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Upcoming Trip to Rushmore, Badlands, Devils Tower, etc.
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May 12, 2018 23:39:02   #
regularguy55
 
Will soon be going and soliciting advice on must take shots and lens that may be needed for great landscape photos. Traveling with Canon G7X MII And EOS T1i with kit lens. Feel like I may need a more capable lens but not interested in “L” quality for my use. Have been satisfied with equipment I have but interested in knowing if there is a “huge” uptick in better glass. Open to suggestions and budget under 1k. Thanks in advance.

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May 12, 2018 23:58:41   #
jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana
 
I made the same trip last fall with my Canon SL1 with an 18-55 and a 70-300, my Canon SX60 for backup, and a Nikon pocket camera which I didn’t use. I got every shot I wanted and needed with this basic equipment, and they turned out great.

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May 13, 2018 05:57:26   #
jccash Loc: Longwood, Florida
 
You are going to have a blast.

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May 13, 2018 06:44:44   #
JPringle Loc: Australia
 
regularguy55 wrote:
Feel like I may need a more capable lens but not interested in “L” quality for my use. Have been satisfied with equipment I have but interested in knowing if there is a “huge” uptick in better glass. .


Hi regularguy55

So talking about zooms, I hold to the opinion that a lot of the money in 'L' glass is for its overall 'ruggedness' and its weatherproofing. I don't doubt there is some better technology in the glass, its coatings and the motors, but not sure its noticeable in what I do, which doesn't usually involve large prints. So nothing wrong with that advanced technology and worth the extra to some. But I'm pretty sure a lot of that extra is about consistency to the corners which is not used on a crop body any way. So my upgrade from a kit lens on my crop bodies has been to the EFs 15-85, and since I don't shoot in torrential weather or dust storms, and I think I take reasonable care of my lenses, and I'm pretty happy with its IQ and reliability, although my EF 16-35L has slightly more consistency across its zoom. I also have the EFs 17-55 which I got for the f2.8 but don't use so much these days, but I'd rate its IQ up there with my EF 24-70L, and I have an EF 70-300, which makes for a nice complementary lens to the EFs 15-85. Its not as sharp across its length as my EF 70-200L, but its lighter and really only falls short towards the long end a bit anyway. And I recently found an EFs 10-18, which I'm also happy with.

So I certainly feel the upgrade to both the EFs 17-55 f2.8 and the EFs 15-85 does have enough 'uptick' for me, and that's mainly about the IQ improvement over the EFs 18-55, but I think the AF is a bit faster too. I also like the compression of a telephoto length for some landscapes and travel with the EF 70-300 for that reason (I have the older version)

Phil

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May 13, 2018 07:25:26   #
Revet Loc: Fairview Park, Ohio
 
My wife and I are doing that trip with yellowstone the first 2 weeks in Sept, 2018. I will be the guy with the Nikon!! We are both very excited as this is a bucket lister for both of us.

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May 13, 2018 07:50:14   #
jwm1944 Loc: Maryland
 
You must do needles highway and Spearfish canyon....:)

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May 13, 2018 08:02:32   #
jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ
 
regularguy55 wrote:
Will soon be going and soliciting advice on must take shots and lens that may be needed for great landscape photos. Traveling with Canon G7X MII And EOS T1i with kit lens. Feel like I may need a more capable lens but not interested in “L” quality for my use. Have been satisfied with equipment I have but interested in knowing if there is a “huge” uptick in better glass. Open to suggestions and budget under 1k. Thanks in advance.


The kind of photography you are talking about doesn't require great glass, or great camera bodies. Simply put your kit lens on the camera, put it on a tripod, and put the camera in full auto. The important thing for taking good pictures or snaps when traveling to touristy places is to frame the subject properly, keep your horizon level, and hope for nice clouds, sunny days, smaller crowds, and to have a good time. It's always best if the light is good to get to places like that first thing in the morning or an hour before the sun sets. The light will always be best at those times instead of when the sun is straight overhead.

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May 13, 2018 08:18:17   #
Bultaco Loc: Aiken, SC
 
jwm1944 wrote:
You must do needles highway and Spearfish canyon....:)


Location?

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May 13, 2018 08:27:21   #
ken patton Loc: Portland, OR
 
Hi, While you are there checkout Custer State Park, take the "Wildlife Loop Road" for your Buffalo shots(may be as close as bumping your vehicle). And see MT Rushmore FIRST if you plan on seeing Crazy Horse Memorial. All of Rushmore will fit on the head of Crazy Horse. I did it in reverse the 1st time I took my new bride and she always remembers Rushmore as only "ok" in comparison. Heads up...Custer State Park had a massive fire in Dec 2017 which burned a lot of the park. More info is available online. It's in recovery now but with new spring growth recovery will be quick. But having lived in the area, you are in for a treat!

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May 13, 2018 08:29:38   #
ken patton Loc: Portland, OR
 
Oh,,, don't pass up the drive on Iron MT road. It has the pigtail turns......

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May 13, 2018 08:39:36   #
ken patton Loc: Portland, OR
 
Hi, having lived in the area for several years and now vacation there every year, you will have a great trip. The motorcycle rally in Sturgus will be over, crowds will be smaller as schools will be in session. Temps will be cooler and the aspens might start turning color towards the middle of the month. Spearfish Canyon is a great drive anytime but really shines in the early fall.....

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May 13, 2018 08:52:21   #
Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI
 
Following...as I’ll be headed there in late August.

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May 13, 2018 09:01:46   #
ejones0310 Loc: Tulsa, OK
 
Needles highway, Custer National Park, deadwood, Leadville and more are must see spots while you are there. Also, careful with he bison. They are wild animals and can do serious damage Very quickly.

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May 13, 2018 09:05:27   #
Ray and JoJo Loc: Florida--Tenneessee
 
While in the area don't forget Carlsbad Caverns National Park (U.S. National Park Service), Take 2 lens to covering 12 to 200mm you will be fine

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May 13, 2018 09:19:50   #
wds0410 Loc: Nunya
 
jwm1944 wrote:
You must do needles highway and Spearfish canyon....:)


Seconded! Throw in Deadwood, too. The Black Hills are an under-estimated US gem.

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