Lens(es) for Grand Canyon

[chi_sun_chan]

<p >I will be going to Grand Canyon and Bryce Canyon next month. This is the first time for me to visit the canyons so I am very excited but also know very little about it. I will bring my 5D Mark II with the 24-105mm f/4 L lens (recently bought) with me. I also have a 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM lens. Since the canyons are huge (that’s why called Grand Canyon, right!) I assume that I should be taking landscape photos most the time. Therefore, my understanding is that the 70-200mm will not be needed. But I could be wrong. I also have an old manual focus macro lens which I usually use it for taking flowers pictures. Will I be able to use it in the trip? Any suggestions are greatly appreciated. Thank you!</p>

[g dan mitchell]

<p>I'd bring both lenses.</p>

<p>Dan</p>

[matt_hein]

<p>Landscape photographers still use telephoto lenses. When they don't want somehting in the scene or if they want something in the scene to look bigger. I second Dan's comment, bring both. Are you going Aerial or walking?</p>

[chi_sun_chan]

<p>Thank you for the suggestions. I think I will be walking most the time.</p>

[matt_hein]

<p>Then deffinately bring both. Bring your macro too. There could be many interesting things to do close up shots with.</p>

[steven_f1]

<p>I have the 5D MkI, the 24-105, 70-200F4. and I shoot mainly landscapes. Bring both. You might also want to consider getting a wide angle such as the 17-40mm. Or you could just stitch multiple images together. If you have a macro bring that two.</p>

[ken schwarz]

<p>Yes, bring both, but more important, bring a tripod so that you can take long exposure shots at dawn and dusk when the lighting is best. Bring two bags--a small one for hiking and a big one for the car. Have fun!</p>

[William Kahn]

<p>I agree with all of the above, especially regarding the tripod and time of day for the best shots.</p>

<p>Sunflowers are the prevalent flowers in the Grand Canyon area this time of year....</p>

[frank_skomial]

<p>Sounds like you will be visiting the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. On the way to Bryce Canyon, just north of Kanab city, you can turn into the Zion Park. Zion is considered by some as the most photogenic park...as always subject of personal opinions.</p>

<p>While you can take trails walking in most all parks there, Zion makes it easier by providing bus transportation to most beautiful views and rock formations, where many short and long trails originate.</p>

[fmueller]

<p>If you are hiking into the Canyon, you will want to limit your luggage, since the trip back up is a steep one! That being said, the Canyon has the usual desert fauna and flora with lots of interesting plants, insects, and other wildlife. A macro and/or tele photo lens would certainly not be useless, but it's a compromise what you want to carry. Also, the Canyon looks completely different in the harsh midday light than at sunrise and sunset, so it's worth visiting several times at different hours of the day, if possible.</p>

[steve_crist]

<p>I just got back from a trip to the Grand Canyon in June. See attached photo. I had a 1D MKIII and 17-40L, 24-70L, and the 70-200LIS lenses. The only lens I used at the Grand Canyon was the 17-40L (which is equal to 22-52 on full frame). The Canyon is ENORMOUS - like looking out at the ocean. If you can, try to arrange a visit to Sedona - about 90 minutes away from the Canyon. That's Red Rocks country and the photo opportunities there are better (in my opinion) than the Grand Canyon. </p><div></div>

[g dan mitchell]

<p>There is no one right way to shoot landscape, or to shoot non-landscape aspects of a place like Grand Canyon.</p>

<p>If <em>I</em> were going and traveling mostly by car <em>I</em> would take my full kit - I use a tripod, carry a spare body, and use a bunch of lenses ranging from 17mm to 400mm. If I <em>needed</em> to minimize equipment <em>my</em> photographic approach to this particular location might lead me to build up a kit in the following order, listing the most important lens first (e.g. - if I could take only one, this would be the one), second most important next (if I could take two I would add this...), and so on. The list is in the context of shooting full frame - and reflects my personal approach, <em>so your decisions may well be quite different</em> .</p>

<ol>

<li>24-105mm </li>

<li>70-200</li>

<li>100-400</li>

<li>17-40</li>

<li>various primes</li>

</ol>

<p>I would devise a different for other locations and situations perhaps. For example, when I backpack I frequently carry only the 24-105 and the 17-40 - only rarely adding the 70-200 and never using the 100-400 or primes.</p>

<p>YMMV.</p>

<p>Dan</p>

[carnagex_carnagex]

<p>Here are two shots my wife took in a helicopter tour. She's not a photographer, but most of her shots came out great. I let her take my 5D with the Sigma 12-24mm.</p>

<p><img src="http://img188.imageshack.us/img188/6739/24976982.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="427" /><br>

<img src="http://img113.imageshack.us/img113/9974/70941541.jpg" alt="" /></p>

[yakim_peled1]

<p>

<p dir="ltr">I have the 70-200/2.8 IS but I would not bring it to this kind of trip. Too big, too heavy. I'd rather bring a 135/2 or 70-200/4 IS. Also, 24mm may not be wide enough so I'd also consider a 16-35 or 17-40.</p>

<p dir="ltr"> </p>

<p dir="ltr">Happy shooting,</p>

<p dir="ltr">Yakim.</p>

 

<p dir="ltr"> </p>

</p>

 

[chi_sun_chan]

<p>Thank you for the useful information. It looks like I will bring my 70-200mm f/2 IS USM with me to the trip.<br /> <br /> Yakim, thank you for your concern, but I don’t have 70-200mm f/4 IS so I have to take the heavier one with me.<br /> <br /> Steve, because I will go with another family so I am not sure the detail of the trip, but as far as I know, we should be visiting Red Rocks at Sedona. We will also visit Antelop Canyon.<br /> <br /> Carnagex, your wife took beautiful pictures, I wish I will get some great shots too. :)<br /> <br /> Dan, the first 2 lenses on your list are the lenses that I have, which just further confirms I have to bring them to the trip. :)<br /> <br /> I also have a 50mm f/1.4 prime, will I need that as well?</p>