Need Help Making Up My Mind: Lenses for Yellowstone Winter Trip

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DGettisNC

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I am heading out to Yellowstone for a week here in about a week. It will be my 2nd winter trip to Yellowstone (1st one was early-mid Feb a few years ago).

Equipment I own:
-Z9
-D850
-Z800mm
-500mmPF
-200-500mm
-105mm macro (G)
-24-70 f2.4g
-1.4tciii
-the f to z adapter mount
-20mm f1.8
-50mm f1.8

Some items I have thought about renting:
-200mm f2 (I've just always thought a 200 f2 could be really cool for some large mammal shots - i.e. bison on this trip)
-1.4Z TC (just for possible use with the Z800 in 4k120/2.3 crop mode for a roughly 2576mm view for short video clips of wolves in the distance instead of a scope with phone attachment)
-Z400mm f4.5
-300mm f2.8G

The focus for me is always wildlife, but I will probably still want to take a few landscape pics.
Last winter trip I had a D500 and D800, with a 200-500mm I owned and a 400mm f2.8G I rented. And then had my 20m, 50mm and 105mm with some filters, etc.

I'm 99% sure I want to take the 800mm out there with me and both camera bodies.
I think I will leave the 20mm, 50mm and probably the 105mm at home this time, and just take the 24-70 instead.

I've thought about maybe taking the 800mm and the 24-70mm, leaving the 500pf and then renting the 400mm f4.5 and the 1.4tc (mainly for the 800mm though).

I've thought about taking the 800mm, the 500mm, the 24-70 and then renting the 200mm or 300mm



What would YOU all do in this situation?

We most likely will just spend the entire week in the northern range. I dont think we will be doing a snow coach (will technically only be there for 2 days after snow coaches start running anyway)
 
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DGettisNC said:
I am heading out to Yellowstone for a week here in about a week. It will be my 2nd winter trip to Yellowstone (1st one was early-mid Feb a few years ago).

Equipment I own:
-Z9
-D850
-Z800mm
-500mmPF
-200-500mm
-105mm macro (G)
-24-70 f2.4g
-1.4tciii
-the f to z adapter mount
-20mm f1.8
-50mm f1.8

Some items I have thought about renting:
-200mm f2 (I've just always thought a 200 f2 could be really cool for some large mammal shots - i.e. bison on this trip)
-1.4Z TC (just for possible use with the Z800 in 4k120/2.3 crop mode for a roughly 2576mm view for short video clips of wolves in the distance instead of a scope with phone attachment)
-Z400mm f4.5
-300mm f2.8G

The focus for me is always wildlife, but I will probably still want to take a few landscape pics.
Last winter trip I had a D500 and D800, with a 200-500mm I owned and a 400mm f2.8G I rented. And then had my 20m, 50mm and 105mm with some filters, etc.

I'm 99% sure I want to take the 800mm out there with me and both camera bodies.
I think I will leave the 20mm, 50mm and probably the 105mm at home this time, and just take the 24-70 instead.

I've thought about maybe taking the 800mm and the 24-70mm, leaving the 500pf and then renting the 400mm f4.5 and the 1.4tc (mainly for the 800mm though).

I've thought about taking the 800mm, the 500mm, the 24-70 and then renting the 200mm or 300mm



What would YOU all do in this situation?

We most likely will just spend the entire week in the northern range. I dont think we will be doing a snow coach (will technically only be there for 2 days after snow coaches start running anyway)
Click to expand...
I’d take both camera bodies, the 800PF, TC, adapters, either the 500PF or the 200-500, and one wide angle for landscapes. Leave the macro lens at home - not a whole lot to shoot there in the dead of winter.

The 500PF is lighter and has good optics, but of course you give up the versatility of a zoom. I’m not sure it’s worth your while to have two long primes, except as backup. The 24-70 is versatile, but heavy, but if weight isn’t a concern, it might be helpful. One lens missing from your inventory is in the 70-200 range - a lens that I like using in Yellowstone for smaller wildlife (pikas, marmots, foxes, badgers), and for isolated scenics. To stay current on recent wildlife sightings, you might want to subscribe to Yellowstone Reports (https://yellowstonereports.com/) - for a nominal fee ($20 I think), you can find out what and where people are finding wildlife.

Have a great trip!
 
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P.S. You might also want to consider renting a good spotting scope, especially if you’re interested in wolves. Sarovski scopes can be had in Gardiner (Optics Yellowstone) or Silver Gate (General Store), and come with little adapters for your cell phone camera - not the best optics, but you'd be surprised how useful they can be for wolves romping almost a mile away.
 
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I was there in February this year. Yellowstone is amazing in winter. It was my second winter visit, although the first one to be focused on photography.

For bodies, I had a Z9 and Z7II.

For lenses, I had the 500 mm PF; Z 100-400 mm; Z 24-70 f2.8; Z 14-30; and Z 20 f1.8. I also had the Z and F 1.4x and 2x TCs along (version III for the F mount TCs), although I did not use the 2x TCs.

For wildlife, I generally had the Z 100-400, with or without the Z 1.4x TC, on the Z9. I had the 500 mm PF, usually with the 1.4x TCIII, on my Z7II.

For landscapes, I used the Z 100-400 on the Z9; and either the Z 24-70 f2.8 or the Z 14-30 on the Z7II, depending on the place. The Z 14-30 was nice for some wide shots near thermal features. I brought the Z 20 mm f1.8 for possible night shooting, but did not end up doing any of that.

If I were going again now, I would take the 800 mm PF which I got a couple of months ago. I took a number of shots in February with the 500 mm PF and the 1.4x TCIII and I think the 800 mm PF would be better for that. I’m not sure I would bring the 500 mm PF, as the Z 100-400, 800 mm PF and Z 1.4x TC would cover things quite well. But if I had room, I might throw it in — it’s been my most used wildlife lens since I got it, although that may be changing now that I have the Z 100-400 and 800 mm PF.

A few other points —

I found having a telephoto zoom quite useful. We had close encounters with bison, moose, foxes, coyotes and wolves where the ability to quickly use a shorter focal length was very useful. It was also useful for wildlife shots with more of the environment in them and for some landscape shots. That could suggest bringing your 200-500 or renting the Z 100-400.

I did not bring my Z 105 f2.8 MC. It would have been fun to use to photograph some brine flies we saw laying eggs in thermal features near Old Faithful. One of the group members had her Z 105 along and used it for that. I used the Z 100-400 for that, as it has a nice minimum focus distance. But the Z 105 would have been better. The Z 100-400 was good enough for some snow and ice close ups.

I had two bodies with lenses set up most of the time on black rapid straps. I also think it is a very good idea to have a backup in case something fails or breaks. I’ve seen more than one camera/lens dropped and broken in remote places. One thing for you to consider is that your Z9 will backup the D850, in that it can use F mount lenses on an FTZ or FTZII. But the converse is not true, as the Z lenses can’t be used on a DSLR.
 
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Abinoone said:
I’d take both camera bodies, the 800PF, TC, adapters, either the 500PF or the 200-500, and one wide angle for landscapes. Leave the macro lens at home - not a whole lot to shoot there in the dead of winter.

The 500PF is lighter and has good optics, but of course you give up the versatility of a zoom. I’m not sure it’s worth your while to have two long primes, except as backup. The 24-70 is versatile, but heavy, but if weight isn’t a concern, it might be helpful. One lens missing from your inventory is in the 70-200 range - a lens that I like using in Yellowstone for smaller wildlife (pikas, marmots, foxes, badgers), and for isolated scenics. To stay current on recent wildlife sightings, you might want to subscribe to Yellowstone Reports (https://yellowstonereports.com/) - for a nominal fee ($20 I think), you can find out what and where people are finding wildlife.

Have a great trip!
Click to expand...
Thanks for reminding me about Yellowstonereports. I was a member there but I havent been back to Yellowstone since May 2021 and I guess I kind of forgot about it and my card lapsed. I am signing up for it again today.


My main "hopes" for this trip would be:
Pine Marten
Ermine (I spent probably 4-6 hours over 2 days looking for one that had been spotted in the area last winter trip but I had no luck)
Obviously some close wolf shots would be nice
Interesting bison/moose shots
Fox/Coyote
Any birds I can find (would like to get some better Dipper pics this time)
Any random owls I can spot

I did the spotting scope thing last time. It was very cool but not sure I want to deal with it this time. I would like some clips but mainly focusing on photography. Hoping the Z800 with 1.4 or 2x tc in 2.3x crop mode on my gimbal will be steady enough (or at least as steady as the scope I rented last time) - worst case its not the end of the world if video doesnt work out too well this time.
 
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DGettisNC said:
Thanks for reminding me about Yellowstonereports. I was a member there but I havent been back to Yellowstone since May 2021 and I guess I kind of forgot about it and my card lapsed. I am signing up for it again today.


My main "hopes" for this trip would be:
Pine Marten
Ermine (I spent probably 4-6 hours over 2 days looking for one that had been spotted in the area last winter trip but I had no luck)
Obviously some close wolf shots would be nice
Interesting bison/moose shots
Fox/Coyote
Any birds I can find (would like to get some better Dipper pics this time)
Any random owls I can spot

I did the spotting scope thing last time. It was very cool but not sure I want to deal with it this time. I would like some clips but mainly focusing on photography. Hoping the Z800 with 1.4 or 2x tc in 2.3x crop mode on my gimbal will be steady enough (or at least as steady as the scope I rented last time) - worst case its not the end of the world if video doesnt work out too well this time.
Click to expand...
A few suggestions to consider:

Pine Marten - check at the dumps. They often forage there and, although not the most picturesque setting, you have a reasonable shot at finding them. Wildlife biologist and photographer Dan Hartmann, who lives near Silver Gate, has them at his house every winter.
Fox/coyote - fairly common in the Lamar Valley during winter, easy to spot, and fun to watch them hunt.
Bison - check out the thermal areas - bison hang out around them because travel and food are easier. They’ll often be coated with frozen mist from the thermal features, which makes for some nice images.
Moose - willow areas along Soda Butte Creek might be worthwhile, but there just aren’t that many moose in Yellowstone!
Ermine - good luck spotting them in winter!
Wolves - the Lamar is your best bet, although being close enough for a decent photograph is a challenge, unless you get a report of a carcass near a road. Watch the hills along Rte 212 for the die-hard wolf watchers - you can learn a lot from them, and probably take a gander through their scopes. The foremost authority on Yellowstone wolves, Rick McIntyre, is almost always out there - great guy, and very knowledgeable.
Owls - reasonable chance of finding one - great greys especially. Just ask around once you’re there.

Have a wonderful trip!
 
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I belong to the KISS Club when traveling.

I would take the

I assume you are flying? I have two (one for Nikon Z 6II and lenses and one for my Sony A1 and lenses

Pelican 1510TP Carry-On Case with TrekPak Divider System (Black) with the Pelican lid organizer and it is A++. It's a wheeled carry-on.​


I have two (one for Nikon Z 6II and lenses and one for my Sony A1 and lenses.

Good luck and share pictures!
 
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Many many many threads about this. Best overall is the 80-400mm in the winter months when the available critters are coyotes and bison. Go the Jackson Hole for the elk.

For the wolves your best bet is to make friends with one of the wolf spotters in the park and use your smartphone with their scope.
 
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