Masai Mara early June. New lens/body+lens??

^Joe

^Joe

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I'm off on my honeymoon early June, Masai Mara, 5 nights at Kitchwa Tembo. I will be on game drives two times a day. Open type vehicle.

I currently have a Canon 6D, a few lenses including a low end 100-300 (which isn't bad).

Shall I get a new lens 100-400 / 150-600 etc or get a crop body with a new lens?

I don't mind hiring a lens. I don't particularly want to buy one, but if it's around £500 that would be ok.

Suggestions?

I could also do with keeping the weight down.
 
Vehicle

andbeyond-kichwa-tembo-bush-breakfast.jpg.950x0.jpg
 
Basically as much reach as you can possibly get and preferably two bodies as it will be very very dusty so changing lenses is not ideal.

However, with limited budget I would look at buying the 400mm f/5.6 which on your high resolution body would be perfectly fine. I would then get a cheapy cheap body to use with a wider zoom.
 
minnnt said:
Why not hire a 100-400 mk2, Joe? Seems to get good reviews here and there are some cracking pics in the owners thread.
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Sure is an option, isn't it a bit heavy though? I didn't know what the best option would be, ie, have another crop body for the extra reach??

Nawty said:
Basically as much reach as you can possibly get and preferably two bodies as it will be very very dusty so changing lenses is not ideal.

However, with limited budget I would look at buying the 400mm f/5.6 which on your high resolution body would be perfectly fine. I would then get a cheapy cheap body to use with a wider zoom.
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Happy to buy another body. I'm not sure how confident I would be using such a long prime. Does it take some getting used to?
 
But so are all high quality lenses. I do take your point though but it depends on how much you value the pics you're going to be trying to take i guess.

Anyway, you're a big strong lad... ;)
 
Hi Joe, I'm not sure how near you get to the animals at the Masai Mara area, but when I was on one last year in Zimbabwe, I had the canon 24-105 and 100-400 with 2 camera bodies which was sufficient for me. Why not email or call the lodge were you are staying for some info and help, they are very knowledgeable and obviously want you to be satisfied? I would suggest hiring a lens and possibly buying another camera body if possible, not sure if your budget is slightly flexible but if its a dream holiday, you may regret it for the sake of another £150.
The most important thing is to just enjoy it all unfold around you.
 
Put your most used lens on the better body, which is the D6 (unless perhaps you're planning on buying a 7D2). Yes you lose a bit of reach but with 20mp you can easily crop.

FWIW I went to the Serengeti with 300mm on a 12mp FF camera and it was mostly fine, you will ALWAYs find instances where you want more length but if you accept that it will be fine. I did bump into a chap with a 500mm f/4 and I thought it was a bit rediculous to be honest, you want something you can shoot handheld UNLESS you are renting a private car, if you are sharing a car then something that big will just be antisocial.
 
^Joe said:
Haha, it's more about the luggage allowance whilst travelling about.
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Have you checked your luggage allowance carefully? Carry-on allowances vary much more than you might expect, even between major airlines.
 
Nawty said:
Put your most used lens on the better body, which is the D6 (unless perhaps you're planning on buying a 7D2). Yes you lose a bit of reach but with 20mp you can easily crop.

FWIW I went to the Serengeti with 300mm on a 12mp FF camera and it was mostly fine, you will ALWAYs find instances where you want more length but if you accept that it will be fine. I did bump into a chap with a 500mm f/4 and I thought it was a bit rediculous to be honest, you want something you can shoot handheld UNLESS you are renting a private car, if you are sharing a car then something that big will just be antisocial.
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Thanks - that's good to know.

StewartR said:
Have you checked your luggage allowance carefully? Carry-on allowances vary much more than you might expect, even between major airlines.
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I have, the major airlines aren't the worry, it's some of the link flights, one of which is 15kg total (hand and cabin combined)
 
^Joe said:
Thanks - that's good to know.



I have, the major airlines aren't the worry, it's some of the link flights, one of which is 15kg total (hand and cabin combined)
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Put your camera and biggest lens around your neck. And fill your pockets. it's a regular thing for safari goers on flights, even international ones.
 
I've always taken a 100-400mm L on trips involving wildlife, first time rented and hooked up to a 30D second time purchased before the trip and sold afterwards and hooked up to a 5D mkii the was the first version of the 100-400mm L and I found it fit my needs perfectly I'm not a wildlife expert but wanted some nice shots to remember the trip by and I got some crackers. If I was going again I would get a 100-400mm L mkii as it is even better! I certainly wouldn't take a lens without IS as my hands are nowhere near steady enough!

I only ever had one body and used my wifes compact S110 on the last trip for a wide angle option if I went again I'd definitely take by EOS M for wide angle stuff and as emergency cover for my 5D mkii
 
Those vehicles are not ideal as without a monopod you're hand-held and reality is that unless you want to be constantly messing around with shutter or ISO or both you want IS. Of the very many game drives I've done, shooting during the 'golden hours of earlyish morning and mid to late afternoon, I'm usually in AV f8. Because I always self drive I use a beanbag on the vehicle window to get steady ... super steady. This means I liked the 400mm 5.6 when I shot Canon. Great quality/price/weight combo. For you tho I'd say don't go that route. Go for a 100-400 IS L, either a good copy of the mk 1 or the mk II. This covers the typical range needs of a typical game drive, but gives you IS. There may be times you need less than 100mm, or the critter is too close for the minimum focus distance, but that will be few and far between. The Sigma's might also suit ... anything from the old 50-500 non OS to the new 150-600's.

On those vehicles you kinda have to fight with the other passengers. Unless it's a specific photo safari you will get much movement, noise, selfie taking, etc. at every sighting. So, you need to grab a good seat near the edge, possibly over the back axle or if you possibly can in the passenger seat. Try and take a light/stable monopod and have your combo fixed ready to go and stable on the floor. It's then a toss up over which side the driver might tend to park up near the critters. If you choose the wrong side you're pretty much screwed. It can be very frustrating on a general safari. I've heard many a tale. But you can always stand if the sighting is opposite side to you, if allowed, and use the IS.

To get good placement on the vehicle you might want to tip the driver each time, just a small amount. It's encouraged in Namibia, Botswana and South Africa, but I dunno Kenya and Tanzania. S/he ain't gonna give you the best seat but may position the vehicle in recognition that you're a more serious shooter. Positioning is a real help and a driver that's aware of the light for example deserves a tip!

Hiring the exact lens you want is easy and quick. I have now done that for my last three trips rather than buy. Buying, esp used can be a real gamble. I've had very average 100-400's that way and we're talking 3 out of 4! The Sigma's are cheaper to buy and hire of course. You could maybe buy a Sigma and then the loss on resale still works out better for you than hiring. You might even break even or profit if you have some great images to show off ;-)
 
That's great Dave - thanks.

I wouldn't call myself a serious shooter, especially with wildlife. More of a hobby portrait / travel photographer.

I would prefer to buy than hire, which leans me towards these tamron/sigma lenses...

hmmm
 
You can pretend to be serious ;-) Anyone with anything more than a P&S will be treated as serious.

I'd go for one of the Sigma's used. Wide open performance isn't such a worry as you can up the ISO as needed these days and stick around f8, as I said. You want a copy that shoots well at 600mm, or more likely at around 550-580 for many and a stop down. The weather sealed version seems a good option, but if you clean your gear after each drive then you shouldn't suffer much dust wise. I've never found it a big deal to be honest. You might just want to invest in one of those £10 ebay/Amazon sensor cleaning kits with the cleaner liquid and some plastic applicators. Some snot on the sensor is more a PITA than lens issues to the final images you get I'd say. The less you change gear the better in that regard tho. A single general lens, like maybe a 24-105 type and the long one should suit ... and fingers crossed the body doesn't decide to give up. I had one great guy on a trip I organised had his brand new 1D MkIII die the first day, so he made do with the 5D he had as spare. Not ideal. I felt so sorry for him. Oh, two more things. It's worth thinking about resale if you go the buy route. Maybe the Sigma will be easier to sell than the Tamron. Dunno. Also, for early morning drives take layers and don't wear shorts or sandles. It'll be cold. Same if you do a night drive. First night drive I ever did, before I knew A*** from elbow, I literally froze the whole trip!!
 
condyk said:
You can pretend to be serious ;-) Anyone with anything more than a P&S will be treated as serious.

I'd go for one of the Sigma's used. Wide open performance isn't such a worry as you can up the ISO as needed these days and stick around f8, as I said. You want a copy that shoots well at 600mm, or more likely at around 550-580 for many and a stop down. The weather sealed version seems a good option, but if you clean your gear after each drive then you shouldn't suffer much dust wise. I've never found it a big deal to be honest. You might just want to invest in one of those £10 ebay/Amazon sensor cleaning kits with the cleaner liquid and some plastic applicators. Some snot on the sensor is more a PITA than lens issues to the final images you get I'd say. The less you change gear the better in that regard tho. A single general lens, like maybe a 24-105 type and the long one should suit ... and fingers crossed the body doesn't decide to give up. I had one great guy on a trip I organised had his brand new 1D MkIII die the first day, so he made do with the 5D he had as spare. Not ideal. I felt so sorry for him. Oh, two more things. It's worth thinking about resale if you go the buy route. Maybe the Sigma will be easier to sell than the Tamron. Dunno. Also, for early morning drives take layers and don't wear shorts or sandles. It'll be cold. Same if you do a night drive. First night drive I ever did, before I knew A*** from elbow, I literally froze the whole trip!!
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Thanks, so, which Sigma do you reckon...?

I'll shoot f8 on the 6D with the telephoto.
Then take a smaller canon body with wide option.
I don't plan on changing lenses once during the safari.

Layers - noted, thanks!
 
condyk said:
The weather sealed version seems a good option, but if you clean your gear after each drive then you shouldn't suffer much dust wise. I've never found it a big deal to be honest. You might just want to invest in one of those £10 ebay/Amazon sensor cleaning kits with the cleaner liquid and some plastic applicators. Some snot on the sensor is more a PITA than lens issues to the final images you get I'd say. The less you change gear the better in that regard tho.
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Some people do find the amount of dust to be an issue. Here's a photo of one of our clients last year.
14742-1456921424-9dfb7e6e6ec105bcce1ef077f3e0e3ea.jpg

Imagine what the equipment was like! At the end of that trip we had to send two Canon 100-400 Mk IIs, two Canon 300mm f/2.8 Mk IIs, and a Canon 500mm f/4 Mk II off to Elstree for a deep internal clean.
 
^Joe said:
Thanks, so, which Sigma do you reckon...?

I'll shoot f8 on the 6D with the telephoto.
Then take a smaller canon body with wide option.
I don't plan on changing lenses once during the safari.

Layers - noted, thanks!
Click to expand...

I'm not really up with Canon or Sigma as much as I used to be as have shot mainly Nikon for last several years. I have taken a 100-500 OS to Africa and it was good. I heard they now have a 150-600mm which is sealed and you can tune it if there are any AF issues. I'd likely try and get the sealed version, but if costs more than you like then get the none sealed. 150-600 is quite a range to cover successfully. I'd do a google for samples at 600mm and if you like what you see and reviews are good then worth a purchase.

^Joe said:
so is my 100-300 not going to be good enough.... on the 6D, or on a cheap crop?
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What 100-300mm is it? The old Canon model? If so, it'll be OK for closer shots. I had one many years ago and wasn't so good at 300mm. If it's a Sigma 100-300mm f4 then whole different ball game. That is a great lens and takes a Tcon nicely too!

StewartR said:
Some people do find the amount of dust to be an issue. Here's a photo of one of our clients last year.
14742-1456921424-9dfb7e6e6ec105bcce1ef077f3e0e3ea.jpg

Imagine what the equipment was like! At the end of that trip we had to send two Canon 100-400 Mk IIs, two Canon 300mm f/2.8 Mk IIs, and a Canon 500mm f/4 Mk II off to Elstree for a deep internal clean.
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Yeah, that's fair comment. When you travel open truck style and very often one or more trucks behind or in front, travelling on pre-set, worn routes I'm sure there can be problems. In a sealed vehicle, travelling slowly on your own, taking your own routes, stopping only to spot something, positioning perfectly for the shot, then opening the window and positioning your gear, is a whole different experience dust wise and. actually, shooting wise. Much nicer.
 
Thanks a nice image and sure a tad on the soft side but the composition and subject make it. Push comes to shove you will get some nice images. You'd feel a little bereft tho if you took it and it was just too short most of the time. And that kind of contrast won't always be in your favour with the natural light, depending on conditions. I only know Southern Africa so say in Kruger you would be OK with 300mm much more than say Kgalagadi or Etosha where the animals are less used to humans and tend to stay away from tracks/roads a little more. With a guided track you will get fairly close I suspect as they often know where animals like to hang out and I think you go off road in the private reserves. One year I was a bit cash poor and only took a Nikon 70-300 VR. Now that is a real nice lens normally; a great back up for a long prime. On our last day, on our last game drive, heading back to camp, we came upon a Leopard in a classic standing on a tree branch shot but way out there. Beautiful. Slightly dim lighting, and my high ISO D700 got the shot, but just a tad far. The other shooters I'd taken on the trip 400mm's and it was the difference between a nice shot and an awesome shot. Some folk won't care. I did.

So the Mk I is push-pull. It's actually fine. Some love it. I don't mind either way. Some don't like it. The key is getting it adjusted so it pushes and pulls nicely. Not too tight, not too slack. It actually does great in the field. Do check the copy tho because as I say 3-4 of mine have been mediocre at 400mm, which is where you need it. One was great and that was a new rather than used one! There are poor used ones around. It's pretty old and the IS is pretty average at best. A newer iteration of IS, VR, OIS, OS, whatever the brand is going to be nicer to have.

Your 6D will be a really nice body to take. I always prefer a FF even tho the theory is get a crop for safari. The shots just have a magic about them. Dunno why. The Nikon D700 is great as you have the FF, great ISO and excellent burst rate.
 
weight wise if you want carry on you will probably find you are limited to say a 300mm f2.8 VR + TC, (but I have hardly use mine this year, using the 300mm f4 VR PF ....... unless I am on a tripod or bean bag with the x 2TC

this year I have used a D750 and a D7200 with the Nikon 300mm f4 VR PF 80% 0f the time usually with the x 1.4TC - hand held

you will find the vehicle quite bumpy, OK the driver will stop - but if you use a tripod or even a monopod you will miss lots of shots

The D750 FF Body gave better IQ than the DX D7200 and it handles high ISO (far) better

to me - and I have had 4 years of game reserves, (i.e. softie safaris), the D750 + Nikon 300mm f4 PF VR + TC14Ell is the one I would now always take until Nikon produce a 400mm f4 VR lens and if you have a D7200 take that - and the 70 200mm f2.8VR Nikon is also always worth having for the wider shots
 
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Bill, he shoots Canon ...
 
Thanks Bill, I shoot Canon but understand what you're saying.

Sorting potential lenses by weight, is as follows:

1) 70-300L
2) 300/4
3) 400/5.6
4) 100-400
5) 100-400 ii
6) 150-500
7) 50-500

300's would need a 1.4tc of course
 
^Joe said:
300's would need a 1.4tc of course
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Don't forget that the 70-300L isn't compatible with Canon Extenders. You could get a third-party teleconverter (eg Kenko) to fit it, but your maximum aperture would then be f/8 at the long end and you'd lose the ability to autofocus.
 
^Joe said:
Thanks Bill, I shoot Canon but understand what you're saying.

Sorting potential lenses by weight, is as follows:

1) 70-300L
2) 300/4
3) 400/5.6
4) 100-400
5) 100-400 ii
6) 150-500
7) 50-500

300's would need a 1.4tc of course
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before I got the 300mm f4 PF I used the Nikon 300mm AF-S f4 (non VR), plus the nikon x 1.4TC from the back of the Landcruiser - OK it is heavier than the new Nikon 300mm PF and non VR - but to tell you the truth there is hardly any difference in IQ - light in Africa will be very bright light and extreme shade most of the time which you will always be fighting so if you stick to say 1/640th plus and the lowest ISO that is practicable you should get sharpe images etc., with a 300mm plus a 1.4 TC

If you go OTT with big primes and tripods you will miss so many shots - just hand hold and "fire away" whilst you are bumping along - when the guy stops you will have more time - take lots of images

You will be completely knackered if you do two drives a day . even if they are only 3 hour drives

we are off up to the Karoo on Sunday for a couple of nights - the most I can manage is a drive a day and maybe a "bush walk"
 
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Thanks Stewart, that's very useful, 70-300 is out then.

Does 300/4 + 1.4TC work okay in terms of AF, and would it turn into f5.6?

Good points Bill. I'm completely new to using any form of telephoto lens and am certainly one for seeing the moment as opposed to stressing over the photo. I'm going for the experience as opposed to the photography, but do want some keeper shots to remember.
 
StewartR said:
Some people do find the amount of dust to be an issue. Here's a photo of one of our clients last year.
14742-1456921424-9dfb7e6e6ec105bcce1ef077f3e0e3ea.jpg

Imagine what the equipment was like! At the end of that trip we had to send two Canon 100-400 Mk IIs, two Canon 300mm f/2.8 Mk IIs, and a Canon 500mm f/4 Mk II off to Elstree for a deep internal clean.
Click to expand...
^Joe said:
Where was that!!?
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I can't remember exactly. But the only locations where we had large groups of clients all travelling together were Svalbard, Antarctica, Tadoba (India) and the Mara, so I guess it was most probably one of the latter two.
 
I've just purchased a Sigma 150-600 Contemporary which produces stunning results paired with my 6d. Its the combo that I'll hopefully be taking later this year on safari. I do own cropped bodies too but the 6d produces such stunning images even cropped will likely still work out better.
 
^Joe said:
Good points Bill. I'm completely new to using any form of telephoto lens and am certainly one for seeing the moment as opposed to stressing over the photo. I'm going for the experience as opposed to the photography, but do want some keeper shots to remember.
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That's actually really worth knowing because some of my advice assumed you were as critical and anal a shooter as me when out on safari. ;) Viewing in its own right is brilliant. So, you can forget the seating advice and the driver tipping and the monopod and beanbag stuff. Sit somewhere you like and go with the flow. We each have our own shooting style and Bill's advice really doesn't work for me, but that doesn't make it wrong.

What it does mean is you could benefit from a decent IS, so that means a more modern lens. A lot will depend on the attitude of the other passengers and the driver/guide and whether it all suits you. It could be like Alton Towers with everyone up and down and shreaking (hope not!) or more sedate and with some consideration at least given to photography.

From memory the Canon f4 300mm does AF with a tcon and it does slow AF having a tcon. I'm not convinced the IQ with a tcon is consistently good but I had the v1 1.4 and 2.0 not the more recent versions. I wouldn't choose it personally, but it is a good lens, both IS and non-IS.
 
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