Focal Length Discussion for Yellow Stone/Grand Tetons Trip in September

[Deleted member 20897]

I've not decided which kit I'm going to take yet (Nikon or Oly), but I have a pretty capable setup either way.

On both I have the wide end covered (20mm on the Nikon, 18mm FOV on Oly).
The long end I have 200mm Nikon, 600mm FOV on Oly.

Ther loner end is where I'm weakest. I have a place local that I can rent from to get 600mm Nikon's or the Oly 300mm PRO.

Regardless of the kit, I'm more concerned about how much reach I'll most likely need. In these situations, I understand that I should probably take along whatever I can reasonable carry with me through the hiking I'll be doing.

So, is 400mm field of view enough or should I be looking to get as far to the 600mm field of view as I can?

I had one friend tell me that I might be able to get away with using the O75-300, even with the f/6.7 aperture at 300mm because the lightg will most likely be good 90% of hte itme I am shooting.

Just looking for some good discussions from those who have more knowledge than me, as this will be my first time in this region.

 

[DoofClenas]

subscribing...as I'm going there likely next year.

 

[SVQuant]

I think that Yellowstone is one of those places where as long as you can get is a good philosophy. I bought my E-M10 + 75-300II as my entry into m43 for a trip to Yellowstone + Teton. We shot this in conjunction with a Nikon DX DSLR covering 20-300 FOV (shot by my wife).

Looking at my m43 images, it seems that around 30% of my shots from Yellowstone are at 300mm. Teton was much more balanced. I think that the 75-300II is good enough for day light, but a lot of wildlife sightings are at dawn/dusk and the f/6.7 was a challenge as was the focus hunting. But it was definitely serviceable. I was traveling with wife and kids (including a 4yo) and photos while important were only a part of the trip.

Happy to answer any specific questions you may have.

Here are a couple of example wildlife shots with the 75-300II. The second shot is at dusk, 300mm and ISO 3200.

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And a random landscape.

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[bassman]

I was in Yellowstone and Grand Teton several years ago with a Nikon DX kit running 11-300mm, and a Nikon 1 with the FT1 adaptor. I used the 70-300 on the Nikon 1 once to try and get some ospreys, with unsatisfactory results - even 810mm equivalent wasn't enough. Most all my shots were with the D7000. Keepers with the Nikon 1 were with the native lenses, which topped out at 100mm (270mm equivalent).

Shooting bison in Yellowstone was easy - they were all over, right next to, and on the roads. We saw moose a couple of times, and one wolf.

Saw no animals at all in Grand Teton, just gorgeous landscape. No need for extreme length.

All these shots are cropped from a 16mp sensor.

D7000, 300mm, 1/100, f/16, ISO 1000

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D7000, 85mm, 1/100, f/16, ISO 100

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D7000, 125mm, 1/100, f/13, ISO 100

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If I were going again with m43, I would be happy with the 40-150/2.8 plus the MC-14.

 

[bassman]

... and a random landscape ...

D7000, 125mm, 1/200, f/4.8, ISO 100

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[greenboy]

depending on what you shoot, any focal length is applicable. but the expectation is always some good landscapes, and some wildlife. I find zooms convenient. So... something pretty short, and something real long ; }

I myself also like the Oly 60mm Macro for a lot of outdoor shots, though I lose some of the longer focals taken with it due to no polarizer for it.