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Grand Canyon / Sedona. Is a 24-70 enough? (alien.top)

submitted 10 months ago by NoHearing8189@alien.top to c/photography@viewfinder.pro

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Going to Sedona and Grand Canyon in the Spring and trying to pack as little as possible. I’ll be with my family so not much dedicated time for photography.

I’m planning to take one lens (24-70 2.8) due to weight (arthritis) and dust concerns. My main concern is if I’ll significantly miss out without a wide angle or telephoto zoom?

1-2 nights of Astro: 24mm f2.8 is decent, hard to justify a specialty lens

Family pics: 24-70 is perfect Canyons/hikes: is 24mm with pano enough?

Lookouts: Is 70mm significantly limiting reach?

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[–] Sweathog1016@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

The Grand Canyon can look nice with some telephoto compression, but for 90%, that focal range should be okay. I’m assuming you’re on full frame. If not, I think you’ll want wider than 24.

I have a nice little 16mm f/2.8 that is pocketable so I used that occasionally. But part of the time I used it because I had it, more so than because I felt it was needed.

If you get up to Page, AZ and Horseshoe Bend, wider than 24 is needed. And there are nesting California Condors at Navajo Bridge in that area so you’d want at least 400mm’s.

[–] NoHearing8189@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago (3 children)

Thanks for the tips. Not sure if I’ll make it to Horseshoe bend, but that alone would be reason to get an UWA. I hear you have to handhold your camera over the edge to get the shot, so panning may not be feasible.

[–] ironiccinori@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago

You don’t have to handhold, I just got back from there and a 15-35/2.8 with tripod was perfectly fine. With a 24 you can get most of the rock structure but you won’t get much sky in the shot. I’ve been there several times over the years and everytime I forget how huge it is.

For a full Southwest trip I’d take a 15-35 and a 70-200 and leave the 24-70. Everything’s either super far away or broad and expansive.

[–] bwfwg4isdl@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Sounds more scary then it is. Attach your camera to your tripod and hold it over the edge. The spot where you do this is easy to find. You won't be alone.

[–] NoHearing8189@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago

Thanks for the advice. It’s hard to be the right level of prepared - my days of carrying 75 lbs of just-in-case gear are gone

[–] AberrantCheese@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

I used a 16-35 for the entirety of my trip out west including Horseshoe Bend. 16 was almost not wide enough by itself for the Bend. A two-shot pano would do it, though, just a bit to the left and another a bit to the right. There is a spot directly in front as you walk down that has a good view without fences and such to impair a good shot. Sun sets directly in front of you most of the year so time it to suit what you want, if you go. Which I do, because it’s a fantastic view!

[–] Sweathog1016@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago

I couldn’t time the sunset, but we had an awesome weather pattern with sun over the bend and a storm at the horizon. It was as amazing as we could hope for given our timing for midday light.