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Best lens for a safari shoot?
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Dec 13, 2016 13:03:10   #
joann richichi
 
Hi. I have a Nikon D7200 and several lenses, however my longest reach is a 70-300 mm 4.5 .. I want to get the best reach without spending a ton of money. Any suggestions? Thank you.

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Dec 13, 2016 13:26:32   #
tradio Loc: Oxford, Ohio
 
What about a teleconverter or rental of a "big gun" lens?

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Dec 13, 2016 13:43:42   #
Fotomacher Loc: Toronto
 
joann richichi wrote:
Hi. I have a Nikon D7200 and several lenses, however my longest reach is a 70-300 mm 4.5 .. I want to get the best reach without spending a ton of money. Any suggestions? Thank you.


Sadly, reach is proportional to cost. I was in Africa in September (Botswana) shooting mostly with Nikkor AFS 300 f/4 + TC17E II, AF 80-200 f/2.8D and AFS 24-70 f/2.8 My D810 will shoot in FX or DX so I had lot of flexibility. Look for a used 300mm f/4 and TC17E II, you'll have up to about 750mm (35mm equivalent) on your body with a max aperture of about f/6.8 which is still civilised for good light.




(Download)

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Dec 13, 2016 14:11:52   #
twr25 Loc: New Jersey
 
Tamron 150-600 ... beautiful lens. New version out. version 1 sells for about $900 ... version 2 for $1300
I actually use it for sports and prefer it to fixed lenses. Very sharp photos.
Sigma has a sturdier but heaver version of the same lens. Sigma needs to be tweaked to the camera with a usb control interface to fine tune the focus.
Same price range Sigma 150-600 and Sigma Sport 150-600

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Dec 13, 2016 16:05:09   #
joann richichi
 
Thank you so much.. very helpful!

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Dec 13, 2016 16:34:49   #
MadMikeOne Loc: So. NJ Shore - a bit west of Atlantic City
 
twr25 wrote:
Tamron 150-600 ... beautiful lens. New version out. version 1 sells for about $900 ... version 2 for $1300
I actually use it for sports and prefer it to fixed lenses. Very sharp photos.
Sigma has a sturdier but heaver version of the same lens. Sigma needs to be tweaked to the camera with a usb control interface to fine tune the focus.
Same price range Sigma 150-600 and Sigma Sport 150-600


I have the original version of this lens and love it. My subjects are wildlife and birds in flight and I do not use a tripod for those shots with the 150-600 mounted on my Nikon D7200. That combo has been to the Arctic, Alaska, and Antarctica in the last 5 1/2 months.

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Dec 13, 2016 17:30:46   #
cfbudd Loc: Atlanta, Georgia
 
joann richichi wrote:
Hi. I have a Nikon D7200 and several lenses, however my longest reach is a 70-300 mm 4.5 .. I want to get the best reach without spending a ton of money. Any suggestions? Thank you.


Consider the Nikkor 80-400mm D lens. Slower focus than the 300 F4 AFS and Nikon teleconverters don't fit it, but it's less than $700! The 300mm F4 AFS and a 1.4x is a good choice but at over twice the cost.

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Dec 13, 2016 17:49:50   #
MtnMan Loc: ID
 
Did a Safari last May. I was really glad I bought and lugged my Nikon 200-500. It just can't be beat for that application.

There were a few times I had to ask the driver to back up but not many.

A 300 mm will leave you disappointed, even on the D7200 with the crop factor.

One of the greatest features of the 200-500 is the awesome VR. You will be shooting handheld on Safari. I don't know how the other guys 150-600s measure up on VR.

joann richichi wrote:
Hi. I have a Nikon D7200 and several lenses, however my longest reach is a 70-300 mm 4.5 .. I want to get the best reach without spending a ton of money. Any suggestions? Thank you.

Reply
Dec 13, 2016 19:50:28   #
SteveR Loc: Michigan
 
My world traveling friend Benno Ibold packs a Sigma 50-500mm among other lenses in a backpack that is weighed to meet airlines' carryon weigh specs. The photos that he's posted are fantastic...both sharp and well composed. He's had this lens for years and never felt the need to upgrade. The photos that he posted from Kenya last year are wonderful. He also shoots with Canon crop cameras which helps to give him better field of view.

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Dec 14, 2016 05:58:44   #
CO
 
Take a look at the Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6 lens. It gets stellar reviews. I have the Nikon 80-400mm AF-S f/4.5-5.6 lens. It's an awesome lens but costly. It's sharp throughout the entire zoom range and focuses very quickly.

Someone in my camera club has the Tamron 150-600mm (original model - not the G2) lens. He has trouble when he tries to do AF fine tuning. He can only get a range of focal lengths to be in good focus. He can either get the 150-400mm range in good focus or the 400-600mm range to be in good focus. He has sent it to Tamron to have adjustments done. I'm not sure if it has made a difference.

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Dec 14, 2016 06:13:42   #
billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont
 
joann richichi wrote:
Hi. I have a Nikon D7200 and several lenses, however my longest reach is a 70-300 mm 4.5 .. I want to get the best reach without spending a ton of money. Any suggestions? Thank you.


With the D7200 you will have the equivalent of a 105-450 mm lens. Most safari guides get you fairly close to the action, I would think you would be able to survive both the animals and the trip with your current lens. But best be safe, call the tour guide or tour agency and see what they would recommend, tell them what you have and see if that would do. No need to spend money on what you don't need, you already have a lot invested in the trip. Enjoy.

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Dec 14, 2016 06:18:57   #
wcuster Loc: The Sea Ranch, CA
 
We have been to Africa 5 times - Tanzania, Masai Mara in Kenya, Chobe river in Botswana, Etosha park in Nambia, Sabi Sands in S Africa. In all cases i used and appreciated a long lens. I have a Nikon 600 f/4, Nikon 200-400 f/4, Nikon 80-40 and a Sigma 150-600 sports. During our first trip (Tanzania) I shot a Nikon D300 with the 600 mm lens on a beanbag. Worked fine. On subsequent trips we were in a boat or land vehicle which had special seats with attached tripod mounts with Wimberley (Gimbal) heads. The seats (with attached tripod & lens) rotated 360 degrees. Our last trip the seats were outfitted with tripods with dual Gimbal heads allowing the use of two cameras/lenses side by side. In this last case (Botswana & Kenya) I shot D5 & a D4s using a 600mm w/ a 2x extender side by side with the 200-400 mm.

I appreciated the long/shorter lens combo.

On a budget ($$ & weight) I think the Sigma 150-600 would be a good choice. I love ours. I don't have the Tamron 150-600 but I believe that would be a good alternative. If renting a bigger lens is an option then the 600mm with a 2x extender would be great. Consider bringing a second camera body if possible (both as a backup and also for a shorter (hand held) lens).

A lot depends on where you will be, in what type of vehicle and of course your $$ & weight constraints.

See https://waltc.smugmug.com/Travel for my various travel photos including those from Africa.

You will undoubtedly have a wonderful time. We love Africa!

Walt Custer

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Dec 14, 2016 06:25:34   #
SteveR Loc: Michigan
 
CO wrote:
Take a look at the Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6 lens. It gets stellar reviews. I have the Nikon 80-400mm AF-S f/4.5-5.6 lens. It's an awesome lens but costly. It's sharp throughout the entire zoom range and focuses very quickly.

Someone in my camera club has the Tamron 150-600mm (original model - not the G2) lens. He has trouble when he tries to do AF fine tuning. He can only get a range of focal lengths to be in good focus. He can either get the 150-400mm range in good focus or the 400-600mm range to be in good focus. He has sent it to Tamron to have adjustments done. I'm not sure if it has made a difference.
Take a look at the Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6 lens. It ... (show quote)


I've read a comparison of the 200-500 and the 300 f4 with a 1.4x in which the author indicated that about 1 in 3 200-500s are really good.

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Dec 14, 2016 07:48:15   #
prg Loc: Palm Coast Fll
 
I brought 3 bodies. It worked perfectly. The last thing you want to do is change glass in all that dust. I used a super wide angle, a Tamron 600 and a 50-300mm. After your trip bring all your gear in to be professionally cleaned. Have a great time and post so shots for us all to enjoy!

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Dec 14, 2016 08:06:30   #
fromafar
 
Agree with tradio, billnikon, and wcuster. Just recently returned from 3 weeks in Kenya/Tanzania in the Massai Mara/Serengeti. I used a Canon EOS 60D with a Canon EF 70-200mm, f2.8L IS II USM w/a 2x converter, worked great!. I understand that many pho-togs want to get as close up a shot as possible, so lenses that can reach out, i.e., 600-800mm would make sense, but I personally want to capture the 'atmosphere' as well. So what I may have lost in close up detail, I gained by having the subject in the context of its surroundings...but, again, it is a personal preference...the equivalent focal length of 400mm (not accounting for the crop factor) worked well.

With that said, check with your safari company first to see what arrangements and equipment they have available. Many provide a 'full' photographers setup on their field vehicles, with camera/tripod mounts, long lenses, etc. Other safari companies may have arrangements where you can rent long lenses...check first, both for the equipment provided and weight/luggage restrictions. Most of all, enjoy.



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