Safari 300 2.8 Mkii or 200-400 1.4x

[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?

 

[kyle86]

Im doing the same in January and I will rent the 200-400 in SA Way cheaper there than overseas and it is way more versatile than the 300. Have fun!!

 

[FEBS]

Hi Kyle,

Enjoy your trip next year !!

 

[King Eyre]

Kyle, take the 200-400, with the proviso that the new 100-400 won't be available by then.......I travel a lot and if you are vehicle based it's great, my kit for vehicle base travel is the 200-400 on a 1 Dx, and the 70-200 mk2 2.8 on another 1 Dx...I'm fortunate to be able to borrow the 2-400, so don't have the outlay to bother about!!
If I look at the shots I took, the great majority were with the 2-400, and quite a lot had the 1.4 in as well, and I also added an extra 1.4 on occasions when I needed really long reach...in the Serengeti for instance you have to stick to the roads so you may be shooting from a greater distance.

I'm off to Brazil, the Pantanal, in a couple of months and there I'll be taking a 300 2.8 mk2 with 1.4 and 2x mk 3 extenders, probably have it mounted with the 1.4 as standard, as for an old codger like me the weight of the 2-400 for general use is just prohibitive.

The low light capabilities of the 1 Dx are so good that I wouldn't bother about f4, I use manual set up and auto iso and check histogram frequently as I often use exposure compensation...as much as +1.6 stops on occasion.
I suspect when the new 100-400 comes out, sales of the 2-400 will drop, I know Nikon user pals of mine have virtually stopped using their 2-400 f4 lenses in favour of the new 80-400 lens they have, which is getting a formidable reputation, and it's light as well.

Just remember, a lot of people make (in my opinion) a basic mistake by shooting out of the top of vehicles, I much prefer shooting as low as possible as I think it gives a more dramatic perspective.

Lastly, enjoy the wildlife, don't spend the whole time looking at it through a viewfinder!!

George.

 

[canon1dxman]

Im doing the same in January and I will rent the 200-400 in SA Way cheaper there than overseas and it is way more versatile than the 300. Have fun!!

Where are you renting from in SA? Are they looking for 100% deposit?

 

[Niranjan B Venkatesh]

Does your manservant carry your gear for you?

Nope, I carry all the stuff my self and the guides are quite happy to help as well, and I usually request aroom close to where the SUV can come park by!

 

[FEBS]

My 200-400 1.4x is on the way. I will get it Thursday.

 

[King Eyre]

My 200-400 1.4x is on the way. I will get it Thursday.

Well, you'll love it, but hope you have good muscles!!

George.

 

[Dylan777]

My 200-400 1.4x is on the way. I will get it Thursday.

Congrats

 

[Niranjan B Venkatesh]

My 200-400 1.4x is on the way. I will get it Thursday.

Congrats, but get going to the gym !
I am currently in Etosha National Park and I am lugging the 200-400 on my 1Dx and its not easy to carry !
Oh and get the Canon 52mm Drop in CPL for it, works like a charm !

 

[Dylan777]

My 200-400 1.4x is on the way. I will get it Thursday.

Congrats, but get going to the gym !
I am currently in Etosha National Park and I am lugging the 200-400 on my 1Dx and its not easy to carry !
Oh and get the Canon 52mm Drop in CPL for it, works like a charm !

Would love to see some photos

JPEG will be just fine ;D

 

[FEBS]

Thanks,

So, I know what to do then . going to the gym and practicing with this new baby (shouldn't I call It like this for its weight). In September a have a big aviation show on a military airfield here in Belgium at only 6 km from home. First half of October I have my safari trip to South Africa, Zimbabwe, Victoria Falls.

After that I will show you if my mussels were strong enough.

 

[King Eyre]

Thanks,

So, I know what to do then . going to the gym and practicing with this new baby (shouldn't I call It like this for its weight). In September a have a big aviation show on a military airfield here in Belgium at only 6 km from home. First half of October I have my safari trip to South Africa, Zimbabwe, Victoria Falls.

After that I will show you if my mussels were strong enough.

For the aviation show, take a good tripod and gimbal, you'll need it (unless of course the gym work really pays off...!!!) and in S Africa and Zimb you'll be in a vehicle and for that the 2-400 is just unsurpassable, don't think you'll use it at the falls IMHO, I personally can't wait for an upgraded 100-400!!

George.

 

[gwflauto]

Thanks,

So, I know what to do then . going to the gym and practicing with this new baby (shouldn't I call It like this for its weight). In September a have a big aviation show on a military airfield here in Belgium at only 6 km from home. First half of October I have my safari trip to South Africa, Zimbabwe, Victoria Falls.

After that I will show you if my mussels were strong enough.

I wish you a safe trip with fantastic photos. May I ask you a question. Are you going to take a tripod on your trip? I am going at the end of September also on a tour through southern Africa. We will start in Swaziland, go to Kruger NP, Botswana, Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, Namibia with all the exciting natural wonders to end the trip after seven weeks in Capetown.
I read, that in several of these parks you must not leave the car. So the tripod may be no good in those places. Do you normally have enough time to set up the tripod before the birds and lions are gone? Sitting at night and watching these waterholes may be a different story. I am wondering if I should carry the tripod which means almost 6 pounds of weight or rather take another lens with a very good image stabilizer.

 

[FEBS]

Thanks,

So, I know what to do then . going to the gym and practicing with this new baby (shouldn't I call It like this for its weight). In September a have a big aviation show on a military airfield here in Belgium at only 6 km from home. First half of October I have my safari trip to South Africa, Zimbabwe, Victoria Falls.

After that I will show you if my mussels were strong enough.

I wish you a safe trip with fantastic photos. May I ask you a question. Are you going to take a tripod on your trip? I am going at the end of September also on a tour through southern Africa. We will start in Swaziland, go to Kruger NP, Botswana, Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, Namibia with all the exciting natural wonders to end the trip after seven weeks in Capetown.
I read, that in several of these parks you must not leave the car. So the tripod may be no good in those places. Do you normally have enough time to set up the tripod before the birds and lions are gone? Sitting at night and watching these waterholes may be a different story. I am wondering if I should carry the tripod which means almost 6 pounds of weight or rather take another lens with a very good image stabilizer.

Monopod or tripod is still an open question for me. I bought in mean time the 200-400 1.4x. I have a few weekends planned in which I can use that lens extensively to find out before I go to Botswana, Zimbabwe if I need the monopod, tripod or just shooting out of hands. I will take a bean bag with me that's for sure. I also think to take a gorilla pod to take evening, night shots. For being quick it seems to me that I might need at least a monopod, but that I need to find out in the coming weeks.
It will be my first safari, so I can't answer you if you will have time enough.