Wildlife lens decision: Preparing for my first photo safari to Africa and would like advice on long lens choice to use on a Nikon D7100. The choice is between renting a 500 f4 or use...

Milt26 Loc: Chattanooga, TN

Preparing for my first photo safari to Africa and would like advice on long lens choice to use on a Nikon D7100. The choice is between renting a 500 f4 or use the new 80-400(which I plan to buy anyhow). Yes, I'll have a D600 with me also. Also have the TC1.4 and TC2.0 converters. Thanks.

MtnMan Loc: ID

Milt26 wrote:

Preparing for my first photo safari to Africa and would like advice on long lens choice to use on a Nikon D7100. The choice is between renting a 500 f4 or use the new 80-400(which I plan to buy anyhow). Yes, I'll have a D600 with me also. Also have the TC1.4 and TC2.0 converters. Thanks.

Sigma 150-500

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Milt26 wrote:

Preparing for my first photo safari to Africa and would like advice on long lens choice to use on a Nikon D7100. The choice is between renting a 500 f4 or use the new 80-400(which I plan to buy anyhow). Yes, I'll have a D600 with me also. Also have the TC1.4 and TC2.0 converters. Thanks.

The 500mm F4 is way to heavy to hand hold. The NEW 80-400mm lens is a sight to behold, I think it would be a much better choice between the two.

Milt26 Loc: Chattanooga, TN

Thanks, we'll be resting lenses on bean bags in safari trucks.

Bozsik Loc: Orangevale, California

MtnMan wrote:

Sigma 150-500

Wasn't an answer to the question.

I think you should go with the 80-400. It will give you way more options for magnification. I have just recently acquired the 80-400. It is excellent, and you can comfortably hand-hold it. The VR is also very good in this new version. i use it on the D600, and also on the 7100 instead of the teleconverter route if I require the longer lens. I shoot a lot of smaller birds, etc, so you probably won't need the teleconverter.

One thing you might request as you stop for various wildlife is to have them turn the engine off on the vehicle. They will probably do this anyway, but it will add the the sharpness of the images. Especially if you are using a beanbag resting on the vehicle.

juicesqueezer Loc: Okeechobee, Florida

If you are thinking on purchasing the 80-400 anyway, why not rent it for your trip to confirm what you believe to be your next lens. MT is shooting straight on this one.
Would like to see photo's of trip when you return. Be safe and have fun!

wcuster Loc: The Sea Ranch, CA

We have been to Africa 3x and have Nikon gear (two D800Es, D4 & D3s). Your lens choice depends on the terrain & type of vehicle. Will you use hand held, bean bag, monopod or tripod? One body handheld with a zoom and the other supported and with a long, fast telephoto which can take an extender is a good combo. I used a Nikon 600mm f/4 with or without a 1.4x, 1.7x or 2x Nikon extender. A Nikon 500mm f/4,a Nikon 400mm f/2.8 or Sigma 50-500 or 150-500 are good alternatives. A handheld body with a versatile zoom (80-400, 18-200, 28-300, etc) is great. I have the new Nikon 80-400 and used it a lot.
See http://waltc.smugmug.com/Travel/Africa2013
http://waltc.smugmug.com/Travel/Tanzania
You will note the need for multiple lenses - both long (birds, distant big game and even wide (herd of elephants at close range).
Depending on whether you will be in open land or denser woodlands and how your vehicle is equipped (standing & shooting from open top, bench seats shooting out the side of vehicle, etc, # of people in vehicle and hence your freedom to move around, etc will govern your lens choices). If you are in a full vehicle a 600mm on a tripod will be a problem!

Walt Custer

breck Loc: Derbyshire UK

I have been on safari in Namibia when a 200 mm lens on a crop camera (D300) was ample other countries will need longer glass.
Not mentioned is the dust changing lenses whilst out on safari will dirty your sensor so I would go for the 80-400 mm and stick a wider angle on the FX camera for landscape and animals up close

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

Milt26 wrote:

Preparing for my first photo safari to Africa and would like advice on long lens choice to use on a Nikon D7100. The choice is between renting a 500 f4 or use the new 80-400(which I plan to buy anyhow). Yes, I'll have a D600 with me also. Also have the TC1.4 and TC2.0 converters. Thanks.

You will never never never be disappointed with a 500 f/4.

wcuster Loc: The Sea Ranch, CA

Need to check on 2x teleconverter usage with f/4 lens. Both the D4 & D 800 will autofocus at f/8 (f/4 + 2x converter). However most Nikon bodies will not. You may be limited to a 1.7X converter on a 500mm f/4 when using your camera.

Walt

Pentony Loc: Earth Traveller

breck wrote:

I have been on safari in Namibia when a 200 mm lens on a crop camera (D300) was ample other countries will need longer glass.
Not mentioned is the dust changing lenses whilst out on safari will dirty your sensor so I would go for the 80-400 mm and stick a wider angle on the FX camera for landscape and animals up close

Good point, the dusk problem. Try to minimize changing lens in the field.

Milt26, perhaps two camera bodies would be best; one for wide angle lens and the other for your telephoto zoom lens?

Enjoy your trip.

TedPaul Loc: Madison, MS

Planning a trip also. Have a Leica with an f8 telnet which intend to take as well as another camera and tripod. What say you.

TedPaul Loc: Madison, MS

The telnet is a 500mm

Merlin1300 Loc: New England, But Now & Forever SoTX

Milt26 wrote:

Preparing for my first photo safari to Africa and would like advice on long lens choice to use on a Nikon D7100.
The choice is between renting a 500 f4 or use the new 80-400(which I plan to buy anyhow).

The flexibility of the Zoom cannot be understated. Rent (or buy) the 80-400 !!

TedPaul Loc: Madison, MS

Merlin1300 wrote:

The flexibility of the Zoom cannot be understated. Rent (or buy) the 80-400 !!

I guess I'll rent. To purchase would be burdensome in view of the lack of use later on. My longest lens after 500 is a 135. Have 35'50, 90,135,28/70, and 500