Hiking Half Dome

Hey all,

I'm hiking Half Dome in Yosemite in a few days. I wanted to know what lenses you guys would recommend me bringing? Check my sig for choices. I know climbing half dome is quite physically strenuous, so I want to try to minimize the # of lenses as much as I can. What do you guys think?

I guess my biggest concern is whether or not I'll need a telephoto, and if my 24-70 is wide enough for landscapes?

You can take landscape shots with a tele. Its all about fitting the best scenery into the field of view you have. The tele will also come in handy for wildlife.

I would suggest the 24-70 and 70-200.

I personally would take your 30D and 28-105 in a waist pack if you have one. That way it's out of your way and not too big a drag most of the time. I know what JoJo is saying about weight, but think about it this way: how often will you be on top of Half Dome? Better to be able to take some truly nice pics the one time you do it.

CorruptedPhotographer wrote in post #3511599
You can take landscape shots with a tele. Its all about fitting the best scenery into the field of view you have. The tele will also come in handy for wildlife.

I would suggest the 24-70 and 70-200.

you must not be familiar with the hike.

ed rader

http://sfgate.com …007/06/19/BAGHN​QHLEV1.DTL

I would take the kit lens. It's your widest and lightest lens.

Oh wow, it's that bad, eh? I think we're leaving at like 4 or 5am from Fresno to get there as early as we can, since we know it will take a while. I've never done the hike before though. I've backpacked through big sur (lugging a 50lb pack around) but that's gotta be nothing compared to hiking half dome. Thanks for the reccommendations. I think I'm gonna consider leaving my DSLR at home or in the car then.

Vermin87 wrote in post #3513625
Oh wow, it's that bad, eh? I think we're leaving at like 4 or 5am from Fresno to get there as early as we can, since we know it will take a while. I've never done the hike before though. I've backpacked through big sur (lugging a 50lb pack around) but that's gotta be nothing compared to hiking half dome. Thanks for the reccommendations. I think I'm gonna consider leaving my DSLR at home or in the car then.

A hike as dangerous as that really needs to be researched first...BE CAREFUL!

Wider is better. I took my 10-22 on the XT, didn't need anything else nor want to carry any more weight from the valley floor. It is a long single day hike and the only wildlife you are likely to see are humans, but it is worth it. The cables are now a zoo, expect to stand in line for at least an hour, all the folks freaked me out.

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The view from glacier point is much easier to get to, take all your equipment up there instead. With a tele, you can get really cool shots of Half Dome, but there's all those dang hikers up there.

In the winter it's spectacular and pristine, if you can still get to glacier point after they've closed Half Dome for the season.

Thanks for the suggestions everyone

ed rader wrote in post #3512779
you must not be familiar with the hike.

ed rader

http://sfgate.com …007/06/19/BAGHN​QHLEV1.DTL

Yes not familiar, wow.

I hike the high sierra's from time to time with a 1DsMII and 24-105L. I have made a bubble wrap camera bag to keep things light as possible. So hiking with a DSLR is no problem as long as you have the right pack. I would take your 24-70L

DO u fill the bubbles with helium? hahaha

CorruptedPhotographer wrote in post #3517007
DO u fill the bubbles with helium? hahaha

that actually sounds like a pretty good idea... (hmm, the possibilities) or maybe I should just rent a helicoptor to deliver my gear to the top.