with stuff you are familiar with and confident with. We don't know anything about your shooting style or what you hope to accomplish so it's impossible to tell you that you must have this or that. Just bring it all. and use what is appropriate for the scene and result you desire.

Sep 15, 2018 at 04:29 PM

bjd70
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Yellowstone and Grand Tetons gear check after reading through previous questions

My daughter and I visited last year. We carried two APS-C bodies (D300 and D7200) and 3 lenses- Sigma 10-20, Tamron 17-50 and Nikon 55-300. We normally kept the 55-300 on the D7200 and switched the other lenses around depending on the circumstances. 17mm on an APS-C sensor was usually wide enough, but occasionally I would put on the ultrawide. She usually carried one body and I carried the other, wasn't a problem to carry this amount of gear.

This year she and I went to Maine. My D7200 was lost in an accident so this year I carried a D750, Nikon 18-35, Tamron 24-70 and Sigma 100-400. I could carry all of this in my shoulder bag but switching lenses is always a hassle. My next trip like this I plan to bring a second body and a slightly bigger bag. With 2 bodies there isn't as much problem in changing lenses. I'm still pondering what is the perfect combination for my travel use

Sep 15, 2018 at 09:00 PM

dalite
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Yellowstone and Grand Tetons gear check after reading through previous questions

You can get up to date info on YNP from kdacharya who recently visited the place. Check out his photos in the Nature and Wildlife section.

Sep 15, 2018 at 10:49 PM

mdalton
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Yellowstone and Grand Tetons gear check after reading through previous questions

dalite wrote:
You can get up to date info on YNP from kdacharya who recently visited the place. Check out his photos in the Nature and Wildlife section.

Here is that link https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1561970

Sep 17, 2018 at 06:27 PM

adittam
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Yellowstone and Grand Tetons gear check after reading through previous questions

I took this exact trip in the end of July this summer.

I did it with a 5DIV, 80D, 70-200 f/2.8L IS II, 35 f/1.4L II, 16-35 f/4L IS, 15-85 f/3.5-5.6 (for the 80D only) and 1.4x TC. I also had a Vanguard travel tripod with ball head, a few filters, extra batteries, charger, and remote shutter release. If I were to do it alone, I would skip the 15-85 and make sure to buy or rent a 100-400. It doesn't compare with my other lenses, and I found the only thing I used it for was family snapshots. I'll second what someone else said about going with the 16-35 f/4L IS instead of the 2.8, but obviously that depends on your shooting style. I use mine solely for landscapes, in which case I'm stopping down to f/8-f/11 most of the time anyway, and the IS comes in handy for shooting handheld. Also, BRING BEAR SPRAY and a good flashlight with spare batteries. You can find bear spray for way less expensive on Amazon than in shops once you get there.

If you want to see the types of photos I got on the trip, they can be seen in these threads:
https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1556465/
https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1557634/
https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1557019/
https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1556895/
https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1556378/

Feel free to reply or PM me if you've got any questions, and have a great trip!

Sep 17, 2018 at 08:37 PM

Don George
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Yellowstone and Grand Tetons gear check after reading through previous questions

Hopefully will be leaving on Friday. Have been shooting both parks for many years as mentioned above I tend to hang in the Teton area these day's. I use a Canon 500 f4 and 70-200 f2.8 with a 7d ll and Mark 4 bodies for wildlife. Don't mind carrying the 500 especially shooting Grizzly. You can easily get within a proper distance to Moose thats when the 70-200 comes into play. Elk are more skittish especially in the Tetons where there is a hunting season. Yellowstone Elk are easier to get within range. For scenics I use a 5Dll with a 24-105 and 16-35 f4.
When going to the Tetons check out Mike Jacksons blog "Best of the Tetons" He gives a daily account of whats going on to include a color chart for the Fall color.
Have a great trip.

Sep 17, 2018 at 09:50 PM

chvvkumar
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Yellowstone and Grand Tetons gear check after reading through previous questions

bjd70 wrote:
My daughter and I visited last year. We carried two APS-C bodies (D300 and D7200) and 3 lenses- Sigma 10-20, Tamron 17-50 and Nikon 55-300. We normally kept the 55-300 on the D7200 and switched the other lenses around depending on the circumstances. 17mm on an APS-C sensor was usually wide enough, but occasionally I would put on the ultrawide. She usually carried one body and I carried the other, wasn't a problem to carry this amount of gear.

This year she and I went to Maine. My D7200 was lost in an accident so this year I carried a D750,...Show more →

Thank you! That is my plan, to use two bodies.
---------------------------------------------

dalite wrote:
You can get up to date info on YNP from kdacharya who recently visited the place. Check out his photos in the Nature and Wildlife section.

---------------------------------------------

mdalton wrote:
Here is that link https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1561970

I am reading through those links now, thank you!

---------------------------------------------

adittam wrote:
I took this exact trip in the end of July this summer.

I did it with a 5DIV, 80D, 70-200 f/2.8L IS II, 35 f/1.4L II, 16-35 f/4L IS, 15-85 f/3.5-5.6 (for the 80D only) and 1.4x TC. I also had a Vanguard travel tripod with ball head, a few filters, extra batteries, charger, and remote shutter release. If I were to do it alone, I would skip the 15-85 and make sure to buy or rent a 100-400. It doesn't compare with my other lenses, and I found the only thing I used it for was family snapshots. I'll...Show more →

Thank you for the shots, they are stunning! I will be taking the 100-400II with me and renting the 1.4x TC. I will also be renting a 16-35 f2.8 III (for milkyway and astro and sun stars) and the 24-70 II for everything else. I can't dream of leaving the house without the 100-400 II, it is practically stuck on my camera.

---------------------------------------------

Don George wrote:
Hopefully will be leaving on Friday. Have been shooting both parks for many years as mentioned above I tend to hang in the Teton area these day's. I use a Canon 500 f4 and 70-200 f2.8 with a 7d ll and Mark 4 bodies for wildlife. Don't mind carrying the 500 especially shooting Grizzly. You can easily get within a proper distance to Moose thats when the 70-200 comes into play. Elk are more skittish especially in the Tetons where there is a hunting season. Yellowstone Elk are easier to get within range. For scenics I use a 5Dll...Show more →

Thank you George! I plan on start driving from St. Louis on Thursday and reach there by end of day Friday. Unfortunately, I can not afford the 500 f4 since I am renting the 16-35 f2.8 II and the 24-70 II and a 1.4 TC III but I will have my 100-400II with me. As for Mike's blog, I am religiously reading it every day!

Sep 17, 2018 at 11:09 PM

adittam
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Yellowstone and Grand Tetons gear check after reading through previous questions

If you're planning to do Milky Way/astro, I'd recommend getting a fast wide prime instead of the 16-35 f/2.8, especially if you will also have the 24-70 f/2.8 with you for other fast zoom needs. See this thread for Milky Way lens discussion: https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1559759

Sep 17, 2018 at 11:15 PM

1bwana1
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Yellowstone and Grand Tetons gear check after reading through previous questions

Leaving San Diego tomorrow morning. I will be in Jackson at 2:00 pm in time to shoot the sunset somewhere. Traveling with my Wife primarily to see our new Granddaughter, so taking my lightweight Sony APS-C setup.

Sony A6000 mirrorless
Sony 18-105mm f4 (probably will get the most work)
Sony 100 - 400 f4.5 - 5.6 (Wildlife)
Rokinon 12mm f2 (super sharp all manual, at this FL why not)
Sigma 30mm f1.4 (sharpest lense DXO ever tested on Sony APSC)
Sony 50mm f1.8 (family portraits)
Carbon fiber tripod (not taking my light travel tripod)

This whole kit will complete a full set of filters and accessories weighs less that my D810 with the Tamron 150-600 lens. Everything fits in a messenger bag.

If I were going alone with a primary purpose of photography, I would always take the big Nikon kit.

Can't wait to get there, conditions are looking good. Would love to run into some fellow FM people while I am there.

Sep 17, 2018 at 11:16 PM

chvvkumar
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Yellowstone and Grand Tetons gear check after reading through previous questions

adittam wrote:
If you're planning to do Milky Way/astro, I'd recommend getting a fast wide prime instead of the 16-35 f/2.8, especially if you will also have the 24-70 f/2.8 with you for other fast zoom needs. See this thread for Milky Way lens discussion: https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1559759

Thank you for the suggestion and I did read that linked thread. I prefer zooms in this case because zooming with your feet is not always practical (especially at night in the middle of nowhere).
---------------------------------------------

1bwana1 wrote:
Leaving San Diego tomorrow morning. I will be in Jackson at 2:00 pm in time to shoot the sunset somewhere. Traveling with my Wife primarily to see our new Granddaughter, so taking my lightweight Sony APS-C setup.

Sony A6000 mirrorless
Sony 18-105mm f4 (probably will get the most work)
Sony 100 - 400 f4.5 - 5.6 (Wildlife)
Rokinon 12mm f2 (super sharp all manual, at this FL why not)
Sigma 30mm f1.4 (sharpest lense DXO ever tested on Sony APSC)
Sony 50mm f1.8 (family portraits)
Carbon fiber tripod (not taking my light travel tripod)

This whole kit will complete a full set of filters and accessories weighs less...Show more →

Oh that sounds wonderful! Let me know if you want to meet up (if your schedule permits of-course) and congratulations on your new Grand daughter!

Sep 18, 2018 at 12:37 AM


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