[seventysixersfan]

Hello everyone— my family will soon be going on a 10-day trip to the California national parks Yosemite, Kings Canyon, and Sequoia. My last time in Yosemite was twenty years ago, and I’ve never gone to the other two, so I’m very excited. Could I ask for some help with which lenses to pack for the trip?

My camera gear that I will definitely take: my trusty K-50, and my new Panasonic Lumix LX10 1” sensor compact P&S. My plan is to use the K-50 for any outdoor shooting, so I don’t need a f/2.8 or faster lens. If I shoot indoors, I’ll probably reach for my LX10 compact camera, as it has a f/1.4 lens.

I’m very much an amateur/hobbyist photographer, and I mostly take pictures on vacations with my two young kids and wife. I’d prefer to keep my camera bag as light/compact as possible when I travel away from home, so I definitely don’t want to take too many lenses. Also not a big fan of switching lenses too often outdoors, so as much as I love them, I don’t want to use my favorite DA 21/40/70 combination. (I know I’m really spoiled for choices given my LBA and this is definitely a first-world question I’m posing here).

What are your thoughts about taking any of the following lenses, if you have any experience shooting in these particular (or similar) national parks?

1. DA 18-135mm (so versatile with the range, compact, and WR)
2. HD DA 20-40mm limited (love the sharpness, bokeh, and it is so light, compact and also WR - downside is the limited zoom range)
3. DA 10-17mm (for those big trees, though I know it’s not rectilinear)
4. Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 (love this lens for landscapes— worked great for me in Acadia NP in Maine last summer, but a bit bulky)
5. DA 15mm limited (love how compact it is, but is this wide enough?)
6. DA 70mm limited (love how compact it is, outstanding bokeh and sharpness, one of my favorite lenses!)
7. DFA 100mm WR (I love how sharp this is, but I don’t use it much for macro — it’s a compact short-tele)
8. HD DA 55-300mm RE PLM (love this lens for how fast it focuses, the sharpness, reach, compactness, and WR - but will it be useful in the national parks I’m going to? Wildlife? Getting tighter shots of waterfalls and Half Dome?)

I’d like to take a total of 3 lenses from the above— a wide, normal, and Tele.
Options:

1. DA 15mm, DA 10-17mm, or Sigma 10-20mm
2. DA 18-135mm or HD DA 10-20mm
3. DA 70mm, DFA 100mm WR or HD DA 55-300mm

Thanks in advance for any and all comments. I leave at the end of next week.

[stevebrot]

• DA 18-135mm (so versatile with the range, compact, and WR). You will likely do most of your work with this one.
• DA 15mm limited. A creative essential in tight quarters...think big trees and big walls
• HD DA 55-300mm RE PLM. You will likely need the reach.

The last time I was in those three parks, I shot APS-C with the DA 18-55/3.5-5.6 and Tamron 70-150/3.5 (20A), with my Zenitar 16/2.8 Fisheye in the bag most of the time.


Steve

[pres589]

Seconding what Steve shared. DA 10-17 and de-fish as required in post might be worth considering but I've not used that lens so can't speak to that myself.

[aslyfox]

. . . HD DA 55-300mm RE PLM (love this lens for how fast it focuses, the sharpness, reach, compactness, and WR - but will it be useful in the national parks I’m going to? Wildlife? Getting tighter shots of waterfalls and Half Dome?) . . .

you are wondering about wildlife and the PLM

I recently returned from Tanzania where in the middle of the trip, my D FA 150-450mm fell apart but I did have my DA 55-300mm PLM available for use

I have found that I can crop the image from the PLM if necessary and have plenty of " reach " usable for the capture of good images of the wildlife I saw at a distance

PM me and I can provide examples

[Lulo]

Absolutely agree with Steve.

[fehknt]

I usually don't like taking trips without a macro, but if you don't shoot much macro, I'd probably lean something like
15
20-40
55-300

For wider angle shots, you can often shoot panos (not 100% of the time is it possible but it's a common strategy for me, sometimes 100mm macro is my widest lens on backpacking trips!)

[jddwoods]

• DA 18-135mm (so versatile with the range, compact, and WR). You will likely do most of your work with this one.
• DA 15mm limited. A creative essential in tight quarters...think big trees and big walls
• HD DA 55-300mm RE PLM. You will likely need the reach.

The last time I was in those three parks, I shot APS-C with the DA 18-55/3.5-5.6 and Tamron 70-150/3.5 (20A), with my Zenitar 16/2.8 Fisheye in the bag most of the time.


Steve

I agree. These would be my three recommendations from the lenses you have.

[blackcloudbrew]

Personally from your list, I'd take the Sigma 10-20 and the 55-300 lenses. I'd also take the DFA 100 macro as it is a terrific landscape lens. LIke this:


My experience with the HD 20-40 is that it's a good lens but just not enough range. Also, personally, I'd take more than three lenses....

[suraswami]

1. DA 18-135mm
2. Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6
3. DFA 100mm WR

18-135 is versatile and fast auto focus lens, on long trips this always goes with me along with my 17-70 F4 and 55-300. Most of the time I end up using the 18-135 or 17-70, I never had a need for the 55-300, unless I am sure I will be going to a zoo or wildlife safari.

100mm is very good Portrait lens, I have the F version and love it for its bokeh and creamy background especially when its all green.

If your Camera bag allows to carry one more, take the 55-300 too just in case.

Roaring River Falls - World of Waterfalls

We have been to Kings Canyon few times, love that place. Make sure you drive all the way to Roaring River Falls, not the greatest falls but less human crowd. On the way to the Roaring Falls, you will see few falls, make sure to stop by and have quick sprinkle, it's going to be hot there (hint hint - 18-135).

And if you are adventurous you can take one of those back roads from Three Rivers all the way to the Sequoia/Kings Canyon (don't remember, we did once), where there is no cell phone signal, very less vehicle traffic.

Have fun!!

[Gianclaudio]

15, 20-40 and 100mm macro.

Light, compact lenses with loads of character (rendering). Don't underestimate the macro, you'll find tons of flowers, bugs and texture which will be nice to shoot.
Great thing is 15 and 100mm share 49mm filters, and both 20-40 and 100 are wr.

Enjoy your trip.

[ramseybuckeye]

I would have to go with the 15, 18-135, and the 55-300, and a tripod. If you have enough room pack a couple more so you can change up from day to day depending on the schedule, you don't have to carry them all at the same time. Have a great trip, I'm really envious!

[stevebrot]

Personally from your list, I'd take the Sigma 10-20 and the 55-300 lenses. I'd also take the DFA 100 macro as it is a terrific landscape lens. LIke this:

I totally forgot to include an example! Thanks for reminding:

Bridal Veil Falls
From the road just past the trailhead


Pentax K10D, Tamron 70-150/3.5 (20A)

I don't know the focal length on this one, but I estimate probably 120mm. The falls were running very full that day (Spring run-off) with too much spray, even down to the trailhead, to justify getting out of the car for Bridal Veil Falls. However, as we continued down the road, the clouds broke and it was literally one of those jump out of the car moments. Out of range of the spray, this one was shot from the shoulder of the Southside Drive road.


Steve

[rogerstg]

Traveling with family often means limited time to set up shots and make frequent lens changes. Accordingly, I'd stick with zooms for practicality. Sigma 10-20, DA 18-135 and DA 55-300 PLM.

[northcoastgreg]

I would take the DA 15, the DA 20-40, and the DA 55-300 PLM. That's a compact kit that provides great optics.

[R.Miller]

I have been done the travel to similar wide spaces (Black Hills, Grand Canyon and Bryce Canyon) and agree with Rogerstg. Sigma 10-20, DA 18-135 and DA 55-300 PLM. But I do love the DA 10-17 Fish Eye so that is a toss up. Probably less work in post processing using the Sigma 10-20 after the trip.