Lenses for Africa Trip

[Harshad Barve]

Dear all

Planning trip to Africa soon, Would like to know which lenses I will need there. Right now using Canon 7D with 300/F4
No issues with ability to use long lenses. Brands no bar
Trip destination will be KENYA

All suggations are most welcome and much appreciated
Harshad

[Tony Whitehead]

My favourite Africa lens is Nikon 200-400 as it allows compositional flexibility with mammals and close birds. Full frame and APC sensor bodies would add to the flexibilty. Canon 100-400 with the 7D would be nice. A 500 + TCs would add to opportunities with smaller/more distant birds. Include a wide angle for landscapes:D

[Harshad Barve]

My favourite Africa lens is Nikon 200-400 as it allows compositional flexibility with mammals and close birds. Full frame and APC sensor bodies would add to the flexibilty. Canon 100-400 with the 7D would be nice. A 500 + TCs would add to opportunities with smaller/more distant birds. Include a wide angle for landscapes:D

100-400 or 200-400 , I guess 200-400 can produce far better results with my all time fav camera D300

[Tony Whitehead]

100-400 or 200-400 , I guess 200-400 can produce far better results with my all time fav camera D300

That's a great combo - have used it with the D300 with 1.4x and 1.7x with great results. For my next trip I am wondering how to manage the 200-400 and 500 with the D300 and D700!:D

[Roger Clark]

Harshad,
I've always taken a 500 f/4 + TCs (Tanzania), and used the 500 most of the time. Also 70-200, 28-135 (all IS), and 20 mm on full frame and 1.3x crop bodies. I would consider a 300 f/2.8 if I had to travel light. But I feel good reach is needed. You can check my Africa gallery and see what focal lengths I used.

Have a great trip! (I've got to get to India for tigers; made it to Bangalore last March but never made it out of the city.)

Roger

[Harshad Barve]

I've got to get to India for tigers; made it to Bangalore last March but never made it out of the city

Just let me know when you want to come , I know many parks like back of my hand and I can assure you tiger sighting in any month of the year :)

[Butch Robertson]

Harshad,if possible take two bodies. changing lenses in the African veld is an open invitation to dust on your sensor.

[philperry]

Definitely need two bodies Harshad as you do not want to change lenses in the dust. I use the Canon 400 DO + 1.4x as my main lens and a mid-range zoom - either the 75-300 DO or 80-200. These with a 1.6 crop factor Canon camera (currently 7D).

This combination is light, easily manoeverable and good for most subjects.

[Deborah Harrison]

For Kenya the 300 f4 and 70-200 f4 will cover most situations. If you want to do any landscape you might want to add a wider angle zoom. I would also take a 500 f4 if at all possible. If you're restricted by weight, some of the top photos have been taken using the 100-400. Definitely take another camera body with you and sensor cleaning equipment!

[Ed Cordes]

My wife and I both shoot so we share lenses. We are leaving for Tanzania soon and will take the following.

7D for Gail and 1D MK4 for me. The 40D is our back up and will have one medium lens on it to minimize lens changes. We will have a 100-400, 300 f4, 500 f4 and a 24-105. In addition we will have two 1.4 TCs (one for each of us) and one 2 X TC.

FWIW, we will each have a Colorspace for in field uploading of images as cards fill up and we will have a lap top to back up the Colorspace drives.