I am heading to Colorado in about 2 weeks and will squeeze out two days for Arches NP and Canyonland NP, hopefully they will be reopened by then (let's leave this at that without getting into politics).
In addition to my infrared Canon R5, I will bring my A7RV and the A1II. For the Sony cameras, I am thinking of using the 16-35 f4 PZ on the A7RV and the 70-200 F4 G II on the A1II. I may also bring a CV 12 and a 1.4X TC with me, in case I need something wider than 16mm and longer than 200mm. My question really is, do I need something between 35mm and 70mm? Or just let the 61MP cropping power to take care of that? I am not a fan of changing lenses in the field, particularly in dusty environment.
A few of my favorite pics from Arches are in the 40-70mm range, but certainly could have cropped them in post a bit to emulate it.
The 70-200 should be deep enough for most things you'd want to shoot out there. The only time I could see 200 being short (and when you might put a TC on) is at Canyonlands for detail shots from high above the canyon. I had the 100-400 with me and barely used it, opting more for stitched panos.
Arches on the other hand cries out for wide angle compositions and your 16-35 will be perfect for that.
Arches is one of my favorite parks in the system, I hope it's open and that you have a great time. I highly, highly suggest the Broken Arch trail at sunset (trailhead in the campground). The setting sun puts gorgeous light on the lumpy formations and La Sal behind.
Douglas L wrote:
I am heading to Colorado in about 2 weeks and will squeeze out two days for Arches NP and Canyonland NP, hopefully they will be reopened by then (let's leave this at that without getting into politics).
In addition to my infrared Canon R5, I will bring my A7RV and the A1II. For the Sony cameras, I am thinking of using the 16-35 f4 PZ on the A7RV and the 70-200 F4 G II on the A1II. I may also bring a CV 12 and a 1.4X TC with me, in case I need something wider than 16mm and longer than 200mm. My question really is, do I need something between 35mm and 70mm? Or just let the 61MP cropping power to take care of that? I am not a fan of changing lenses in the field, particularly in dusty environment.
Check out the set below (6 pix). For the shots, I used the Sigma 14-24, Voigtlander 35 APO, Voigtlander 65 APO, and Voigtlander 180 APO, which is my landscape kit. I list the camera and lens with each shot. I also provide a little color about the shot and the circumstances surrounding it. In a nutshell, if you are going to Delicate Arch, get there super early - it is a vigorous haul, so be prepared for that. I found 35mm and 65mm to be the most useful there. You will get huge vistas and tall arches in spots, so having wide angle options are good. If the air is clear of haze, I found the 180mm very useful too.
I also have a set of Colorado shots (I live in Colorado). Same drill with these shots - I typically mention the camera and lens, and add some color. See below.
Both places have got very busy in recent years so be prepared for that. Otherwise it's a great area to visit and shoot. Some of the out of the way spots are fabulous. Malboro Point for example but you will need to rent a jeep.
Most National Parks will be open with limited staffing, from the news stories I read. Especially all those in Utah where the state government has pledged to step in if necessary, according to numerous news stories such as in the Salt Lake Tribune - https://www.sltrib.com/news/2025/09/30/utahs-national-parks-will-stay/
For me personally, I don’t like to be without something in the 35-70mm range for my landscape shooting, I always want to have whatever focal length the scene and composition is calling for. I do like your 16-35PZ and 70-200/4II pairing for sure, and if it was me I’d also have something midrange. A couple of images to illustrate from Delicate Arch in Arches NP (despite being overshot it is a superb experience to hike there and wait for sunset, even without a camera, it is sheer awe and wonder). The tighter composition is 64mm and the zoomed out variation later in the sunset is 48mm.
I know there are others who say they don’t need 35-70 range and I understand that. It’s really up to how you see and compose, for me a gap that big is asking for regret (tried it in the past).
NIKON Z 7NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S lens64mmf/11.01/10s64 ISO0.0 EV
NIKON Z 7NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S lens48mmf/11.01/5s64 ISO0.0 EV
I don’t (yet) use Sony, but I have photographed extensively in and around those parks.
I would certainly want coverage in the 35-70mm range, and given the importance of that range I would not want to rely on cropping to get it. (I think of cropping from wider angle lenses as more of an emergency. strategy rather than a main plan.)
Preferences vary, but I also got a lot of use out of much longer focal lengths in those parks. While you can get close to a lot of stuff, there are also opportunities to photograph more distant subjects. I virtually always also carry a 100-400mm lens to such places.
As pointed out above, some of those areas can be ridiculously impacted by crowds, though things will have diminished at least a bit by this late in the season. (Speaking of which… it can get quite cold in Utah inOctober…)
In particular Arches can be a bit of a zoo. Go on weekdays if possible and arrive as early in the day as you can — when, of course, some of the most interesting light arrives, too. In my experience, Canyonlands wasn’t as impacted as Arches, probably because it is a bit more of a drive and because the sights aren’t quite as concentrated. But some of the most popular places can be nuts at times.
My first time in Yosemite a few years ago I tried a 16-35 and 70-200. I found 90% of my images were in the 24-70 range and it was super annoying swapping cameras, ended up shooting the 28-60 mostly. Cropping from 35 to cover 50mm isn't adequate imo. Now I use the 20-70 and carry the 16mm prime to dramatically reduce lens changes.
Indeed, if I was shooting Sony, the 20-70 would be my lens of choice for this use case, paired with the 70-200 for gapless coverage. You'll barely touch the 16-19 range.
I was in Utah last month and hit all 5 of the National Parks. We stayed in Moab on September 9&10(Tuesday and Wednesday). After 4pm you don't need a reservation to get into Arches. We drove in at 4:30 and went straight to the Delicate Arch trailhead parking lot. The lot was less than half full. The last time we went to Delicate(summer) there were 100s of people in the basin. This time there were a few dozen. We had a morning reservation the next day and though the Windows area was crowded there was still parking available. The fall is a good time with less crowds. The ranger told me at the entrance that Arches still requires reservations between 7am and 4pm whether its crowded or not. Easy enough to get.
I had just got a 24-50mm G and brought that on an A7CR which was the sum total of my photo gear. I have longer and shorter glass plus bigger bodies but I wanted to learn the uses of this lens. I have also been through this area with a 20-70 which is great for Arches and the added WA is great for Canyonlands. I mostly shoot in the range from 20-30mm and next time I'm here I'll also bring the 16-25 or make it easy on myself and just the 20-70. Changing lenses in the desert can be hazardous to your camera's health.
More on my comment about the longer zoom. I agree that the so-called "normal" zoom and the typical longer zoom (70-200) would ve my most used lenses in a location like this. (though as someone who "leans long" in landscapes, I would use that 100-400 perhaps more than most.)
But unless you are very luggage-constrained, I'd consider bringing along something linger, too, if you have it. (While I'd bring something wider, 20mm is pretty wide, so the 20-70mm zoom could reduce the need for anything wider — in fact, if I were limited to only two lenses, I would take that and the 70-200 plus a TC.)
As it turns out, I'm actually working on photographs from the Utah parks this week — Zion, Capitol Reef, Arches, and Canyonlands. So many great subjects there...
This is one of those long lens landscapes, made with a 100-400 on FF from a location that provided a good view of these juxtaposed formations, but which was a bit too far away for shorter focal length lenses.
Thank you all for your suggestions, amazing pictures posted/linked. Much appreciated!
So, after some consideration, I think I am going to take the Sony 100-400 GM, the tiny Voigtlander 15, and borrow the Sony 20-70 f4 from my daughter in Denver. Actually I gave her the 20-70 and the A7CII. For the Delicate Arch I will just leave the 100-400 in the car, I read the hike is uphill.
This is not really a photography-focused trip, I will have two days to kill after my stay in Denver. Would like to get a taste these two parks.
Douglas L wrote:
Thank you all for your suggestions, amazing pictures posted/linked. Much appreciated!
So, after some consideration, I think I am going to take the Sony 100-400 GM, the tiny Voigtlander 15, and borrow the Sony 20-70 f4 from my daughter in Denver. Actually I gave her the 20-70 and the A7CII. For the Delicate Arch I will just leave the 100-400 in the car, I read the hike is uphill.
This is not really a photography-focused trip, I will have two days to kill after my stay in Denver. Would like to get a taste these two parks.
I think you've got a great lineup of lenses for your trip. And I second your decision to bring the Voigtlander 15mm. Double Arch is near the main road and the 15mm is perfect there. Go early as the bus tours always stop at Double Arch.
While you may run into some numbers of people at the NP's I would like to strongly suggest you think ahead of when you're leaving Denver. Avoid Friday-Saturday (or returning on Sunday)...especially if any of the popular ski areas have opened. I-70 is hellish anymore and if there's a commercial truck overturned in Glenwood Canyon you will be forced to circumvent the usual route and it'll add miles / hours to your journey. This part of your trip, from Denver to Rifle will be your most worrisome. Or fly to Grand Junction.
Al Trujillo wrote:
I think you've got a great lineup of lenses for your trip. And I second your decision to bring the Voigtlander 15mm. Double Arch is near the main road and the 15mm is perfect there. Go early as the bus tours always stop at Double Arch.
While you may run into some numbers of people at the NP's I would like to strongly suggest you think ahead of when you're leaving Denver. Avoid Friday-Saturday (or returning on Sunday)...especially if any of the popular ski areas have opened. I-70 is hellish anymore and if there's a commercial truck overturned in Glenwood Canyon you will be forced to circumvent the usual route and it'll add miles / hours to your journey. This part of your trip, from Denver to Rifle will be your most worrisome. Or fly to Grand Junction.
Thank you very much, Al! I am planning to leave Boulder area for Moab, Ut around noon time on Monday, Oct 20 and drive back to Denver on late Wed afternoon. Will pick two locations for sunrise on Tuesday and Wednesday, and one location for sunset on Tuesday (probably the Delicate Arch).
Douglas L wrote:
Thank you all for your suggestions, amazing pictures posted/linked. Much appreciated!
So, after some consideration, I think I am going to take the Sony 100-400 GM, the tiny Voigtlander 15, and borrow the Sony 20-70 f4 from my daughter in Denver. Actually I gave her the 20-70 and the A7CII. For the Delicate Arch I will just leave the 100-400 in the car, I read the hike is uphill.
This is not really a photography-focused trip, I will have two days to kill after my stay in Denver. Would like to get a taste these two parks.
The hike is nothing difficult. Just have grippy shoes in case the rocks are slippery. I agree you dont need 100-400 there. There is also view point from the other side of the canyon. If you go there, you can use the long lens.
