Fuji 10 24 and 16 55 or 16 55 and 50 140 for a trip to USA national parks

a_c_skinner said:

16 is pretty wide; take what you've got. You'll get a deal more out of a medium tele-zoom.

Practice stitching to cover the occasional need.

Click to expand...

Thanks, yes i will take 16 55 as well ...i am so used to using it and the 10 24 I am not familiar with like what others said..maybe the 12 mm Rokinon might be interesting

I once carried 10-24 and 55-200 for my small trip, and felt a pain of lacking around 35mm. After that I usually carry 10-24, 16-55, and some telephoto lense.

What I am considering now is Tamron's new 35-150mm. I have not tested this lense yet, but I think combination with 10-24 will be an ideal taveler pair. (you need an adapter BTW.)

I live an hour from the Grand Canyon, and I photograph the country you mention quite a lot. I travel with two bodies and the 10-24, 16-55, and 55-200.

The 16-55 sees 80% of my usage, with the other two accounting for 10% each. Unless you have a style that uses a lot of ultrawide shots (and you'll know it if you do), I'd bring the 16-55 and 40-150. There will definitely be occasions where you'll want some extra reach that the 16-55 doesn't provide.

Fujishooter1970 said:

I have a dilemma, i will go to the USA this summer to go for a roundtrip to visit a lot of national parks. Grand Canyon, Bryce, Zion, Monument valley etc

I own the 16 55 and 50 140 but right now I am doubting wether to bring both or to bring the 16 55 and buy a 10 24...

I have the feeling the 10 24 can take more epic shots in the national parks compared to the 50 140....

What do you suggest me to do?

Cheers

Click to expand...

16 mm seems not wide for a trip like this . Buy or rent the 10-24. The 50-140 is an awesome one, but really really heavy. Could you rent the 55-200 , it’s very sharp and much lighter.

Ditch the 10-24mm. That lens is really designed for 'interior' or 'architectural'. To me, this is the lens you haul with you visiting museums or churches.

You already have the 16-55mm......that 10-15mm......you will not miss this.

The 50-140mm will likely be the lens you will use the most.

chopsteeks said:

Ditch the 10-24mm. That lens is really designed for 'interior' or 'architectural'. To me, this is the lens you haul with you visiting museums or churches.

You already have the 16-55mm......that 10-15mm......you will not miss this.

The 50-140mm will likely be the lens you will use the most.

Click to expand...

I think you are completely wrong. The 10-24 is a fixed F4, hardly designed for indoor use, although the OIS is helpful indoors anyway. The lens shines outdoors when shot above 5.6. Bryce and Zion have scale and there is value to shooting wide.

Fujishooter1970 said:

I have a dilemma, i will go to the USA this summer to go for a roundtrip to visit a lot of national parks. Grand Canyon, Bryce, Zion, Monument valley etc

I own the 16 55 and 50 140 but right now I am doubting wether to bring both or to bring the 16 55 and buy a 10 24...

I have the feeling the 10 24 can take more epic shots in the national parks compared to the 50 140....

What do you suggest me to do?

Cheers

Click to expand...

I did most of your trip last year travelling from the uk.

If you've not been before and going in the summer can I make just one suggestion. Get up very early. The parks especially Zion get very busy.

We were up and in the parks before sunrise. By 10am the traffic getting in is very busy. Zion run busses and stop cars driving parts of the park altogether. The line of people waiting for the bus is very long.

Last year I was on a cannon system and I took my 150-600 and got plenty of animal shots. I did also go to Yellowstone so such a long lens may not be of interest to you.

I'm going back to do more parks this year and the 100-400 with TC will definitely be in my bag.

I guess you really need to decide what type of photos you want to take and take the appropriate lenses as there are photos available for every focal length.

--
My photos to enjoy at http://jembulbrook.com

Meetmer said:

chopsteeks said:

Ditch the 10-24mm. That lens is really designed for 'interior' or 'architectural'. To me, this is the lens you haul with you visiting museums or churches.

You already have the 16-55mm......that 10-15mm......you will not miss this.

The 50-140mm will likely be the lens you will use the most.

Click to expand...

I think you are completely wrong. The 10-24 is a fixed F4, hardly designed for indoor use, although the OIS is helpful indoors anyway. The lens shines outdoors when shot above 5.6. Bryce and Zion have scale and there is value to shooting wide.

Click to expand...

Are you saying that the 5mm difference between 10-24mm vs 16-55-mm will make you ditch the 50-140mm ? Math does not add up !!

chopsteeks said:

Meetmer said:

chopsteeks said:

Ditch the 10-24mm. That lens is really designed for 'interior' or 'architectural'. To me, this is the lens you haul with you visiting museums or churches.

You already have the 16-55mm......that 10-15mm......you will not miss this.

The 50-140mm will likely be the lens you will use the most.

Click to expand...

I think you are completely wrong. The 10-24 is a fixed F4, hardly designed for indoor use, although the OIS is helpful indoors anyway. The lens shines outdoors when shot above 5.6. Bryce and Zion have scale and there is value to shooting wide.

Click to expand...

Are you saying that the 5mm difference between 10-24mm vs 16-55-mm will make you ditch the 50-140mm ? Math does not add up !!

Click to expand...

They are not related at all I don’t know why you’re linking them together

Fujishooter1970 said:

I have a dilemma, i will go to the USA this summer to go for a roundtrip to visit a lot of national parks. Grand Canyon, Bryce, Zion, Monument valley etc

I own the 16 55 and 50 140 but right now I am doubting wether to bring both or to bring the 16 55 and buy a 10 24...

I have the feeling the 10 24 can take more epic shots in the national parks compared to the 50 140....

What do you suggest me to do?

Cheers

Click to expand...

The lenses have all be covered well. Bring a hat and a lot of water as it's summer in the desert. If it were me I would not go in the summer because of heat and the crowds and I agree with the poser that suggested getting out early to avoid both.

Have a wonderful time,

Morris

Morris0 said:

Fujishooter1970 said:

I have a dilemma, i will go to the USA this summer to go for a roundtrip to visit a lot of national parks. Grand Canyon, Bryce, Zion, Monument valley etc

I own the 16 55 and 50 140 but right now I am doubting wether to bring both or to bring the 16 55 and buy a 10 24...

I have the feeling the 10 24 can take more epic shots in the national parks compared to the 50 140....

What do you suggest me to do?

Cheers

Click to expand...

The lenses have all be covered well. Bring a hat and a lot of water as it's summer in the desert. If it were me I would not go in the summer because of heat and the crowds and I agree with the poser that suggested getting out early to avoid both.

Have a wonderful time,

Morris

Click to expand...

I don't know where the OP is from or how much experience he has in the Western mountains but it is different. The first difference is altitude difference. The altitude of the Zion valley is 3000 feet. The altitude on top is 9 to 10 thousand feet. In the West the temp decreases from 3 to 5 degrees every thousand fee altitude gain. The lower the humidity the closer to 5. So if it is 110 at Zion Lodge in the valley it could be 75 on top. Do the valley in the morning early and go to the higher elevations as the day wears on or if you stay in the valley go hike up the Zion Narrows where you are either in or by the river going into the cool of a slot canyon.

Bryce is at about 7000 feet so it is going to be cooler than Zion - 85 vs. 110. As you go up UT12 to Capital you are at about 7500 feet by the time you get to Capital Reef. We spend a lot of time exploring Capital Reef in July and August of 1996 and the weather was great.

Capital Reef - yep it's dry and dusty





The ROC was held just North of Capital Reef. We started out at 7000 feet altitude and climbed up to Tubb Flat for a vet check at 10,500 feet close to treelike. So was 15 or so degrees cooler in Tubb than when we started that miserable 3500 foot climb. It was close to 70 in Tubb when we pulled in. When it got really steep, I got off and tailed so the mare could save herself for the galloping on top before we started back down.

Coming into Tubb



In the cantle pack the mare is carrying I have a Gortex jacket because of the other thing you have to watch out for in the South Western mountains in July and August - the Monsoon season big thunder storms. If you have to go high in altitude or have to cross a pass - do it before noon or Mother Nature will take target practice with throwing lightening at you :-(

The other thing particularly for Easterners who are used to sweating in the summer and determining how hydrated they are from how much they are sweating is that doesn't work in the semi-arid West. That's a non-starter in the West. You sweat but it immediately evaporates so you don't think you are sweating. You can get into serious trouble because of that. In the photo above when we get into Tubb my horse's ears at the base of her head were white from the salt that was left when the sweat had evaporated. We give our horses electrolyte supplement and all the water they can drink anywhere they can get - even on the trail because even though they are dry they are losing fluids and electrolytes. The same for humans.

My personal experience is when we moved to CO from Maryland and always living in the humid East, I got really ambitious about landscaping. One July weekend I worked my butt off digging, laying railroad tie, moving big pieces of rip rap, etc. I mentioned to my wife that "man this is great if I were doing this in Maryland I would be drenched in sweat and I was a dry as a bone. " On Sunday evening I ended up in the emergency room severely electrolyte depleted which was playing nasty games with my heart. It can be serious. I was on electrolyte supplemented fluids over night.

So take water - more than you think you need and DRINK it. Also take electrolyte supplementation since you might need if you drink too much water without supplementing your electrolytes.

An on trail water and electrolyte stop at tree line in the ROC. Here I am gettin of to give the mare her electrolytes.





But the most important thing for the OP - take care of yourself and have fun. You will be in some of the most beautiful country Mother Nature has to offer. Enjoy it.

---
Truman
www.pbase.com/tprevatt

Truman Prevatt said:

Morris0 said:

Fujishooter1970 said:

I have a dilemma, i will go to the USA this summer to go for a roundtrip to visit a lot of national parks. Grand Canyon, Bryce, Zion, Monument valley etc

I own the 16 55 and 50 140 but right now I am doubting wether to bring both or to bring the 16 55 and buy a 10 24...

I have the feeling the 10 24 can take more epic shots in the national parks compared to the 50 140....

What do you suggest me to do?

Cheers

Click to expand...

The lenses have all be covered well. Bring a hat and a lot of water as it's summer in the desert. If it were me I would not go in the summer because of heat and the crowds and I agree with the poser that suggested getting out early to avoid both.

Have a wonderful time,

Morris

Click to expand...

I don't know where the OP is from or how much experience he has in the Western mountains but it is different. The first difference is altitude difference. The altitude of the Zion valley is 3000 feet. The altitude on top is 9 to 10 thousand feet. In the West the temp decreases from 3 to 5 degrees every thousand fee altitude gain. The lower the humidity the closer to 5. So if it is 110 at Zion Lodge in the valley it could be 75 on top. Do the valley in the morning early and go to the higher elevations as the day wears on or if you stay in the valley go hike up the Zion Narrows where you are either in or by the river going into the cool of a slot canyon.

Bryce is at about 7000 feet so it is going to be cooler than Zion - 85 vs. 110. As you go up UT12 to Capital you are at about 7500 feet by the time you get to Capital Reef. We spend a lot of time exploring Capital Reef in July and August of 1996 and the weather was great.

Capital Reef - yep it's dry and dusty



The ROC was held just North of Capital Reef. We started out at 7000 feet altitude and climbed up to Tubb Flat for a vet check at 10,500 feet close to treelike. So was 15 or so degrees cooler in Tubb than when we started that miserable 3500 foot climb. It was close to 70 in Tubb when we pulled in. When it got really steep, I got off and tailed so the mare could save herself for the galloping on top before we started back down.

Coming into Tubb



In the cantle pack the mare is carrying I have a Gortex jacket because of the other thing you have to watch out for in the South Western mountains in July and August - the Monsoon season big thunder storms. If you have to go high in altitude or have to cross a pass - do it before noon or Mother Nature will take target practice with throwing lightening at you :-(

The other thing particularly for Easterners who are used to sweating in the summer and determining how hydrated they are from how much they are sweating is that doesn't work in the semi-arid West. That's a non-starter in the West. You sweat but it immediately evaporates so you don't think you are sweating. You can get into serious trouble because of that. In the photo above when we get into Tubb my horse's ears at the base of her head were white from the salt that was left when the sweat had evaporated. We give our horses electrolyte supplement and all the water they can drink anywhere they can get - even on the trail because even though they are dry they are losing fluids and electrolytes. The same for humans.

My personal experience is when we moved to CO from Maryland and always living in the humid East, I got really ambitious about landscaping. One July weekend I worked my butt off digging, laying railroad tie, moving big pieces of rip rap, etc. I mentioned to my wife that "man this is great if I were doing this in Maryland I would be drenched in sweat and I was a dry as a bone. " On Sunday evening I ended up in the emergency room severely electrolyte depleted which was playing nasty games with my heart. It can be serious. I was on electrolyte supplemented fluids over night.

So take water - more than you think you need and DRINK it. Also take electrolyte supplementation since you might need if you drink too much water without supplementing your electrolytes.

An on trail water and electrolyte stop at tree line in the ROC. Here I am gettin of to give the mare her electrolytes.



But the most important thing for the OP - take care of yourself and have fun. You will be in some of the most beautiful country Mother Nature has to offer. Enjoy it.

Click to expand...

Hi Truman,

I agree with all you have stated. I've done my share of hiking in the desert and while I can tolerate 70f I'm much more comfortable when the temperature is between 65f and 25f. When I was younger I'd happily hike at 85f even here in the NE for example the Catskills. All the parks the OP listed are stunning and a delight in shirt sleeves at 60f.

Morris

Why not all 3? if one is now missing in the bag why not a short rental program ,

Hi Chris, loved the shots on Flickr. I am also an Ohioan (Athens) but born and bred in Cleveland so I appreciated your son's Cleveland t-shirt! Loved looking at your shots in Zion, Bryce, GC, etc. Gorgeous places. Have been to them several times but not w my Fuji equipment yet as I am a recent convert from Nikon. Thanks for sharing. Dave Stroh

From my experience with Grand Canyon and Bryce canyon the spots to shoot are good enough for 16mm which means with the 10-24 I doubt you would need the 10-14 FL but that totally depends on your style. Just the location allows for 16mm to capture enough of the landscape. That said I would take the 16-55 and 50-140. You aren't hiking much in those places so the weight wont be that much of an issue assuming you're at a good fitness level

I agree with boy_wander - 16mm is usually wide enough. I take a road trip to the high desert every year or two, and while there are certainly opportunities for UW photography (classics like Dead Horse Point, Horseshoe Bend, the Wave, etc.) I was usually happy with more standard focal lengths. If I'm hiking in the heat I often just take a 24mm or 35mm equivalent prime along with a 90mm; if I come across a shot that I'm not equipped for, more often than not it's because I don't have enough reach rather than because I can't go wide enough.

I tend to take a lot of long day hikes in those locations, and the weight of what you're proposing would concern me - that said, you might be in better shape than me in which case it's not an issue. It will be very hot, even at higher elevations (the sandstone turns into an oven, and the sun is absolutely no joke). Bryce is a bit cooler (and there's actually shade!), but you'll probably see plenty of triple digits everywhere else. That's compounded by the fact that a lot of the more popular hikes are also steep - you're climbing in and out of giant bowls all day. As others have said, get started early.

If you do bring the 10-24 (and there are definitely times that you'll want it, even if it's not necessarily essential), you might be able to just use it at viewpoints and leave it in the car when/if you do any serious hiking. A lot of the classic UW poster/calendar shots that you see of those locations are right next to a parking lot.

If you want to do Angel's Landing, I've got a tip that works well for ditching the lines - go in the late afternoon (if it's not too hot) and try to time it so that you get down in time to catch the last bus back to the visitor center. The crowds will be long gone by then. Last year I had it all to myself at sunset. The catch is the long walk back if you miss the bus