Equipment Advice - Canadian Rockeis

AndrewSt

AndrewSt

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Just booked a trip to the Canadian Rockies for next summer, driving from Vancouver to Calgary via the Okanagan, Clearwater, Jasper and Banff.

I am more of a people and wedding photographer, than landscapes or wildlife, but don't want to miss this opportunity.

Currently have a D750 and D7000 with Sigma 35, Nikon 50 1.8 and 85 1.8.

Luggage is fairly limited so don't want to be carrying anything not needed.

I have a light tripod, what would be your other recommendations? I will most likely buy second hand and sell on afterwards, budget is not unlimited but happy to spend if I will likely recoup much of the cost on resale.

Wide options: 20mm F1.8 prime to go with my Sigma or possibly something like a 16-35

Tele options: 70-200 F2.8? Although the range is limited for wildlife. New 200-500 looks good but rather large, possibly consider the new 300 F4 PF but primes may be restrictive.

Zoom? I don't have a zoom. Would a 24-70 make sense? and forget the wide and my sigma prime, just take the nifty 50 for when needed?

Any suggestions appreciated.
 
If/when we make a similar trip, I would take both bodies (although I would take a 1 series rather than a crop because mine's waterproof!) and a pair of zooms - 24-120 and 70-300. That would give you an effective focal length range of 24-450mm, albeit with relatively high f numbers but fine for landscapes. Having said that, I would probably also take my 12-24 Sigma, just in case! The 50mm f/1.8 is always in the bag on the off chance I'll need its wider aperture but especially with the D750's high ISO performance (and me not being much of a fan of shallow DoF!), it usually stays in there.
 
you're going to really like that trip. A simply stunning part of the country.
To take in the full majesty of the landscape, no lens is going to be wide enough , so panos will probably be called for.
Also you'll definitely need a tele. The bears aren't going to walk right up and pose for you. :)
Personally I would take a 3 lens kit. A 1.8 lens in your choice of FL, a zoom like my Sigma 24-105 f4 art, and a zoom tele such as the Nikon 200-500 or the Tamron or Sigma 150-600.
Those 3 lenses should cover any eventuality.
 
From personal experience in that area (and I am a Canon shooter), whilst on vacation..
A 24-105mm on a full frame body was fine for 90% of my shots ('scapes).
A 70-300 on a 1.6 crop body was OK for a lot of the wildlife.

An ultrawide zoom (17-40? on a full frame body or 12-24? on a crop body) would have been nice at some of the waterfalls in Jasper NP, mainly Sunwapta and Athabasca falls and possibly Johnstone Canyon near Banff

I didn't take a triopd
 
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I'm a little wary that 24mm might not be wide enough! The 20 F1.8 is appealing but even though I use primes for weddings it could be restrictive for landscapes!

200-500 is definitely on my list, would love a new 300F4 with TC but it might be stretching the budget.
 
We went in October. I had an airport essentials backpack with a 5D3, 100-400, 24-70 and 16-35. I also had a 28mm which came in very handy when the 16-35 failed [fell off a chair and wouldn’t focus in any mode] and the polariser on my 24-70 came apart in my hand. I had Lee filters [polariser, ND grads] and Brian [a 3LT tripod]. We hired a car from Alamo - free upgrade, very good service. I had a knee problem and thought that would mean I wouldn’t see much but there seemed to be a staggering vista around every bend. I put a 50mm 1.4 but didn’t use it. I had a Canon G16 that I used out the window… haven’t downloaded those yet but it probably was more for my amusement than many keepers!
 
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