You are right about this somewhat. A knowledgeable leader should plan to get photographers in the right place at the right time of day. That being said we do want to have people experience the National Park and are a little limited. the Yosemite Road Scholar workshop I teach is part travel and part photography based. You may want to look into a photo workshop geared more toward the photography lead be a photographer.

Look for camera clubs or Meetup groups in your area. They normally have new comers like yourself and experienced to very experienced shooters. They love to help people become familiar with their cameras. They also will have camera outings to local areas. Do not become discouraged, you have a very good camera and with a little help should be able to get some great images. I highly recommend Bryan Petersons book on exposure for all new comers.

Great time to go. Best fall color last week of Oct and first week of Nov. May see you there. I will just be finishing a Bodie, Mono Lake and fall color workshop and plan to cruise through during this week.

I was in Yosemite 14 times last year, 5 times already this year. I live close. I cover 14mm to 300mm and most times have the 24-70 on my camera. Deer are not nervous around humans so no long lens is needed. While bear are in Yosemite they are normally not seen unless you are out very early or late.
Sorry to say but this is not the best time for Yosemite. It will be packed. I tell people during the summer if you find a place to park your car don't move it. You may not find another parking place. Use the free shuttle to get around in the valley. The run every 10 minutes and have many stops.
I highly recommend Michael Frye's book, "The Photographers Guide to Yosemite", or the Iphone App. Broken down by locations, months, seasons and time of day. Get them here: http://www.michaelfrye.com/ Glacier point is a must late in the day. Stoneman meadow early in the morning. Valley View late in the day. Fern Springs anytime, in shade most of the day. Be sure to walk to the base of Yosemite Falls.
If coming into Yosemite over Tioga be sure to stop for food at the Mobil Gas Station at the junction of 120 (Tioga) and 395. Think lobster taquitos. Gourmet type food. Written up in several food magazines. Also, Mono Inn. Owned by Ansel Adams granddaughter.
Have fun, rent the long lens or short one or both. I know you only asked about the lens but thought I would throw in some additional info.

Absolutey buy Nikon. It's only $25. Will work on D90, D7000 and D600. Many more no doubt.

Alcatraz is a great tour. The farther into September and if during the weekdays the less likely you will need to make reservations very far in advance. In December we purchased tickets the day before. That said if you can pin down the date you will be there it may be good to purchase tickets weeks ahead of that date.

This would be a great route. We love Morro Bay, a small fishing village. Several miles north of San Simeon and Hearst Castle is a nice Elephant Seal Rookery. Watch for the sign for the parking area that will be on the ocean side. While the drive on hwy 1 is beautiful give yourself extra time on it. If you have not done hwy 1 do not pass it up. Along hwy 1 is Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. A nice waterfall in this area at McWay Cove.

Yosemite, you could spend all three weeks here easy. I highly recommend Michael Frye's book, "The Photographers Guide to Yosemite", or the Iphone App. Broken down by locations, months, seasons and time of day. Get them here: http://www.michaelfrye.com/ Glacier point is a must late in the day. Stoneman meadow early in the morning. Valley View late in the day. Fern Springs anytime, in shade most of the day. Be sure to walk to the base of Yosemite Falls.
If coming into Yosemite over Tioga be sure to stop for food at the Mobil Gas Station at the junction of 120 (Tioga) and 395. Think lobster taquitos. Gourmet type food. Written up in several food magazines. Also, Mono Inn. Owned by Ansel Adams granddaughter.

Around Lee Vining: Lee Vining Canyon, Mono Lake Late and early, Lundy Canyon early, and don't miss Bodie Ghost Town. If you go to Bodie there are no services. Take food and water with you. At 8300 feet it will be hot during the summer.
From Lee Vining heading south just over an hour is Bishop and Galen Rowells Mountain Light Gallery. A must see for photographers.
If you can hold off your trip until mid to late October. The fall colors our good in the Lee Vining area and in Yosemite about the last week in October and first week in November.

Most would love to join you Harvey. Bodie is a great place if you love old buildings and I do. Get there early and stay late. Photograph buildings early and late then concentrate on shooting through windows during day. When shooting through windows remove lens shade and place lens against window.
No food here so bring your own and water, sunscreen. Even at 8300 feet it may be very warm so be prepared.
Try Lee Vinning canyon. Drive along the river going toward Yosemite. At the end of the road is a power plant. Many Ops for water photos along here. Lundy Canyon, drive to the end of the small road and along the way photograph the beaver ponds. June Lake Loop and Twin Lakes area is also good.
While in the area head south to Bishop to visit Galen Rowells Mountain Light Galley.
After photographing this area over the years I like mid to late October, but sometimes you go when you can go. Better lighting and fall colors in Oct.
Be sure to eat at the Mobil gas station located at 120 and 395 intersection. Gas Station?? Think gourmet, lobster taquitos and fish tacos.
Campgrounds at Lundy, June Lakes, Twin Lakes and many along Lee Vinning Canyon.
I see your from Pioneer, nice area. If you have never done this the road to Tuolumne Meadows is nice but will be a zoo this time of year. Except for this area I would avoid Yosemite Valley in June, July and August.
Enjoy

I don't know what this is but the thing I find interesting is the fish image black area the line almost disappears. But, in the other the black area is where the line is most prominent.

Depending on how you have your camera setup John may depend on if you see much of a difference in the two images. For me the reason I shoot in raw is I have more control when processing the images. You can gain some latitude during the processing. You still need to keep your highlights under control and not blown out but you can open up some of the shadow areas. Better control over saturation for specific colors and luminosity of those colors. These things you can also do in JPG, kind of, but with a little more difficulty.

I never shoot moving water that has sun on it. Lighting is too harsh. This will eliminate the need for ND filters. If you chose to shoot water in the sun the best way is to blend several images taken at different exposures together.
1.6 seconds at F/16

It may be a while for the phone to replace the DSLR. If you stand at a place such as Tunnel View in Yosemite National Park you will see most tourist are now shooting with phones and not the point and shoot. People are not wanting to make prints for their walls but use them on the social sites. While the the IPhone will not replace my DSLRs it makes a great addition. Upload immediately to Facebook or other sites and your friends are now on vacation with you.
Some of the attachments are interesting also. This image is from an IPhone 5 with the Ollo Clip. Straight from the phone, no adjustments.

By sensitivity they may mean tolerance. And that is an adjustment for the Magic Wand which is a different tool than the Quick Selection tool.

Costco, I have my settings marked to "Do not adjust". There are advantages to printing at home. One of them is not cost. At home you get to choose paper beyond mat or glossy. Yet to store large amounts of these paper types. You can print when Costco is not open. Must be other advantages just can't think of them without coffee.

One more thing, even at several hundred dollars the printer manufactures are giving you the printer along with a license to purchase ink from them in the NEAR future.