Advice needed on which lens to take on trip
May 17, 2016 15:53:22 #
I am going to the 83rd Hopi Festival of Arts and Culture over July 4th weekend. We will be staying one night in Flagstaff, 2nd night will be spent at the Cultural Center with visit to the Hopi Village and touring the area with a Hopi guide. From there we will go to the Grand Canyon where we will tour the Desert View East End of the Canyon before returning to Las Vegas. Since this is a small group tour of 8 people in a 15 passenger van space will be limited.
My choice of lenses to take are: Sigma 18-250, Tokina Ultra Wide 11-16 and Canon 100-400 L Lens. I only want to take 2 of theses. Which given the area should I not take. My camera is Canon T5i. I am thinking not taking the Tokina Ultra wide.
Advice needed please from people who have been to this area.
TIA,
zuzanne
My choice of lenses to take are: Sigma 18-250, Tokina Ultra Wide 11-16 and Canon 100-400 L Lens. I only want to take 2 of theses. Which given the area should I not take. My camera is Canon T5i. I am thinking not taking the Tokina Ultra wide.
Advice needed please from people who have been to this area.
TIA,
zuzanne
May 17, 2016 16:21:33 #
Back not long ago from Flagstaff -- shot almost entirely with 24-120 (FF) Only a few 300mm, more with 18-35 than with the long lens. Glad I didn't drag the 80-400 along. I would take the 18-250 and 11-16. Don't miss Proper Meat and Historic Brewing for a snack and Craft Beer (if you drink). Very photogenic city! Good fun.
May 17, 2016 16:31:08 #
zuzanne wrote:
I am going to the 83rd Hopi Festival of Arts and C... (show quote)
Mitstake!
I'd take the first two. While there are deer, elk, and birds on the Grand Canyon rim they aren't the main attraction and are generally easy with 200mm. Be sure to bring CP for the Tokina at the Grand Canyon and if possible tripod so you can use low ISO and high f-stop for canyon images, especially near dawn and dusk.
May 17, 2016 17:14:09 #
May 17, 2016 17:34:31 #
Leave the Canon. The crop factor of your camera will give you all the reach you need. Wide shots are the main attraction at the Canyon
May 17, 2016 18:25:25 #
Sigma 18-250, Tokina Ultra Wide 11-16. Ultra wide angle is a must for those sweeping Grand Canyon vistas, and the 18-250 will allow you some great headshots of individuals.
May 17, 2016 23:58:03 #
zuzanne wrote:
I am going to the 83rd Hopi Festival of Arts and C... (show quote)
I agree with the previous posts, forget taking the 100-400mm lens, I don't think you will miss it at the Grand Canyon, but be sure to take the other two. The Sigma 18-250 will be your "go to" lens, the Tokina 11-16 is liable to be the occasional "I'm glad I have this wide angle lens." However, the 18-250 will probably be the most used lens you use.
By all means, enjoy your trip!
May 18, 2016 00:05:12 #
zuzanne wrote:
I am going to the 83rd Hopi Festival of Arts and C... (show quote)
I agree with the other posts. The longer reach of the Canon will, most likely, not be needed. Your "go to" lens will probably be the 18-250 Sigma, and you may find a good use for the 11-16 Tokina.
Enjoy a wonderful photo opportunity,
May 18, 2016 03:26:52 #
mwsilvers
Loc: Central New Jersey
zuzanne wrote:
I am going to the 83rd Hopi Festival of Arts and C... (show quote)
I think you would definitely want the ultra-wide for the Grand Canyon. 18mm will not do it justice.
May 18, 2016 09:28:57 #
You are not going to like this answer, zuzanne, but having been to all those areas I suggest you take all 3 lens.
May 18, 2016 09:38:22 #
SOunds to me like you have all of your lengths covered. But for me I would leave the Sigma 18-250 and just use the Tokina & Canon 100-400
May 18, 2016 10:42:54 #
RonH
Loc: Shoreview MN
I agree take all three. Personally I don't consider having 8 people on a 15 person van crowded. On my last trip to Cuba with a photo group we had 12 people in a 10 person van. That was a bit cozy.
May 18, 2016 11:49:45 #
jaycoffman
Loc: San Diego
Zuzanne - I have one additional perspective simply because of how I like to shoot. What kind of pictures do you normally find yourself taking? I find that I tend to use the long range of my zooms (crop frame up to 200mm and 300mm) more than the shorter end both in city shooting and outdoor shooting. I don't know why and I don't think it's for everyone but if you find you have a preference as to how you like to shoot you may answer your question.
May 18, 2016 12:48:54 #
amfoto1
Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA
zuzanne wrote:
I am going to the 83rd Hopi Festival of Arts and C... (show quote)
Unless you plan to take a lot of wildlife or sports photos, I'd definitely leave the 100-400mm at home and take the other two, smaller lenses. Together they cover a huge range of focal lengths that will be fine for almost any purpose aside from the most distant and small subjects.
It sounds as if you aren't a fan of wide angle shots, like the 11-16mm is capable of doing. I'd encourage you to work on that and get in close with that lens for interesting effects (though it can distort portraits too much). It's also ideal for truly grand scenic landscapes, which you will be seeing lots and lots of in Arizona. In fact, I wouldn't go to the Grand Canyon without a wide angle lens!
The 11-16mm is also an f2.8 lens, so might be handy in lower light situations.
May 18, 2016 15:47:13 #
zuzanne wrote:
I am going to the 83rd Hopi Festival of Arts and C... (show quote)
I do not see why all 3 cannot go. I have a Canon back pack that would easily hold the 2 large lenses with one mounted on the camera. The WA and other long lens will fit in the bag along with another short lens, a full size shoe mount flash filters and other items usually found in a gadget bag. This does not take up any more room than any other bag would. So it is not clear why you would leave one lens back when they all would easily fit in a relatively compact back pack along with all your other stuff. Being a native of AZ and spending most of my misguided youth in northern AZ including on the res with some Navajo friends, A 400 on a crop will definitely be used. Also the 100-400 if the model 2 will focus like a macro lens that the other two cannot even begin to do and give you those macro like shots of flowers and other small objects you will encounter. Think close for the 100-400 besides far away.
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