Safari 300 2.8 Mkii or 200-400 1.4x

[FEBS]

Just go to a zoo.  ;-)

I know and I will within a few days. But you do know also that the photos will be total different 

[FEBS]

Never been to a safari (yet, I hope I still have time ), but it seems if you absolutely need to spend on something, you might better spend it on a second Pro body.
I love my 5DIII, but I would not want to take it into super dusty areas nor would I rely completely on it for wildlife and quick shooting.

Hello,

I think you did forget some info from the start of this post. I have several bodies (see signature below) and I will take the 5diii and the 1dx with me on this trip

[FEBS]

Hello,

Thank you all for your responses and for sure for the people that did visit Africa already.

I think I will look around for a 200-400 1.4 here in Belgium. I have already seen prices below the 10400€ and that's at least 1000€ less then a few weeks ago. I don't know if the new 100-400 (for which I am sure it is coming, so heard from a local dealer) will influence the price of the 200-400. So I will wait till the beginning of September to see if photokina has some price influence. Then I will pull the trigger and I still have 2 weeks to practice before flying off.

Once again, thank you all

Francois

[aardvark]

I see you are planning South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe.  Part of the decision depends where you are going in those countries, however.

Zimbabwe, if you are going to somewhere like Hwange then you'll be seeing huge herds of Ele's (at some water holes 200+).  You will want a range of lenses for this (wide shots and close shots).  Also birds of course and with a bit of luck Lions etc.

Botswana again - if your going to Chobe you'll have river front areas with Ele's drinking and other animals but also a variety of birds etc.

Vic Falls - more about the wide angle shots mainly.

The bottom line is there isn't any really correct lens!  If you have two bodies with one in the range 50 to 200 ish and another 400 or 500 then that's a good start.  A lot of the more "special" animals tend to be fleeting shots and either early morning or latish afternoon meaning fast lens and/or high ISO

We typically run with a Sony with 50 to 250 mm lens (historical reasons and better at video than canon in my view) and two Canon's (70 to 200 and 400).

My main concern about some of the real big lenses (such as the 200 - 400) is more about getting the fleeting shots. Probably less of an issue if you know there are just a few in your truck/jeep. But if they are packing them out with 3 across then you are going to have issues.

Not sure if you know what vehicles your having, but if they are open and have accessible bars. always worth taking a Manfrotto superclamp with your favourite head on it for those long shots (oh and make sure they turn the engine off!)

[dslrdummy]

I did a safari to Botswana and Zambia last year and it is an unforgettable experience. I had two bodies and a 70-200ii and 400 f/5.6. I have since bought the 300 f/2.8ii and think it is an amazing lense. I would personally think the 70-200 and 300 + 1.4/2.0 ext combo would work fine but if you have the money to get the 200-400 then go for it. Contrary to what some have said, I found f/2.8 sometimes was the difference between getting the shot and not, particularly where leopard sightings were concerned as it was invariably low light. Even though 300 is short it is such a sharp lense that cropping on either of your bodies won't be a problem.
Enjoy Francois.

[sagittariansrock]

Never been to a safari (yet, I hope I still have time ), but it seems if you absolutely need to spend on something, you might better spend it on a second Pro body.
I love my 5DIII, but I would not want to take it into super dusty areas nor would I rely completely on it for wildlife and quick shooting.

Hello,

I think you did forget some info from the start of this post. I have several bodies (see signature below) and I will take the 5diii and the 1dx with me on this trip

I didn't forget, I'm afraid you misunderstood what I meant.
I recommended getting a second fully weather sealed pro body with quicker (not necessarily better) AF drive instead of your 5DIII (or 7D).
Those were my 2 cents.

[sanj]

Is the 200-400 not an obvious choice? I do not understand the question.

[FEBS]

Never been to a safari (yet, I hope I still have time ), but it seems if you absolutely need to spend on something, you might better spend it on a second Pro body.
I love my 5DIII, but I would not want to take it into super dusty areas nor would I rely completely on it for wildlife and quick shooting.

Hello,

I think you did forget some info from the start of this post. I have several bodies (see signature below) and I will take the 5diii and the 1dx with me on this trip

I didn't forget, I'm afraid you misunderstood what I meant.
I recommended getting a second fully weather sealed pro body with quicker (not necessarily better) AF drive instead of your 5DIII (or 7D).
Those were my 2 cents.

 Faster AF then 5diii, so that's for canon only the 7D or the 1Dx. What would you advice me then to take along?

[Niranjan B Venkatesh]

Living in Botswana, let put across my experience. I used to use the 300 F2.8mk1 with a1.4X TC permanently fitted on my 7D. I was quite happy with the combo and as I was still learning to use my gear I did miss a few shots here and there. Last year during some major upgrades, I sold off the 300Mk1 and replaced it with the 200-400mm . My reasons
1) Versatility of the zoom for composition cannot be beaten !!!
2) I dont have to worry about weights and losing luggage enroute to places. I usually book a private safari and pay through my nose for having certain privileges such as being the only person with the guide on the "Bakkie"/ Open Safari vehicle.
3) The higher F stop is not too much of a problem for me.
4) Dust is a B***H, it gets in everywhere.
5) I usually holiday in private concession which means that we can go off road , where as in the parks you are restricted to the roads and will need a longer lens.
6) After two holidays with the 200-400, I am very happy and impressed with having it on a 1Dx !

PS: I am thinking of adding a 600mm with a crop body( 7D2?) and 1.4X TC for Birding !

[FEBS]

Is the 200-400 not an obvious choice? I do not understand the question.

The 200-400 is indeed obvious for a safari, however this is a 4.0 lens. The 300 is a 2.8 lens. A lot of writers (books but also in this post) tell that you sometimes need the 2.8 instead of a 4.0. That's the reason why, as animals are mostly active during beginning and end of the day, but not that much during the day. That the 200-400 will be a super lens during the day is clear to me, that might be something else during dusk and dawn. But it seems now to me that a 4.0 lens is usable during that period as I do have a 1dx and that body can take at least 1-stop iso extra compared to the 5diii

francois

[FEBS]

Living in Botswana, let put across my experience. I used to use the 300 F2.8mk1 with a1.4X TC permanently fitted on my 7D. I was quite happy with the combo and as I was still learning to use my gear I did miss a few shots here and there. Last year during some major upgrades, I sold off the 300Mk1 and replaced it with the 200-400mm . My reasons
1) Versatility of the zoom for composition cannot be beaten !!!
2) I dont have to worry about weights and losing luggage enroute to places. I usually book a private safari and pay through my nose for having certain privileges such as being the only person with the guide on the "Bakkie"/ Open Safari vehicle.
3) The higher F stop is not too much of a problem for me.
4) Dust is a B***H, it gets in everywhere.
5) I usually holiday in private concession which means that we can go off road , where as in the parks you are restricted to the roads and will need a longer lens.
6) After two holidays with the 200-400, I am very happy and impressed with having it on a 1Dx !

PS: I am thinking of adding a 600mm with a crop body( 7D2?) and 1.4X TC for Birding !

Hi Niranjan,

Nice to hear that you are very satisfied with your 1Dx with 200-400 on top of it. Did you also use a 70-200 for shorter reach?

I'm also waiting for the 7D2. A 7D2 with a AF comparable to 5diii or 1dx and a 300 2.8 on top looks a marvelous combo to me. As I am not that much interested in birding, I don't see my self investing in a 500 or 600 f4.0. Never the less, I can see the need for the birders for the 7D2. So I hope for all of us to see a new 7D2 proposed to the market within a few weeks.

Francois

[Niranjan B Venkatesh]

Hi Niranjan,

Nice to hear that you are very satisfied with your 1Dx with 200-400 on top of it. Did you also use a 70-200 for shorter reach?

I'm also waiting for the 7D2. A 7D2 with a AF comparable to 5diii or 1dx and a 300 2.8 on top looks a marvelous combo to me. As I am not that much interested in birding, I don't see my self investing in a 500 or 600 f4.0. Never the less, I can see the need for the birders for the 7D2. So I hope for all of us to see a new 7D2 proposed to the market within a few weeks.

Francois

I do have more bodies with the following lenses, 70-200F2.8II, 24-70F2.8II and either 16-35F2.8ii or the Sigma 180mm Macro 3.5 ( got it brand new for a real cheap price USD 1100) or the 24-105F4.0 or 40mm F2.8 or I borrow my Dad's lenses! For all day carry around I use a Sx50Hs. But like I said I am on a private safari and hence can afford to take the full kit !

[sagittariansrock]

Faster AF then 5diii, so that's for canon only the 7D or the 1Dx. What would you advice me then to take along?

Having owned both, I don't think 7D's AF is faster than 5DIII's.
I'd suggest renting/buying the 1D IV- it will give you an option of the 1.3x crop when you need it, pro weather sealing, faster AF drive, more shots without switching battery, 10 fps, and probably a bunch of 1D features that we with small hands don't even know about...

[Niranjan B Venkatesh]

probably a bunch of 1D features that we with small hands don't even know about...

Guaranteed !!!! I always have trouble when trying to set up the 5D2 / 5D3 against the 1Dx, whole different continent in terms of menu ans settings !

[AlanF]

Living in Botswana, let put across my experience. I used to use the 300 F2.8mk1 with a1.4X TC permanently fitted on my 7D. I was quite happy with the combo and as I was still learning to use my gear I did miss a few shots here and there. Last year during some major upgrades, I sold off the 300Mk1 and replaced it with the 200-400mm . My reasons
1) Versatility of the zoom for composition cannot be beaten !!!
2) I dont have to worry about weights and losing luggage enroute to places. I usually book a private safari and pay through my nose for having certain privileges such as being the only person with the guide on the "Bakkie"/ Open Safari vehicle.
3) The higher F stop is not too much of a problem for me.
4) Dust is a B***H, it gets in everywhere.
5) I usually holiday in private concession which means that we can go off road , where as in the parks you are restricted to the roads and will need a longer lens.
6) After two holidays with the 200-400, I am very happy and impressed with having it on a 1Dx !

PS: I am thinking of adding a 600mm with a crop body( 7D2?) and 1.4X TC for Birding !

Does your manservant carry your gear for you?