RoamingScott wrote:
There is no way in hell I would recommend the one 180-600 for the average national park trip, this is where the 100–400 shines. Add in the 1.4 teleconverter for maximum flexibility at almost no extra weight.
My standard two lens kit for any national park is the 24–120 and 100–400.
Went to Great Smoky Mountains with the 180-600 because my wife told me there would have lots wildlife that I like to photograph. I was like doing weight-bearing exercise the whole trip, lol.
I only had the lens out from my backpack once at Cades Cove, there were several black bears far away over 2000 feet.
They came across the grassland around sunset which means the 180-600 completely useless with small aperture.
I took several photos with ISO25600 but all of them were still underexposures. What a experience!
There is only one nation park I may have 180-600 with me ~ Yellow Stone.
RoamingScott wrote:
There is no way in hell I would recommend the one 180-600 for the average national park trip, this is where the 100–400 shines. Add in the 1.4 teleconverter for maximum flexibility at almost no extra weight.
My standard two lens kit for any national park is the 24–120 and 100–400.
Went to Great Smoky Mountains with the 180-600 because my wife told me there would have lots wildlife that I like to photograph. I was like doing weight-bearing exercise the whole trip, lol.
I only had the lens out from my backpack once at Cades Cove, there were several black bears far away over 2000 feet.
They came across the grassland around sunset which means the 180-600 completely useless with small aperture.
I took several photos with ISO25600 but all of them are still underexposures. What a experience!
There is only one nation park I may have 180-600 with me ~ Yellow Stone.
Feb 09, 2026 at 03:19 PM
Previous versions of zi464's message #16983782 « Which telephoto for national park visits? »
