Advice for renting a lens for Yellowstone

[Graphic.Artifacts]

Yellowstone, especially in summer, requires a very high degree of "situational awareness". Personally, I've found distracted drivers to be the greatest threat but the wildlife can be very unpredictable and surprisingly confrontational at times. So can over-stressed and over-worked park rangers. I wouldn't be able to get through one day of that job without tasing somebody.

How some folks get away with being so reckless with their safety is a marvel. No photo I've ever taken was worth the cost of getting mauled, gored, stomped or run over. YMMV

 

[scottkinfw]

Yellowstone, especially in summer, requires a very high degree of "situational awareness". Personally, I've found distracted drivers to be the greatest threat but the wildlife can be very unpredictable and surprisingly confrontational at times. So can over-stressed and over-worked park rangers. I wouldn't be able to get through one day of that job without tasing somebody.

How some folks get away with being so reckless with their safety is a marvel. No photo I've ever taken was worth the cost of getting mauled, gored, stomped or run over. YMMV

Someone once said you won't lose money betting on the stupidity of humanity. I have seen people put their lives/safety in serious jeopardy too, as they don understand animal behavior.

 

[Don Haines]

How some folks get away with being so reckless with their safety is a marvel. No photo I've ever taken was worth the cost of getting mauled, gored, stomped or run over. YMMV

We had someone done in by a beaver near here.... (think of a chainsaw with stubby legs). There are lots of ways to get it from wildlife....

It's really good to have a car or truck to hide in when the critters get a bit too aggressive. Make sure you have lots of time to get to safety, they can move surprisingly fast.

BTW, my truck at work has lots of dents in the driver's door from a particularly fowl Canada Goose.........

 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

Yellowstone, especially in summer, requires a very high degree of "situational awareness". Personally, I've found distracted drivers to be the greatest threat but the wildlife can be very unpredictable and surprisingly confrontational at times. So can over-stressed and over-worked park rangers. I wouldn't be able to get through one day of that job without tasing somebody.

How some folks get away with being so reckless with their safety is a marvel. No photo I've ever taken was worth the cost of getting mauled, gored, stomped or run over. YMMV

+`10

 

[ethanz]

BTW, my truck at work has lots of dents in the driver's door from a particularly fowl Canada Goose.........

One of the less welcome imports from our neighbors to the north.

 

[AprilForever]

My Yellowstone Kit, last time I was there:

7d Mk II
5d Mk II

600 f4 IS
300 2.8 IS
70-200 2.8 IS
24-105 f4
16-35 f4

I wish I had had a 35 1.4.

Likely, if you do not regularly use a large lens, the 500 f4 will work much better than a 600 f4. A zoom may work better for you if you do not wish to acquire anything from 200 to 400...