Which lens for safari?

[Rgee]

I'm off to Kruger National Park at the end of the month for my first safari and will be taking along my Canon 30D DSLR. I have a selection of lenses including Sigma 24-70mm f2.8, Canon 70-200L f4 (non IS) and Sigma 100-300 f4. Plus a Tokina 1.4x converter. Question is what one to take as I have no idea on how far we'll be away from the wildlife? I don't want to lug a load of lenses around so was thinking the Sigma 100-300 plus teleconverter and a Canon S110 carry about.

[troc]

Will you be self-driving in the Kruger itself or staying in one of the private parks which adjoin the Kruger (i.e. being driven about in an safari vehicle twice a day?)

If you are doing the safari vehicle thing, you will (hopefully) get extremely close to some animals - especially lions and elephants so will need a wide-ish angle for those shots.

In the Kruger you will generally be further away from animals as you have to stay on the roads and thus will mostly be shiiting at telepohto distances.

I would take the 100-300 (and the teleconverter just in case) as I think you'd have the 1.4x attached to the 70-200 most of the time and wish you had more reach. I have never been on safari and not wished for more reach........

I's also take a normal wide angle zoom for landscape shots, close-up shots and general shooting. 24mm might not be wide enough.

I took a 17-8) and a 70-300 on safari the last f3ew times I went, on a 40D (that would be a 17-55 2.8 and 70-300L on a 7D II if I went now). Mostly I end up using the telephoto at the long end, wishing for more reach. The old 100-400 was regarded as the best compromise lens in the past, that's been superseded by a seriously impressive 100-400 mark II and then there's the sigma 120-600 (or something) sport which is apparently pretty good up to 500 but at 600 you are better using 500 and cropping.

There are a few of mine here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/nyargle/sets/7215760...

you could check the EXIF to see what I was using.

[Gad-Westy]

troc said:

thus will mostly be shiiting at telepohto distances.

Been there my friend!

I understand the sigma 100-300 is a decent lens. Does the 1.4x work well with it?

Edited by Gad-Westy on Thursday 13th August 11:40

[Rgee]

Gad-Westy said:

Been there my friend!

I understand the sigma 100-300 is a decent lens. Does the 1.4x work well with it?

Edited by Gad-Westy on Thursday 13th August 11:40

To be honest I don't know! It will be the first time I will be using it.

Thanks Troc, some great shots.

[RobDickinson]

I think you will be pushing it with a 1.4 on the 100-300/4 sigma, should eb ok but not stellar.

buy a 150-600 sigma or rent a canon 100-400

[tog]

Pertinent thread this, as I've just booked my first safari too. I'm in two minds whether to bother taking any long lenses. As it's the first and probably only time I'll do this sort of thing the chances of getting pictures as good as people who do it all the time are slim. I'm tempted to just take as little gear as possible, watch the animals and just enjoy the experience of being in the bush. (But maybe find a cheap, light Tamron 500mm mirror off ebay just in case...)

[_dobbo_]

I had the same decision for our honeymoon, what to take? (3 day Safari in Kenya).

I bought a Sigma 150-500, cost me about £800.

Almost every photo was taken on that, and it still wasn't long enough sometimes, but you can always crop. Will 300mm x1.4 be enough? Maybe, depends on how close your driver gets to the action and how lucky you are.

The weight didn't matter - we were ferried around in land rovers and I hardly ever had to carry the bag other than to and from the hotel rooms.

My only regret was buying. Only used the Sigma twice in eight years, eventually sold it and luckily got back £650 of the cost.

So my advice - rent a longer lens, give it back when you are done.

If you don't rent and just take what you have, for God's sake don't let the first time you use the 1.4tc be when you are on Safari, make sure it actually works nicely and doesn't degrade image quality BEFORE you fly out having spent all that money.

[_dobbo_]

tog said:

As it's the first and probably only time I'll do this sort of thing the chances of getting pictures as good as people who do it all the time are slim.

I'd take a long lens. Your chances of getting something good are not slim, and better to have the chance than not. The lens just stays in your room the rest of the time, it's really no bother to have with you.

Opportunities like these are quite common:

[Rgee]

Just looked at renting a Canon 100-400mm L and its going to set back just over a grand for the duration so that is going to be a non starter. But a work colleague may lend me his older version 100-400mm L so fingers crossed.

[RobDickinson]

Sigma 150-600c should cost 700 ish new and you can sell when you get back

[Matt..]

Rgee said:

Just looked at renting a Canon 100-400mm L and its going to set back just over a grand for the duration so that is going to be a non starter. But a work colleague may lend me his older version 100-400mm L so fingers crossed.

Just buy a used one for ~£600, then sell it for the same when you get back. Much cheaper than renting for something low-ish value like the 100-400.

[kiethton]

Sorry to piggyback...

I'm also off to Kruger over NY and the GF is treating me to a lens for my birthday later this month. I'm a total camera noob so could do with some pointers...budget is also limited <£200ish...but v. happy with used.

Camera is a Nikon D3100 (so AF-S?), only have the standard 18-55 kit lens at the moment.

From my reading the Nikkor 55-300 and Tamron 70-300 should fit the bill?

Am I correct? If not what should I be looking at and if so which is the best?

Thanks in advance

[mikef]

I've always used two bodies on safari - you'll get everything from close up elephants and big cats, wide shots with herds of zebra, to birds and smaller cats at a distance. For me a 24-70 on one body and 70-200 ( with 2x extender when needed) on the other

Also, a beanbag is a good thing to have for stabilised shots in safari vehicles

[tight fart]

Rgee said:

Just looked at renting a Canon 100-400mm L and its going to set back just over a grand for the duration so that is going to be a non starter. But a work colleague may lend me his older version 100-400mm L so fingers crossed.

How long are you going for!
I'd have thought £100 ish for 2 weeks.

[Rgee]

tight fart said:

How long are you going for!
I'd have thought £100 ish for 2 weeks.

My mistake I was looking at the 200-400mm L IS on Calumet's site and that's £108 per day. The 100-400mm L is £45 per day or £228 for 8-9 days.

[Pickled]

What about the Sigma 300-800 http://lensesforhire.co.uk/product/sigma-c-apo-300...

I've used lensesforhire a few times (its the only way I can justify using a 200/F2) and found them to be great, and you actually have the lens for a couple more days than stated.

[V8LM]

When we went a couple of years ago I rented a 28 mm - 300 mm f3.5 - 5.6L IS lens. (We were at Ulusaba that borders the KNP). It's a heavy beast (rented one for Le Mans a few years earlier and couldn't be a**ed to lug it around) but was great.


300 mm


300 mm


130 mm


285 mm

Edited by V8LM on Sunday 16th August 20:55

[Tony1963]

I wouldn't use a teleconverter on any lens with a max aperture of F/4.0 as autofocus almost definitely won't work, and in low light, when most animals are active, such a rig would be useless.

I second the suggestions of buying some decent glass used then selling on once home again. A used 100-400mm, together with a compact for landscapes etc is probably perfect, and means less chance of dust on your sensor.

[ukaskew]

A 1.4x TC works fine on a Sigma 100-300mm f4, only takes you to f5.6 and maintains AF, so no slower than every other lens mentioned.

It's a superb lens, shame they don't make anything like it any more.

[tog]

Rgee said:

My mistake I was looking at the 200-400mm L IS on Calumet's site and that's £108 per day. The 100-400mm L is £45 per day or £228 for 8-9 days.

The 200-400 with the built-in 1.4x TC is an amazing piece of kit.