Lens-Camera matches: Camera bodies: Nikon D850 + Nikon D 500 Lenses: Nikon 70-200, Nikon 300mm prime, Nikon 500 mm ED PF VR(not taking Nikon 24-70 and 28-300) Situations: 1.

RahulKhosla

Camera bodies: Nikon D850 + Nikon D 500
Lenses: Nikon 70-200, Nikon 300mm prime, Nikon 500 mm ED PF VR(not taking Nikon 24-70 and 28-300)
Situations:
1. Ranthambhore National Park, India - jeep safaris, awesome tiger sightings, usually within 100 m or so, sometimes much closer; sometimes right next to the jeep !!; 4 pax to a jeep (thus some flexibility of movement but not a lot !)
2. Tanzania - Ndutu; Asanja Moru.....Serengeti to see the great migration. Obviously huge amounts of action, but having never been there, I hear you need reach for lenses etc

Question: which lenses to which cameras for which situations ? Recommendations please on the "kit" you would take and which lens would you fit to which body for these two situations.

I am sorry if I am asking too much.....and would truly appreciate genuine responses vs some I've had in the past that are judgemental and snarky.

dick ranez

What a terrible decision to have to make { :-) }. Given those choices and your destinations, I would approach it this way. Put the 300mm on the 850 (and consider buying a 1.4x extender) and put the 70-200 on the 500. The 500 lens may limit your movement in India, is big, heavy and cumbersome. I'd put the 24-70 in my safari jacket to have it available, but mainly use it around the lodges, while travelling and for personal shots of the groups etc. I would plan to not change lenses anywhere but the hotel room or where the wind and dust are not factors. Also, I'd overload on memory cards and batteries. Enjoy the adventure and please share when you return.

RahulKhosla

dick ranez wrote:

What a terrible decision to have to make { :-) }.... (show quote)

Thank you Dick...I understand the distance limitations for the 500 in India. But.... what about when in Africa? Do you think I’ll need a longer reach there? For example the 500 PF ( which is no longer or heavier than the 70-200) with an extender in Africa ?

BebuLamar

Should bring the 24-70 but if you insist on bringing only those lenses then
70-200 on the D850
500 on the D500.
You need the D850 on the 70-200 to get wide enough (I don't think it's wide enough).
When you need long lens you would need a very long lens so the D500 give a bit more reach (however with the number of MP on the D850 you still can crop and have about the same image)

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

If you put the 500 on the D500 you will have a 750mm equivalent. I don't see you needing more than that. Then you wouldn't have to bother with the extender. Then you have the other two lenses to use interchangeably on the D850. That will have you pretty well covered. But, personally, I would take the 24 to 70 too. Hope to see some of your photos when you get back.

RahulKhosla

Retired CPO wrote:

If you put the 500 on the D500 you will have a 750mm equivalent. I don't see you needing more than that. Then you wouldn't have to bother with the extender. Then you have the other two lenses to use interchangeably on the D850. That will have you pretty well covered. But, personally, I would take the 24 to 70 too. Hope to see some of your photos when you get back.

Thank you, makes sense.

RahulKhosla

Thank you for the response - got it. Will try that.

BebuLamar wrote:

Should bring the 24-70 but if you insist on bringing only those lenses then
70-200 on the D850
500 on the D500.
You need the D850 on the 70-200 to get wide enough (I don't think it's wide enough).
When you need long lens you would need a very long lens so the D500 give a bit more reach (however with the number of MP on the D850 you still can crop and have about the same image)

Wallen Loc: Middle Earth

RahulKhosla wrote:

Camera bodies: Nikon D850 + Nikon D 500 br Lenses:... (show quote)

The D500 is APS-C sensor. It will have more reach. Match it with a long lens and you will get 50% more reach with it. IE a 300mm lens would be like having a 450mm if matched to the D500.
The D850 being full frame would benefit you more if matched with wide angle lens. 24-70 would do just fine.

So if:
70-200 to the D500 that would be 105-300 for long shots
24-70 to the D850 for your wide shots
the in between requirement of 75-100 can be accomplished by cropping the D850 on its highest zoom setting.

This way, just grab and shoot, you will be ready for any distance up to 450mm which is about 10x magnification if you are looking thru binoculars.

or add/buy a D3500 or better, a D7200 and install your 500mm on that camera just for the extra zoom (750mm equivalent).
That way, with 3 cameras, no need to change lenses that would be a problem in dusty/wet conditions and you will have as much reach and wide angle that you will need.

On hindsight, i survived my Africa trip with a Canon point & shoot camera ha ha ha.
All images and video are from the point and shoot.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlEUFA5VINw

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Enjoy your trips. I look forward to the pictures you bring back.

Silverman Loc: Michigan

RahulKhosla wrote:

Camera bodies: Nikon D850 + Nikon D 500 br Lenses:... (show quote)

Sounds very exciting Photography opportunity, Have fun, be safe!

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

RahulKhosla wrote:

Camera bodies: Nikon D850 + Nikon D 500 br Lenses:... (show quote)

The FIRST thing I will say is you NEED a big zoom - at least 80-400 on the 500 - which you do not have ! Leave the primes at home - hard to say I know

- NO lens changing allowed in the bush ! ......the 70-200 goes on the 850.
.

Bill P

I'll give you the same advice I've given before, based on my safari in Zambia. But most of the safari advice I read here is obviously from folks that have never gone on one, and they don't like it. Leave the 500 at home, the limited use you will get won't offset the weight. Second, take the 24-70, it will come in handy. But seriously, I took a very long zoom, and barely used it. I did take a 1.7 TC, and didn't use it that much, but for no more than it weighed...

Drbobcameraguy Loc: Eaton Ohio

Wallen wrote:

The D500 is APS-C sensor. It will have more reach... (show quote)

It is not true that you get more reach with a aps-c sensor camera. I have a D7200 and thought that when I first started. I bought a few Fx format lenses on the premise that a 70-300mm would give me the range of 450mm. I had a 55-300mm dx lense also. One day I took a pic with each lense of the same birdhouse in my backyard. In both pics the birdhouse was the same size. With a fx lense on a crop sensor camera you get the field of view of a 450mm lense but not the magnivaction. I learned after buying 3 Fx lenses just to get longer reach. Lol

Bill P

With a fx lense on a crop sensor camera you get the field of view of a 450mm lense but not the magnivaction.

Even if magnification was correctly spelled, I find this confounding. How can it be the same field of view but
a different magnification?

Drbobcameraguy Loc: Eaton Ohio

Bill P wrote:

With a fx lense on a crop sensor camera you get the field of view of a 450mm lense but not the magnivaction.

Even if magnification was correctly spelled, I find this confounding. How can it be the same field of view but
a different magnification?

Sorry for the spelling. I worked 14 hrs and was on my way to sleep. The object is the magnification. Maybe someone else can explain it better? Please.