Masai Mara with the Nikon Z System by Des Ong (website | Facebook | Instagram, see also his previous guest posts):
At the start of October, I spent just over three weeks in one of Africa’s most renowned wildlife reserves. This location hadn’t been at the top of my must-visit list, partly because it’s so well documented, and let’s face it, who needs to see *another* portrait of a lion? However, a colleague of mine established a safari camp within the Mara North Conservancy a few years ago, with photography as its primary focus. After much planning, I finally made the journey to see what the fuss was all about.
For this trip, Nikon UK kindly loaned me a few pieces of equipment to try: the Z6 III, the 24-120mm f/4, and the 600mm f/4 with a built-in teleconverter. They also offered me the 600mm f/6.3, but knowing we’d be shooting at dawn and dusk, I chose the f/4 for its low-light capabilities. Traveling on a small bush plane to reach the reserve presented a challenge with heavy equipment, but for me, it was the right decision.
In addition to the above, I also had my Z9, along with a 70-200mm f/2.8. Eagle-eyed readers may notice I have a gap in the most commonly used safari focal range: 200-600mm. This was not deliberate, but in some ways, it forced me to adapt. With the help of my highly skilled guide, I didn’t feel significantly disadvantaged. A knowledgeable guide is so critical to the success of a photographic trip; in my work, they are the unsung heroes who help me realize my vision.
I chose this particular time of year to visit for the dramatic skies while avoiding the hundreds of vehicles that flood the area during peak migration season. I was also keen to focus on my own encounters rather than recreate what others have done many times before. Frankly, many great images already cover this unique spectacle.
Nikkor Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S (now $1,000 off)
This was one of the sharpest telephotos I’ve used in a while. It’s highly responsive, and the built-in teleconverter allowed me to quickly and easily capture close-up shots. During one particular session, we encountered a pride of lions feeding on a fresh wildebeest kill in the undergrowth. It was a messy affair with limited shooting angles. With the teleconverter engaged and switching to crop mode, I managed a frame-filling shot of one of the males snarling at the others behind the prey. Of course, cropping with a shorter lens is possible, but I find satisfaction in getting the shot I want in-camera.
Nikkor Z 24-120mm f/4 S
This was a fun and versatile lens for safaris. I wanted to take some wide-angle shots, and this lens made it easy to frame scenes beautifully. The images captured were sharp, and the focus was prompt and accurate. I paired it with the Z6 III almost the entire time. This compact combo was quick to deploy, which is often essential when working so close to wildlife. Having a constant f/4 aperture throughout the focal range was a nice bonus.
Nikon Z6III (now $300 off)
While the Z6 III has been a responsive body, I didn’t enjoy using it as much as I anticipated. The viewfinder is very bright—useful on sunny days—but the image doesn’t look as natural as it does on the Z9. With the Z9, it’s almost as if you’re looking through an optical viewfinder. I yearn for a compact backup body, but I found the form factor of the Z6 III uncomfortable. Perhaps over time, I’ll get used to it, but in those three weeks, I didn’t—which was a bit disappointing.
Overall, all three pieces of equipment performed competently and reliably. I was also pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed visiting the Masai Mara. So much so that I’ll be returning next year!
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Wildlife photography: from Coolpix 4200 to Nikon D3s and every camera in between
