Safari Decision... leave the Oly 40-150 Pro behind?

gnik1 wrote:

Chizuka wrote:

Hello. I will be going on a safari in Tanzania. I was planning to take the PL 100-400 mounted on the Lumix G9, the Olympus 40-150 Pro mounted on the Olympus EM10 mk2 and the Olympus 12-40 Pro in my bag, or mounted on the EM10, with the 40-150 in the bag.

For space and weight reasons, I am wondering if I could afford to leave the Oly 40-150 Pro behind?

What are your thoughts?

Just got back from Kruger NP with G85 & 100-300 ii. Lens changing was not practical - not for dust, but because things unfolded too quickly or it was too inconvenient. Two bodies is OK, but you will travel with the most usable option in your hands ready to go and it will be a pain fumbling for your 2nd body while a Lion suddenly emerges from the bush and crosses in front of you. For me, this was the 100-300, and there were times where the reach was important. But there were also plenty of times where I needed something shorter because the animals were right next to the road and I couldn't fit them in the frame! I missed some good shots because of this. On reflection, the classic ff equiv of 100-400 would have been ideal (e.g. Oly 40-150 with 1.4 adaptor or PL 50-200). But then, I might have returned cursing that it was too short!

I am going to Tanzania and from what I read, the wildlife is further away then in Kruger, where you might get away with a 40-150 + 1.4.

So if space / weight are a worry, I don't think you need the three lenses. In your posn, I'd take either the 40-150 + 1.4 or the 100-400. Perhaps the 40-150 + 1.4 given the extra speed (useful on dawn / dusk game drives). And also a wider lens on a 2nd body for context shots and for animals close to the vehicle. The 12-40, sure, though given the unpredictability, a PL 12-60 would provide more flexibility without too much loss of speed.

And I don’t want to buy the PL 12-60 because I have the great Oly 12-40 Pro AND I don’t have any money to spend on “similar” lenses. So that is not an option. Thanks for your comment though.