Headed to Yellowstone

Well, it's been forever since i've last posted.. thought it was time to ask for some purchase advice. We are headed to Yellowstone the first week of June. This is our first time for a family vacation, as well as traveling across the country. We have never been to the park before and plan on doing many things along the way (Capulin Volcano, Pilot Butte Wild Horse Scenic Loop, Grand Tetons, and of course as much of Yellowstone as we can see in 5 days). The one issue i'm having is regret.. I know that with my current gear, i'm not going to have enough zoom to really get the animals off in the distance (my longest is a 55-250). I originally wanted to get a new camera (considered the 60d) but read up on investing more in a lens as opposed to a body. I am considering getting the Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS if I can get the funds together. I don't know how much weight that will add to my 450D and I am now one to really carry a tripod with me (I know I know.. ) I know i'll bring one with us, but majority of the time I will be shooting without one since we will be doing a bit of hiking. Any advice? I was hoping to stay under $500 with a lens purchase, but I can only find the 100-400 for $750 used on Amazon (and even then I am a bit hesitant to buy a used lens). I had looked at the 70-200 as well, but don't think it will give me enough zoom either. Do I have other options for zoom in a reasonable price?

I dont know of any good ways to get much farther than 250mm with a budget of $500. Of course you can get 70-300, but that't not much farther. I havent seen a used (and usable) 100-400 for $750, and I had been looking for a long time. You can probably get one around $1000. Or you can get get Sigma 150-500 new for about that price, but it is much heavier as well. For the budget that you have, I would recommend sticking with what you have - for now.

I have been to Yellowstone five times. Our last visit was in 2011, and for that trip I had a 7D and 100-400L lens for wildlife. Speaking from experience, at YNP you will never have enough reach to capture all the wildlife you will see, so set a budget and purchase as much as you can afford. Having a newer camera with higher resolution can help, too, as you will be able to crop more in post processing. I found that 400mm was not enough at times, but I was also able to crop some in post processing to help. You will also just have to live with not being able to make every wildlife shot a close-up portrait, and instead show the animals in their habitat.

I would highly recommend a zoom telephoto, as opposed to a prime lens. While you will see more large 500mm and 600mm prime lenses at Yellowstone than anywhere else (especially in Lamar and Hayden Valleys), some of the wildlife will be close enough that you will also want to zoom out at times.

Here are a few examples:

400mm, no cropping

Got my prices mixed up with another lens, nemesis, sorry bout that. I had way too many windows open when I was looking at things lol Thanks for the advice nemesis and scott. I'll know how much I have to work with by March and hope that I may have a bigger buget by then to get some better gear. I was just testing the waters right now for some input. Really appreciated. (Gorgeous shots by the way Scott)

If you find a 100-400 used in the price range you want look out for little tiny black specs on the lens barrel as you "push-pull" the zoom action.

It means the previous owner "cranked" way too hard on the locking ring and forgot it was in the locked position. Forcing it over time will cause one of the barrier layers to degrade...and thus the tiny black flakes.

I know...it happened to mine and you have to send it to Canon depot level repair.

Shooter_Mutter wrote in post #15466955
Got my prices mixed up with another lens, nemesis, sorry bout that. I had way too many windows open when I was looking at things lol Thanks for the advice nemesis and scott. I'll know how much I have to work with by March and hope that I may have a bigger buget by then to get some better gear. I was just testing the waters right now for some input. Really appreciated. (Gorgeous shots by the way Scott)

If you spend some time in Yellowstone you will definitely want a longer telephoto lens but you can still get some good shots with the 55-250IS

watt100 wrote in post #15467295
If you spend some time in Yellowstone you will definitely want a longer telephoto lens but you can still get some good shots with the 55-250IS

On a previous trip in 2007, I had a 70-300 IS and was able to get some decent shots. I even got a few with my 17-55mm and previous Sigma 17-70mm lens. So, yes, with any telephoto you will be able to some wildlife shots, as you will see it everywhere. Elk, bison, mule deer and big horn sheep, especially, can be captured with a shorter telephoto.

Wolves, bears, and smaller animals like badgers, beavers, otters, etc. will be tough with a 55-250, though, unless you get extremely lucky (or unlucky with a grizzly bear ).

Max reach is definitely best, but you can sometimes get a nice, frame-filling portrait without it.
Attached is an image from a few years ago, taken in Yellowstone. This is not cropped, and was taken with a 400mm lens on a full frame body - exactly the same framing you will get on your 1.6 crop with your 55-250!
The 100-400 would be a real nice step up, however. Maybe you could borrow one, or rent one?

You could look for the Sigma 400mm f/5.6 APO Tele Macro HSM second handed. I used to own this one and it performs very well and is pretty inexpensive, if you can find one in time. I waited more than a year to find a reasonably priced one close to me.

You could always try renting one I had good luck with lensrentals.com

Shooter_Mutter wrote in post #15466283
Well, it's been forever since i've last posted.. thought it was time to ask for some purchase advice. We are headed to Yellowstone the first week of June. This is our first time for a family vacation, as well as traveling across the country. We have never been to the park before and plan on doing many things along the way (Capulin Volcano, Pilot Butte Wild Horse Scenic Loop, Grand Tetons, and of course as much of Yellowstone as we can see in 5 days). The one issue i'm having is regret.. I know that with my current gear, i'm not going to have enough zoom to really get the animals off in the distance (my longest is a 55-250). I originally wanted to get a new camera (considered the 60d) but read up on investing more in a lens as opposed to a body. I am considering getting the Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS if I can get the funds together. I don't know how much weight that will add to my 450D and I am now one to really carry a tripod with me (I know I know.. ) I know i'll bring one with us, but majority of the time I will be shooting without one since we will be doing a bit of hiking. Any advice? I was hoping to stay under $500 with a lens purchase, but I can only find the 100-400 for $750 used on Amazon (and even then I am a bit hesitant to buy a used lens). I had looked at the 70-200 as well, but don't think it will give me enough zoom either. Do I have other options for zoom in a reasonable price?

maybe we'll cross paths. we've booked a hotel in west yellowstone beginning on the 11th. after a few days there were headed to the tetons to wrap up our trip. it's our first trip to YNP.

i'm taking all my lenses. my long lenses will be 70-200L f4 IS, 100-400L and 500L + 1.4 TC.

i only have one body -- 1ds mk III -- but i plan to buy a back-up camera soon. i don't want to spend alot of money so i'll probably grab a minty 40d. i know if i only have one camera and it dies my trip will be ruined so i'm definitely getting another camera.

ed rader wrote in post #15467762
maybe we'll cross paths. we've booked a hotel in west yellowstone beginning on the 11th. after a few days there were headed to the tetons to wrap up our trip. it's our first trip to YNP.

i'm taking all my lenses. my long lenses will be 70-200L f4 IS, 100-400L and 500L + 1.4 TC.

i only have one body -- 1ds mk III -- but i plan to buy a back-up camera soon. i don't want to spend alot of money so i'll probably grab a minty 40d. i know if i only have one camera and it dies my trip will be ruined so i'm definitely getting another camera.

That's exactly how I feel! I want another body (but a new lens of course) just have to see how the cards play out. I looked into renting a lens so that might be my best possibility before the trip. We leave the 1st of June and return the 9th.. so we will have just missed each others paths by 2 days lol.

JM45ACP wrote in post #15467715
You could always try renting one I had good luck with lensrentals.com

Def looked at them, also going to price out the camera shop near me as well see what the cost diff is.

There is a camera shop here in Casper that has a great selection for rentals. I just picked up a 60d and two lenses there a couple of weeks ago, customer service is top notch. http://www.wyocam.com/
If you are taking I-25 through Wyoming that is.

Out of all the places you can go, check out Jenny Lake in the Tetons. This is coming from a Wyoming native. It is hard for me to think of a more beautiful place.

synergizerer wrote in post #15468286
There is a camera shop here in Casper that has a great selection for rentals. I just picked up a 60d and two lenses there a couple of weeks ago, customer service is top notch. http://www.wyocam.com/
If you are taking I-25 through Wyoming that is.

Out of all the places you can go, check out Jenny Lake in the Tetons. This is coming from a Wyoming native. It is hard for me to think of a more beautiful place.

Thanks for the info! We will be heading back down through to Denver, CO on I-25, on the way up we will be on I-80 and US-191 since we will be checking out Pilot Butte area. I think Jenny Lake is on our way up to the Jackson Lake Lodges where we are staying...Will def have it on my list, thank you