Lilka

I am an amateur photographer going on guided Safari in the fall. Presently I use a canon sx40. Am thinking of buying rebel T6s. Any advice, reviews or suggestions appreciated.

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

Personally I'd rather have a body (and lenses) that are dust and splash resistant/proof.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Lilka, welcome to the Hog!
For comprehensive reviews go to TheDigitalPicture.com.
You may want to also look at the Canon 100-400, either mkl or mkll.
As far as dust goes, I figure as long as I can breath, my equipment is in NO danger!! :lol:
Again, welcome!!! ;-)
SS

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Welcome to hog. We can give more advice than you wanted or need. And of course you are about to assaulted by non Canon recommendations also.

In the Canon Rebel line the T6s is the top of the heap. In some ways it outdoes the 70D, mostly in the realm of resolution and other IQ areas.
But for Safari where you might be caught out in rain, wind, dust etc the 70D has better weather sealing, higher frame rate and much better video features. I think that unless you want to chance it in the weather I would go with the 70D and remember to frame things tightly so no cropping is needed.
If your budget could swing it a 7DII is even more rugged and faster frame rate, better focusing for birds and animals.

Lenses? a wide to normal/short telephoto, telephoto zoom and a fast lens for low light. Which ones will depend on budget. But 2 - 4 lenses will cover almost everything. Something like the Tamron 18-300 paired with a 35 or 50 mm f1.8 or faster for dim light will cover most things. If budget and luggage/lugging around allow then make it the Canon EF-S 10-18, a 50 mm f1.8 and Tamron 18-300, or the 10-18, Canon 18-135 mm, 50 mm f1.8 and add on a 100-400 mm for extreme tele. Mix and match these choices according to desire, use and budget.

If all this is too much, you might go for something in the realm of a high end bridge camera. Newer than your SX40, even..... Nikon, Panasonic or just go up to the SX60 and it will be familiar to you.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Bored today: did some research

Bestbuy has a special on the T6s with the 18-135 for $1150.
Add Canon EF-S 10-18 for $300 and the Canon 50 mm f1.8 for $111 and it would come to about $1561 plus tax etc.

add either a 70-300 $450 for Tamron or $650 for Canon and you have $2000 or $2200 for the whole thing.

Or buy the T6s body only for about $850, 10-18 $300, 50 mm f1.8 $111 and the Tamron 16-300 about $630 and it would be about $1891 plus tax etc. You would be covered for the eqv of 16-480 mm and low light. Add a plastic rain protector for less than $10 (take 2 in case of a tear) or a heavy duty cloth one for about $70. A refurb 70D direct from Canon would be $750 and thus cut $100 off. Then get a bag and a mono/tripod, extra batteries/charger, extra SD cards.

Walmart.com has a T6s special with the 18-135 and a 70-300, bag+ some accesories for $1419.

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

Sounds like you want to go on Safari! Without actually killing anything except a bit of your bank account! :-D :-D

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

I used to be a hunter, too much trouble when you live in the LA Mega area. Go fishing occasionally.

My idea of how to hunt large African or Alaskan things with horns, teeth and claws is on Nat Geo or maybe a 25 mm chain gun from the turret of a Bradly.

I just got into this planning a camera rig for a Safari out of boredom.

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

Oh well. I guess you don't have a Bradly these days, they might be almost as scarce as lions and polar bears already.....

The Nat Geo thing seems to work...

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Yeah, my oldest is Active duty Army, he says Bradlys ride rough, have lously seats, the gas mileage sucks and the AC and stereo usually don't work. Plus they don't fit most parking spaces.

But, a fantasy commute on CA 91, just go over or around whatever gets in your way. Also ignore the CHP.

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

No personal experience, but I can relate to the sentiment! :)

Tracy B. Loc: Indiana

I would go with the 70D and remember to frame things tightly so no cropping is needed.
If your budget could swing it a 7DII is even more rugged and faster frame rate, better focusing for birds and animals.

I'm wondering why you reccommend not cropping with the Canon 70d?

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

That applies for all cameras, but those with fewer mp esp. Filling the frame and no cropping are basics for getting high IQ images, esp for printing. It makes use of all the pixels. It is one of my own great faults. I shoot a picture then see a picture within the picture and crop, IQ goes down.

The 70D has fewer megapixels than the T6s to start, so less room for cropping. Remember this doesn't apply so much if all you are going to do is view on a monitor without enlarging and "pixel peeping". But it is esp important if wanting to make large prints.

Tracy B. Loc: Indiana

:thumbup: