Best (SLR) Lenses for Zion Nat'l Park

[ornate_wrasse]

I'm leaving for Zion National Park on 9/6/12 and am trying to decide what lenses to bring for my cropped sensor D300.

I already own a Sigma 17-70, which I originally purchased for underwater use but am finding it quite useful for topside photography. I plan on definitely bringing this lens.

I also own a 70-300 and I am debating whether I should bring this lens as well.

To cover the wider end, I am thinking about renting a Tokina 11-16 for this trip.

I would appreciate hearing your comments, especially from folks who have visited Zion National Park. We are also going to Bryce Canyon for one day. And, after visiting Bryce, we are planning a trip to the slot canyons near Page, AZ.

Just to bring this trip into perspective, its being led by an instructor who has studied with Ansel Adams and even lived with him at one point. I am looking forward to this trip!

Thanks for your input.

Ellen

 

[kokoshawnuff]

I think some kind of tele lens will be useful at any of the national parks...there are always images you want but wouldn't be able to get close enough to without a 10 mile hike. As for the wide, 17mm is probably wide enough even on a crop sensor, but then again I don't have much experience on crop sensors out in nature.

 

[Pete B]

Have a look through my holiday snaps here. The exifs should be on there, the camera being a <spits> digital slr. 😉
You'll be able to judge what you're likely to need - probably worth taking everything.
Pete

 

[BCMielke]

It depends on what you want to do at Zion. If your going to hike into the narrows you will need the 11-16. If your not that 17mm will be wide enough. If you haven't been to Zion and your up for a hike to the narrows and for the faint of heart, hike to the top of Angel's Landing.

 

[ornate_wrasse]

Have a look through my holiday snaps here. The exifs should be on there

Pete,

Thanks for the link to your images taken at Zion. I noticed a lot of images were taken at 10mm. What lens were you using for those shots?

I couldn't help but notice the first image with all the snow. Yet the date on the image is June. Did you actually take that image in June? I will say that I have encountered heavy snow in the middle of June when crossing the Continental Divide between Rawlins and Cheyenne Wyoming, so I know it's possible.

Ellen

 

[ornate_wrasse]

It depends on what you want to do at Zion. If your going to hike into the narrows you will need the 11-16. If your not that 17mm will be wide enough. If you haven't been to Zion and your up for a hike to the narrows and for the faint of heart, hike to the top of Angel's Landing.

Thanks for your input. I was able to view an electronic version of a hike to the top of Angel's Landing and I seriously doubt, at my age, I'm able to a hike as strenuous as that. But I have had my share of experiences for the faint of heart, one of them being in the Grand Canyon traveling on a mule to the Tonto Plateau. Those switchbacks were scary!!

I'll check with my instructor and see if we're doing a hike to the narrows.

Ellen

 

[sepiareverb]

The only thing that seems to be missing is a macro...

 

[ornate_wrasse]

The only thing that seems to be missing is a macro...

I've given some thought to taking one or both of my macro lenses but the weight of the 105mm makes it heavy to carry around all day. I have both the 60mm 2.8 macro and the 105mm 2.8 VR macro, having originally bought both of them for underwater photography. I may end up taking my 60mm macro as it's much lighter.

Ellen

 

[Paul Jenkin]

Generally, I'm not a big fan of wide angle for landscapes, unless the scene is so big as to fill the frame. However, if you're going to be walking through the canyons, I suspect you'll need as wide a lens as you can get. A tilt/shift might be interesting so you don't distort perspective due to an extreme wide angle effect. A decent mid-range zoom (I used to have the Nikkor 17-55mm f2.8 with my D300 and it was fantastic) and a 150-200mm prime lens (or the Nikkor 70-300mm VR) would be a decent and relatively light addition. Tripod? Something light but sturdy.

 

[Rob-F]

She has probably already left--9/6 was yesterday--so I guess the advice window has closed! Enjoy the trip, Ellen!