Dear Colleagues:
I will be on a Southern African Safari this summer and am curious on what combination of RF lenses one would recommend. I am limited in weight due to travel restrictions. In addiiton, I and am recovering from an ankle sprain so depending on how the ankle feels in six months I might want to go lighter as well.
Some combinations I am considering:
Combo 1: (net weight = 12.14 lbs)
1) Canon 24-105 mm f4 1.54 lbs
2) Canon 100-500 mm f4.5-7.1 3.00 lbs
3) Canon 400 mm f2.8 with 1.4x and 2.0x TCs (6.4 lbs + 1.2 lbs)
Advantage: I cover all focal ranges from 24-800 mm so should work well for birds as well as larger mammals.
Disadvantage: Heavy to carry and if using the 400 mm f2.8 I would likely be changing TCs in the field under (very) dusty conditions which is not ideal.
Combo 2: (net weight = 7.8- 8.24 lbs)
1) Canon 24-70 mm f2.8 1.98 lbs or Canon 24-105 mm f4 1.54 lbs)
2) Canon 70-200 mm f2.8 3.26 lbs
3) Canon 100-500 mm f4.5-7.1 3 lbs
Advantages: Significantly lighter than Combo 1 and I have fast glass from 24-200 mm.
Disadvantage: My longest focal length is 500 mm, which will definitely limit photography of smaller animals (e.g. birds). Also not very fast at 500 mm (f7.1).
I currently own two R3 cameras and would like to use both on the trip and am open to renting a smaller camera (R6/R5/R7) if it makes sense and carry it as an addition or as a substitute for one of the R3s.
If anyone on this forum has been to Southern Africa (Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe) I would like to hear back from you on which focal lengths were the most useful. Any guidance is greatly appreciated.
I have watched numerous videos on YouTube and honestly it seems that they recommend every lens from 16 mm to 800 mm so. bit of guidance is appreciated.
I am most interested in larger mammals (hippos, giraffes, elephants, etc.), but birds would be nice to photograph as well.
All equipment needs to fit in a GuraGear 30L backpack and ScotteVest QUEST vest with 42 pockets. I think the vest will be good for cables, extra batteries and memory cards.
Thank you,
John
I will be on a Southern African Safari this summer and am curious on what combination of RF lenses one would recommend. I am limited in weight due to travel restrictions. In addiiton, I and am recovering from an ankle sprain so depending on how the ankle feels in six months I might want to go lighter as well.
Some combinations I am considering:
Combo 1: (net weight = 12.14 lbs)
1) Canon 24-105 mm f4 1.54 lbs
2) Canon 100-500 mm f4.5-7.1 3.00 lbs
3) Canon 400 mm f2.8 with 1.4x and 2.0x TCs (6.4 lbs + 1.2 lbs)
Advantage: I cover all focal ranges from 24-800 mm so should work well for birds as well as larger mammals.
Disadvantage: Heavy to carry and if using the 400 mm f2.8 I would likely be changing TCs in the field under (very) dusty conditions which is not ideal.
Combo 2: (net weight = 7.8- 8.24 lbs)
1) Canon 24-70 mm f2.8 1.98 lbs or Canon 24-105 mm f4 1.54 lbs)
2) Canon 70-200 mm f2.8 3.26 lbs
3) Canon 100-500 mm f4.5-7.1 3 lbs
Advantages: Significantly lighter than Combo 1 and I have fast glass from 24-200 mm.
Disadvantage: My longest focal length is 500 mm, which will definitely limit photography of smaller animals (e.g. birds). Also not very fast at 500 mm (f7.1).
I currently own two R3 cameras and would like to use both on the trip and am open to renting a smaller camera (R6/R5/R7) if it makes sense and carry it as an addition or as a substitute for one of the R3s.
If anyone on this forum has been to Southern Africa (Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe) I would like to hear back from you on which focal lengths were the most useful. Any guidance is greatly appreciated.
I have watched numerous videos on YouTube and honestly it seems that they recommend every lens from 16 mm to 800 mm so. bit of guidance is appreciated.
I am most interested in larger mammals (hippos, giraffes, elephants, etc.), but birds would be nice to photograph as well.
All equipment needs to fit in a GuraGear 30L backpack and ScotteVest QUEST vest with 42 pockets. I think the vest will be good for cables, extra batteries and memory cards.
Thank you,
John