'Safari photo equipment question: fairly specific so dont roll your eyes
Feb 21, 2024 17:46:44 #
Retired CPO wrote:
My first trip was to Kenya, and it blew me away! And I was thinking about going back to Kenya, different camp. But your incredible photos convinced me that Tanzania should be next!! 
Thank you very much! I went to Kenya about 12 years ago and thought it was amazing. I resisted going to Tanzania, thinking it would be too similar. So went to Rwanda for the gorillas and then Madagascar for the lemurs and chameleons in between. Very different than the traditional safaris. My gear and technique has gotten much better since then as well. Personally, I always enjoy going to different places.
PS. My photos from Kenya are also on an album in Flickr if interested:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/60519499@N00/albums/72157630798685650/
Feb 21, 2024 19:22:31 #
vanderhala
Loc: Los Angeles, CA
[quote=Robertl594]I will keep this quick, with no eye rolls.
Best things I took were a quick release super clamp and gimbal.
How did you get away bringing this? It must be incredibly heavy. I am allowed only 44 lb per person including everything (yes including carry-on). With 2 camera bodies, 2 large lenses . batteries , chargers, Iwill have room for one pair of shoes, 2 underwear and T shirts, toothbrush and of course forget about shaving?
Best things I took were a quick release super clamp and gimbal.
How did you get away bringing this? It must be incredibly heavy. I am allowed only 44 lb per person including everything (yes including carry-on). With 2 camera bodies, 2 large lenses . batteries , chargers, Iwill have room for one pair of shoes, 2 underwear and T shirts, toothbrush and of course forget about shaving?
Feb 21, 2024 19:28:57 #
vanderhala
Loc: Los Angeles, CA
[quote=burkphoto]
1. Monopod and beanbag. Thanks. I am also considering a clamp . Lots of people recommend against monopod: not sure yet. T
2. Take your BEST lenses. ...100-400 and the two primes (well the 18-400 i good redundancy; a few years back my Nikon 70-300 crashed, and I had my older Tamron 18-270 with me, which focuses slower but is much lighter. Not bringing this e this time. ..I understand the 10-24, would my 18-55 kit lens (not used in years) be just as useful as 17-70 if at all ?
3. Take the Sigma 30mm..... of course.
4. iPhone 15 Pro Max : I am bringing for all those reasons. It has 500 GB and last year used it to load SD card to my cloud storage from Egypt. . (Not sure if that will work in Botswana). /quote]
1. Monopod and beanbag. Thanks. I am also considering a clamp . Lots of people recommend against monopod: not sure yet. T
2. Take your BEST lenses. ...100-400 and the two primes (well the 18-400 i good redundancy; a few years back my Nikon 70-300 crashed, and I had my older Tamron 18-270 with me, which focuses slower but is much lighter. Not bringing this e this time. ..I understand the 10-24, would my 18-55 kit lens (not used in years) be just as useful as 17-70 if at all ?
3. Take the Sigma 30mm..... of course.
4. iPhone 15 Pro Max : I am bringing for all those reasons. It has 500 GB and last year used it to load SD card to my cloud storage from Egypt. . (Not sure if that will work in Botswana). /quote]
Feb 21, 2024 19:36:10 #
[quote=vanderhala]
With your longest lens being a Tamron 400mm, it wouldn't make sense to me to bring a clamp and gimbal. Bean bags are the way to go, many safari companies will supply one. Or just handhold your camera.
PS. The lens on the clamp in the picture looks like a 500 or larger.
Robertl594 wrote:
I will keep this quick, with no eye rolls.
Best things I took were a quick release super clamp and gimbal.
How did you get away bringing this? It must be incredibly heavy. I am allowed only 44 lb per person including everything (yes including carry-on). With 2 camera bodies, 2 large lenses . batteries , chargers, Iwill have room for one pair of shoes, 2 underwear and T shirts, toothbrush and of course forget about shaving?
Best things I took were a quick release super clamp and gimbal.
How did you get away bringing this? It must be incredibly heavy. I am allowed only 44 lb per person including everything (yes including carry-on). With 2 camera bodies, 2 large lenses . batteries , chargers, Iwill have room for one pair of shoes, 2 underwear and T shirts, toothbrush and of course forget about shaving?
With your longest lens being a Tamron 400mm, it wouldn't make sense to me to bring a clamp and gimbal. Bean bags are the way to go, many safari companies will supply one. Or just handhold your camera.
PS. The lens on the clamp in the picture looks like a 500 or larger.
Feb 21, 2024 19:49:54 #
vanderhala
Loc: Los Angeles, CA
ricardo00 wrote:
PS. My photos from Kenya are also on an album in Flickr if interested:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/60519499@N00/albums/72157630798685650/
PS. My photos from Kenya are also on an album in Flickr if interested:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/60519499@N00/albums/72157630798685650/
Very nice. I notice there are many at very low speed and still sharp , like 1/30th of a second!. And still no motion artifact, the D7000 (or was it) has no IBIS, the lens may have VR
Feb 21, 2024 20:33:10 #
vanderhala wrote:
Very nice. I notice there are many at very low speed and still sharp , like 1/30th of a second!. And still no motion artifact, the D7000 (or was it) has no IBIS, the lens may have VR
Thanks. Yes my 300mm lens f/2.8 has VR and my camera did not. I was using a bean bag (that lens is quite heavy). I primarily used this lens, either with the 1.7TC when there was sufficient light or bare when light was low (early morning or evening). I had a 70-200mm lens on my second camera.
Feb 28, 2024 10:41:42 #
Carham
Loc: Warner Robina, GA
vanderhala wrote:
Yes i have already read a number of threads. This ... (show quote)
background (non professionals)We did safari in Kenya after it had to be postponed
wife used nikon d750 myself d850
she had 80-400 4.5/5.6 I used 24-200/2.8 we also took couple of fast lenses ( never used them)
both worked well but she had better close ups and crops and after the fact 400 or even 600 is great, light is going to be adequate but not all your subjects will hold still. 200 was nice but next time i would take 400 or 600
we took empty bean bags and bought rice and beans there to fill up - worked like a charm on safari vehicle top and even on window seal. suggest carry and extra one so you do not have to move them and they are not necessity for stability but help keep the weight off your hand
I saw pro type people hanging out the doors and slung low etc with monopods and other straps etc but I think we got some real good shots ....best part just enjoy the safari and watch the animals and their beauty ( i do not and will never favor hunts) they are gorgeous
good luck and have a good time
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