@smarterchild Thanks for the tip, but since I live in Norway I would have to pay 25% tax in addition and then the transport cost, so I guess I would end up pretty much same price as new price here.
Advice on safari lens
(55 posts) (16 voices)-
Ah, welll itd be best to buy it there brand new :). I hope you figure out what path to choose. i really liked the idea of the 1.4 tele and 1.7 converters for the 70-200.
Imo, I think the Bigma lens would be best for you. and give you enough room to use the lense even after the safari.
Posted 3 years ago # -
well most of these people not recommending the 150-500 have never owned or used one, again hand held the OS and focus speed amazes me for the price on this lens. I will be buying the 70-200 soon but as for a 500mm reach I'll never replace this lens.
Posted 3 years ago # -
I'm currently trying to figure out how/if I can afford the sigma 300mm f2.8 + a TC. Trying to convince myself this would be acceptable, since it probably is a once in a life time experience.. I gave up on the Nikon 300mm f4 + TC combo. If I find that I can't afford the sigma 300mm f2.8, I'll buy the recommended TC(s) for my 70-200.
@aesnakes you got a point! But do you think you would trade your 150-500 for something like what I mentioned above for 500ish range?
If I can't afford the 300mm 2.8 I think a TC might not satisfy my "greed" for new gear. I have already decided that I'm going to spend money on safari equipment, In mind mind I can't "only" buy a TC and have money left.. Knowing myself, I might get the 150-500 even though the majority advice against it, the price is very nice! Unless, of course, you guys have some other idea of how I could spend the remaining cash on safari photo equipment.. Initial budget was Nikon 300 mm f4 + Nikon TC (here in Norway that combo would be about $2000 + $666)
Posted 3 years ago # -
Most of the people who post negative comments about the 150-500mm Sigma do so because they don't know how to use a lens that long properly, have quality control issues, or they are suffering from front or back focus (again a QC issue). Problem is, you always hear more negative comments because the people who don't have problems are too busy enjoying the lens.
Posted 3 years ago # -
If you are shooting from a moving vehicle, which I'm guessing you will be if you are on a safari, using active rather than normal VR on the 70-200mm. I'm not sure if the Sigma has something like that or not, you'd have look into it.
When you are shooting with lenses 300mm or longer, steadiness and fast shutter speeds are of the utmost importance. I say that because any movement at 300mm + will be magnified a lot, which will show up as camera shake. When I want the best results with my 300mm F4, which really isn't that long, I always shoot from a steady tripod with shutter speeds between 1/600s or faster. If you were to shoot at 500mm on a crop body you'd want shutter speeds over 1/800s, but 1/1000 or better would be optimal to insure that camera shake is not a problem. Once you get into the 1/800s or faster range turn off VR, it cannot steady itself fast enough.
Posted 3 years ago # -
@PB PM Thanks a lot for the tips! From what I understood from my friend, If you saw something interesting, or rather the guide pointed out something interesting for you (apparently they had a very keen/trained eye for spotting animals etc). They would stop, and you could stay there for hours if you wanted, so I guess the active VR won't be an issue. But very good to know what shutter speeds are recommended and that VR is not fast enough for speeds above 800.
Posted 3 years ago # -
I am planning on going to Kenya in May/June for 8 days but have the opposite problem. I decided on the 70-200 with a 1.7 teleconverter as I have had good luck shooting daytime sports with this set up. My problem is that I cannot decide on what wide angle lens to buy for the trip. I will have the 70-200 with a 1.7 on my D90 but plan on carrying a D40 with a wide angle or my 18-200 for those just in case moments where 120mm might be too much.
A good read would be at:
http://bonusphotography.wordpress.com/going-on-safari/BTW, anyone have any suggestions on a wide angle (the 14-24 is out of my league)? I have looked at (online only as there are no retailers in Qatar) at the 10-24 Nikon, 12-24 Tokina, and the 10-20 Sigma. I need AF-S for now until I upgrade my second body.
Posted 3 years ago # -
@chancetlu Thanks for the link. 70-200 with the 1.7 TC is probably good enough for most shots, but for some shots I'm afraid it might be too short. The dude in the article also mentioned this a couple of times (that he was too far away to get the shot). If I can afford 300mm f2.8 + 2.0 TC, I will go for it.
Regarding wide angle I have no experience with anything other than my 14-24, and I would gladly recommend it.
Posted 3 years ago # -
I figured I should post when I made my decision, I just ordered sigma 300mm f2.8, a sigma 2x converter, a nikon 1.7 converter for my 70-200, a Gitto dust blower and a beanbag :D
Now I think I'm ready for safari, can't wait to test it all!
Posted 3 years ago # -
:) You need a larger backpack :)
Posted 3 years ago # -
@adamz Hopefully I'll be able to fit it all in my lowepro computrekker plus, and still be under the carry-on weight limit.
And thanks for all the advice guys, the selling point (that made me convince myself to spend a little more than planned) was that this is "a once in a lifetime experience".
Posted 3 years ago # -
Thats awesome Victor, I was away for a bit but to answer your question I would not trade my sigma 150-500 for anything longer...its 750 on a d90. Ive always stayed at 500 if I can but have only had to either step back or zoom back to 300. The focus is fast and the OS works well. The only lenses im looking at in the future are a 24-70 and 70-200 mainly because shooting indoors can be difficult with some lenses I own currently.
I think you will be super happy with that 300 2.8 though. Have fun and show us pics when you get back!
Posted 3 years ago # -
I wish I could remember where I saw some comparison images of the 70-200 f2.8 VR2 and the same lens with the new TC-2 converter. There was a little loss in the corners, but I thought the result was more than satisfactory...so much so that I was going to consider the new converter when I get a 70-200 f2.8 VR2 later this year.
I will try to find a link.
You have a marvelous trip planned.
If you like sunset shots, don't forget to take grad filters.
Posted 3 years ago # -
I'm back from safari, I had a blast. Lots of animals, lots of photo opportunities. We saw lots of animals very close to the vehicle, a lion family eating a zebra just next to the road and a cheetah hunting and killing a wildebeest. Lots of amazing sights! I loved it and I highly recommend it!
I'm very happy with the lens I bought (Sigma 300mm F2.8). I also bought Sigma TC-2 and Nikon TC-1.7 but I hardly used any of them. I could not be bothered with putting them on, so my experience was that TC's are not flexible enough for me in a situation like this. One second you could perhaps use it (with the loss of light/quality that follows), but then the next second another animal is suddenly too close and you just wasted time on a mediocre shot and missed a great shot.. We had our own driver so instructing him on driving closer or to get another angle was no problem, and It's just amazing how most of the animals just ignore the safari vehicles. A zoom like 200-400 would be perfect, but too expensive for me (even to rent). 300mm on DX (D80) was actually perfect length most of the time, and some times even too long. My wife used the Nikon 70-200mm F2.8 on the other camera and didn't complain.
You can see some of my shots here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/karlstorpet/sets/72157624515665203/
Posted 2 years ago # -
Awesome photos...I just got back from Kenya a month ago. You really lucked out to get in on some of the kills. I was able to photograph almost everything you saw, but never came across any kills or feedings.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Yeah, we where told that we where lucky, and I feel lucky! Only thing we missed to get "the big five" was the Black Rhino, even though we spent an entire day in Ngorongoro Crater just too look for them. Would also have liked to see Leopards doing something else than just lying on a branch in a tree..
Posted 2 years ago # -
Personally i think if your shelling out for a Safari you should be renting a 200-400 to bring, you'll end up missing some great shots without a long long lens. 2 weeks rental is very cheap for something like that these days
http://www.borrowlenses.com/product/nikon_super_tele/Nikon_200-400
400 dollars for 2 weeks seems like a bargain for the extra shots you'll get.Posted 2 years ago # -
@JayGannon I've mentioned it before in this thread but I'll mention it again: I'm from Norway and the renting prices here are very different, at least where i checked. Renting Nikon 200-400mm for two weeks (with todays currency) would cost me about 3587,26 dollars, buying it new would cost me about 8804,29 dollars. The new price of my Sigma 300mm F2.8 was about 3261,15 dollars.
Of course I would have liked to rent/own the 200-400, but not at any price. My rambling above was more of a summary of my experience with TC on safari.
Besides, I did not feel I missed any shots due to short length. Like I conclude above, 300mm along with 70-200 on the other camera (mostly operated by my wife) was more or less perfect (Could of course be that we where just lucky to see the animals so close). If I had to mentioned one thing I would change to next time, it would be to bring a third camera for my 14-24mm.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Wow, I don't know where you rent from!
I rent from a number of guys in the Uk and while a little steeper than 400 dollars (600 euoe) its nowhere near that and they will ship within the Eu no problems.
Yeah its handy because you had your own driver/vehicle but most would not so I would still advocate the longer reach personally, but everyone has their own style, I know one successful guy who goes with nothing longer than 200 and has amazing work from Namibia in particular.Posted 2 years ago # -
Victor, we actually saw the big 5 by day 4 including a leopard mother bathing her two cubs. According to our guide, who had been doing this for 8 years, it was his first time to witness this. I was shooting on a D90, with a 70-200 and 1.7x tele. It was dusk though and I still couldn't get as close as I wanted. Due to the face it was at iso 1600 it is too grainy to crop as well. Oh well, still got to witness it in person.
We had another leopard actually walk up to the van and pose for 5 or 10 minutes before walking off.
Posted 2 years ago # -
JayGannon said:
Wow, I don't know where you rent from!Well I don't, due to prices from the rentals I know here in Norway.. It might be that UK have rentals that ships to EU (btw Norway is not a part of EU, but i guess you mean Europe?) but I don't know any of them and I could not easily find any with a quick google search (found only US based rentals that looked serious). I honestly don't see why we even discuss this, firstly I generally don't like to rent stuff, and secondly I've already been on my safari.
My experience was that 300mm was great on a DX camera and TC's was not needed, ergo length was not an issue for me (might be luck). Even though we could instruct our driver, he still had to follow the "roads".
Yes 200-400 would have probably been better/more flexible, but I still think I managed OK. Did you even look at my pictures or did you just make a general comment that 200-400 would have been better?
Posted 2 years ago # -
@chancetlu You were lucky too it seems :)
So with your experience from your safari, were you in general happy with the TC-1.7? Did you leave it on all the time? What would you bring next time? More reach? Would you consider renting something like the 200-400?
Posted 2 years ago # -
Victor said:
Well I don't, due to prices from the rentals I know here in Norway.. It might be that UK have rentals that ships to EU (btw Norway is not a part of EU, but i guess you mean Europe?) but I don't know any of them and I could not easily find any with a quick google search (found only US based rentals that looked serious). I honestly don't see why we even discuss this, firstly I generally don't like to rent stuff, and secondly I've already been on my safari.My experience was that 300mm was great on a DX camera and TC's was not needed, ergo length was not an issue for me (might be luck). Even though we could instruct our driver, he still had to follow the "roads".
Yes 200-400 would have probably been better/more flexible, but I still think I managed OK. Did you even look at my pictures or did you just make a general comment that 200-400 would have been better?
No my apologies I was making a general comment about safari lenses, the 200-4000 is the sweet spot in my opinion, most people don't own such as lens and most will rent one lens going on safari so I was making the point that it was the best lens for the job. And that renting can be much much cheaper than the prices you we're quoted. Nothing personal in it. You got some fantastic stuff with what you had with you and the excellent option of your own driver!
Posted 2 years ago #
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