Safari Camera & Lens Advice & Beyond

cculp wrote:

I am going on safari to Rwanda and Kenya and to see the gorillas. I currently own a Canon 6D and looking at the Canon R6 for my new camera. Any advice on lenses? Beyond the safari I would like to lighten my load that I carry. Any thoughts on the new 100-400 rf lens and the 600 or 800 rf f11 lens?

They are dark lenses and yes the R6 is good at high ISOs - but probably in truth at best 1 stop improved over the 6D which is no slouch. F/11 for me would be a no go on safari.

https://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Camera-Noise.aspx?Camera=819&Test=0&ISO=3200&CameraComp=1509&TestComp=0&ISOComp=6400

I will take my 6D body as a backup with my 28-70 L 2.8 lens.

If you are looking to lighten the load, would suggest you dont need a f/2.8 24-70.

Would I be better off buying a used 100 -300L lens with image stabilization with my 1.4 ii teleconverter than the new rf lens? Do the adapters work well with the EF lenses?

Yes adaptors work seemlessly. The 100-400 II is very nice and f/5.6 not too dark.

If you want light, consider a 400 DO II if the budget will stretch. Can be paired with a 1.4X TC for a nice 560 f/5.6.

Best safari photography is often in low light and action is not aided by IS.

mermaidkiller wrote:

A 6d or 70d and an R6 makes a lot of difference which is more than I expected before I got the R6.

The first category does not AF at all with the OVF (which is rather dark as well), while the R series (regardless whether RF or EF lenses) do AF at F11, even in twilight. The higher sensitivity of the R6, even compared to 6D, allows ISO up to 12k5 and the (IB)IS allows razor sharp handheld shots as slow as 1/20 sec at 800mm equivalent F11. Admitted, not suitable for running impalas, but suitable for other game sitting or sleeping in the bush.

I am aware of the R6's improved AF abilities with slower lenses. That doesn't change the amount of light hitting the sensor though. Just because a R6 can AF at f11 and ISO 12800 doesn't automatically mean it will be a decent shot.

IME there is nearly always some degree of movement on safari - might be ear or tail twitches, might be grass of leaves moving, often something more substantial - there is an awful lot between deathly still and "running impalas". I generally try to stay above 1/125th for "stationary" game which is often challenging at the lower light times of day.

Moreover the 'more reach' of the 70d is nothing different than a cropped image. With the R6 you can also play that trick, enable APS-C mode, but you have than only 8MP left, far less than a 70d, but I consider that as adequate.

Well yes, I am aware that the R6 can shoot in cropped 8Mp mode. I would strongly disagree that 8Mp is adequate for most situations. IME (using a 400mm lens on APS-S camera) in South Africa (Kruger National Park, Hluhluwe, Umfolosi etc), which is well known to be generally closer to game than many Kenyan encounters as they often have wide open plains, I frequently wanted to / need to crop fully in post. Cropping a 8Mp image is usually not going to end well

We are all too spoiled with the megapixel race.

Yes, we are. I do remember going on a safari in 2007 with a 7.2Mp Sony bridge camera (12x zoom) and a 5Mp Sony compact. Still got some reasonable shots, but the viewing size had to be controlled.

Colin

Looks like I am a bit late but will give a go anyway

The RF 100-400 works GREAT on the R6 and it is the ONLY lens that Canon makes that works with the RF1.4x and RF2x 100%.  The rf 100-500 only works over the long half of the zoom range.  The focus is very fast and dead on with the R6.  The weight is awesome at only 635g.

gimp_dad wrote:

davel33 wrote:

Looks like I am a bit late but will give a go anyway

The RF 100-400 works GREAT on the R6 and it is the ONLY lens that Canon makes that works with the RF1.4x and RF2x 100%. The rf 100-500 only works over the long half of the zoom range. The focus is very fast and dead on with the R6. The weight is awesome at only 635g.

RF lenses that work with both 1.4x and 2x RF TCs:

• RF600/11
• RF800/11
• RF400/2.8LIS
• RF600/4LIS
• RF100-400/LIS
• RF100-500/LIS with some limitations.

Agreed that the RF100-400/LIS is an excellent light weight travel zoom with fast AF.

Sorry about that I was thinking zooms, I don't shoot long primes.  I don't think Canon makes a RF 100-400 L, so I can assume you meant RF 100-400 IS ?

cculp wrote:

I am going on safari to Rwanda and Kenya and to see the gorillas. I currently own a Canon 6D and looking at the Canon R6 for my new camera. Any advice on lenses? Beyond the safari I would like to lighten my load that I carry. Any thoughts on the new 100-400 rf lens and the 600 or 800 rf f11 lens? I will take my 6D body as a backup with my 28-70 L 2.8 lens. Would I be better off buying a used 100 -300L lens with image stabilization with my 1.4 ii teleconverter than the new rf lens? Do the adapters work well with the EF lenses?

You are going into jungle so an R6 with RF 100-400 and 28-70 is fine; you could use the 6D too so as to avoid swapping lenses in the field if you are ok carrying two cameras. 
Buy a waterproof cover for your gear too that allows use when protected.

I am from South Africa, have done many safaris in Africa and on my last one had a 5DIV with 100-400 and 24-105 and got great results. 
Naturally, if budget allows, the RF100-500 would be better and you may find yourself wanting more at times but practically, weight will factor in and so choose kit you can afford and carry comfortably.