Canon 15-85 USM + 60D or T4i with 18-135 STM

15-85 gives significantly wider view with less distortion, much better sharpness, faster AF and is also better built. to me this choice is easy.

I agree.  The 15-85mm is a pro quality lens.  Amazing L style image quality.  No contest here.  Get the 15-85mm and upgrade the body in the future.

Beautiful photos.  A great advertisement for the glass over body argument.

Jlow34 wrote:

Beautiful photos.  A great advertisement for the glass over body argument.

Thank you!

Mridul

I view Yellowstone as an attraction park and Grand Tetons as a scenery park. Can I assume you will also be visiting Grand Tetons.

For scenery, nothing can beat the 15-85 and that extra 20% of width over the 18-xxx. Also, the 15-85 is pretty much sharp thoughout. A pro calibre lens.

For well under 10% of the time you'll want a long lens for wildlife. The 135mm won't be anywhere near enough.

I had 55-250 and recently found that it front-focused. It would have cost more to adjust it than to buy a new one.

I took the opportunity to buy a 70-300L. Heavier to carry and use but 20% longer and the results are amazing.

I'll bet you didn't know about that unofficial trail to get up that hill on the other side. Spectacular views of GPS.

Great shots. Isn't Oxbow bend something?

Myer wrote:

I'll bet you didn't know about that unofficial trail to get up that hill on the other side. Spectacular views of GPS.

Great shots. Isn't Oxbow bend something?

Yes, I knew about it but couldnot go as it was very hot and wife and daughter had to move on to hotel I didnot realize GPS is so huge and has so flat POV that its very difficult to get a shot unless u are in that hill. Wonder why dont they make a observation desk ..too risky I guess.

Yes Oxbow bend was the best shot of my life!! I couldnot see Schwabacher’s Landing road even when I was keeping close look on the road..they say 16 miles from Jackson

There are two seldom seen (because it requires going 1/2 mile off the main road) sights.

Coming up from Jackson, the first is the Mormon Row barns. You turn east (right) at Antelope Flats Rd and go about 1/4 mile to Mormon Row Rd. One barn is to the left and the other to the right. Obviously best very early in the AM to get the sun behind you and the mountains behind the barns.

The second is Schwabacher Landing. The turnoff has a sign. It's a minute or two above the Mormon Row turnoff. A dirt road to the left (west) and down for about 1/2 mile. Again, early in the morning so the sun is behind you. The draw here is that down at the level of the Snake River you get the reflection of the mountains in the river.

That unofficial trail up that hill behind Grand Prismatic Spring starts at the Fairy Falls parking lot. You hike the first mile of that hike until you're opposite Grand Prismatic Spring. Then look to the left until you find that unofficial trail up the hill. Amazing views of GPS.

I could go back there again.

Your shot of the Lower Falls appears to be on the north side. I think that's where I hiked down to Redrock Point for a lower angle view.

While we were there 9 - 10AM I suddenly saw a rainbow starting to form at the bottom left and grew towards the top right. Amazing!!! I took shots every few seconds not knowing when it would disappear.