Shadow merchant

My wife and I, in our 70s, are doing her #1bucket list by going on a week long photo safari to Tanzania in June. We have a Nikon 5100 and a 70-300 Nikkor as well as an 18-200 Nikkor. We are planning to purchase either a new 5300 or a 5200 new or refurbished. We are amateur photographers and thought that having similar cameras we would not get confused with controls this way.

Would appreciate any comment pos. or neg. as well as any suggestions on our lenses.

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

I shoot with a D7000. I own a Sigma 150-500 which is a very good lens for getting sharp images in the distance. If I were spending the money to go on a safari, I might look very seriously into renting a 400mm prime. It would be expensive and the thing is absolutely huge; but it is a great lens. There was a post this morning from a man selling his D7100 at a very reasonable price. That might be an option for you as well, although I think the 5100 is a very good camera and will probably generate fantastic results. Just a thought. Have a great trip....I'm jealous, of course!

bucketbrain Loc: Lost in thought

Start with I'm jealous. next I have never been to Africa. But I have lugged lenses all over the US and Europe. I shoot Canon and carry a 400mm f.4 with a teleconverter. It is much lighter than the huge 400 mm prime. I don't know what Nikon makes in that focal length but Tamron makes some longer ones that might give you zoom. Its once in a lifetime. Can't comment on the bodies but your logic makes sense.

Busby Loc: St. Petersburg, Fl

I am also going to Africa in April 2014 and have similar questions. With a weight limit of 33 pounds, How to maximize?
I plan to take Nikon D600 and 5100 body as back up...have a Tamron 18-270...my walkaround....love it. A friend suggested renting the new Tamron 150-600...I already own a 150-500 but the weight and size seem prohibitive. Am I better off buying a teleconverter for the 18-270 or taking one or the other Tamrons?

I am really concerned about the weight limit....33 pounds for everything..photo gear and clothes..personal items etc.

What would you do?

AlexS Loc: Minnesota

I was in Africa last year. I brought the Tamron 18-270 and a back up lens (75-300 kit lens). I found it to be all I needed. You will find that the animals get pretty close. A longer lens would have been handy in a couple of instances and when we go again I would likely bring something like 120-200 as we'll.

You really don't want to have a lot of gear. Even with just my wife and a driver quarters can get cramped. It is also difficult to change lenses when out in the bush with the dust and wind. Keep camera covered at all times. I also would not recommend a tripod or even monopod. Too cumbersome and your chances of using are pretty few and far between. What I did find handy was a beanbag. Our driver provided one and it really helped.

If you have not already booked I would highly recommend Access 2 Tanzania. They are in the upper price range but we'll worth it. They pay their guides well, they all speak very good English and are very well versed as guides. We were very fortunate as my wife is something of a birder and our guide was as we'll. so when the big game was not around we got to do some birding as well.

We had a fabulous time and got some great pictures. Have fun!

Mr PC Loc: Austin, TX

[quote=Busby]I am also going to Africa in April 2014 and have similar questions. With a weight limit of 33 pounds, How to maximize?
I plan to take Nikon D600 and 5100 body as back up...have a Tamron 18-270...my walkaround....love it. A friend suggested renting the new Tamron 150-600...I already own a 150-500 but the weight and size seem prohibitive. Am I better off buying a teleconverter for the 18-270 or taking one or the other Tamrons?

I am really concerned about the weight limit....33 pounds for everything..photo gear and clothes..personal items etc.

I go to Africa twice a year for 10 days at a time with only a carry-on for clothes, etc. and a backpack for my laptop and photo gear. We do vision clinics in the slums of Nairobi and always get a chance to do two photo safaris. Our check-in allowance is taken up by our team's medical gear, otherwise our clinics would not be economically feasible. With that said, I use two big zip-lock bags that you can get at REI for my clothes. I roll my clothes up carefully and tend towards athletic shirts and cargo pants which can be rinsed out and dry quickly. Two pants, 3 shirts, a hoody and a Magellan safari shirt, that's it. These zip-locks have one way air valves in the bottom, you roll them up tightly with your clothes in them and they take about a third of the space they would normally and not much weight. Rolled properly, you don't get many wrinkles, but who cares? Nobody is going to know you anyway! If we haven't used something on three trips in a row, with the exception of a rain poncho, it doesn't get packed again. The zip-locks save room for a little more gear in my first bag like power adapters, etc. I carry a Nikon D5200, with the 18-55 kit lens for landscapes, and a Nikkor 55-300 for my zoom shots. Since the zoom lens is on the D5200 most of the time during photo safaris, I also carry a Nikon L26 (less than $100, 12MP, 5x optical zoom, uses normal AA batteries, latest model of this is the L28) for the wide angle shots and it does a good enough job for that. The lenses you already have sound fine to me and I like the idea of renting something super duper, if you have the weight and room to spare. Good hunting!!!

Busby Loc: St. Petersburg, Fl

Thank you for the info on rolling clothes...makes sense.

I am 74 and know this trip is one time only...ergo i am staying for 40 days.

I am thinking my 10-20 for landscapes and 18-270 and nothing else would allow for a few more clothes.

Congratulations to you for your humanitarian efforts.

Regards, Busby

Dave Johnson Loc: Grand Rapids, Michigan

I would ask the people who operate the Photo Safari what their suggestions might be. I imagine the phrase "long lens" is prominently used.

Mr PC Loc: Austin, TX

Several other travel tips since more than one of you are interested and are going soon. Only drink bottled or canned beverages, nothing in a glass with ice in it unless you are in a national chain like Java House that uses purified water for ice. You don't want the consequences of this. Use bottled water for brushing teeth, don't get water in your eyes or mouth while showering if possible. Get Malarone from your doctor for malaria, the stuff that works in South America and other parts of the world is not effective for the African strain. Bring medicine for diarrhea or constipation, either are common problems on long travel. Also, time your sleep on your flights to try to get on local time as soon as possible. I've gotten to where I am good in a day or two now. Need any more advice, please feel free to send me a private message (PM) so we don't bore everybody else. And by the way, I do take underwear and socks, I figured that was understood! They also go in the zip-lock bags.

amehta Loc: Boston

Last week, someone jumped in with a question related to the OP's question, but the answers to the two questions were very different, and things got confusing. It's often hard to tell if the two questions are close enough. In this case, you have both a FX and DX camera, while the OP expects to have 2 DX bodies, so there will be mixed responses. Perhaps starting your own topic would help you while the OP can get his answered here? Thanks.

amehta Loc: Boston

Having two similar cameras is a great idea. There have been a couple of other topics on Africa recently, and one common theme is "It's dusty, don't change lenses in the open!!!" With two similar bodies, you could put the 18-200mm lens on one, and a longer zoom on the other. I think you have a few choices to get to 300mm and beyond:
* Nikon 18-300mm
* Nikon 55-300mm
* Nikon 70-300mm
* Nikon 80-400mm (new one)
* Sigma 150-500
* Tamron 150-600 (brand new)

While the 400mm f/2.8 would be awesome, it is huge, bigger and heavier than everything else you're taking (14" long, 6" around, and 10lbs). I don't want to deal with that, and I took a 300mm f/2.8 to Australia and New Zealand for 5 weeks. Nikon does not make a 400mm f/4, and I don't think anyone else makes one for it.

If the Tamron 150-600mm early reviews hold up, it might be the best option. It is 10" long and 4.3 lbs.

olcoach Loc: Oregon

I envy you. Have a great trip and show us some pictures when you get back.

gwong1 Loc: Tampa, FL

I went to Tanzania last August. I shot the following combinations: Canon 7D and T3i, 70-200 F2.8 with 2X extender, 400mm f5.6 with 1.4X extender. I mostly used the 70-200,2X extender combination and switched the 400mm configuration with a 18-200 depending on location. There were times I wished I had more reach. Beware of the fine dust in Africa. I had all of my equipment professionally cleaned when I returned. I posted some images here. Enjoy the trip of a lifetime. Gary http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-154160-1.html

lone ranger Loc: Port Saint Lucie, Florida

wow, thats like a trip of a life time, my reccomendation, I would shoot with any of the long Nikon zooms, that are at least 2.8
and not any 5.6 or slower, considering the fact you will probably going on a photographic safari, I would use very fast lenses for the shapest photo"s I could get that way, the cameras you menchioned are fine, I would also bring circular polorizers as well
because the sun is going to be very bright there,and of course extra SD cards with a quality factor of at least 10, to insure prized photo"s, enjoy your trip, and please post your photo"s once you return

I shot these foto"s at the Bronx Zoo

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I shot this at the bronx zoo, usein a 70-200 MM 2.8 Nikon lens

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This foto as well useing my Nikon D300 and a Nikon 70-200 MM2.8 Lens

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ejrmaine Loc: South Carolina

We did the Tanzania Safari in November, I rented a Tamron 18-270mm, with my Nikon D7000. It provided all the range I needed. Our drivers were able to get within 50 feet of all the major animals.