What to do? What to do?

C Sean wrote:

Chizuka wrote:

Thank you very much CSean for your reply. I will have two bodies, the Pana G9 and the Oly em10 mk2. I will have the PL 100-400 on the G9 and the 40-150 2.8 on the Em10.

i would have in my bag the 12-40 Pro for possible wide shots. The safari is in Tanzania.

One thing I was wondering about was if the 40-150 would be too much zoom for animals that might get close to the jeep. Would I miss shots in the time it would take to change to the 12-40? That is where the Oly 12-100 would be a good choice. But I am afraid of missing out on the extra reach that the 40-150 offers as well as its low light benefit. So right now, I am back to being inclined to go with what I have i.e. Oly 12-40 2.8; Oly 40-150 2.8 + 1.4TC ; PL 100-400.

First off I would recommend reading the book 'Don't Run Whatever you do.' Written by a former safari guide who used to work both in South Africa and Botswana. Please get yourself a copy and please read it. He done another I think it called 'Don't Look Behind You!'

I already bought it (based on your previous recommendation) and have read a few chapters so far.

I don't want to write an article because to be honest I think I done more homework on your safari than I did on mine. With mine I stayed in the Blyde River Canyon area to begin with and at the end of the trip I stayed in Sabi Sand. So each area requires a different set combo of lenses. So to begin with I was doing landscape photography, then your standard safari and at the end I was doing a private safari focus on big cats.

You don't need the 1.4 teleconverter with the 40-150mm 2.8 when you have the 100-400 mounted onto the G9. You do need is a duster and blower, lens wipes and possible liquid solution just in case. You don't need the 12-40mm 2.8 on the safari drives unless you're after particular shots.

Duely noted.

Most pro landscape photographers use the 70-200mm F4.0 and they either have the 24-70mm 2.8, the 16-35mm 2.8/4 or both. The point I'm making is a lot of the time landscape photographers use the 70-200mm and you're stuck in a safari vehicle. So unless you're sitting by the window and want particular wide shots with everything push back then all means bring one with you on your drives. However you will be using the 40-150 for most of your landscape/environment shots.

Ok. I’ll have the 40-150 mounted on the camera and the 12-40 just in case.p, in the bag.

The other problem is how many people are you sharing with the vehicle? When I was in South Africa, I have to agree I wasn't allowed to bring too much camera gear with me, this to prevent people bringing a long monster lenses like the 400mm 2.8 etc but I was ok there were empty dotted seats around so I could bring a bag of camera gear with me.

There will inkybe two of us in the jeep so I can bring a bag of gear.

Finally, tell me what animal you think you will only see once and it will be right next to the vehicle?

I have no idea what to expect having never been on a safari before. I am not saying that an animal that came close to the vehicle would not be seen elsewhere, but maybe the pose would be one I could not get elsewhere. Who knows?

thanks for all your help.

David5833 wrote:

Chizuka wrote:

...One thing I was wondering about was if the 40-150 would be too much zoom for animals that might get close to the jeep. Would I miss shots in the time it would take to change to the 12-40?

I guess that would depend on the size of any such animals, right? Of course you might miss shots by having to change lenses if any such shots materialized. I've seen photos of elephant menacing safari vehicles. My son was on safari in Tanzania and someone opened a window to take a photo when in a flash a baboon jumped in and stole someone's pack. So, there might be shots of nearby things.

oh! Glad tobe made aware of that. I might have to tie my bag down!!!

...So right now, I am back to being inclined to go with what I have i.e. Oly 12-40 2.8; Oly 40-150 2.8 + 1.4TC ; PL 100-400.

What is the rationale for the 40-150? One body with the 12-40 would cover typical travel stuff (it won't ONLY be about wildlife), all but the most panoramic landscape shots (stitch the exceptions), village/camp shots, candids, or animals near the vehicle; the other body with the 100-400 should cover most of the wildlife, and you would almost never have to miss a shot or get dirt in the camera by changing lenses.

The rationale for the 40-150 is that is has more zoom possibilities and it is sharper and gpbrighter than the PL 100-400. So whenever possible — distance wise— I will use the 40-150.

Some shots you will miss no matter what kit you carry...too dark, too slow, too close, too far, too lazy, wrong settings, etc. Get the ones you can without becoming a walking gear warehouse and don't ruminate about the ones that got away.

Will do! I will try to be zen about the whole experience!

We took a niece and her family to South Africa last August - 7 nights in Kruger public camps, self drive, and 3 nights in a private camp.  I took both the 40-150mm f/2.8 (with a 1.4x TC) and the 100-400mm and shared them with my nephew.

During the self drive part of the safari the 100-400mm was definitely the most useful lens and was essential for birds.  It was only in low light in the very early morning and late afternoon that the 40-150mm was essential.

In the private camps everything was much closer, a lot of the shooting was done in low light and we didn't pay much attention to birds.  We both preferred the 40-150mm.

On the seven safaris that I have done I have very rarely come across a situation where 40mm was too long.   One time in a private camp a female lioness walked right up to the side of our open top vehicle but I had no time to lift the camera and take a shot - and no intention of attracting her attention anyway.  On another occasion, at night, we can across two male lions on a buffalo kill and, in a surreal scene lit by red light from the driver's spotlight, a 50mm f/1.8 on an APS-C DSLR wasn't wide enough, but that was the only fast lens that I had with me.  Having said that, 12-40mm is a useful lens for early morning sunrise shots.

I don't know where you are going on safari and for how long.  If you are going to East Africa or Kruger NP public camps, the 100-400mm will be the best lens.  In South African private camps there will be situations where only the 40-150mm f/2.8 will be usable.  I can't speak for Botswana.  I would try to take both lenses if you can.

Thanks CSean for your comment. I would not dare do what the people in your group did i.e. have the camera dangling from a tripod ! There are limits to what I would do. 🙂

the problem with her eyes is that there are no pupils!!!

cheers.

Chris R-UK wrote:

We took a niece and her family to South Africa last August - 7 nights in Kruger public camps, self drive, and 3 nights in a private camp. I took both the 40-150mm f/2.8 (with a 1.4x TC) and the 100-400mm and shared them with my nephew.

During the self drive part of the safari the 100-400mm was definitely the most useful lens and was essential for birds. It was only in low light in the very early morning and late afternoon that the 40-150mm was essential.

In the private camps everything was much closer, a lot of the shooting was done in low light and we didn't pay much attention to birds. We both preferred the 40-150mm.

On the seven safaris that I have done I have very rarely come across a situation where 40mm was too long. One time in a private camp a female lioness walked right up to the side of our open top vehicle but I had no time to lift the camera and take a shot - and no intention of attracting her attention anyway. On another occasion, at night, we can across two male lions on a buffalo kill and, in a surreal scene lit by red light from the driver's spotlight, a 50mm f/1.8 on an APS-C DSLR wasn't wide enough, but that was the only fast lens that I had with me. Having said that, 12-40mm is a useful lens for early morning sunrise shots.

I don't know where you are going on safari and for how long. If you are going to East Africa or Kruger NP public camps, the 100-400mm will be the best lens. In South African private camps there will be situations where only the 40-150mm f/2.8 will be usable. I can't speak for Botswana. I would try to take both lenses if you can.

Thank you very much Chris for your comment. I will be going to Tanzania (Arusha Ntl Park, Tarangire, Ngorongoro, Ndutu, Serengeti). And I have decided that I will be taking 3 lenses, 12-40; 40-150 and 100-400.

Chizuka wrote:

Chris R-UK wrote:

We took a niece and her family to South Africa last August - 7 nights in Kruger public camps, self drive, and 3 nights in a private camp. I took both the 40-150mm f/2.8 (with a 1.4x TC) and the 100-400mm and shared them with my nephew.

During the self drive part of the safari the 100-400mm was definitely the most useful lens and was essential for birds. It was only in low light in the very early morning and late afternoon that the 40-150mm was essential.

In the private camps everything was much closer, a lot of the shooting was done in low light and we didn't pay much attention to birds. We both preferred the 40-150mm.

On the seven safaris that I have done I have very rarely come across a situation where 40mm was too long. One time in a private camp a female lioness walked right up to the side of our open top vehicle but I had no time to lift the camera and take a shot - and no intention of attracting her attention anyway. On another occasion, at night, we can across two male lions on a buffalo kill and, in a surreal scene lit by red light from the driver's spotlight, a 50mm f/1.8 on an APS-C DSLR wasn't wide enough, but that was the only fast lens that I had with me. Having said that, 12-40mm is a useful lens for early morning sunrise shots.

I don't know where you are going on safari and for how long. If you are going to East Africa or Kruger NP public camps, the 100-400mm will be the best lens. In South African private camps there will be situations where only the 40-150mm f/2.8 will be usable. I can't speak for Botswana. I would try to take both lenses if you can.

Thank you very much Chris for your comment. I will be going to Tanzania (Arusha Ntl Park, Tarangire, Ngorongoro, Ndutu, Serengeti). And I have decided that I will be taking 3 lenses, 12-40; 40-150 and 100-400.

I think that you will use the 100-400mm most because I think that it is daytime shooting only in that area.  If you have two bodies, I would have the 100-400mm on one and the 12-40 on the other.  Change from the 100-400mm to the 40-150mm only if the light gets too low.  Use the 12-40mm for landscape shots.  But you can experiment with that when you get there.

If you have a weight limit for small aircraft flights, take the 100-400mm and leave the 40-150mm behind.

Sounds like a great trip.  Take lots of memory cards.

Thanks Chris. I do have a weight limit but I think I will be ok. I have been working on that. And I am planning on one 64gb per day.  I take RAW + jpeg but I have reduced the size of the jpeg, which will help a little.

I am up for travelling light, but needing a telephoto may occur, so have one of those espcially for animals

I had a 100mm lens a few years ago that I wish I had more zoom on for some bird, but that is all I had that time. so definitely take a wide zoom range.

Chizuka wrote:

I'm considering the 2 following options:

1) Replacing my Olympus 40-150 f/2.8 Pro with the Panasonic 35-100 f/2.8 mk2 mostly because of size and weight (for travel).
2) Replacing my Olympus 40-150 f/2.8 Pro + my Olympus 12-40 Pro with the Olympus 12-100 f4 for similar reasons i.e. total weight and size. What are your thoughts and suggestions?
I should mention that I have the PL 100-400 for telephoto purposes.

12-100.

I'm assuming you've got a fast prime or two, but being able to reduce your most used kit to just two lenses will prove to be incredibly useful.

Terrible Photographer wrote:

Chizuka wrote:

I'm considering the 2 following options:

1) Replacing my Olympus 40-150 f/2.8 Pro with the Panasonic 35-100 f/2.8 mk2 mostly because of size and weight (for travel).
2) Replacing my Olympus 40-150 f/2.8 Pro + my Olympus 12-40 Pro with the Olympus 12-100 f4 for similar reasons i.e. total weight and size. What are your thoughts and suggestions?
I should mention that I have the PL 100-400 for telephoto purposes.

12-100.

I'm assuming you've got a fast prime or two, but being able to reduce your most used kit to just two lenses will prove to be incredibly useful.

I have a Pana 20mm f1.8 but I never use it.  I should sell it really! I have decide to stick with what I have i.e. Oly 12-40 Pro, Oly 40-150 Pro and PL 100-400.