fbeaston Loc: Vermont

I've finally signed up for a trip I've dreamed of for years ... a 9 day photo tour in Kenya with 8 driving "safaris" plus a night drive. So long airline flights & frequent entrance & exit of vehicles are likely. I shoot Canon & have a good selection of lenses ... more than I'll take. So looking for input re: keeping it as simple & compact as possible. Expecting (or hoping) to be reasonably close to wildlife.

Bodies: 5dIV, 6d, 7dII plus 1.4x & 2x extenders
Lenses: Sigma 24mm f/1.4 DG
16-35mm f/2.8L III
24-70mm f/2.8L II
24-105mm f/4L IS II
Tamron 18-400mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II (been a challenge to get crisp shots w/this cropped sensor
lens)
Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG
70-200mm f/2.8L IS II
100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II
800 f/5.6L IS

I'm thinking of taking 2 bodies in case it's dusty to limit lens changes: 5dIV & 7dII (cropped sensor) with both extenders (1.4x has been easier to work with) along with 3 lenses: the 24-105 as a walk around lens; the 16-35 wide angle & I'm leaning toward the 70-200 for longer shots because it's faster than the 100-400. Any thoughts? I'm particularly interested if you've been to Kenya & have some sense of the distances to wildlife I'm apt to have?

insman1132 Loc: Southwest Florida

First of all, Have a GREAT Trip. I envy you. Can I make a suggestion that will have most posters on this site cringing in their boots??! Why not buy a Nikon P1000 (if you shoot RAW) or Nikon P900 (if you don't shoot raw) and have all your lenses with you in one "easy to take-along" camera?? And you won't have to worry about dust.

A lot of photo subjects while on those tours will pass you by while you are finding and attaching the right lens for the moment.

Just a thought.

fbeaston Loc: Vermont

Thanks Insman1132 ... unfortunately, once I started buying glass, I found that switching was too expensive. And truth be told, while many on this site will cringe because they are loyal to Nikon, there are many of us who have had very good experience with Canon. Either way ... some like Chevy ... while others like Ford ... or Toyota ... or whatever. But I appreciate your thoughtful response. And I hope to prove you wrong about missing photo opportunities while looking for a lens. Most of the lenses I think I'll take are zoom, so I should be able to cover a lot of ground with 2. But only time will tell.

CindyHouk Loc: Nw MT

Wow...Frank...what a trip...now I am the jealous one! Taking a safari like that is on my bucket list! I don't have any recommendations on lenses but just wanted to tell that I can't wait to see the photo's when you get back!

fbeaston Loc: Vermont

Thank you Cindy ... had to do something to try to keep up with your recent posts!!!! ;) Thanks for the comments. Looking forward to this trip ... I've always wanted to go to Africa.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Which lens is more likely to impress everyone else?

fbeaston Loc: Vermont

Not sure I understand the point of your question? My hope is to try to go with the best combination for the situation. Couldn't care less about impressing others other than by capturing some nice shots.

Lilikoilee

I've made several trips to Kenya and agree that taking minimal gear has many advantages. The question you have asked is how close you will be to the wildlife. In most instances you will be much closer than you imagine. On average the guides will position you within 30 -50 feet from your subjects and often even closer.

Donwitz Loc: Virginia Beach, VA

When I made the trip a few years back, I had a crop sensor camera and used a full frame 70-300 lens. Many times, the big cats drew a crowd and longer lenses are a must. If you have an opportunity to take a hot air balloon ride, I suggest taking it! They fly early in the morning, so you can get good sunrise shots and the animals are usually very active. I suggest one shorter lens for landscape shots and one long lens for the cats. Sometimes you may be weight limited in the smaller bush planes, so travel light...

cvoleti

I just returned from a safari trip, 4 days in Kruger National forest and 9 days in Tanzania. After considerable research and deliberation, I took two camera bodies, D 810 and just two lenses, 24-70mm f 2.8 and 3oomm pf4 with a 1.4 extender all Nikon.Worked splendid.

cvoleti

I just returned from a safari trip, 4 days in Kruger National forest and 9 days in Tanzania. After considerable research and deliberation, I took two camera bodies, D 810 and just two lenses, 24-70mm f 2.8 and 3oomm pf4 with a 1.4 extender all Nikon.Worked splendid.

cvoleti

I just returned from a safari trip, 4 days in Kruger National forest and 9 days in Tanzania. After considerable research and deliberation, I took two camera bodies, D 810 and just two lenses, 24-70mm f 2.8 and 3oomm pf4 with a 1.4 extender all Nikon.Worked splendid.

picsix

I went to South Africa a few years ago with my Canon EOS 5D Mark 111 and Mark IV. I took my 24-105mm and the 100-400mm. I kept both with me on safari all day. You will not want to be changing lenses in the field- it's too dusty! I got amazing photos with those two lenses. I used the 24-105 more as my walking around lens. Make sure to clean your cameras every night because of the dust.
I also found on both safari's, that at least one of the guides was either a photographer, or very familiar with guests who are there for taking great pictures. They do a wonderful job of getting your vehicle in the right positions!
Have a fabulous trip! You'll take amazing photos!

mikegreenwald Loc: Illinois

My experience was that the 100-400 was VERY USEFUL for wildlife. At the time I didn't have an extender, but I strongly recommend it. Most of your wildlife shots will be in daylight, and the speed of the lens was not a handicap at all.

ChrisEdwardsUSA Loc: Philadelphia

Congratulations on committing to the trip, I have been lucky enough to experience 3 safari trips to Africa over the years, including a family trip to Kenya last year. I can't recommend it highly enough. Choosing the right equipment to take is a challenge, I feel your pain. Your 70-200 will help you get close in most circumstances, but you will probably find yourself wishing you had more reach in some instances.

Rather than invest in a long & fast zoom last year, I took a gamble on a Sony RX10-M4.... yes a fixed lens with a small sensor, was I crazy?.... nope, the versatility was incredible, up to 600mm with a fast Carl Zeiss lens.... & no swapping of lenses, or dealing with 2 bodies. I was very pleased with the results. Dust is certainly a consideration, the safari vehicles will pop the roof up, some are open sided. Taking a good dust-proof camera bag is essential. FYI my son got good results also with a new Tamron 100-400 on a crop body.