I carry a minimal amount of gear when I travel to Brooks Falls. My current camera is a Sony A1 II. In the past I have used Canon. The brand really is the photographers preference. ALL the bear images on the site (with the exception of the main title page showing 30 bears) were taken a 100-400mm lens. I love the versatility of the lens and the range gives me plenty of magnification at the falls. Also, having a camera with a large sensor give me plenty of room to crop my images (digital zoom).
I brought a range finder to Brooks Falls. The front part of the Falls is about 10 yards from the viewing platform. The far end of the falls is approximately 60 yards from the viewing platform. So the falls are about 50 yards across. The distance from the viewing platform to the "lip" (the main fishing spot), is about 25 yards (75 feet). I find that the 100-400mm lens range is perfect for this. At other parts of the park, like the lower bridge area, I find myself wanting more magnification. A 600mm would be great at the Riffles or at the main bridge by the lodges. I personally just don't like the added weight. I have taken a 600mm lens, but I didn't enjoy lugging it around.Open tripods are NOT aloud on the main viewing platform. You may use a monopod, or you may use a tripod with the legs closed LIKE a monopod. I carry a tripod and use it as a monopod on the main platform. But I can use the tripod with open legs at other locations of the park.
A Guide to Selecting a Telephoto Lens
During your Bear Safety Orientation, you will be shown a wooden life-size bear at a distance of 50 yards. This is to help give you an idea of how far you should be from a bear at all times. We can use this wooden bear at 50 yards to show lens magnification. Below are images associated with different focal lengths. Since a 50mm lens is “basically” what your eye sees normally, we will start there.
The last picture reminds us that we can always crop our images to make the bear look bigger/closer in the image.
Keep in mind that the bears catching fish at the lip of the falls will be roughly 25 yards from the platform. Viewing platforms allow you to get closer to the bears in a safe environment.
The above picture was taken from the main viewing platform with a 200mm Lens (this image is uncropped). This should help you decide how much magnification you need from the main platform.
One thing that is a must for me, is rain gear. I bring along rain gear for me and my lens. My 100-400mm lens extends and shortens as it is used. If water gets on your lens housing and you shorten your lens you could introduce water and fogging to the internal structures of your lens.