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Lens for Smoky Mountain (NC) trip
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Jan 31, 2020 13:24:24   #
foggypreacher Loc: Dickinson, Texas
 
Gitchigumi wrote:
Your 18-140mm will be fine. I expect your photos may be from the 18mm end, though. I know that seems counter intuitive, but using a big telephoto is for special circumstances, not necessarily for landscapes. Personally, I use a 10-20mm or a 18-200mm on my D7100 when in the mountains.

The 18-140mm on your camera will produce acceptably sharp photos. No worries there. If you are looking for the sharpest photos, take your time and use a tripod with a remote release or the built-in timer in the camera.

If you haven't already done so, tune the focus of your lens in the camera. The camera has a fine-focus adjustment feature built-in. There are lots of tutorials on how to do it. Hope this helps.
Your 18-140mm will be fine. I expect your photos m... (show quote)


Thank you so much, Gitchigumi. I was wondering if the 18mm end of the lens would be good enough. You have made a new lens for the landscape not needed, i may find a need for a new lens just because!

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Jan 31, 2020 13:26:50   #
foggypreacher Loc: Dickinson, Texas
 
LWW wrote:
Ditto.

If the OP has a photo vest/jacket I would toss the 35 and 50 into separate front pockets.

These things are uncannily handy and allow you to be sort of a walking camera bag, and they spread weight nicely and allow for filters, manuals, cellphones, keys and such to be carried which makes low shots where you are on your knees much easier when your pants pockets are empty.

I am from the Smoky Mountain area originally and, IMHO, a tripod is far less desirable there than a monopod.

The monopod can double as a walking stick on the trails and keep the camera around your neck with a quick release head on the monopod and plate on the camera.
Ditto. br br If the OP has a photo vest/jacket I ... (show quote)


Thank you, LWW. As it turns out, the Benfro tripod I have can use one of the legs as a monopod. I have done this yet, but will start practicing soon. I also have a vest and a very comfortable backpack for my gear.

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Jan 31, 2020 13:27:24   #
foggypreacher Loc: Dickinson, Texas
 
LWW wrote:
Ditto.

If the OP has a photo vest/jacket I would toss the 35 and 50 into separate front pockets.

These things are uncannily handy and allow you to be sort of a walking camera bag, and they spread weight nicely and allow for filters, manuals, cellphones, keys and such to be carried which makes low shots where you are on your knees much easier when your pants pockets are empty.

I am from the Smoky Mountain area originally and, IMHO, a tripod is far less desirable there than a monopod.

The monopod can double as a walking stick on the trails and keep the camera around your neck with a quick release head on the monopod and plate on the camera.
Ditto. br br If the OP has a photo vest/jacket I ... (show quote)

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Jan 31, 2020 13:30:32   #
foggypreacher Loc: Dickinson, Texas
 
LWW wrote:
As to sharpness, unless something is wrong with the 18-140, your fears are marketing induced.

Here's all you need to know ... use what you have properly. At 140 I would set MANUAL, f8 aperture and 1/500 shutter speed with AUTO ISO.

The tele end will be used mainly for critters and distant flora/fauna. Trees don't move very and most all wildlife is just plain docile unless threatened.

The one drawback to that lens is that it is slow. Its greatness is that it is light.

Also, use a comfy strap and I would definitely use the lens hood and a decent clear filter when walking trails, there is a lot of stuff to bump into.

As a last thought, when on the trails a monopod is a great self defense item if needed.

I hope this helps.
As to sharpness, unless something is wrong with th... (show quote)



All is very helpful, LWW. I walk with a cane already, but I will have a very willing companion who will help if needed with gear. As I said in last post, I will practice with the monopod with the cane etc as if I was on the trail in the mountains.

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Jan 31, 2020 13:33:04   #
foggypreacher Loc: Dickinson, Texas
 
Gene51 wrote:
The 18-140 is better at the shorter end, and not so great at the long end. Stopping down to F8 will provide you the sharpest results at any focal length. Generally you don't "need" a wider lens if you consider doing stitched panoramas. I wouldn't be overly concerned about a tripod, unless you are looking to do exposures that are longer that 1/30. Tripods are not a necessity for panos either.

https://petapixel.com/2016/10/27/stitching-panorama-forget-wide-angle-lens-home/

Shooting and stitching panos is easier than it looks. There are free applications like Microsoft ICE.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/product/computational-photography-applications/image-composite-editor/

And lots of other paid for software that can do it.

This is a hand-held shot, taken at night, that consisted of 5 images stitched together:

_DSC2161-DSC-RX10M4--(19-02-18) hi res-2-DSC-RX10M4--(19-02-18)-Pano by Gene Lugo, on Flickr

And this is a 4 shot stitch, also hand held, at 1/60 using a 45mm lens on a D800 - in a relatively small room.

_DSC6266-Pano by Gene Lugo, on Flickr

You can see some of my other panos - some hand held - here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/gene_lugo/albums/72157687713807602
The 18-140 is better at the shorter end, and not s... (show quote)



Thank you, Gene51. I have used ICE and had thought that might help for some of the trip shots. All of you have been very helpful. I'll post photos after we get back in April.

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Feb 1, 2020 07:26:41   #
Deanie1113
 
There is so much water in the Smokies - waterfalls and gorgeous creeks and streams. Take a polarizing filter and tripod. I have shot a lot there with the 18-140 and it was just fine.

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Feb 1, 2020 08:03:56   #
LWW Loc: Banana Republic of America
 
foggypreacher wrote:
Thank you, LWW. As it turns out, the Benfro tripod I have can use one of the legs as a monopod. I have done this yet, but will start practicing soon. I also have a vest and a very comfortable backpack for my gear.


Excellent.

The hardest part of using a monopod is setting the right height, and that can actually vary a bit depending on lens used. A short zoom it attaches to the body ... a longer, let’s say 300+ it’s best to attach to the lens. In fact, if the lens has a mount, I would use that.

Another alternative for a long lens is a pistol grip.

Also, with a monopod, your 2 legs make a tripod.

Set the length to where the viewfinder is at eye level, plus a couple inches. That allows the monopod to be ata slight angle.

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Feb 1, 2020 08:14:02   #
mizzee Loc: Boston,Ma
 
I think the 18-140 is your best bet. If you feel you’d like to go wider, why not rent a wide angle.

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Feb 1, 2020 08:24:51   #
Mjump54
 
I always carry two cameras when there. One with a wide angle lens and one with a 100-400mm lens when visiting. One for the landscapes and the other for the “critters” I may encounter.

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Feb 1, 2020 10:05:32   #
JimBart Loc: Western Michigan
 
Ive been to the Smokies a number of times and find that my 18-140 lens and the 55-300 (kit lenses) are more than enough to meet the needs of what you find in the area. I might add that I shoot the Nikon 7100.

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Feb 1, 2020 10:33:36   #
burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC
 
foggypreacher wrote:
I looked in the section on the Smoky Mountains, but did not see any info regarding lenses for shooting landscape in the mountains. I have not shot landscapes per se especially in the mountains. I have a D7200, 35mm DX f/1.8, 50mm FX f/1.8, 18-140mm DX f/3.5-5.6 for lenses.

I believe the 18-140mm might be OK, but not sure if it is going to be sharp enough. I hope some of you hoggers who have photographed in the Smoky Mountains will have some ideas if my lenses will be fine or if I need to by and wide lens for this trip. Open to Nikon, Sigma and Tamron.

Also, how about any filters? I have not used them before.

Thank you in advance for any help that can be offered.
I looked in the section on the Smoky Mountains, bu... (show quote)


ND8 neutral density and circular polarizer filters are useful.

For best lens performance with 18-140, use a medium aperture (f/4.5 to f/8) when possible. Also avoid the extreme ends of that zoom.

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Feb 1, 2020 10:38:28   #
photoman43
 
Regarding filters, a 6 stop neutral density to slow water and a polarizer to reduce glare. You can buy maps on the internet showing you locations of waterfalls and other features of interest to you. Be ready for early morning shots of the mountains in fog, clouds, etc.

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Feb 1, 2020 11:25:50   #
camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.
 
I have been many times over the years to The Great Smokey Mountains. I found that a wide angle and a tele are must have lenses for landscape photography, at least for my type of landscape photography. The 18mm focal length of your Nikon 18-140 should be pretty good for wide angle shots while the 140mm tele side should be good enough for those shots that need a little bit more of reach and to compress perspective.

You talked about sharpness and sharpness with any lens depends a lot on your techniques. AF is very accurate and exposure meters built into the cameras are fantastic tools but in addition we have histograms to lead us with the exposure. Do your part and the lens will do its part.
Good luck with your trip to The Smokey Mountains and bring back many keepers.

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Feb 1, 2020 14:00:33   #
kenabr Loc: S.E.Wisconsin
 
I was in the Smokies last fall with John Gerlach's Workshop. I used my 24-300mm on my full frame. Your 18-140mm should be ok. You don't seem sure it's sharp enough. If your camera allows try fine tuning your lens. I've found that this can improve sharpness. I recall using mostly the range of 24-50mm. We photographed sunrises over fog in the valleys. I was able to make 13x26 panoramas, one of which hangs on my wall. We photographed elk in a field in the park near Cherokee NC. Workshops in my opinion offer the advantage of someone knowledgeable of the area and taking you to the best places at the right time.

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Feb 1, 2020 14:05:10   #
kenabr Loc: S.E.Wisconsin
 
One other thought use a tripod with vibration control off. Use a remote release or as most of us did use the self timer set for 2 seconds. Also use live view. This gives you the best chance of sharp images.

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