DSLR lens for landscape shots of Africa/safari

[Tiggsy]

Going on a solo Namibian motorbike trip for 2 weeks - Got a Canon 7D but only got an 80mm lens as I used it for shooting sports (kids basketball)

So I need a wide angle to shot the vast desert/dunes etc - (i have a gopro for the action stuff)

Needs to be cheap - It may get smashed in an "off"!!! And light as I have to carry all my gear on the bike! (so thinking a wide - normal zoom may be too big?

Any advice?

[Craikeybaby]

What about the Canon 24mm or 40mm pancakes lenses? I take the 40mm, mounted to my 5D on all my trips as it barely adds any bluk to the camera body.

[GetCarter]

Sigma 30mm? (Great lens)

[Tiggsy]

hmmmm...bit pricey

[GetCarter]

Fair enough. May be a bit wide but

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00NLBGD1A/ref=pd_lpo_...

BTW I know 'nout about canon fits, so make sure it's the right one!

[troc]

personally, I have found that a medium zoom around 70-150 or so rather nice for African landscapes. I do have an ultrawide 10-22 which is great fun for creative landscape photography but I find the wide angles too much for "normal" landscapes as you end up with a lot of sky or generic ground in Africa (fine if you are looking for a panorama-type image and don't mind a lot of cropping.

[Flying Penguin]

Can't advise on Canon lens (Sony user) but 16-50mm f2.8 for landscape did a reasonably good job in Namibia. And 150- 600mm in Etosha... but had a Hilux with roof tent for that.

Switching lenses in dusty environment can be tricky and you may find that a Sigma/ Tamron 16-300mm is extremely handy and covers most of your needs.

Dust blower & brush is an absolute "must"!

[Tony1963]

I agree with Troc. I'd use a telephoto lens, not wide angle. If you spend your time taking photos of vast landscapes with a lens like the 10-22mm at 10mm, you'll probably end up with lots of photos of tiny, distant objects on bland foregrounds and skies.

If travelling light is a priority, I'd leave the dSLR at home and either take a compact, the best you can afford, or use your smartphone.

[DibblyDobbler]

Tony1963 said:

I agree with Troc. I'd use a telephoto lens, not wide angle. If you spend your time taking photos of vast landscapes with a lens like the 10-22mm at 10mm, you'll probably end up with lots of photos of tiny, distant objects on bland foregrounds and skies.

If travelling light is a priority, I'd leave the dSLR at home and either take a compact, the best you can afford, or use your smartphone.

+1 Don't bother with an ultra wide - take a pancake lens as suggested above ... suggest the 24mm

[RobDickinson]

For a cheap wide get a used sigma 10-20 or a new canon ef-s 10-18 stm

I'd also be renting a 100-400mk2

[Tony1963]

RobDickinson said:

For a cheap wide get a used sigma 10-20 or a new canon ef-s 10-18 stm

I'd also be renting a 100-400mk2

Yeah, because a 100-400 is just what the op needs! Cheap and small. Not.

[Snails]

If you are definitely after an ultra wide, that isn't going to break the bank, is lightweight and gets good reviews; given the price point you could try looking at the Canon 10-18mm

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Canon-9519B005AA-EF-S-10-...

http://www.photographyblog.com/reviews/canon_efs_1...
http://www.whatdigitalcamera.com/reviews/lenses/ca...

[Tiggsy]

DibblyDobbler said:

Tony1963 said:

I agree with Troc. I'd use a telephoto lens, not wide angle. If you spend your time taking photos of vast landscapes with a lens like the 10-22mm at 10mm, you'll probably end up with lots of photos of tiny, distant objects on bland foregrounds and skies.

If travelling light is a priority, I'd leave the dSLR at home and either take a compact, the best you can afford, or use your smartphone.

+1 Don't bother with an ultra wide - take a pancake lens as suggested above ... suggest the 24mm

Ordered!

Thanks people!

[DibblyDobbler]

Good plan. Please post up some pics when/if you get back