Going to Botswana And Zambia for Photo Safari- Need Help (Page 3): With things going on today, I'd put the trip off for a while. To much Bulls_

ski Loc: West Coast, USA

With things going on today, I'd put the trip off for a while. To much Bulls__t happening today.

A. T.

greymule wrote:

Hello Everyone. Been AWOL during Covid. Probably n... (show quote)

I would strongly consider a D500 over the D850 to pair with the 200-500 5.6. I have both DSLRs and I think you would be happier with the crop sensor reach, especially with what you're shooting. I shoot wildlife with the D500 and 200-500 5.6 and never need a tripod.

Miamark Loc: Florida

greymule wrote:

Hello Everyone. Been AWOL during Covid. Probably n... (show quote)

I used a Nikon FE2 with an 80-200 zoom in Kenya and got great shots. The longer lens that you are bringing might get you great shots but I found that the guide got me pretty close to the wildlife. I have been all over Africa, When out of the game parks, I found that people generally do not like to have their photos taken or those of their surroundings so be very careful to their sensitivities and ask before you take the pictures. I found myself in a very unpleasant situation in Mali when a local thought I was taking a picture of a stand selling monkey paws.

joecichjr Loc: Chicago S. Suburbs, Illinois, USA

Robertl594 wrote:

I took a tripod/monopod. Never used it. Took up sp... (show quote)

Great advice

Miamark Loc: Florida

ski wrote:

With things going on today, I'd put the trip off for a while. To much Bulls__t happening today.

I would postpone. You should check out the medical facilities in advance. Also, I read today that a booster shot is being authorized. Why take a chance?

cambriaman Loc: Central CA Coast

Did an African Safari a few years back. I had older Nikon gear then (D200 & D300) and used a Sigma 150-500 on the D300 for long shots and a Nikon zoom (200mm max) on the D200 for the short to medium distance shots. I never removed either lens from its camera body. I took a wide angle and never used it.
I now own the rig you are renting and assure that you will get great shots with it. They will be better than mine are. I get great shots all the time with the D850 and 200-500 Nikkor.
Yes, no lens changing, lots of dust in Africa. I backed up each days shooting on to both a back-up hard drive and to a MacBook laptop internal drive. I recommend two back-ups, "just in case". I took a tripod and never used it. I also used a dust bag over the cameras. Again, African dust! I know you're going to have a great experience.

IDguy Loc: Idaho

Use M mode, auto ISO, AFS, spot focus and metering, min fstop (5.6), initial ss 1/1000.

DetroitDoc

Was in South Africa 2 years ago. You definitely don’t want to be changing lenses. Go with the lightest long range you can. I had the Sony 100-400, but wished for the 200-600, but the weight was too great. Two cameras are definitely worthwhile just in case of the dreaded “Camera Failure.”

Enjoy

IDguy Loc: Idaho

A. T. wrote:

I would strongly consider a D500 over the D850 to pair with the 200-500 5.6. I have both DSLRs and I think you would be happier with the crop sensor reach, especially with what you're shooting. I shoot wildlife with the D500 and 200-500 5.6 and never need a tripod.

In Africa you often get close to animals. DX cropping not necessary.

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

greymule wrote:

Hello Everyone. Been AWOL during Covid. Probably n... (show quote)

Be careful... be very careful. You won't want to give up that D850/200~500 combo.
That's all I carried on an African Safari and didn't feel un-armed at all. I had another Nikon combo with me but ended up loaning it to a pair on the safari who were trying to make do with a cell phone!

And gave them a memory card too. Got lots of great photos

Bill_de Loc: US

A. T. wrote:

I would strongly consider a D500 over the D850 to pair with the 200-500 5.6. I have both DSLRs and I think you would be happier with the crop sensor reach, especially with what you're shooting. I shoot wildlife with the D500 and 200-500 5.6 and never need a tripod.

If you have both cameras you should realize that the D850 basically has a built in D500 by simply switching to DX mode. The FPS is a bit slower, but if you get close to some larger animals you don't want to be locked into 1.5 times the focal length.

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Inprinter Loc: Indiana

State Department advises to not travel to either Country because of severe COVID variant outbreaks. But, have fun if you go.

PaulB Loc: Alabama

One other comment regarding gear to take. The safari drivers will get you very close to the animals and the animals are used to the safari vehicles being there. So, super long lenses are not that important. The first time I went to Africa, I had a 25-300 mm lens, which was plenty. On one day we had a cheetah amble up to our vehicle, jump up on the hood, lie down and look at the occupants as if to say, "take my picture"! After 2 or 3 minutes, he jumped down and ambled off just like he had approached us to begin with.

greymule Loc: Colorado

Thanks for the link. The clamp looks ideal for the vehicle photos I received, and it's cheap. But it weighs 33 pounds. From the images of the vehicles, I'm not sure how a bean bag will work, but there are plenty of rails for attachment of a clamp. How did you transport it given the weight limitations?

Rick

Josephschmaeling

I went to Kenya and Tanzania a few years ago. You are on the right track as far as equipment. You’ll need the 500mm for some shots. Having a second camera with a shorter lens is a good idea. Some times the animals are right on the road. You don’t want to be changing lenses. Too much dust. You probably don’t want to shoot in manual, unless you are extremely fast. The animals won’t sit still for you. I used aperture mode most of the time with everything else in auto. Set the depth of field and fire away. You don’t want to miss the money shot while you’re making adjustments. Have a great trip.