PL 50-200 and Safari - photos will follow

For the last few weeks I been in South Africa and overall it was a very good trip. There were a few problems and I will get to them in due course but they weren't on the scale of my previous trip to South Africa and hence why I went back. While there, I didn't want to take the same images and this time round I was experimenting more compared to my previous trip to South Africa.

The trip I took is focus on big cats. We visited five different camps, one located in Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve, two in Kruger Park and two in Sabi Sands.

Blyde River Canyon

Blyde River Canyon is the world third biggest Canyon and unlike the other two biggest, it support a forest. There also a few water falls and other rock formations dotted around in the area. The one we visited had viewing platforms but I don't know if that apply to all the rest.

The Blyde River Canyon has it own viewing platforms, opening at between 9am to 5pm. I used the 12-35mm 2.8 here and shot around 12mm. Since the rock formation are huge and close to the viewing platforms, the 12mm focal length is perfect. There were a shot to be had with the 8-18mm or wider but other than that I didn't need a super wide lens for Blyde River Canyon.

We stayed at Blyde Canyon, A Forever Resort. It has it own two private viewing of the Blyde River Canyon and no restrictions of viewing times. Hence I went to one about 5 in the morning, time for sunrise. The colours I was getting from the sky weren't great but it better than shooting the Canyon mid day with clear skies. This is one of the few times I actually needed a tripod and ND filters. The other times were photographing the waterfalls which I used both the 12-35 and the 35-100.

Kruger Park

I was using the GH5 + 100-400 most of the time. I hardly used the GX80 + 12-35 here and if it weren't for Sabi Sands or Blyde River Canyon, I would probably left that combo at home so I could carry less.

I also hardly used the GH4 + 35-100 and I didn't do many environment shots this time round. However, all this change when we got hit by our first Cold Front, which transformed the environment from a British heatwave to a cold and poorly lit UK Autumn/Winter day. Here I was forced used the 35-100 and decided to shoot at 2.8 throughout. Shooting conditions weren't great and cold enough to spoil the enjoyment of going out and viewing the animals.

Sabi Sand

Our first few days at Sabi Sand were actually very good since the Cold Front has past, things were brighting up again. I unpacked the 50-200mm because I heard you can get close to the animals and you don't need a long telephoto lens. That is semi correct because there were shots I would of got with the 100-400 and you probably wondering why I didn't used that lens with the 50-200?

We had a camera fail in our group and I ended up lending the GH4 + 100-400. While it's a great idea to bring a back up body and not restricted to one lens, the downside the back up body could end up being used by another photographer.  I didn't need the GH4 + 100-400 and the only shots I missed were some birds shots and tight face shots of the big cats. Hence why it wasn't a biggie helping another fellow photographer out. However, it worth bearing in mind if you bring a back up body, it could end up being used by another fellow photographer. This is the second time I witness a camera fail on safari.

Our first guide at Sabi Sands lacked experience and isn't a photographer. While he was able handle the converted truck over rough terrain very well, he didn't park the vehicle in the right spot to get the best possible shots of the big cats. Sadly, not all game guides are photographers or good photographers.

The next guide was a photographer and owns a big lens. Not sure what the lens was, but it was definitely bigger than the Canon 100-400. At first I thought it could be the 200-400 but it could also be the 300/400mm 2.8 or a third party lens. Unlike my previous trip to Kruger where I saw plenty of Canon 100-400, this trip I saw a bigger variety of lenses including the Panasonic 100-400 to the big telephoto primes. We had an APC-S guy in our group and he was bashing the Full Framers with their huge glass.

Sadly, with our new guide came new problems and we were hit by another cold front but this time it brought heavier rain. Again, the weather spoiled our game viewing, it effected our mood, it effected the sightings and most people wanted to be in doors rather than outside exposed to the cold elements. It also meant when we were at the camp, we weren't outside watching the game on the deck and enjoying some drinks, but resting on our beds and staying warm. It was a shame because our guide was good but the weather prevented getting the most out of our drives.

The weather did get better on our final day and we had a new guide who was able to give us good results. There's the possibility I may of got two of my favourite shots on the final game drive, one being a portrait of a wild dog pup and the other is a portrait of a leopard.

The 50-200 did very well in Sabi Sands, and with with the dual stabilisation of the GH5, I was able to take crazy shots with low shutter speeds like 20th of a second. Overall, the 50-200 was my favourite lens for this trip but I needed the 100-400 for Kruger Park.

I'm really looking forward to seeing some more of your shots and feedback on the performance of the m43 system in general. I'm just starting the selection process for a long lens (birder) for my G9. The Oly 300/4 and the PL100-400 are obvious contenders, but the Leica 50-200 with a tele converter is very appealing as well. What you have shown with that lens looks very promising. Thanks

C Sean wrote:

For the last few weeks I been in South Africa and overall it was a very good trip. There were a few problems and I will get to them in due course but they weren't on the scale of my previous trip to South Africa and hence why I went back. While there, I didn't want to take the same images and this time round I was experimenting more compared to my previous trip to South Africa.

The trip I took is focus on big cats. We visited five different camps, one located in Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve, two in Kruger Park and two in Sabi Sands.

Blyde River Canyon

Blyde River Canyon is the world third biggest Canyon and unlike the other two biggest, it support a forest. There also a few water falls and other rock formations dotted around in the area. The one we visited had viewing platforms but I don't know if that apply to all the rest.

The Blyde River Canyon has it own viewing platforms, opening at between 9am to 5pm. I used the 12-35mm 2.8 here and shot around 12mm. Since the rock formation are huge and close to the viewing platforms, the 12mm focal length is perfect. There were a shot to be had with the 8-18mm or wider but other than that I didn't need a super wide lens for Blyde River Canyon.

We stayed at Blyde Canyon, A Forever Resort. It has it own two private viewing of the Blyde River Canyon and no restrictions of viewing times. Hence I went to one about 5 in the morning, time for sunrise. The colours I was getting from the sky weren't great but it better than shooting the Canyon mid day with clear skies. This is one of the few times I actually needed a tripod and ND filters. The other times were photographing the waterfalls which I used both the 12-35 and the 35-100.

Kruger Park

I was using the GH5 + 100-400 most of the time. I hardly used the GX80 + 12-35 here and if it weren't for Sabi Sands or Blyde River Canyon, I would probably left that combo at home so I could carry less.

I also hardly used the GH4 + 35-100 and I didn't do many environment shots this time round. However, all this change when we got hit by our first Cold Front, which transformed the environment from a British heatwave to a cold and poorly lit UK Autumn/Winter day. Here I was forced used the 35-100 and decided to shoot at 2.8 throughout. Shooting conditions weren't great and cold enough to spoil the enjoyment of going out and viewing the animals.

Sabi Sand

Our first few days at Sabi Sand were actually very good since the Cold Front has past, things were brighting up again. I unpacked the 50-200mm because I heard you can get close to the animals and you don't need a long telephoto lens. That is semi correct because there were shots I would of got with the 100-400 and you probably wondering why I didn't used that lens with the 50-200?

We had a camera fail in our group and I ended up lending the GH4 + 100-400. While it's a great idea to bring a back up body and not restricted to one lens, the downside the back up body could end up being used by another photographer. I didn't need the GH4 + 100-400 and the only shots I missed were some birds shots and tight face shots of the big cats. Hence why it wasn't a biggie helping another fellow photographer out. However, it worth bearing in mind if you bring a back up body, it could end up being used by another fellow photographer. This is the second time I witness a camera fail on safari.

Glad you had an enjoyable time but I'm not sure why I would bear in mind that my second body might be used by someone else? Only if I decide to lend it to them voluntarily surely.

Our first guide at Sabi Sands lacked experience and isn't a photographer. While he was able handle the converted truck over rough terrain very well, he didn't park the vehicle in the right spot to get the best possible shots of the big cats. Sadly, not all game guides are photographers or good photographers.

I've been on lots of safari drives and I've never expected the driver or guide to be a photographer. They're there to ensure the well being of both humans and animals first and foremost and they position their vehicles accordingly.

The next guide was a photographer and owns a big lens. Not sure what the lens was, but it was definitely bigger than the Canon 100-400. At first I thought it could be the 200-400 but it could also be the 300/400mm 2.8 or a third party lens. Unlike my previous trip to Kruger where I saw plenty of Canon 100-400, this trip I saw a bigger variety of lenses including the Panasonic 100-400 to the big telephoto primes. We had an APC-S guy in our group and he was bashing the Full Framers with their huge glass.

Sadly, with our new guide came new problems and we were hit by another cold front but this time it brought heavier rain. Again, the weather spoiled our game viewing, it effected our mood, it effected the sightings and most people wanted to be in doors rather than outside exposed to the cold elements. It also meant when we were at the camp, we weren't outside watching the game on the deck and enjoying some drinks, but resting on our beds and staying warm. It was a shame because our guide was good but the weather prevented getting the most out of our drives.

The weather did get better on our final day and we had a new guide who was able to give us good results. There's the possibility I may of got two of my favourite shots on the final game drive, one being a portrait of a wild dog pup and the other is a portrait of a leopard.

The 50-200 did very well in Sabi Sands, and with with the dual stabilisation of the GH5, I was able to take crazy shots with low shutter speeds like 20th of a second. Overall, the 50-200 was my favourite lens for this trip but I needed the 100-400 for Kruger Park.

Just a bit of feedback which may be interesting to others contemplating a safari in South Africa with M4/3 gear.

We visited South Africa in August with a nephew and his family.  We had 7 days self drive based on the Kruger main camps and 3 nights in a private camp in Manyeleti reserve, just north of Sabi Sands.

In Kruger I did very little photography because this was my 6th visit and I was happy to leave the photography to my nephew who was shooting with my equipment.  He used the 100-400mm on an E-M1.1 almost exclusively.  The long focal length is very useful for birds.

In the private camp I started shooting as well using an E-M1.2 and we alternated between the 100-400mm and a 40-150mm f/2.8.  Both of use preferred the 40-150mm because all the best shots were close or very close anyway (not much bird photography) and the f/2.8 allowed us to keep the shutter speed up in the twilight periods.

You were very unlucky with the weather and your first driver.  We had an outstanding driver in Manyaleti who found every thing that we asked, including wild dogs, cheetahs and a honey badger.