divelight

I did a search here for Grand Canyon, and saw some great shots, but no reference to the lens or focal length for the shot. Will be going later this year to the South Rim and trying to decide on the lens to take with me. Currently can go as wide as 24mm or as zoomed to 400mm. I don't want to carry unnecessary lens, so I am looking for the best two ranges or thoughts.
Thanks for any input. I can list the lens I have, but didn't think that would help the suggestions.

Divelight
Canon shooter and too many lens

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

I've used a 28~300 there with mostly the wide-angle limits of the lens used most often.

The canyon is large. If you want to attempt to even come close to capturing that, a wide-angle lens is the best choice. The next time I go it will probably be a 16~35.
--Bob

mr1492 Loc: Newport News, VA

Personally, I would take both! Surprise. The wide angle lens will give you that big panorama look but might have some distortion at the edges. With the long lens, you can take some interesting shots of the canyon and achieve that telephoto compression. So, a lot depends on what type of shots you want to take.

Regardless of what lens or lenses you take, remember to make sure to take the standard tourist shots. You're there and those shots are standards because they're good. You might as well take some for yourself. After you get the standard shot, look around and move around. Take some shots at unusual angles and include unusual features. Look behind you. There may be something happening that deserves a photo. This is a shot I got in Italy in 2019. We were staying at a vineyard outside of Orvieto and I was trying to get a shot of the Duomo on the hilltop across the valley. I wanted the fence to be my leading line to the church. However, I looked around and saw these two cats walking along the fence. A quick change of focus point and as they passed me, I got this shot. No one will ever make another one! Remember to look around!

Have fun on the trip and take a lot of shots.

Phil

(Download)

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

My take on this is perhaps different from most. I do not like using a short lens to photograph the Grand Canyon. If you are standing on the South Rim, the North Rim is already 17 miles away. A short lens pushes it even farther into the background, effectively reducing the relative depth of the canyon. At the extreme, it can make it look more like a wide valley than a canyon. If you have the capability, I would suggest using a normal lens (50mm on a full frame camera, 35mm on a DX camera) and stitching a panorama from multiple shots. With today's software, this can be done hand held if reasonable care is taken to stay level as you pan.

DWU2 Loc: Phoenix Arizona area

Is that what you call a catwalk?

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

On full frame, I would probe with a 28-200 XR Tamron and if I were really impressed with a particular scene being wider I might go to a 20mm or do a sweep pano @ 35mm.
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Sidwalkastronomy Loc: New Jersey Shore

Those cats got caught at the right time. Nice job being ready

cytafex Loc: Clarksburg MA

Will be doing river trip #12 in the Canyon in August and as before will bring Samyang 24mm f1.4 for night pictures and also Nikon 24-120 f3.5 to 4.5 zoom lens and Nikon 105 Macro lens just in case. Night at Stone Creek Camp Grand Canyon © 2021 Larry Lorusso

Sidwalkastronomy Loc: New Jersey Shore

Excellent milky way photo

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

I would use all.

HRoss Loc: Longmont, CO

I agree with the Pano approach to capturing the scope of the canyon. However, depending on your desired images and your style of photography, you will want a range of focal lengths. There are some many different aspects of the canyon to capture. Mot of all, ENJOY!

divelight

Well it looks like I have a better idea of what to take. I'll have a Canon 24-105mm, and a Canon 100-400mm, so that should cover about everything. I have a 70-200mm, but that is a heavy lens to carry around, but I may go with that also. Thanks everyone for your input, I know more now then I did earlier. I was thinking that I would need an 18-35 or so for the panoramic view, but doesn't sound like that is the choice now.
Thanks again.

Divelight

13 Loc: I am only responsible to what I say..not what

On the "cat" walk.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

The 24-105 and 100-400 should be perfect
The 100-400 gets critters and birds as well as canyon details.
It also works as a near macro for flowers and other small things. Incredibly versatile lens.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Yes, you are going very HEAVY ......