Lilka

Would appreciate input from members regarding which camera/combo is better for fall safari. Sony 6500 & sigma 150-600 or sony RX 10 lll.
Will also be taking Sony 6000 55-210 & Sony 16-50.
Any other suggestions and/or advice is welcomed.

rogerl Loc: UK (Harrogate, North Yorkshire)

Take both if you can. Unless you're also doing standard 'tourist' things apart from the safari, you won't need the two extra lenses.

insman1132 Loc: Southwest Florida

If this is a once-in-a-lifetime trip I'd take them all. Nothing like being on such a trip and wishing you had brought . . .

Lilka

Thank u for your quick response. Unfortunately, I was not clear in what I asked.
Currently I own the Sony 6000 & Sony 16-50, Sony 55-210. Am looking to purchase either the Sony 6500 & Sigma 150-600 OR the Sony RX 10 lll. Need advice on which one would serve me better on safari. Any other suggestions/advice greatly appreciated.

jimfullwood Loc: Sarasota, but Ex pat from UK

I used my Fz1000 and got great results, bear in mind you can be very close to the animals.

LXK0930 Loc: Souh Jersey

I have been on 2 safaris. I think that you should have the widest tele zoom range possible. Although you can usually get pretty close to the animals (especially lions and hippos), some (such as leopards) are pretty fleeting. You can be a quarter mile away when you (or probably your guide) first spot it, and then it is gone in a flash.

Several cautions:
(1) Grab a few quick pictures on auto setting as soon as you can, then take the time to carefully compose and adjust your camera.
(2) I would advise against swapping lenses in the field because of the unbelievable amount of dust.
(3) Remember that most animals are active early in the morning, so consider the speed (f stop) of the lens when deciding.
(4) Don't forget about Movie mode. One of my most memorable experiences was watching a cheetah teach its cub to hunt. Unfortunately, that was in the days of film-- no movie camera.

Have a memorable trip.

BigRedRex

I have done multiple safaris, the most recent last month. I used a 100-400 with 1.4 teleconverter and a 16-300 on the second camera. That worked well for me. The advice about not changing lens in the field should be heeded. It is incredibly dusty. You will love it. What country?

APSHEPPARD

The 150-600 is a very heavy lens. Of course, you will be in a safari vehicle most of the time.. I have been several times and have found something like the Tamron 16-300 with APS-C format handy for good game pictures from the Safari vehicle. The one time I used the 150-600 I found it unwieldy. I do have the Nikon 80-400 and enjoy it , again with APS-C format. good luck!

ronichas Loc: Long Island

I have the Tamron 150-600 and used it with my Nikon D750. I used it last year in Namibia. I used a bean bag resting on the door with this lens. I have also used it hand held and have gotten sharp images. Even surprised myself!
Bring a small towel to cover the camera you aren't using. The dust is a big issue. I did bring a 14 mm lens to photograph the milky way. Sometimes the animals are close and sometimes they are far. If you go into a village or town, you will need the 55-200.
It depends on what country you are going to. When I was in Tanzania. the trucks were closed, so I could either shoot from the window or stand up and shoot out the roof. In Namibia, it was a self drive and we had closed trucks, shooting out the windows. I believe in South Africa, the trucks are completely open.
Have an awesome time. I am looking to return next year. I love Africa!!!
Here is a link to my images from Namibia. Comments welcome, please sign my guestbook.
http://ronichas.zenfolio.com/f510783346

Here is a link to a view videos I shot.
https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&video_id=NP3ETPsvo5k
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQCG8oNR6fc

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

The RX10III will allow you more personal enjoyment and maybe allow you to get quicker shots that you may not get with the larger/heavier equipment.

The 6500 and 150-600 will allow technically better shots - IF - you get the shot and without blur. The new Sigma 100-400 might be a better choice with the 6500.

SteveR Loc: Michigan

I have a friend who travels the world with Canon dx cameras and a Sigma 50-500mm lens among others. He gets fantastic shots. His Kenya shots with that combo are terrific, so I'd have to recommend the 6500. Also, the fov with the 6500 and the 150-600 will be equivalent to 225-900mm, whereas the RX 10 III will only give you an actual 600mm. The other problem is that the RX 10 III only has a 1" sensor which will limit you on how much you can blow up your shots....but I'm sure that you're aware of it's capabilities.

Don't, however, go with just one camera. Benno always takes two Canon dx cameras in case of malfunction. He doesn't want to spend thousands of dollars on a photo safari only to lose it when his camera goes on the fritz. That's why the backup. Plus....since he has two Canon dx cameras, he can put a shorter lens on the second camera while leaving the telephoto on the first.

Just a question...since the 6000 and 6500 are both mirrorless cameras, are you able to see the subjects that you're shooting very well in bright sunlight? If so, I'd say the 6000 and 6500 combination would be the way to go.

jaycoffman Loc: San Diego

Just a general comment but you say you're going in the fall--I assume that's our fall which means it will be at the end of the dry season in Africa. This means most of the vegetation will be dried (as opposed to green and lush later) so you will be able to see animals easier and further away. With this in mind I'd say take all the reach you can. As someone else mentioned some of the more elusive animals may be a quarter of a mile away and on our safari only the people with the long lenses really got good shots of those. But you will also want something wider because there are some fabulous scenery shots you will want for perspective. It will be a great trip.

azted Loc: Las Vegas, NV.

The benefit of the RX10lll is that it is far more dust resistant than the A6____ series and most of the lenses. So take your A6000 (unless you upgrade for other reasons and have the A6500), and add the RX10lll for the reach. Remembering that you won't be able to change lenses during the safari, having two bodies is probably safer.

norbal

Personally, I do not know anything about the equipment you are talking about, but I do know about being on Safari in Africa. I went on my trip with a 400 lens and it was great. No matter what any one tells you a 200mm is OK, but it only good when you may be photographing a pride of lions that may be undisturbed by the vehicle you are in. I had a 180mm lens with me and used it infrequently and one of the times I did use it was getting a spectacular shot of a lioness grooming a male lion between her paws. I had all my lenses with me (19mm, 35mm, 90mm,180mm and a 400mm) and the 400 was what I used the most. There was another along on this Safari and his 500mm was on his camera the most. There was also a guy that had a 300mm and after seeing our pics he wished he had gotten a longer lenses for his trip. You have to remember that you are on an African Safari, not in a Safari park back home where you drive you car through. The animals are wild and act accordingly. The only time I had the 35mm on my camera was when the water Buffalo charged our vehicle. That was kind of scary because that animal probably out weighed the vehicle we were in.

Hope this helps.

Tom L.L.

Leopardo

You need the 150-600. However, a second body with a wide zoom (I use the Canon 24-105 kit lens on a full frame camera) is essential. You don't want to change lenses in the dusty field. Some folks take a long zoom set up like with the 150-600 and when the critters get too close, revert to a higher end cell phone. Not my style but is more compact when traveling.