Which long lens to take to Yellowstone.. (Page 2): You won't want to limit yourself with a prime lens as the wildlife will be at wildly varying distances. Your 80-400 would fill the...

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Screamin Scott wrote:

I'll be visiting my youngest son in Bozeman Montana in early August. I don't have the funds to spend on any new glass & I already decided on shorter focal lenght lenses to take. I don't usually shoot with long lenses but I do have a few. My choices are between the original AF 80-400mm Nikkor F4-5.6 VR, an AF Nikkor 300mm F4 AF EDIF, a MF Nikkor 300mm F4.5 EDIF or a MF 400mm F5.6 EDIF Nikkor

You won't want to limit yourself with a prime lens as the wildlife will be at wildly varying distances. Your 80-400 would fill the bill nicely especially if using it on a crop sensor body. Scenery changes fast and you won't have time to stop for much of it due to limited turnouts and the rediculously heavy traffic in August (I don't even go there in July or August myself) so be prepared to take your time and plan to "walk back" several times to get that better angle on the view you saw.

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

MT Shooter wrote:

You won't want to limit yourself with a prime lens... (show quote)

Going in August as there will be little, if any, snow. Having lived up North for many years, I no longer want to deal with snow & cold. It's bad enough when we get it around here. I do have two DX bodies (D300 & D7100) but thought my FX body would be more appropriate in lower light levels...

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Screamin Scott wrote:

Going in August as there will be little, if any, snow. Having lived up North for many years, I no longer want to deal with snow & cold. It's bad enough when we get it around here. I do have two DX bodies (D300 & D7100) but thought my FX body would be more appropriate in lower light levels...

I would recommend the D7100 with the 80-400 for wildlife and the D610 with your wider lenses for scenics. That way you would be prepared for everything.
I have been shooting in Yellowstone for 49 years now, always a wonderland.

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

MT Shooter wrote:

I would recommend the D7100 with the 80-400 for wildlife and the D610 with your wider lenses for scenics. That way you would be prepared for everything.
I have been shooting in Yellowstone for 49 years now, always a wonderland.

That would be ideal, but I'm trying to keep it light. I guess I could take the D7100 with a 10-20mm DX Sigma and a 17-50 DX Tamron as well as the Nikkor 80-400....

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

MT Shooter wrote:

I would recommend the D7100 with the 80-400 for wildlife and the D610 with your wider lenses for scenics. That way you would be prepared for everything.
I have been shooting in Yellowstone for 49 years now, always a wonderland.

jdupps

"If you don't take your longest lens you will always come up short" applies to all wildlife images.

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

Try to envision what your subjects might be, how far away, and their physical size. Then use an on-line photographic calculator to see what the size of the field of view would be with respect to your critter size. A buffalo in a field size of 40' X 60' wouldn't look like much. It's what a 600mm lens on a crop sensor at 1000' would produce.

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

We will likely have a former guide that worked at the park escorting us. Hopefully, we can get closer to most wildlife than that.

Bob Boner

I visit Yellowstone twice each fall and I recommend the longest telephoto lens you have or can get access too. I use a 600mm and frequently need to add a TC.

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

Bob Boner wrote:

I visit Yellowstone twice each fall and I recommend the longest telephoto lens you have or can get access too. I use a 600mm and frequently need to add a TC.

Are you using a crop sensor or full frame sensor camera?

Bob Boner

I have the 600mm on a crop sensor, 7 D II. I also frequently shoot out my car window. I find that if I get out of the car, the subject moves off and I don't get an image. The wildlife seem to be so used to seeing cars in Yellowstone, that they aren't bothered by them much (within reason).

oldfaithful

First Timer so I may not get this completely correct but here goes....... I had been to Yellowstone five times and while I'm not familiar with Nikon, I would suggest the long lens (80-400) especially if your camera has image stabilization, if not you should have a tripod. Also, if you have a teleconverter I would bring that along. Especially in the summer since the animals seem to know there are a great deal of visitors and tend to be in the distance. The flexibility of the 80-400 lens will handle landmarks and scenery. I'm hoping you will stay for several days so you can capture different aspects of the park. Its' big !!! The upper loop for scenery(canyon, falls and Mammoth Springs) while the lower loop is great for geysers, pools, bison, mud pots etc. Do your research. Enjoy your visit and take your time in the Park.

r.grossner Loc: Rockford IL & Sarasota FL

Screamin Scott wrote:

I'll be visiting my youngest son in Bozeman Montana in early August. I don't have the funds to spend on any new glass & I already decided on shorter focal lenght lenses to take. I don't usually shoot with long lenses but I do have a few. My choices are between the original AF 80-400mm Nikkor F4-5.6 VR, an AF Nikkor 300mm F4 AF EDIF, a MF Nikkor 300mm F4.5 EDIF or a MF 400mm F5.6 EDIF Nikkor

The 80-400 has all the others covered plus goes to 80 on the bottom end.

r.grossner Loc: Rockford IL & Sarasota FL

anotherview wrote:

Check out the new Sigma 100-400mm lens: https://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Sigma-100-400mm-f-5-6.3-DG-OS-HSM-Contemporary-Lens.aspx

The OP stated he did not have funds foe new glass.

10MPlayer Loc: California

I took my 150-600 Tamron when we went last year. To be honest I didn't use it much. I had rented a Canon L wide angle that I got the most use out of. The long one is mostly useful for wildlife. I did use mine for getting up close and personal with the bison. You don't want to get too close to those guys. To answer your question, I think the longer the better if you want those highly detailed closeups. (not as sharp as I'd have liked but these were hand held and on the fly. No time to prepare to get it right. The bear was shot through a tour bus window.)

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