I am very interested in either the Canon 70-200 mm 2.8 II IS USM and the Sigma 70-200 mm 2.8 EX APO DG IS HSM. I am an enthusiast (not a pro by any means). I know that the Canon model is the industry standard, used by many pf the pros. I have also heard very good things about the Sigma version. I own two Sigma lenses and have been satisfied with their build quality and the photos that I have taken with them. Since there is approximately $900.00 to $1000.00 difference in price, I am wondering if I would get that much more in performance with the Canon over the Sigma. Would like to hear from owners of each lens and/or anyone who can give me some insight that will help with my decision.

Recommend a "bean bag" rather than a monopod. Usually there are 4 or more people in a safari vehicle and a monopod becomes rather clumsy. A backup camera is a good idea. If possible, a point and shoot with some reach (a Canon SX50 comes to mind) would fill that role splendidly. You will need at least a 300mm lens on your primary camera (500 mm would be better). I have been to Africa twice. Great photo experiences both times.

Is this store legit? I know that there are several stores with similar names and some don't have good reputations. They have a lens for sale for $949 that B&H, Adorama and Amazon have priced at $1149. Can't tell from the description if it is U.S. or gray market. Please advise.

I lived in St. Louis for nearly 20 years and never heard of this museum. In fact, I didn't even know that Creve Coeur had an airport. Great set of photos. Might have to check it out the next time that I am in the area.

Definitely take a backup. As someone else said, you may not care to take both cameras with you every day as you are out and about, but you have it available if something goes wrong with the primary. If you want the quick availability or two kinds of lenses, having two bodies is a plus, i.e. one with a wide angle for landscapes and one with a longer telephoto for other shooting requirements. As a minimum, I always take a smaller "point and shoot" to use for shooting in places where carrying a larger camera is inconvenient...like in a restaurant, museum, etc.

Don't miss breakfast/brunch at he "Court of the Two Sisters".....excellent!

Kuekenhof is a magical place. Just aim your camera in any direction and you are likely to have a good image. Not undermining your skills, mind you. Just a great place to be with camera in hand! Good series!

Thank you. I really enjoy photography. Unfortunately, I am running out of "wall space" since I try to frame one or two of my favorite photos from each trip I take. I don't need a bigger house...just bigger walls!!

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I somehow only entered one photo, when I intended to post several.

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On a recent visit to Paris, I hired a taxi and asked the driver to take me to shoot the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe from several different angles.

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As an optional excursion from an Alaska Inside Passage cruise about 8 passengers went kayaking at Ketchican. Noticing the high volume of float plane and boat traffic in the vicinity, one of our group asked what we were supposed to do if a boat or plane was coming right at us. The response was, "Get the hell out of the way"!

St. Louis has one of the best "free" zoos in the country. Definitely many photo ops.

Nice set! I can almost feel the crisp clean air by looking at them.

Generally, the guides get you a lot closer to the animals than you would expect. So, lots of reach and the added weight may not be all that necessary. Sigma has a 18-300 mm 3.5 to 6.3 lens for about $500.00. That coupled with a 1.4 or 2.0 converter should do nicely. Also: Ditch the tripod/mono-pod! Either one is too cumbersome in a safari vehicle. I found a simple "beanbag" was much more useful to steady the camera and lens on on the vehicle's roof line.