Triplets Loc: Reading, MA

I should also note that I do have a tripod.

Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.

Perfect advice, to put it into a nut shell, for most landscape the 24-120 is adequate, for streams and waterfalls the 14-24 may come in very handy, for wildlife, the 150-600 becomes a must.

dsnoke Loc: North Georgia, USA

Having been to both Yellowstone and Glacier national parks, I'll offer this idea. See if you can rent the long lens from some business in Gardiner, MT or West Yellowstone, MT. That will save the space and weight of transporting it. You definitely want that long lens, but do have at least a monopod, if not a tripod, to steady it. At 600 mm, any shake will be noticeable. A 300 mm lens might work, but the cropping would be horrific. You really don't want to get too close to the animals, and in some cases, the animals may be a quarter mile away.

guardineer

I just read dsnoke's contribution and it is a good idea, but, I'm sure neither Gardiner nor West has rentals, also you can't get into the park from Gardiner unless you are with one of the Gardiner guide services. I know Bozeman Camera has rentals and I would think Jackson does as well.

Triplets Loc: Reading, MA

Thanks. Only problem is we are driving to Teton, Yellowstone then Glacier. Then we leave from Kalispell so there’s really no turning back to drop off a rental.

ecobin Loc: Paoli, PA

I don't go anywhere without a long lens. You'll miss certain shots without one. Rent it and get to know it before the trip.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

If your shooting landscapes, just take the 24-120, plus a polarizer, a polarizer for the 14-24 is too expensive.
So, just take the 24-120.
If your going to shoot wildlife, then rent the 150-600. Personally I would just take the 24-120.

agillot

About renting the tamron 18 / 400 , that would cover almost all . maybe a little short for far away smaller stuff .

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I went on a tour of Yellowstone in 2013, and I used a little Sony NEX-7. There was nothing far away that I had to shoot, so whatever the NEX-7 had was fine. Looking at them now, it looks like I used an 18-200mm lens.

Toment Loc: FL, IL

We’ll just go ahead and try the lens out! You won’t be able to say “gee, I wish I had brought it” 😀😀😀

Triplets Loc: Reading, MA

I have the sigma 14-24 and it has a bulbous lens so I don’t think there are filters for it. I have a CPL for the 24-120.

Warhorse Loc: SE Michigan

Rent the lens, I think you'll be very happy with it. In fact, you may like it so much you will buy one!

lhardister Loc: Brownsville, TN

At those locales, and with the wildlife to be found there, it is definitely worth the cost to have the long lens. Don't scrimp on a visit to those magnificent parks.

Best regards,

photoman43

Yes, rent the tele zoom. My guess is that you will take 5% of the images with the 14-24mm; 50% with the 24-120mm and 45% with the 150-600mm. Bring a bean bag too to support the long tele when shooting from your car window. And a tripod too for landscapes and tele. I have been to all three parks on photo trips.

ecunnar

I've carried a Tamron 150-600 into Yellowstone everytime I go (I live just over 2 hours away). I've never used it. I have images of virtually every animal shot at 300mm or less. Last year I only saw one bear and that one was in a cave starting to hibernate (with it's head stiking out of the opening). This year even the Elk seem sparce and unless you want to wait for hours in Hayden valley, wolves are hard to see. The best place is Lamar valley but that's closed due to the past flooding. Buffalo you can shoot with a 16 mm lens as they usually walk within a few feet of your car. The best place to see Elk is in Mammoth as they just walk around the "town" if that's what you want to call it. I failed to mention that I lived and worked in Yellowstone for the summer season several years ago and at that time I only had lenses from 35 to 300 mm and shot almost every animal (except beaver). I bought the 150-600 to do exactly what you are thinking of doing. I still carry it but have not found a reason to use it in that park or the Tetons. I have used it in other areas such as Olympic N.P. for long distance (lighthouses) shots and birds both on the ground and in flight but that's about it.