9 days in Kenya - lens recommendations (Page 4): Thanks Jwshelton, I've reached out to the tour operator re: lenses & they pointed me toward the guide who has not yet responded. It...

fbeaston Loc: Vermont

Jwshelton wrote:

My experience in Kenya was excellent. What have y... (show quote)

Thanks Jwshelton, I've reached out to the tour operator re: lenses & they pointed me toward the guide who has not yet responded. It doesn't surprise me that most shooting, particularly near animals is from within the vehicle (I'd prefer it that way ... I try not to be stupid around wild animals). But definitely thinking 2 bodies with a long lens on one of them. Appreciate the comment re: birds. I've been focused on the prospect of the bigger animals. And thanks of the offer of a PM. I may well take you up on that.

fbeaston Loc: Vermont

Amaize wrote:

Long lens is the main issue in the bush, longer the better. 400mm is great. I’m not one for lens extender as quality drops and you can do just as well blowing up the original. I have had occasional situation of lions being too close — like circling Jeep/or friends having cheetah jumping on jeep — not too frequent but not rare either. My recommendation is always just to chase cats ! You will see all the other stuff, but cats offer the most drama — they are the ones that hunt. We would sit on some sleeping cats for an hour or more waiting. Prowling cats are incredible. Absolutely essential to be in open top Jeep, NOT open side. I recommend 3 people max per Jeep, so you can move easily. Keep windows in Jeep open and somehow find a way to constantly tell yourself to get on knees and shoot thru windows, so you get a low angle — so easy to forget in the midst of action, but you get some very nice shots down low. Very important to talk with guide ahead of time and be sure he/she understands you need to be in charge. Stop when you want — Go at speed you want. I would watch speedometer and usually tell guide “29kms/he here or 40 at another place. It should be a working relationship btwn the two of you — and never hesitate to say “let’s go back, I missed a shot.” I’ve never been keen on a night drive. One thing you can do is have your box lunch at your side and nibble along the way — they always give you too much. Don’t go back to lodge for lunch or stop to eat. Just keep on move sunrise-sunset. If space/equip an issue, get new iPhone and use that for “other” shots. I use for videos, esp close ups. Recently blew up a pano of NYC from Rock Cntr to 20X60in — the detail was mind blowing. Plus it has most all the major adjustments as Photoshop. And will do you great at night. If you have choices, Masai Mara is the best in Kenya and you could spend all your days there. One thing in Kenya, they don’t always respect the animals and move in too close, can become a mass riot of jeeps. I was there last Jan and got lucky to see migration/water crossing — literally thousands of wildebeests. Totally crazy. If you are carrying camera in town and have a pop screen, it is always nice to shoot people from the hip — rather than camera up to your eye. Also in markets get contact info and send people photos — they love it. Strongly consider a donation and maybe go see Najin and Fatu, last two remaining Norther White Rhino

https://www.olpejetaconservancy.org/wildlife/rhinos/northern-white-rhinos/

Long lens is the main issue in the bush, longer th... (show quote)

Great comments Amaize & recomendations. Like your comment about staying low & shooting through windows. Thanks for that. Thanks for the link to the Ol Pejeta Conservancy. We're staying near there & actually planning to go there the last +/-4 days in Kenya. That's something I've heard of & will enjoy. And good feedback re: the use of an extender. I have had pretty good luck with the 1.4x but struggled a bit with the 2x, all of which may speak to the fact that I've only been serious about photography for the last 4 or 5 years or so.

I also liked your suggestions of shooting in the market & sharing photos. Hadn't thought of that.

As an aside, I started out this process much like a kid waiting for Christmas. The posts from Hogs who have been there have only heightened my excitement. Thank you very much for taking the time to write such an informative list of suggestions. I really appreciate it.

PS: Really like your Avatar ... you don't say where you're from ... but it suggests you might live in Africa?

fbeaston Loc: Vermont

JFCoupe wrote:

You will find your trip amazing and most likely ex... (show quote)

Thanks JFCoupe ... I thought my days of getting so excited about a trip were in the rear view mirror. But comments like yours & others along with those of the fellow I'm going with, have heightened my excitement beyond the level of a kid I think. When I go someplace, I have to admit that I take a lot of images because if I mess 1 or more up, I'm always hopeful that at least 1 will come out right. But 12,500 shots in 1 trip? The only time I ever even shot that many was a recent 6 week trip when I shot 14k shots. Hope that you do plan to post some of the shots you took. And got it on the 2 bodies. Appreciate you taking the time to comment. Thanks.

Hip Coyote

I just got back from a trip to S. Africa and Namibia. A bit different situation in that (I think) animals in Kenya are in a more open environment, thus more movement. Right now, it is summer. That means that the bulk of the animals will be looking for water at watering holes rather than puddles...thus it is easier to get photos of them. (Again...different parts of the continent..so take that into account.) I absolutely positively recommend that you take two bodies. It can get very very dusty quickly. No way of changing lenses in the back of a safari vehicle. I had two micro 4/3 bodies...one with a 12-100 Pro Oly and the other with a 100-400 Leica Panasonic. I used the 12-100 most of the time, but did need the reach on a few occasions. The combo was perfect. (This will also be determined by where you go and if your guide can drive off the roads..in some instances we were allowed to and in others, we were not.) I recommend the 24-104 and the 100-400. Also, as mentioned, some people take a Sony bridge camera. I would think this would work well too. Maybe next time for me.

Also, I set up a pre-determined custom setting so that if there were action type shots, I could press a button and put my camera into a shutter priority- auto ISO- focus tracking - high speed mode. I used it once at a cheetah run. Usually I was either manual or A priority.

Animals get active at night...but often, game drives are not allowed at night. When the sun starts setting, you will quickly find that it gets dark and the limits of your camera will be tested. (As I said, mine was an M4/3 so I had more limitations than you.) You really have to bump up the ISO to get any kind of shots.

People think they are going to go to Africa and get Nat Geo pics...it may happen, but for the most part the photos will be memorable, but not Nat Geo quality. To do that you have to spend many many hours / days watching / tracking animals. You might get lucky to see a predator / prey chase or something, but don't count on it.

Take a pocket rocket, several lens pens, micro cloths and cleaning solution to deal with the dust. I had to clean my cameras, almost like guns, at the end of the day. On one game drive in the desert, they were covered in white powdery dust.

There are people in Africa! Interesting, wonderful people! I prefer people photography to animal photography any day of the week...including Africa. Do what you can to do some cultural adventures...meet the people. You wont be sorry.

Finally, once in a while, just put the camera down and enjoy the experience. The animals, etc...constantly looking through a view finder is no way to experience the place. Enjoy.

ling99

If you are driving from Nairobi to any camp, have a slow motion video ready, the sights will be unbelievable. We saw a motorcycle with a couch attached and a passenger sitting on it. Caskets (with bodies) on top of the car heading for the village for funeral services on Fridays. Amazing. I could tell you so many things, but mainly that the trip will be spectacular - we have traveled all over and this tops for so many reasons. By the way, we saw a Natgeo vehicle in the Masai Mara - oh yeah, huge remote control camera on the front of the vehicle and a sign asking you not to follow the car. Way out of a regular person's league. So no Natgeo pictures, but some impressive and cool ones never the less. We saw lions, cheetahs stalking, a leopard in a tree consuming a gazelle, a lion eating a zebra, giraffe, buzzards consuming zebra, in addition to thousands animals making their way. SPECTACULAR

Arcadia1969 Loc: Tucson, Arizona

I’ve done 3 African photographers safaris. Canon 5D3 and 7D2. I kept the 24-105 on the 5D3 and the 100-400 on the 7D2. I used the 100-400 the majority of the time. It can get very dusty, I didn’t try to change lenses. Have fun, should be awesome.

jefflane

I would definitely take the 100-400 II. I've gone twice, once with the 500 F4I and a 70-200 and once with the 500 F4II and the 100-400II. You are only losing the range of 70-100 from the 70-200 2.8 and you don't always get that close. You might consider the 800 but getting it there would be problematic. I did ok with my 500s the two times.

fbeaston Loc: Vermont

RWebb76 wrote:

I just got back from a trip to S. Africa and Namibia. A bit different situation in that (I think) animals in Kenya are in a more open environment, thus more movement. Right now, it is summer. That means that the bulk of the animals will be looking for water at watering holes rather than puddles...thus it is easier to get photos of them. (Again...different parts of the continent..so take that into account.) I absolutely positively recommend that you take two bodies. It can get very very dusty quickly. No way of changing lenses in the back of a safari vehicle. I had two micro 4/3 bodies...one with a 12-100 Pro Oly and the other with a 100-400 Leica Panasonic. I used the 12-100 most of the time, but did need the reach on a few occasions. The combo was perfect. (This will also be determined by where you go and if your guide can drive off the roads..in some instances we were allowed to and in others, we were not.) I recommend the 24-104 and the 100-400. Also, as mentioned, some people take a Sony bridge camera. I would think this would work well too. Maybe next time for me.

Also, I set up a pre-determined custom setting so that if there were action type shots, I could press a button and put my camera into a shutter priority- auto ISO- focus tracking - high speed mode. I used it once at a cheetah run. Usually I was either manual or A priority.

Animals get active at night...but often, game drives are not allowed at night. When the sun starts setting, you will quickly find that it gets dark and the limits of your camera will be tested. (As I said, mine was an M4/3 so I had more limitations than you.) You really have to bump up the ISO to get any kind of shots.

People think they are going to go to Africa and get Nat Geo pics...it may happen, but for the most part the photos will be memorable, but not Nat Geo quality. To do that you have to spend many many hours / days watching / tracking animals. You might get lucky to see a predator / prey chase or something, but don't count on it.

Take a pocket rocket, several lens pens, micro cloths and cleaning solution to deal with the dust. I had to clean my cameras, almost like guns, at the end of the day. On one game drive in the desert, they were covered in white powdery dust.

There are people in Africa! Interesting, wonderful people! I prefer people photography to animal photography any day of the week...including Africa. Do what you can to do some cultural adventures...meet the people. You wont be sorry.

Finally, once in a while, just put the camera down and enjoy the experience. The animals, etc...constantly looking through a view finder is no way to experience the place. Enjoy.

I just got back from a trip to S. Africa and Namib... (show quote)

Thank you RWebb76. Very thoughtful advice & all of it makes sense to me. You & I are different in one respect, however, I personally prefer wildlife & scenic photography vs. people photography. But your point is well taken. I want to enjoy every thing I can about this trip so I will try to record the streets scenes I see (other Hogs have said similar things). Your advice on lens is consistent with my current thinking (24-105 & 100-400 with 2 bodies). Your suggestion of a predetermined setting for action shots is something I hadn't thought of ... which is a really good suggestion. So thanks for taking the time to write such thoughtful comments. Oh ... & one last thought ... I would like nothing better than to someday capture a National Geo level shot ... but the chances of that ever happening are probably slim to none just as you point out. I'm retired now & photography is my avocation & I'm trying to get better at it, so hopefully, I can capture a really good shot now & again. That would make me happy. Thanks for taking the time to comment.

fbeaston Loc: Vermont

ling99 wrote:

If you are driving from Nairobi to any camp, have ... (show quote)

Be still my beating heart!!!! I have said to others, that out of the box, I was more excited about this trip than any prior trip. And the more I learn, the more like a kid before Christmas I become. And if that wasn't bad enough, then I get comments like yours & those of so many Hogs who've done this sort of trip raving about their experiences & it makes me want to go now. Thank you for that ... & for the video suggestion. I seldom take videos but it sounds like that might be something to try when on the road. Can't wait to get going. Thanks for taking the time to comment again. I appreciate it.

terpfan Loc: central coast, California

I did South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Botswana several years ago. Took 7DII with Canon 70-300 L lens. There were a few times where slightly more length would have been desirable. Take the 24-70 for evening safaris on the 5D as light fades in the evening. Have a wonder time, it is truly the trip of a lifetime. Probably used the 70-300 for 95% of my shots.

fbeaston Loc: Vermont

Arcadia1969 wrote:

I’ve done 3 African photographers safaris. Canon 5D3 and 7D2. I kept the 24-105 on the 5D3 and the 100-400 on the 7D2. I used the 100-400 the majority of the time. It can get very dusty, I didn’t try to change lenses. Have fun, should be awesome.

Thanks Arcadia1969 ... you addressed one thing I'd thought about but hadn't focused upon & that is which body. I have 2 full frame 5d2 & a 6d plus I have the cropped sensor 7d2. I've been thinking taking the 5d & 7d but hadn't decided which would have the long lens & which would have the walk around ... so you mentioning the 100-400 on your 7d2 would give me a bit more reach, so that may in fact be the way I go as well. I envy you having done 3 photo safaris ... but hopefully one day I'll catch up. As an aside, I enjoyed the Ophir Pass post you put up a while back on UHH. Thanks for taking the time to comment.

fbeaston Loc: Vermont

jefflane wrote:

I would definitely take the 100-400 II. I've gone twice, once with the 500 F4I and a 70-200 and once with the 500 F4II and the 100-400II. You are only losing the range of 70-100 from the 70-200 2.8 and you don't always get that close. You might consider the 800 but getting it there would be problematic. I did ok with my 500s the two times.

Thanks jefflane ... that's interesting advice ... I've been concerned about hauling a big lens around particularly with airline cabin restrictions. I tip my hat to you for taking the 500 twice ... my thought is I can get pretty close with the 100-400, so I think I'm taking it. I appreciate the advice & I'm envious of you going twice. Thanks for taking the time to comment.

fbeaston Loc: Vermont

terpfan wrote:

I did South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Botswana several years ago. Took 7DII with Canon 70-300 L lens. There were a few times where slightly more length would have been desirable. Take the 24-70 for evening safaris on the 5D as light fades in the evening. Have a wonder time, it is truly the trip of a lifetime. Probably used the 70-300 for 95% of my shots.

Thanks terpfan ... you surely covered some ground & thanks for the lens advice. Think your advice is right on. Thanks for taking the time to respond.

Ed Chu Loc: Las Vegas NV

fbeaston wrote:

I've finally signed up for a trip I've dreamed of ... (show quote)

Went to Madsi Mara in July; your 18-400 will suffice: cheetahs, lions, etc: they walk between vehicles

cambriaman Loc: Central CA Coast

When I went I used a 150-500 and an 18-270 on two crop bodies. I never changed lenses in the field. I also took a 50mm f.//1.8 and used it for 4 shots on a night excursion (which images turned not to be great) and a 10-20mm WA which I never used. The only time I changed lenses was in my room and that was only for the night excursion. Next time, two bodies a big tele zoom and a normal-to-moderate tele zoom will be all I'll take. Lessons learned. Have a great trip. I think from your list I would take the 70-200 and the 100-400. The Rangers get you very close to the animals.