Goin' to the Smokies- What lens to bring?

I'll be leaving later this week on a week-long trip to Gatlinburg, TN, Asheville NC and possibly the South Carolina coast. I have a 7d and these lenses: Tokina 12-24, Canon 17-55 IS, Canon 50mm 1.8, Canon 70-200 f2.8 IS , Canon 2X II TC and Canon 100-400. I also have a couple of 580EX flashes. Should I take all of them (I'll have room) or can I do without any of these? Thanks in advance.

12-24, 17-55 and 100-400. The wides will get the most use. If you do Cade's Cove, which you HAVE to :P the 100-400 will be great for the birds and deer/bear/turkeys you're bound to encounter.

Take the fast ones for sure ! They dont call em Smokey for nothing !


Regards & Have Fun,

are you hiking? if so, I'd leave the 70-200 (because of weight) and the 50 (not much opportunity for this lens to shine in my opinion) at home. If you want to cut down even more, I'd leave the 17-55 also. That way, you have an ultra-wide and a telephoto... Both will result in the "least generic" looking photos. I'd throw the 2x in the bag, because why not.

that's my 2 cents.

If you go to Cade's Cove, then take both your wide angle for landscape and a telephoto for wildlife (bears).

I don't see a need for the TC or flashes, but you can always bring them and leave them in your room. You can easily use all focal ranges from your 12mm to 400mm depending on the situation.

Sigma 10-20

I just got back from Asheville and used my 17-85 and 70-200 with 1.4x extender the most. I could have used an ultrawide as I was at 17mm every shot and could have gone wider. So, I'd definitely bring your UW and 100-400 and probably your 17-55. Obviously, if you got room, you can bring it all, but not sure you'd use the 70-200 or the 50.

acajun wrote in post #12340666
I'll be leaving later this week on a week-long trip to Gatlinburg, TN, Asheville NC and possibly the South Carolina coast. I have a 7d and these lenses: Tokina 12-24, Canon 17-55 IS, Canon 50mm 1.8, Canon 70-200 f2.8 IS , Canon 2X II TC and Canon 100-400. I also have a couple of 580EX flashes. Should I take all of them (I'll have room) or can I do without any of these? Thanks in advance.

Lucky dog, ha! We typically go to Gatlinburg every summer but decided to go to Branson, Missouri this year.

Three things.

1) If you haven't gotten a place you may want to consider Greenbrier Cabins located in the village of Cobbly Knob. You enter through a beautiful golf coarse and then up the mountain....

2) Definetly visit Cades Cove and bring your big lens as well as wide! You'll want to time your drive through late in the afternoon as the wildlife are most active then with good photo opportunities until sunset.

3) You must eat at the "Old Mill" at least once.

Have fun.

My ancestors settled in Cades Cove during the early 1800's. It is on my definite TO DO LIST!

If you Can carry them, I would take all of your lenses except the 50mm.

Take them all if you have the room. Pretty awesome place, I'll be up there a few times next week. Looks like the weather may cooperate as well. Cades cove is nice, the roaring fork is ok (Grotto Falls is an easy hike to a nice place...very tourist heavy). Be sure you check out the inexpensive guides in the visitor centers - they can help you spend your time well. If you get time, go over to Transylvania County in North Carolina to shoot a million waterfalls. Speaking of which, bring an ND filter if you have it - lots of water in GSMNP. Watch out for mountain lions while you're there...I saw a monster one on my way home last time I was there. It was standing next to someone's jeep and it was about as tall as their oversized tire. Have fun!

LamontSanders wrote in post #12343473
Take them all if you have the room. Pretty awesome place, I'll be up there a few times next week. Looks like the weather may cooperate as well. Cades cove is nice, the roaring fork is ok (Grotto Falls is an easy hike to a nice place...very tourist heavy). Be sure you check out the inexpensive guides in the visitor centers - they can help you spend your time well. If you get time, go over to Transylvania County in North Carolina to shoot a million waterfalls. Speaking of which, bring an ND filter if you have it - lots of water in GSMNP. Watch out for mountain lions while you're there...I saw a monster one on my way home last time I was there. It was standing next to someone's jeep and it was about as tall as their oversized tire. Have fun!

Thanks for the tips. If we're there at the same time look for a lost Cajun with a confused look on his face. (is that redundant?)

... and thanks to all for the tips. I'll share the best shots here on POTN.
tt