lens choices for a yellowstone vacation

[iamsneaky13]

im going out west to glacier national park and yellowstone in two weeks for two weeks and i need some help choosing lenses to take/rent. I am a highschool student so money is short, but im thinking about renting a 300mm f4l is and a sigma 20mm f1.8 for night scapes. I have a 70-200f4l and a sigma 10-22. do you guys think this will be good enough, or should i suck it up and drop some money on a longer telephoto? What would you guys bring? also general tips for when i am there would be nice, or any secret spots.

 

[tyler_h]

Not from anywhere near there to have visited but I've heard people suggesting in the 4-600 range for telephotos when visiting yellowstone. If moneys an issue even the 400 f/5.6 should be the same as the 300 f/4, but you do loose IS.

Why not use your 10-22 for nightscapes (ever with f/1.8 you need a tripod wouldn't you...).

For both of those you'd need a tripod of some sort, particularly if you get to anything longer and faster.

 

[iamsneaky13]

i would need a tripod for both but the 1.8 will be able to show me the milkyway, and it would make the stars brighter for star trails. ill look into the 400, but i dont think i would be able to handhold than as well. i do have a monopod that i could use though.

 

[tyler_h]

i would need a tripod for both but the 1.8 will be able to show me the milkyway, and it would make the stars brighter for star trails. ill look into the 400, but i dont think i would be able to handhold than as well. i do have a monopod that i could use though.

K, I haven't tried for star shots, just night landscapes where its still f/8 (if there is enough ambient to keep it 30sec or under). Being f/5.6 its not overly heavy. Not sure what the useable ISO on the t1i is for what shutter speed you could get. If you look at anything longer or faster you'd almost certainly need a tripod with a gimbal head. The light 300 or 400 should be fine on a monopod though.

You have a couple of weeks; any local places to test the lenses in store (pointing down the street or something) or to rent for a weekend and do a bit of a test run to see how you can handle the gear?

 

[BaliEagle]

For a good multi-purpose lens, 18-135mm will give you wide angle for landscape and a moderate zoom. However, for wildlife photography, you will need something with at least 300mm. Also, in a setting like yellowstone, prime lenses will probably just piss you off. Maybe your used to using them, but I would definately reccommend telephoto.