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Advice regarding a Trip to Africa
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Jan 1, 2019 02:16:35   #
Haydon
 
What's your budget on a lens?

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Jan 1, 2019 05:21:06   #
GregWCIL Loc: Illinois
 
DebAnn wrote:
I should have specified that I am going on a private tour with my siblings to Kruger National Park with a well-regarded guide. Apparently he is also a photographer. Thanks for the advice you have all given me so far.
Deb


Im sure your photographer guide will give you much more advise specific to his safari. Ours, for example had special rests and bean bags so we didnt need to bring our own. Start a dialog with him now.
I would suggest you consider a longer lens that will work on either camera. We had two people who's main cameras went down.

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Jan 1, 2019 06:27:38   #
margaretnewell
 
I live in South Africa and am lucky enough to visit Kruger several times every year. I would definitely say get that long lens. For the most part even though you are traveling with a guide you will still be confined to staying on the roads. I have an 18-200mm for my crop sensor and often wish I had something a lot longer. Hope you have a wonderful trip.

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Jan 1, 2019 06:41:29   #
Julian Loc: Sarasota, FL
 
PaulB wrote:
Since this is a once in a lifetime opportunity, do not leave yourself short. I agree with mizzee's suggestion about acquiring a Tamron 18-400 lens. Also suggest extra batteries and media cards (no camera stores out in the boonies). The bean bag idea is a good one. I took one on both of my Africa trips and it was very handy, I was able to position it on the edge of the safari vehicle roof to steady my camera. You will be amazed at how close you will be able to get to the animals. They are very accustomed to vehicles. Have a great trip!
Since this is a once in a lifetime opportunity, do... (show quote)


Why is it a once in a lifetime opportunity? Been there twice, looking forward to a third.

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Jan 1, 2019 06:45:56   #
Haydon
 
Julian wrote:
Why is it a once in a lifetime opportunity? Been there twice, looking forward to a third.

Some of us do not even get one opportunity. Not everyone can be as fortunate as yourself Julian.

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Jan 1, 2019 07:15:13   #
ejrmaine Loc: South Carolina
 
mizzee wrote:
I would go for the Tamron 18-400 for the crop camera. Gets good reviews and will give you plenty of reach without weighing you down. Easier to pack as well. I am very envious; your trip is on my bucket list.


I agree this lens is perfect, I'd suggest that you rent it with insurance though.

You don't want to change lenses on the Safari, too dusty and dirty.

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Jan 1, 2019 07:29:42   #
SHWeiss
 
Many of the vehicles in South Africa do not have a place to put a bean bag. My solution was to use a collapsed monopod on a flag pole holder on my belt. It took most of the weight of the long lens and steadied the camera.

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Jan 1, 2019 07:44:52   #
capmike Loc: New Bern, NC
 
Just returned from 22 days in South Africa. 5 days in Kruger. All viewing is from your safari vehicle. No one may get out of the vehicle anywhere, except at designated rest stops, and the middle of a couple long bridges. That said, many animals are crossing the road in front of you. Lots of birds perched nearby as well. Quite a few beautiful scenic landscape shots. Birds will require a long lens, even perched on the side of the road, most other critters a long lens is too much.

Truly a trip of a lifetime for me. I went for the birds, but the critters were so much more than I expected. Our trip was a private photo tour, birds primarily, critters second. In Kruger, we had our private guide, who had been there dozens of times, as well as a dedicated Kruger guide, who had done only Kruger for 22 years. Lots of birds and critters. The main thing I wanted to see was a leopard and the painted dogs. After 5 days, no dogs. Our last 5 minutes in the park, we did see and got a lousy photo op of a leopard disappearing into the jungle.

The first pic is the only Secretary bird seen the entire trip, in Kruger, 420mm lens. The second the dogs fighting over an impala head, also 420mm. The last one of the many leopards, this one a 2 year old female, also 420mm.
We had been to a private reserve for 5 days prior to Kruger, specifically set up for photographers. 17 guest limit, never see another vehicle or guest. Kruger is a National Park. Lots of private vehicles, most day trippers. The park is huge, couldn’t begin to see it all in 6 months. Once you get off the main paved roads, generally you are alone.

After Kruger, last 5 days in Sabi Sands, a private reserve inside Kruger. There vehicles can leave the road in pursuit of any f the Big Five. Saw leopards every day, and three separate packs of dogs. Incredible trip, incredible photos, incredible memories.







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Jan 1, 2019 07:51:06   #
sb Loc: Florida's East Coast
 
I would rent a Canon 100-400 Mk II to use on the 6D. That is probably all you will need, leaving the other camera as a back-up or to shoot landscapes or those animals that are really close. I was in South Africa a year ago and that is what I did and it worked very well.

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Jan 1, 2019 08:29:55   #
wteffey Loc: Ocala, FL USA
 
If it isn't really, really dusty it is really, really wet. Easy to damage or destroy expensive equipment. You might want to consider a weather sealed backup (even if it is a small sensor "bridge camera") for use if conditions get sketchy.

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Jan 1, 2019 09:35:34   #
philo Loc: philo, ca
 
My advice to you having been to South Africa before is to ............take me with you.

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Jan 1, 2019 09:37:51   #
johntaylor333
 
DebAnn wrote:
I am so lucky to have been gifted with a trip to Africa and a safari in 2019. For those who have been there, could you please advise on the following.

I have a full frame Canon 6D Mk II and a 70D crop sensor. For the full frame, my longest lens tops out at 105mm. For the crop, I have one that tops out at 250mm. Given that the 250mm on a crop is actually at lot higher than that, would you take the crop over the full frame? Or, would you save up to buy a new lens for the full frame that goes to around 400mm? Bear in mind that I can't hand hold steady anything that's too heavy.
I am so lucky to have been gifted with a trip to A... (show quote)


From my 2 safaris, I would say you should have at least 400mm. The best lens for your Canon is probably the 100-400 L series (preferably with a 1.4X Canon Extender) or the 150-600 Sigma. I prefer L Series myself. The good news is that both your bodies will autofocus to f/8, although the focusing will probably be slower.

Since you will be in a vehicle almost all the time, I strongly suggest some sort of sandbag. I use the Silver Pod but there are lots of other perfectly good ones out there. You can minimize travel weight by filling once you arrive (with sand or rice or similar; I prefer to keep the small plastic beads it came with in the bag as they don't make a mess or go rotten if wet!)

Remember that most of your pictures will be taken at dawn and dusk, so practice your low light techniques. The full frame body will be better in most of these cases, unless you need the extra reach of the crop body (thought the higher pixel count in the 6D2 means you could crop and have about the same image as the 7D). I suggest the 6D2 for almost everything, maybe keep the 7D around with a standard or wide angle lens fitted.

You will probably take a LOT of pictures. Make sure you have sufficient memory cards (I suggest sufficient for at least 5,000 pictures) and batteries (charging may not be particularly easy out in the bush, unless you are staying in a permanent camp that has power)

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Jan 1, 2019 10:09:03   #
dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho
 
DebAnn wrote:
I should have specified that I am going on a private tour with my siblings to Kruger National Park with a well-regarded guide. Apparently he is also a photographer. Thanks for the advice you have all given me so far.
Deb


Perhaps the best person to ask this question would be the guide you mentioned. Who better for advice than someone who does this every day?

Dennis

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Jan 1, 2019 10:11:16   #
NormanTheGr8 Loc: Racine, Wisconsin
 
Check out; The Wildlife Photography Podcast by Gerry von der Walt from
Wild-eye.com lots of helpful info

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Jan 1, 2019 10:53:28   #
GySgt Loc: Florida
 
The 70D with the Tamron would be best.

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