akfishguide Loc: PA

Looks like several people are headed the same direction I am Heading. Wife and I are planning 18 days beginning and ending in Denver. Planning in works now. Goals--- Mt. Rushmore, Little Big Horn or just over to Cody Wyoming, still not sure there, then Yellowstone for a couple of days, Teton NP, down to Zion and Bryce Canyon, up to Canyon lands and Arches NP and then return to Denver. I have a Nikon D7000 and some lenses, but am considering renting some I do not have such as a 24-70 f/2.8 and a telephoto, perhaps a 400mm or 500mm. I have the 70-200 f/2.8 already. For those of you who have traveled and photographed the West, which lenses would you suggest. Also does MTShooter rent lenses? Don't know how to contact him directly, so hopefully will get ahold of him through UHH. Thank you all for your suggestions and guidance. Also anything in that circle route that I should not miss? I know I could spend months out west and not see everything that is available, but only have 18 days and then back home to Alaska for a week (50th HS Reunion) before returning to PA.

orrie smith Loc: Kansas

for landscape the 24-70 would be great, for wildlife try to rent the 200-500. have a great trip and watch out for the buffalo in Yellowstone. when you are driving up Wyoming, stop at cody, wy, and visit the cody museum.
If you have never been to Utah, you will love the national parks there. if you are 62 or older, be sure to pick up a senior pass, $10.00, and good for all national parks, and good for the rest of your life. it will get everyone in your automobile in the parks for free.

chase4 Loc: Punta Corona, California

Yep, orrie nailed it, the Cody Museum is outstanding and at least worth one full day (Google it) and the senior national parks pass is the best deal around, I've even used it in Alaska. Have a great trip and post some of your pics for us. chase

AuntieM Loc: Eastern NC

Wow, you have an ambitious tour for the 18 days alloted. When you leave Bryce, drive Route 12 through Escalante to Torrey where you will get Rt 24 to Capitol Reef National Park east of Torrey. Route 12 is an experience in itself. Staying on Rt 24 east will bring you by Goblin Valley State Park which is definately worth a visit. Then you can continue up 24 to I-70, head east and catch Rt 191 east of Green River for Canyonlands - Island in the Sky section and then on to Arches. There are other roads into Canyonlands, but if you don't have the time, don't worry about them, the Island in the Sky is the most spectacular, and where the famous Mesa Arch is located. Good luck with your trip.

Fred Harwood Loc: Sheffield, Mass.

Don't miss the Grand Tetons. Fab scenes from the park roads, especially in the morning light. My wife's favorite.

Willow Flats Morning

Shellback Loc: North of Cheyenne Bottoms Wetlands - Kansas

You can PM (private message) MT Shooter from his profile page: http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/user_profile.jsp?usernum=9172

Sounds like a super trip - have fun...

jcboy3

I think you need a wider lens than the 24-70, which on your D7000 will be equivalent to a 35-105. That's not very wide, especially for "big sky country". In a full frame camera, the 24-70 is a good choice, although I still like to also have an ultra wide angle lens. But you can usually get by if you can also shoot panoramas (which I also suggest for some situations out west).

If you don't have it, I recommend the 18-140 and the 12-24.

Unless you are specifically going to shoot wildlife, I would not recommend the long primes. But if you must, then I suggest the 200-500 as a flexible and less costly alternative.

akfishguide Loc: PA

Thank you for your advice. I am over 62 and have had the senior pass for years. My wife and I have been driving all over the US, a little at a time (18 day trips) so I am looking forward to another trip. Been retired now for 4 years and am bouncing around enjoying retirement. I will look into the 200-500 mm lens to rent. Last time I was in Yellowstone was in 1957 so it has been awhile. Thanks again for your help

akfishguide Loc: PA

I do have an 18-300mm lens but does not get as sharp of photos as I would like. I also have 105 mm Macro, 60mm Macro, and a 10-17 mm Tokina lens. I am trying to lighten my load for Air travel, so was just trying to get the biggest bang for the buck so to speak, without carrying everything with me. Thank you for your advice. I appreciate any and all help from my fellow UHHers.

akfishguide Loc: PA

We plan to spend about a day and a half in the Teton Area. Looking forward to great photos like yours. Thanks

akfishguide Loc: PA

Thank you for your help. I sent MTShooter a PM. I appreciate your help.

akfishguide Loc: PA

I am worried that we may not have enough scheduled time for this trip and may have to cut some of it out, but everything looks so close on my road map :-) Not sure of driving times etc. and want to have time to spend as necessary. Being the tourist, I would like to see as much as possible but realize that we may not be able to see it all. Originally wanted to spend 6 weeks out that way, but things change (like finances) and have to do what we can, as best as we can. If we miss something, well we will have to go back in the future. Big trip this year is Tokyo to Singapore in October/November so that cut into other trips for this year. Next year, who knows??? Thanks for your reply.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

D7000 is an APS-C ("DX" in Nikonese) camera, isn't it?

As such, I don't know about a 24-70/2.8. It really isn't very wide on a crop camera. Actually I use one on my crop cameras for portraiture, but not very much for landscapes. For that with those cameras I use 10-22mm and 12-24mm lenses (I shoot Canon, so look to see what's available in ultrawides for Nikon... I think the Nikkors are pricey, but there are some excellent Tokina, Sigma and Tamron at considerably better price).

Now, I do use a "walk-around" lens with my crop cameras. For use on their croppers, Canon offers 18-135, 15-85, 18-55 and 17-55... plus there are similar third party lenses. I happen to use 28-135 as a lightweight, versatile walk-around lens much of the time, but I always have the wider lenses to complement it.

Where you're going, you will likely want wide angle lenses. I'd recommend least 18mm and preferably 15mm, 12mm or 10mm.

For wildlife, you're likely to want a longer telephoto. Some of your more affordable options are Nikon 200-500 or Tamron or Sigma 150-600mm. You could instead get a teleconverter to use with your 70-200mm... but a 1.4X really only gets you to 280mm... and a 2X typically causes a pretty heavy hit in image quality when used on a zoom lens.

I think MTShooter offers some rentals, but can't say if he can meet your specific needs. His website is http://www.cameracottage.com/ Get in touch and ask.

I'd also be a little concerned about waiting until I arrived to rent gear. When I rent, if it's a piece of gear that I'm unfamiliar with, I prefer to get it at least a couple days in advance so I have some time to get accustomed to it.

Used gear might be an alternative... and if it's something you're unlikely to want to use again anytime soon, you could probably turn around and sell it after the trip, recouping much of what you spent.

If traveling by car and not too limited for space, I'd also take at least one macro lens, a flash and a tripod. (Even if flying in to Denver, then renting a car... It's possible to ship gear ahead so you don't have to deal with it during your flight.)

If you are still in the planning stages, you also might want to plan a trip to Rocky Mountain National Park, which is about an hour and a half drive from Denver. Wonderful mountain vistas, wildlife and the town of Estes Park is historic and scenic. Can be pretty well "done" in one day. It's a bit of a side trip, though, from what you've described.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

LoL, for a second there I thought you said Western!!
Sorry, can't help ya, but I've never been that far EAST!! :lol:
SS

krashdragon

Truer words were never spoken!
And your map is flat, the west, not so much!
Have fun. :0)