Best lenses and equipment to take on African safari (Page 2): Make sure extender is compatible with your lens. Some lenses will not accept extenders. They physically won't fit. Also...

wcuster Loc: The Sea Ranch, CA

Make sure extender is compatible with your lens. Some lenses will not accept extenders. They physically won't fit.
Also autofocus will not work or will be very slow when the extender+lens combo is above (aperture smaller than) f/8. That is a f/5.6 lens with a 2x extender will likely have slow or no autofocus abilty. The camera body is also key. Most of the newer Nikon bodies will autofocus to f/8. I use a 600 f/4 +2x extender which is fine with a D800, D4s, D5 and D500. Can't speak for other brands but I think situation is similar. Of course a 1.4 or 1.7 extender is an option and offers more latitude in lens selection.

Walt

zoso

I have a D810 but I'll make sure whatever I get will be comparable with it. So am I to understand that a 2x extender will turn my 600mm lens into a 1200mm lens?

wcuster Loc: The Sea Ranch, CA

adding a 2x extender....
Yes, if it is a 600 f/4 then it will function effectively as a 1200 f/8 on a full frame body.
I use a genuine Nikon extender, a AF-S Teleconverter TC-20E III Product 2189

I believe a D810 will focus fine with this 600 f/4 + 2x extender combo.

MtnMan Loc: ID

zoso wrote:

I have a D810 but I'll make sure whatever I get will be comparable with it. So am I to understand that a 2x extender will turn my 600mm lens into a 1200mm lens?

Most suggest you do not use above a 1.4 because your camera can only focus down to f8.

But IMHO 600 mm is more than enough on D810. I was happy with 500 on my D800. You'd definitely need a tripod with that much magnification. You aren't allowed out of the vehicles and wriggly passengers don't make a stable platform even when the driver turns off the engine.

But, if wanting more magnification you can buy a used D5300 for about the same price as a Nikon teleexteder and have a light weight outfit for walks.

wcuster Loc: The Sea Ranch, CA

You wrote: "Most suggest you do not use above a 1.4 because your camera can only focus down to f8." ??????

If it is an f/4 600mm lens with a D810 it will autofocus with a 2x extender. If the 600 mm lens is not f/4, i.e., has a smaller max aperture (f5.6 or f6.3) then a lesser (1.7 or 1.4) extender would bee needed.

MtnMan Loc: ID

wcuster wrote:

You wrote: "Most suggest you do not use above a 1.4 because your camera can only focus down to f8." ??????

If it is an f/4 600mm lens with a D810 it will autofocus with a 2x extender. If the 600 mm lens is not f/4, i.e., has a smaller max aperture (f5.6 or f6.3) then a lesser (1.7 or 1.4) extender would bee needed.

Yes, that amplifies the point.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

zoso wrote:

I will soon be taking an African Safari and would like to know what suggestions you might have on which lenses to take with me. I have a 150-600mm lens, a 70-200mm lens, a 17-35mm and a 28-75mm macro lens. Also would you recommend taking a mono-pod or tripod (I don't normally use ether with my 150-600mm). Thanks for your suggestions.

All of my African Safari's have been done with a Nikon D4s with a 200-400 f4 zoom, no tripod, non mono-pod, no problems.

wj cody Loc: springfield illinois

zoso wrote:

I will soon be taking an African Safari and would like to know what suggestions you might have on which lenses to take with me. I have a 150-600mm lens, a 70-200mm lens, a 17-35mm and a 28-75mm macro lens. Also would you recommend taking a mono-pod or tripod (I don't normally use ether with my 150-600mm). Thanks for your suggestions.

24mm and a short zoom lens, such as a 70-150mm.

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

Be aware that most folks advise not to plan on changing lenses during an excursion because of the ever-present dust. One solution I have found is to take my "big" camera with the zoom telephoto and to also take along my back-up pocket P&S in case I encounter a nice landscape scene.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

zoso wrote:

I will soon be taking an African Safari and would like to know what suggestions you might have on which lenses to take with me. I have a 150-600mm lens, a 70-200mm lens, a 17-35mm and a 28-75mm macro lens. Also would you recommend taking a mono-pod or tripod (I don't normally use ether with my 150-600mm). Thanks for your suggestions.

What camera body are you taking ??

Using a high MP crop frame body allows good cropping possibilities with well applied pixel enlargement - as good or better than using TC's. This also will allow you to use smaller/cheaper/lighter lenses.

In spite of having VR/OS/IS and not having any "problems" shooting hand held, using larger lenses will be much more comfortable/ergonomic using support of some kind and your framing and AF will be more accurate. I would use a short monopod in or around the seat area ( NOT standing up)- WITH a tilt or video/fluid head. I have not been to Africa, but I do shoot from vehicles.

CatMarley Loc: North Carolina

zoso wrote:

I will soon be taking an African Safari and would like to know what suggestions you might have on which lenses to take with me. I have a 150-600mm lens, a 70-200mm lens, a 17-35mm and a 28-75mm macro lens. Also would you recommend taking a mono-pod or tripod (I don't normally use ether with my 150-600mm). Thanks for your suggestions.

I would take a bridge superzoom. Unless you have a private group that will wait on you and cater to your photography, you are unlikely to be able to exploit all that heavyweight gear. Talk to someone who has used that same expedition before about photographic opportunity.

ole sarg Loc: south florida

Be smart! Leave all that heavy gear at home and buy a nice bridge camera!

zoso wrote:

I will soon be taking an African Safari and would like to know what suggestions you might have on which lenses to take with me. I have a 150-600mm lens, a 70-200mm lens, a 17-35mm and a 28-75mm macro lens. Also would you recommend taking a mono-pod or tripod (I don't normally use ether with my 150-600mm). Thanks for your suggestions.

philo Loc: philo, ca

Bird Dawg wrote:

I am going on a Safari in Oct. At this point I plan on taking 2 cameras. 18-140 on one and 70-300( rent ) on the second camera. Will be reading and listening to many "wise" Hogs for more ideas to consider. Thanks.

I would rent a 150-600 instead of the 300. Keep 18-140 on the full frame body and the 600mm on the crop body if those are what you are taking.

philo Loc: philo, ca

ole sarg wrote:

Be smart! Leave all that heavy gear at home and buy a nice bridge camera!

heavy gear is not a great problem since you will be in a truck most of the time.
A tripod is of little or no value.

ole sarg Loc: south florida

Its not the weight of the gear it is the bulk. Have fun on the trip. You really want to be changing lenses, worrying about leaving the gear behind so that you can go to some event or on some sightseeing or what-have-you. Lets see some two to three hour wait in an airport line and then another in customs line and the fun of a big camera goes right out the window!

philo wrote:

heavy gear is not a great problem since you will be in a truck most of the time.
A tripod is of little or no value.