Hi on August 13 at 9.30 am I will have my turn to visit the Lower Antelope Canyon. I own a Sony alpha 7 III and I'm torn between using my Samyang fe 18mm f2.8 fixed focal length or the Sony fe 24-105 F4. Do you have any recommendations? Even on any machine settings, obviously hoping it's a sunny day. Unfortunately I know that the guides tend to be hasty and I would like not to waste my time, also because I think it is not recommended to change the optics in the canyon.
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Antelope Canyon, what lens?
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ricktachtig
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Did a South West USA roadtrip twice but in both instances we chose to do other things in the area. So I don't have hands on experience, but I did Google a lot to see if something like this would interest me. Saw this article which is pretty interesting with good tips.
Seems like booking a photography tour is the best way to go and also using the ultra wide options.
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www.thewanderinglens.com
Seems like booking a photography tour is the best way to go and also using the ultra wide options.
Between those two, I would choose the 24-105.
Unless you proceed at your own pace and can change lenses protectively, I would use one lens.
Enjoy your trip!
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Mike Evangelist
Leading Member
Looking back at my images from the canyon, I can see that all my favorites were either shot at 15mm or 24mm equivalent (I was using an APS-C format camera back then). I think the 24-105mm will cover most of it for you, but I'd bet you'll want to switch to the 18mm for some stuff. I had no trouble changing lenses in the canyon.
Be aware, there not a lot of light in there, so exposures tend to be long and/or high ISO. I brought a tripod (although I was on the photography-specific tour, so was given a bit more time/space to set up shots. Not sure that works on a general tour.)
Definitely read the article linked by ricktachtig above. It's an excellent overview of the whole thing.
Looking at these old images makes me want to go back. It's a beautiful place.
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I can also recommend the photography tour. They will give you more time to make pictures (and use a tripod) and you can change lenses. You will also have priority over other groups. For example, when I did the tour, all non-photography groups had to go out of the way (read: out of our field-of-view) for us. They do tend to rush you through the canyon so be prepared for quick changes. If you can, you may also want to bring, for example, a 12-24G (GM). For the rest, it is a fantastic tour and when I am back in the states for another holiday, this is high on my list.
It is really dark and tight in there.
I would go with the 18mm 2.8 to bring in more light over the f4 and the wider angle of 18mm over 24mm.
Thanks, can you recommend a company that organizes photography tours? I have already booked with ken's tour but I could cancel and change. Thanks again
I could be mistaken but I don't think the special photo tours exist any longer. If I remember correctly, they were stopped in 2018 and have not been reinstated. It really is unfortunate because you got more time, had smaller groups, and were allowed to bring a tripod. Now you're limited to the crowded tours and handheld photography. I took the photo tour in 2014 or so and have been meaning to go back because I wasn't exactly prepared but I won't do it if I can't bring a tripod.
Mike Evangelist
Leading Member
Navajo Tours still has them on their website - https://navajotours.com/tour-packages/photo-tours-of-the-upper-canyon/
The site also says: "Cameras are welcome but please no tripods, monopods or/and selfie sticks inside the canyon. We no longer offer the 2-hour Photography Tour available in years past." https://navajotours.com/tour-packages/
And if you try to book the one in your link you'll find it's not available. Moot anyway as the OP is going to Lower Antelope.
Camelback 20
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No Sir, IMHO the most under rated g glass the wonderful sony 70 300 4.5-5.6. I on 3 a7iii. That glass stays on 1 device. Why? It's not long at 70mm or short at 300mm. If I owned 1 lens for biking, hiking, ect ect. Done. Rent it for a day, you WILL SEE. HOPE EVERYTHING WORKS WELL FOR YOU. HAVE A BLESSED DAY AND WEEKEND!
Mike Evangelist
Leading Member
That's unfortunate.
Are you recommending the 70-300 f4.5-5.6 over an 18mm 2.8 and 24-105 f4 to shoot in Antelope Canyon ?
For that location, 70-300 f4.5-5.6 seems like an odd choice.
gil
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my wife who booked a land tour in Utah/Arizona that included the Lower Antelope. As I am mostly a BIF shooter, I only have a legacy Tamron 19-35 (so-so to ok WA zoom lens) to pair with my A7IV. Reached the site (a weekday) as the second to the last group for that day and thus got some extra time for some photos that was actually eaten up by my wife wanting to be in most photos. In that situation, my cell phone did most of the photo work.
For some moments I was able to squeeze in shots from the A7IV+Tamron, didn't have time to really find the good setting and thus I just played with the ISO from 3200 to 6400 with aperture mostly at f11 hoping for details. As expected, resulting shots were mostly not good (good enough for the wife
) but some usable enough to preserve some memories. Got many CAs when shooting against the light. I had no hood and just used sometimes my left hand for shading. Short of saying I used my A7IV + so-so legacy lens as a P&S. Lessons learned - don't bring your wife, girl friend or partner when trying to do some serious shots in challenging conditions . Of course, bring the appropriate gears.
Some quite usable shots below (just processed some).
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Cheers,
gil - San Jose, CA
95% Cheap Lens,90% JPG and 100% Handholding Provocateur
Like happiness, photography is often better created than pursued.
For some moments I was able to squeeze in shots from the A7IV+Tamron, didn't have time to really find the good setting and thus I just played with the ISO from 3200 to 6400 with aperture mostly at f11 hoping for details. As expected, resulting shots were mostly not good (good enough for the wife
) but some usable enough to preserve some memories. Got many CAs when shooting against the light. I had no hood and just used sometimes my left hand for shading. Short of saying I used my A7IV + so-so legacy lens as a P&S. Lessons learned - don't bring your wife, girl friend or partner when trying to do some serious shots in challenging conditions . Of course, bring the appropriate gears.Some quite usable shots below (just processed some).
--
Cheers,
gil - San Jose, CA
95% Cheap Lens,90% JPG and 100% Handholding Provocateur
Like happiness, photography is often better created than pursued.
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Camelback 20
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Yes, even knocking it down to 7.1 at 70mm. With a sony a7iii. Shoot with it for 12 years now at up to 12800. Poor lighting with varsity sports ect. Payed for itself in 1 year. Now I 
understand with landscape wanting sun stars, your . Correct. It was simply my experiences and the man asked a question. That simple. Have a blessed weekend to all. At least you were not rude as so many here. All the best!
understand with landscape wanting sun stars, your . Correct. It was simply my experiences and the man asked a question. That simple. Have a blessed weekend to all. At least you were not rude as so many here. All the best!
Camelback 20
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Wonderful work!!!!!!!!. All the best, keep bring you inspirational art...... and knowledgeable.
LarryRC
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Another site states that tripods are not allowed by anyone anymore.
Lichtspiel
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I think a 24 would be on the long side. It is a slot canyon, meaning it is very narrow.
I have gone a couple of times, the last time I took a 15 and a 20 mm. Changing lenses is a bit risky because of the dust in the air. I did some wet cleaning afterwards.
I think a 12-24 would be perfect.
The photo tours were discontinued a while back... even though they were even more expensive, cramming more folks into shorter time slots = profit.
Since there is just one guide ahead of the group, if you hang back a bit you can capture a few sights without humans (until the following group runs into you)
Be aware that camera bags (!) are not permitted. If you do have multiple lenses, stuff them into your pockets.
Great place though, well worth visiting once or twice. There are other, less known slot canyons that you can explore yourself, a bit off the beaten path.
I have gone a couple of times, the last time I took a 15 and a 20 mm. Changing lenses is a bit risky because of the dust in the air. I did some wet cleaning afterwards.
I think a 12-24 would be perfect.
The photo tours were discontinued a while back... even though they were even more expensive, cramming more folks into shorter time slots = profit.
Since there is just one guide ahead of the group, if you hang back a bit you can capture a few sights without humans (until the following group runs into you)
Be aware that camera bags (!) are not permitted. If you do have multiple lenses, stuff them into your pockets.
Great place though, well worth visiting once or twice. There are other, less known slot canyons that you can explore yourself, a bit off the beaten path.
Craig Gillette
Forum Pro
This isn't a great picture. It might help you to picture the conditions. Many of the shots you'll see of Lower Antelope don't have people in them so it's a bit hard to judge what the sizes and distances are. IIRC, portions are deeper and general width varies as well as the amount of light you get.
There are some chambers where you'll stop for a while and the guides will point out particular features, assist with shooting you/your group with your camera. I think it was mentioned to hold back a bit. I sort of did that. It takes a while for a group to move through some of the narrow spots so if you are one of the last folks, you have some time available. That said, it's becoming increasingly popular and busy so they do keep the groups moving.
This one was 1/60s f/6.3 at 17.0mm iso4000 with a Nikon D7200 and 12-24/4 aps-c zoom so 18-36 in ff terms. Glancing at others, some were slower, down to 1/25s and iso 6400. You'll be there a different time of day and year so light could well be different. My exif says 8:11 but I'm pretty sure it was actually mid-afternoon. I think I'd still want a wide zoom, 18mm in ff might be too wide at least some of the time and 24mm not wide enough, so of those two, I'd likely take the 18mm.
Without people in the scene, you might be able to get longer exposures. It's possible to find ledges, lean against the canyon walls, etc. For now, tripods aren't allowed on tours. It's very bright at the top, whatever sun/sky conditions are, and dark near the bottom. Note the light at the bottom has bounced around the brownish red walls getting there. I'd suggest shooting raw and a perhaps a color card or piece of clothing for comparison in processing. This is a 2015 shot so there's been improvement in sensors, processing, etc., since then.
You will not want to change lenses. Even if not in one of the spots were they toss sand to get light beams (Upper Canyon, certain times of the day/year), it's windy and dust blows into the canyon and sifts down pretty much constantly.
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