100-400mm for Travel Photography

Blokfluitist wrote:

ButterySAM777 wrote:

Thanks for your answer.

I'm actually living in Ho Chi Minh, for 3 months, work internship, so Im planning to travel from Vietnam to Myanmar or Cambodia in the next months.
I've visited Nam Cat Tien. Hiking to the Aligators lake it was like 2h one way walking. My arm was so tired carrying the 24-70mm 2.8, with the cam weighted 1.5kg (3.3pounds). I don't want to imagine such hikes, all day most than double with the 100-400mm for example.

More than nature, I am into people and compressed landscapes, I want to learn using a telephoto lens for more than sports and animals.

Btw, be careful with the leeches.

What a great opportunity !

I think a 70-200 f/4 and 1.4x would be a great combo for you on this trip. Very light and portable, plus great flexibility.

Rose

@ButterySAM777: I agree that hand-carrying a reasonably large lens and camera for a long way does get wearying. At Cat Tien N.P. I'll be carrying my gear in my Lowepro backpack, other than the monopod. The all-up weight is about 7kg so that is easy to carry in the backpack. Thanks for the tip about the leeches, I've just watched a video on how to remove them. Lots of blood....!

I lived in Vietnam (HCMC) for 3 years in the mid-1990's, working for a NZ company. Since then my Vietnamese wife and I have returned every 2 - 3 years and travelled to many places there, Phu Quoc Island off the southern tip and Halong Bay in the far north being my favourite places but closely followed by many others. Like you, I am more interested in landscapes and people photography however colourful or unusual birds, animals, insects and plants/flowers also appeal.

@Blokfluitist: I have the 70-200 f4.0 IS lens and 1.4x TC as you may have seen from my gear list. They will definitely be coming along and I am sure will get a lot of use. I'm lucky to have a decent range of lenses so the problem now becomes whether I should leave any at home! Decisions, decisions....