Lens for Safari -

[Chewey]

OnSafari. We will have a 5d MkII, 7D and 40D - lens question - We have a 400 f4 DO. and a 70 -200 2.8 IS and 28-300 IS in this house. Should we rent a 100-400?

 

[HAbba]

considering changing lens is a bad idea on safari i would:

1. pair up on of the crop bodies with the 400F4DO and 70-200f2.8.
2. get the 24-105 for landscapes and general shooting with the 5d.

Hassan

 

[bronxbombers]

OnSafari. We will have a 5d MkII, 7D and 40D - lens question - We have a 400 f4 DO. and a 70 -200 2.8 IS and 28-300 IS in this house. Should we rent a 100-400?

Not if you have the 400 DO and 70-200 already. I might add a 1.4x TC and use it on the 400 as needed. Put the 400 on the 7D for max reach.

the 28-300 is heavy.

I would take the 400 DO, 70-200 2.8 IS. Add a 1.4x TC and something for landscapes that is llighter and smaller and sharper than the 28-300.

 

[Philip Witt]

I agree with the above posts. Since you already have the 400 DO, no sense in bringing a 100-400. I recently returned from Botswana, and my main lenses were my 400 DO and a 70-200 f/2.8 IS II with a 1.4x or a 2x converter. These worked quite well in Botswana for photographing everything other than birds, which were sometimes too small even for the 400 DO. I borrowed a 500 f/4 from the photo tour leader to shoot a Carmine Bee-eater nest one day. But it depends where you're doing the safari. In Botswana, in a private concession, we could drive off road to get close enough to the game that the 400 DO worked well. If you're going to the national parks in Tanzania, for example, where you can't drive off road, you might be disappointed even with the reach of the 400 DO, and you might consider renting a 500 f/4, leaving your 400 DO at home. You can see some of my Botswana pictures, most of which were done with either my 400 DO and 70-200 at:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/philwitt/sets/72157628070412395/

You can compare those with my Tanzania pictures from the previous year, where I needed a 500 f/4 because we were limited to driving on the roads, so couldn't always get close to the game:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/philwitt/sets/72157623401314850/

Phil Witt

 

[Deji]

Your lens choice should be influenced by your expected proximity to game and to a lesser extent, by the type of vehicle you will be travelling in.
--

Deji

 

[Chewey]

Going to Zambia and Namibia. Vehicles and Walking Safaris. I'll check on renting the 500 f4? The nice thing about the 400 DO is its light weight.

How is Canons new 2x converter?

 

[Philip Witt]

The new 2x converter is very good. I'm happy with the results I get when I pair it with the 70-200 f/2.8 IS II. But of course, it's always better if you can avoid using a converter, if possible. With my 400 DO and 500 f/4, I've only used my 1.4x converter.

 

[Chewey]

I believe I have the 2nd Generation 1.4x Converter. Is there any reason to update it?

 

[Philip Witt]

Probably no need to update. Depending on whose analysis you read, the 3rd generation teleconverters are either better than the second generation or not. Apparently if there is a difference, it's not much. If you were to be planning to buy one of the forthcoming Canon big telephotos, like the 200-400 or the new 500, then it might make a difference, because the new teleconverters apparently have some processing hardware in them that links directly to matching hardware in the new lenses, resulting in faster autofocus. But if you don't have one of these new lenses, that processing hardware isn't operative.

 

[Chewey]

Thank you for that information. I wish either of those new lens were in my price range - afraid not. Maybe rentable? When are they due to be in the stores?

 

[Philip Witt]

No one knows when they are due out. BTW, my mistake on the 200-400: I forgot that it has a built in teleconverter.

 

[Ryan Ly]

I'd go this way but with a 1.4 TC on the 70-200.

I had a 17-85, 10-20, and 70-300 on a 350D when I went to Tanzania. On Safari, I had the 70-300 on the whole time and I did use both ends of the focal range. Changing lenses wasn't a good idea due to dust. Some shots I wish I had 400mm reach.

 

[Chewey]

Thanks Ryan,

We will definitely take the 400DO, and the 70 - 200. Our friend has a 70-300 DO. We may borrow that too. And take a 24-105 for landscapes.