January Safari-Lens/Camera/Backpack Recommendations and Upgrades

Heya,

First of all – sorry if I posted this in the wrong section…

So basically I'm an intermediate camera user – use it as a hobby to take nice shots on my vacations/pets (yeah I know…) . I have a T1 Rebel Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens and 75-250 mm zoom lens.

I'm going on a Safari in January and I am looking to purchase 3 things => Lens, Backpack and a Camera Upgrade. My budget is about $2000-3000 but I can go higher if it's worth it. Also… considering black Friday is around the corner – who knows if there's a deal somewhere right?

My plan is to have my Rebel T1 with 18-55mm lens and another camera with a "zoom" lens – so two cameras for easy access to get the best shots (as opposed to switching lenses) – Advice on this idea???

1- Lens => My understanding is I need at least 300 mm for Safari to get good shots. I have NEVER been on a Safari so I have no idea. Looking at Youtube movies, I would have NEVER thought you needed so much reach. But then again I've never been on a Safari. I found the following three lenses (there may be more – but I need them to have internal stabilization) – see below. Things that worry me are the weight of the lens (I'm a woman – so 4 pounds is do-able just not ideal) and the "shake" since longer reach = more sensitive – no tripod. I will have a bean bag ONLY in the car (on "walking" safari I have to rely on myself). Any advice on how best to handle the lenses?

a). Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM Telephoto Zoom Lens ($1700)

b). Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 AF APO DG OS HSM Telephoto Zoom Lens ($819)

c). Sigma 120-400mm f/4.5-5.6 AF APO DG OS HSM Telephoto Zoom Lens ($900)

The first lens is absolutely beautiful!!! However, it's also twice the price of the other two lenses… I am not sure what's better (b) or (c)…. Only has further reach and the other has a better f/ (which is expected)….. Advice?

2- Backpack => Stupid question I know… But I'm looking for a backpack (since I'm assuming shoulder back WON'T work and will be too heavy). I'm looking for a backpack that can house 2 cameras, a flash, possibly another lens, memory cards… would be nice if it has a small area to put my ID or something – but that's not necessary.

3- Camera Upgrade (one I will probably use for the new zoom lens). I love my rebel T1 and the view finder… it's just I wish when you manually adjust a shot (play around with settings), you could see how a shot looks like prior to shooting it (through LCD – since you can't with the view finder)… but I assume this option isn't available for Digital SLR.

Any and all advice is appreciated!!!

Thanks!!!

When I receive my Tamron 150-600mm lens, I'm going to see if it will work well with the Canon T2i (550D) or Canon T3i (600D) cameras. If that combination doesn't work well, then plan B for me will be to buy a Canon 60D or 70D camera. The Canon T3i (600D) body only is still available new for $499.99 (USD) in our area. The MSRP for the Tamron 150-600mm lens is $1069. The only major negative about that Tamron lens is sometimes the availability is a problem. But some people can buy it right away if they want to pay more than the MSRP or if they get lucky.

So for a new camera and lens like that, it will be about $1600. The backpack should be relatively inexpensive...probably less than a $100 is my guess. Any good camera shop should be able to help you there. You might consider that route also with the camera and lens, but I won't know for sure until I try it.

As an alternative, some people like the Canon 400mm F5.6 lens. But there is no zoom. I like to zoom back and forth for composition and depth of field etc., so I ruled that one out.

I have the Canon 100-400 mm and it is a very good lens. Reviews suggest that it is superior to the other two lenses you have suggested. However, when I do wildlife photography I almost never use it. Instead I use my 500 mm F4 prime. I am not suggesting that you buy a 10K lens. However the Canon 400 mm F5.6 prime is $1400 and image quality is superior to the 100-400 mm. You do lose the ability to zoom. However, when I do wildlife photography I am always at maximum magnification. I never find myself too close. If your main use is going to be wildlife you might consider the 400 mm prime. If you want greater flexibility, not only for your trip but for other applications, the Canon 100-400 mm is a no-brainer. Unlike camera bodies, lenses are lifetime purchases so this is where you may want to stretch a bit.

There are a gazillion camera backpacks out there. The best one is the one that fits you the best and will carry the gear you intend to take. I buy most of my gear on the web but I would seriously consider going to a camera store to buy the backpack as you can try them one. Remember you will not be carrying all of your gear all of the time so the biggest one may not be the best. Think about what you will normally carry. Will you be using it for long hikes or will it sit in a jeep?

DON'T GO WITHOUT A TRIPOD!!!



Below is are two photos taken with the Canon 100-400mm













--
The picture is the score. The processing is the performance - Ansel Adams

Heya,

So to me photography is a hobby. I take about 2 vacations a year and I do take LOTS of pictures. A lot of scenary and a lot of family shots. I'm only an intermediate user who needs lots of practice.

Up to this point - I was actually considering another lens option Sigma 50-500mm f/4.5-6.3 APO DG OS HSM SLD Ultra Telephoto Zoom (good wide range)...but you make a great point about the 100-400mm lens... IT is a life-time lens....so stretching my budget might have to be the way to go... arrrg it's $1700 - amazon has $200 of the lens right now through mail and rebate (expires November 22) - I wonder if I should jump on that or wait until black friday - such a bummer. I LOVE prime lenses - and I'm sure the 400 mm is FABULOUS but unfortunately I do need the zoom for now since I won't be doing wildlife all the time.

You pictures are absolutely amazing!!! Especially that flying shot - I'm assuming the 100-400mm is fast enough to take continuous shots for moving objects.

In terms of cameras – there are waaaaaaay to many options with Cannon – I can say for certain I am CONFUSED!!!! I just did a quick search and I think the Canon 70D might be the way I will go – advice? There is another coming out this year November I hear but that might be outside my budget

EDITING: I think a tripod might be out of the question - I'm trying to go as light as possible... tripods can be heavy/space consuming. We're going to be MOSTLY in the Safari car - but we do have a couple of hikes. How about a monopod? I just saw this posted somewhere... How that does that work....

There will always be a better one coming out next year. But we are largely talking about bells and whistles. Unless you plan to go full-frame, IQ is not that different from year to year. The 70D is a great choice. So is the T5i. If you are financially constrained I would go for the T5i and have more money for lenses and accessories. There is no real difference in image quality between the two. The 70D will simply do more things.

My son has a high-end gaming computer. My wife has a low end Dell. But they both run MS Office exactly the same. Since my wife does not play Far Cry 3 at maximum resolution she has no need of a high end machine. Decide if the extra features of the 70D are worth it for you. If not get the T5i

A tripod IMO is one of the most important accessories you can buy. It opens up a whole new world of photography as it allows you to take long exposure shots at night and during sunrise and sunset without using a super high ISO and getting a lot of noise. It will also steady your telephoto lens and allow you to use it far more effectively.There are numerous good lightweight models. I have a heavy duty Gitzo I use for wildlife but for travel I use my lightweight flash point. It will hold the 100-400 mm rock steady and weighs around 3.5 pounds. A monopod is of limited use as you cannot use it for long exposures. It is mostly to keep you from getting tired holding a heavy lens. The flashpoint fits in a compact tripod bag about 16" in length. I attach it my camera backpack. I would never travel anywhere without a tripod.

A good tripod is one of the most important accessories you can buy, if not the most important. I very strongly recommend one. Get a good one with a good ballhead. The cheap ones will not hold your camera steady.

Heya,

Again thank you for replying to this topic.... here's what I have so far

1- In terms of Camera, it's between the 70D and 7DMKII... still looking at both

2- Lens - I believe I'll just go for the 100-400 mm

3-In terms of Tripod... I have a Manfrotto Pro Tripod (haven't obviously tried it on a heavy camera + lens) ... that's about 7 pounds - which would KILL me if I take it with me + 2 cameras + zoom lens etc etc (I'm not even strong as a female to carry all that on my safari) - the weight adds up. I did look into the Gitzo Tripod you mentioned - it looks AMAZING!!! It's also listed to be 1 pound - the only problem is it's over $500.... I'll keep an eye out for a discount. But for now on my Safari - what's happening is we're going on a Tanzanian Safari for 2.5 weeks - visiting Arusha National Park, Lake Manyara, Tarangire National Park, Lake Babati, Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti. We'll mostly be in a car (with a bean bag for stabilization)... but we do have a couple of hikes... which is why I'm not dead set on a Tripod - but I'll keep looking for a light weight tripod that is slightly less expensive

4- Still looking for that perfect backpack lol - a lot harder that I thought especially now that I may consider adding a tripod

Hi,

Far be it from me to try to dissuade someone from spending money on photo gear - a7DmkII + 100-400mm sounds like an amazing rig; however, for your planned safari project it might be overkill. Also I would be concerned that the 7DmkII might have a somewhat steep learning curve, and I know that I would not have mastered it by January,

I was on your exact trip to northern Tanzania a few years back with a kit that topped out at a lowly 250mm, and only on one or two occasions did I wish for more reach - flamingos on Lake Manyara and a rhino in Ngorongoro.

You do get amazingly close to the wildlife - a full grown elephant 6 feet from your Land Rover can be somewhat intimidating!

If you go to SLRgear.com and check out the various options you've been considering, the lowly Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM is actually almost as good, at $650. It doesn't get substantially better until you get to the brand new 400mm f/2.8, which costs $10.500.

As far as camera bodies go, the new generation 70D and 7DmkII seem mainly better on the video side, for stills photography the are not much better than the 18MP bodies that have been around for the last five years. So any of those that you can your hands on at a reasonable price might be adequate. I faced your exact choice a few months ago, and decided to go with the 60D. YMMV, it is a somewhat heavy camera compared to the Rebels.

I you're going on hikes you might want to consider a shoulder strap, to take the weight off your neck; it gets tiring on a full day of shooting. I've used a Black Rapid S4 for a few years, and it is very comfortable for walking around all day; even in the car, you can keep the camera on your lap much more easily than with a neck strap.

Don' t forget accessories like extra batteries and memory cards.

Finally, you may have already booked a balloon ride over the Serengeti; if not, you ought to consider it. An African safari is a once-in-a-lifetime experience (I'm currently saving up for a trip to the Okawango Delta), but a balloon sail over the Serengeti is truly out of this world.

Whatever you choose, you'll have the trip of a lifetime. Happy shooting!

I'm attching a couple of shots from my trip, one from Tarangire and one from Serengeti.




Serengeti. Young bull facing the intruders, while the mother leads the youngster to safety.






Tarangire. The size of a full-grown adult can be rather overwhelming.



--
allanmh

@allanmh

From your experience... did you need to use a tripod or monopod? I will have a bean bag in my car - hoping that's all I need for shot stabilization... thoughts? I think a Tripod would be amazing for the hike or the night/morning shots from my lodge - but I worry about the weight... pros vs cons

Also - the thing is, I plan on using two cameras - to help against dust during lens switching/to capture quick shots... my rebel t1 with possibly a 18-55 mm lens (for wider angle shots) and another camera with 100-400mm lens for other shots.

Right now I'm just getting anxious with all the choices/worry I might not be able to learn the camera quick enough.... thinking of just purchasing the Canon EOS 70D Digital SLR Camera with 18-135mm STM Lens (may use the 18-135 lens instead of my base 18-55 mm lens) and just getting the 100-400 mm now and start practicing. The 7DMKII looks amazing but the body by itself is 1700 vs 1000 for the 70D (but I want to buy the 70D with the lens kit - I think the lens is worth the money).

They will just get in the way of each other. Changing lenses is a fact of life and I do it all the time in all conditions. I rarely have dust issues and I rarely keep one lens on the camera on any given shoot. Nearly all of my photography is outdoors, except for event shooting and that is where I am more likely to keep one lens on all the time. I would stick with one body and change lenses.

I know you are reluctant to get that tripod but you really need it. 90%+ of my outdoor shots are on a tripod. A bean bag or monopod will not do it. If you are looking at two bodies you can obviously afford a good lightweight graphite model.

As for the 70-300L, it is a great lens and may work but if you every do bird or sport photography you will appreciate that extra 100 mm of the 100-400 mm. In fact I use my 7D for bird photography, not my 5D because of the greater magnification with the crop frame.

The 15-85 is another great choice.

--

The picture is the score. The processing is the performance - Ansel Adams

I most always bring with me two DSLR cameras with attached lenses on my hikes. I never use a tripod. I've been taking photos this way for about six years...three years with my Olympus system and almost three years with my Canon system. You can see week by week examples of mine on the Show Your Snaps thread.

I've ordered a Tamron 150-600mm lens. I may use a tripod for that one; I'll have to see how that goes with hand-held photos. I've learned how to take pictures with a steady hand and sometimes brace the camera.

Like this recent one at 1/50th of a second at 250mm FL (while it was raining lightly and while I was holding an umbrella):

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/54681675

When I was using an Olympus 70-300mm lens, I could take nice images a slow as 1/30th of a second (hand-held) at 300mm FL if I was very careful, usually of heron that were still by the edge of a pond. There's techniques to do this. It takes practice. I take about 15,000 pictures each year.

One reason I don't change lenses in Oregon, is because I take lots of pictures while it is raining. It rains almost constantly during our stormy season. I also switch camera/lens combinations quickly at people events, just like you'll see with some sport photographers.

What you do I'm sure you feel is right for you, so I don't disagree with that. But a lot of us are different and have different circumstances which change our approach to photography.

But it does get dark and if you take shots at night or at sunrise or sunset you need the stability of a tripod. The same is true if you do multi-exposure HDR. The shot below, for example was a combination of three bracketed shots. The next was an 8 second exposure at sunrise.


















You are correct . There is no single way to take good photos. But I have taken two cameras to the field and I find it to be quite cumbersome. I guess if I spent a lot of time in the rain I might feel differently. But I would still always take my tripod. The fact that you have developed quite a bit of skill in holding a camera steady does not mean that it is easy and after four or five hours of taking BIF pictures even the 100-400 mm gets heavy. Unless you are a bodybuilder I think you would find the 500 mm F4 nearly impossible to hand hold perfectly steady for extended periods of time.

BTW I really appreciate the time and effort you have put into the "Show your Snaps" thread

--
The picture is the score. The processing is the performance - Ansel Adams

Fair enough. Yes, there's places where a tripod would be good for long exposures etc. The Tamron 150-600mm lens that I'm going to purchase (I've ordered it), might be too heavy hand-held for long periods of time...and I'm not getting any younger.

Actually, it's not the amount of rain that we get here in this area, but the amount of time that it's raining. I think the Houston, Texas annual rainfall is more than Portland, Oregon. If you check the days of cloudy and rainy weather, the Pacific Northwest (including parts of Alaska) has one of the most in the USA next to some of the Great Lakes regions (the last time I checked). Since we have a dry season, it's during the wet season that it can rain and rain and rain. I'll never forget when I first moved here. We only saw the sun twice in the month of December. The coast ranges average over 120 inches annually. They provide a little rain shadow for us, so the intensity isn't as much in the valley. That's why I can use an umbrella. Typically, we don't have a lot of wind. But sometimes we do have wind...just not as much.

Wow I'm in awe of all your pictures guys!!!

Since I have such experts on this forum... I'll ask for two favors (the second I was hoping to post in another thread... but here goes)

1- A good LIGHT weight Tripod that I can use for my 100-400mm lens. I'm hoping nothing more than 200-300 if possible. I'm not sure if I'll have a sunrise/sunset shot with wildlife... but OMG I would not want to miss the chance!

2- Where can I read more on tips/advice (links?) on this site or others... I'm always playing around with settings but I can never seen to get the perfect picture/feel that I want... ex: high ISO with high F vs low ISO with low F and shutter speeds/ideal length of exposure etc... sorry just combined a bunch of stuff...

Thanks!!

That Tamron looks very impressive. I think youll like it.

^Topic... I know you're just getting it... but anyone else has any experience... or any reviews out there comparing the two? Tamrom is cheaper than the Canon... but I for my purposes it might be too heavy/too much... just curious I guess. I do read the stabilization for the Tamrom lens is better than the Canon one though

Thanks

MonkeyGurlez said:

^Topic... I know you're just getting it... but anyone else has any experience... or any reviews out there comparing the two? Tamrom is cheaper than the Canon... but I for my purposes it might be too heavy/too much... just curious I guess. I do read the stabilization for the Tamrom lens is better than the Canon one though

Thanks

Click to expand...

Have a look at "The Digital Picture" site.

Click on your lens choice, then click image quality. This will give you a second box to choose a comparison lens.

The Tamron is not as good as a Canon 600mm but it is not bad at 400mm and still useful at 600mm. The Sigma is not good but this could partly be a bad copy or missed focus.

Cheers

What little I know about tripods, is that it's important to not get one that's inexpensive to the point that it does not function well. I think Oilman would know a lot about tripods. Hopefully, he will see this post and respond for you. You also might ask at a camera shop. They should be able to guide you which one to use, based on the cameras and lenses that you choose.

Thanks. I'll learn the sweet spots and stay mostly within those boundaries. I'm looking forward to some fun with an excellent lens.

The tripod itself and the ballhead. Digirame is correct. A tripod, like a lens is a lifetime purchase so don't scrimp. You want a tripod/ballhead combination that can support your body and heaviest lens.

DO NOT BUY THE LIGHTEST TRIPOD/BALLHEAD AS IT MAY BE UNSUITABLE FOR YOUR CAMERA/LENS COMBINATION!!!

When you order a tripod look at the maximum weight limits of the tripod-ballhead combination and pick one based on those limits. Give yourself some extra capacity in case you buy a heavier lens or body sometime in the future. Graphite tripods are light but expensive. Expect to pay around $500 for a good one with ballhead.I have a lightweight Flashpoint that I use for travel. It works well with the 100-400 mm and my 7D or 5D. Flashpoint is a house brand for Adorama. I also have a heavier Gitzo for wildlife but that would be overkill for you.

Aluminium tripods are a bit heavier but a lot cheaper and just as steady. Manfrotto makes excellent tripods and ballheads. You should be able to get a good aluminium one for around $200-$350.They also make good graphite ones as well. Manfrotto is probably the best known maker of good tripods. But they also make some cheapos so stay away from those. IMO the best tripods and ballheads are made by Gitzo and Really Right Stuff. But expect to pay through the nose for these. They cater to professional photographers.

One thing to keep in mind. With a telephoto lens like the 100-400 mm you mount the lens to the tripod,not the camera.That way it is mounted near the center of gravity. With normal lenses like the 15-85 mm, you mount the camera directly to the tripod Most good tripods use "Acra-tech" fittings to mount the camera to the ballhead. You will need a Acra-tech style plate for both your camera and the 100-400 mm.

One other thing, Most tripods have a center extension that can be raised or lowered. When taking long exposure shots keep in down as it is unstable, even with good tripods. My Gitzo does not have one and I never use it on my Flashpoint. I would rather shoot from a lower angle and hunch down.

In my discussion with Digirame I neglected to mention the most important reason for a tripod. It slows you down. Digital cameras allow us to take thousands of pictures in a single outing. That is not always a good thing. The tripod allows me to study a composition for a while before I press the shutter. I can precisely frame the picture and think about the lighting. I can wait for the light to be just right and maintain the exact framing. One of the most famous photographers, Cartier-Bresson once said "Photography is a matter of millimeters." A tripod allows me to set the photo to the millimeter, rather than just spraying and praying.

Be sure to post your photos here when you return from safari

--
The picture is the score. The processing is the performance - Ansel Adams
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