With so many useful and interesting replies to my walk around choice dilemma I would be equally grateful for advice about which lens to get for an upcoming holiday to Senegal a large part of which will be going on safari drives. I’ll be taking my E-M1 Mkii but don’t own a long prime or telephoto. Any experiences or advice most welcome.
Lens Choice Part 2
- Thread starter Charles B
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The Duke of Bork
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It depends...
What's your budget?
What are you likely to be photographing and at what range?
Will you be likely to continue with wildlife shooting after you return?
As a (primarily) bird photographer, but with an interest in all wildlife, I can tell you that you will always be short of something - focal length, aperture, light, birds, time, money.
What's your budget?
What are you likely to be photographing and at what range?
Will you be likely to continue with wildlife shooting after you return?
As a (primarily) bird photographer, but with an interest in all wildlife, I can tell you that you will always be short of something - focal length, aperture, light, birds, time, money.
The Duke of Bork
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If I were you, I'd look at the Olympus 100-400mm zoom. Just about within budget (but then what's the trip costing?), has stabilisation which is useful with long teles, as good optically as you will get for the money, reach is also as good as you're likely to get and you have the option of zooming out if the animals turn out to be close. Will be an easy sell after your trip if you decide not to keep it. Secondhand would save some money, but used examples have become rare (as have used 300mm f4s) since the launch of the OM-1.
Panasonic 100-400 is another option, consensus is not quite as good optically (but still pretty good).
"Budget" option would be Olympus 75-300 II, not quite the reach or optical quality and unstabilised, but smaller, lighter and less than half the money...
Panasonic 100-400 is another option, consensus is not quite as good optically (but still pretty good).
"Budget" option would be Olympus 75-300 II, not quite the reach or optical quality and unstabilised, but smaller, lighter and less than half the money...
juggler
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Why not hire? Probably less than £100 for a decent lens for a week.
Or go mad with this .. https://lensesforhire.co.uk/product/olympus-m.zuiko-digital-ed-150-400mm-f4.5-tc1.25x-is-pro
Or go mad with this .. https://lensesforhire.co.uk/product/olympus-m.zuiko-digital-ed-150-400mm-f4.5-tc1.25x-is-pro
Sangoma
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Don't know when your trip is, probably past already.
I am not a professional, just a camera user.
I have both the Panasonic 100-300 and the 100-400, use either on a G80 or a G9.
The 100-300 is light, easy to use and carry, easy to hand shoot with. It fits in a standard "long nose" dSLR case to carry around.
About third the price of the 100-400 (second hand)
If you don't use one now, you are quite likely to enjoy it on your return.
The 100-400 is much heavier, more bulky and harder co carry around, however used with the G9, you get the benefit of dual stabilisation (check which lenses do the same on Olympus) which is a great help in low light as long as the subject is not moving.
It is easier to use on a tripod than hand held, hand held at 400 my success rate is about half that of using on a tripod (probably down to me, others will probably do better)
It is sharper than the 100-300.
If you don't use a long lens now, maybe less likely to enjoy this on your return.
Daytime light is likely to be less of a problem there than here, having lived most of my life in Africa, you really notice the lack of it here
I'm told Panasonic M43 lenses will work Olympus and vice versa, there are certain functions that do not, like dual stabilisation, I don't know from experience as I haven't tried.
I am not a professional, just a camera user.
I have both the Panasonic 100-300 and the 100-400, use either on a G80 or a G9.
The 100-300 is light, easy to use and carry, easy to hand shoot with. It fits in a standard "long nose" dSLR case to carry around.
About third the price of the 100-400 (second hand)
If you don't use one now, you are quite likely to enjoy it on your return.
The 100-400 is much heavier, more bulky and harder co carry around, however used with the G9, you get the benefit of dual stabilisation (check which lenses do the same on Olympus) which is a great help in low light as long as the subject is not moving.
It is easier to use on a tripod than hand held, hand held at 400 my success rate is about half that of using on a tripod (probably down to me, others will probably do better)
It is sharper than the 100-300.
If you don't use a long lens now, maybe less likely to enjoy this on your return.
Daytime light is likely to be less of a problem there than here, having lived most of my life in Africa, you really notice the lack of it here
I'm told Panasonic M43 lenses will work Olympus and vice versa, there are certain functions that do not, like dual stabilisation, I don't know from experience as I haven't tried.
LCPete
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Exactly what I thought
as it’s a big trip I would also start the hire a few day before going so you can get used to it and work out the best settings
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