Safari Question about lenses

[C Sean]

There's the possibility I could go to a region of South Africa which contain mammals you don't usually see in Kruger Park like for example Brown Hyenas, Gemsbok and Springbok. I do believe the reserve is private but I'm not sure off roading is allowed or to what extent.

My primary set up would be this.

• Nikon Z6iii + 180-600
• Nikon Z6 + 24-120
• And I have a backpack just big enough to fit all this in.

However, I also own the 400mm 4.5 and a ZF. Would it make sense to bring this as well for the odd shot but it means buying a new backpack to fit everything in. So should I bring the ZF + 400mm or am I making it too complicated and should stick to the primary set up?

 

[Neil S]

Speaking from lots of experience
Stick with the

• Nikon Z6iii + 180-600
• Nikon Z6 + 24-120
• Backpack just big enough to fit all this in.
  

Youll be fine and enjoy the lack of complications in bringing the other stuff!

 

[SGA]

I was in South Africa this summer with the 100-400+1.4TC and 24-120. They were mounted on a Z6III and Zf, respectively. I find two cameras quite enough to handle while on the drives. I also think the Zf will provide you with better AF tracking than the Z6; I was fine handling the Zf+24-120 with the SmallRig grip.

While some people prefer long primes for wildlife shooting, I think the zoom provides the needed flexibility. In looking at my top 5% images, relatively few were close to 400mm post-crop. Only 2 of 75 were > 600mm. So your two zooms should suite you well.

I bought and returned the 180-600, finding it too big for me to handle comfortably. But I was happy with my two lenses.

 

[J2daV]

How are you getting there? Small flight? What is the weight limit? Bag size limit?

I’m doing the same in 2 weeks and have to limit my baggage. That might sway your decision on what you bring.

 

[Ricardo00]

There's the possibility I could go to a region of South Africa which contain mammals you don't usually see in Kruger Park like for example Brown Hyenas, Gemsbok and Springbok. I do believe the reserve is private but I'm not sure off roading is allowed or to what extent.

My primary set up would be this.

• Nikon Z6iii + 180-600
• Nikon Z6 + 24-120
• And I have a backpack just big enough to fit all this in.

However, I also own the 400mm 4.5 and a ZF. Would it make sense to bring this as well for the odd shot but it means buying a new backpack to fit everything in. So should I bring the ZF + 400mm or am I making it too complicated and should stick to the primary set up?

Aren't brown hyenas nocturnal? As a "prime" lens shooter, personally I would bring the 400mm f/4.5 and a 1.4TC and put it on your Z6iii. This would be for more distant stuff. When light goes down, I remove the TC and then you will have twice as much light. And it is lighter then your 180-600mm. I would also bring the 24-120 and put it on the ZF and use it for the close stuff. Keep it simple. But I personally love the 400mm f/4.5 and can't imagine leaving it at home.

My 400mm f/4.5 in Africa:

 

[SGA]

Great shot!

Not a competition (yours is really terrific), but here's my best cheetah. This is with the 100-400+TC1.4.




100-400+TC1.4 @ 560mm. Uncropped, 1/500 @ f/8, ISO 560, Z6III.

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[Ricardo00]

Great shot!

Not a competition (yours is really terrific), but here's my best cheetah. This is with the 100-400+TC1.4.


100-400+TC1.4 @ 560mm. Uncropped, 1/500 @ f/8, ISO 560, Z6III.

Yep nothing like Africa for wildlife! We are the lucky ones to have gotten to go. And am sure the 180-600mm would take a great picture as well. But notice how you are shooting at 560mm, the maximum focal length? That is why I am just using primes. They are also lighter.

PS. Cheetah's are one of my favorite subjects. And cheetah babies are the cutest.

 

[Friedrich von Horsten]

Hi C Sean,

Sounds like you are going to have lots of fun!

You still haven't told us which park you're going to -- private reserves usually do off-roading and you end up being just fine with something like a Z100-400mm and the Z24-120 (I own both of them and have just returned from a safari in the Okavango Delta of Botswana, where they were plenty strong enough for most shots).

Parks like Kgalagadi have strict rules and you need more like a 600mm for more distant animals.

I currently use my Z6iii with the Z100-400, my Z24-120 on the Z6, and sometimes use my Z50ii DX on the Z100-400mm for more "reach".

To be honest, I seldom use the 3rd camera, since 2 bodies are more than enough for most shooting from a car/vehicle in Africa...

Just decide what your main needs are, and go with the two bodies that are the least difficult to alternate as far as settings go. You don't really need a very fast body on the Z24-120, since that is mostly for semi landscapes and real close-ups of big cats...

Hope you have a wonderful time.

Our rainy season has just arrived, so everything is looking cleaner and greener.

God bless from South Africa,

Friedrich von Hörsten

 

[shuncheung]

There's the possibility I could go to a region of South Africa which contain mammals you don't usually see in Kruger Park like for example Brown Hyenas, Gemsbok and Springbok. I do believe the reserve is private but I'm not sure off roading is allowed or to what extent.

My primary set up would be this.

• Nikon Z6iii + 180-600
• Nikon Z6 + 24-120
• And I have a backpack just big enough to fit all this in.

However, I also own the 400mm 4.5 and a ZF. Would it make sense to bring this as well for the odd shot but it means buying a new backpack to fit everything in. So should I bring the ZF + 400mm or am I making it too complicated and should stick to the primary set up?

If you are going to take two camera bodies, I would take the Z6iii and Zf, i.e. both EXPEED 7 bodies. The Z6's AF is fine for more static subjects but not animals on the move, especially running, birds in flight.

If possible, I would take both the 180-600 and the 400mm/f4.5. If the 400 doesn't fit in your backpack, you can carry that in a separate bag. Whether there is any flight on small propeller planes that have strict weight restrictions is another issue.

 

[SGA]

Of course I noticed; the choice was either go to the max or crop later. Given the central subject, I’m willing to allow the corners to soften a bit; they’re generally out of focus anyway. But it’s a choice.

 

[abc123brian]

There's the possibility I could go to a region of South Africa which contain mammals you don't usually see in Kruger Park like for example Brown Hyenas, Gemsbok and Springbok. I do believe the reserve is private but I'm not sure off roading is allowed or to what extent.

My primary set up would be this.

• Nikon Z6iii + 180-600
• Nikon Z6 + 24-120
• And I have a backpack just big enough to fit all this in.

However, I also own the 400mm 4.5 and a ZF. Would it make sense to bring this as well for the odd shot but it means buying a new backpack to fit everything in. So should I bring the ZF + 400mm or am I making it too complicated and should stick to the primary set up?

I really like my 400 4.5 and would love to have on a trip like that but if space is an issue I would leave it behind and bring the 180-600. I would also leave the Z6 behind and bring the Zf with the 24-120. If something happens to your z6iii, the Zf will perform a lot better as a backup. The 400mm could serve as a backup to the 180-600 if it were to fail.

 

[kayaker353]

I read somewhere that if you want a few great photos, take primes. If you want many good photos, take zooms. I think your plan is solid. Using the 24 to 120 will most likely be close up. Those photos do not typically require the highest autofocus capability. Have a great time!

 

[areallygrumpyoldsod]

I read somewhere that if you want a few great photos, take primes. If you want many good photos, take zooms. I think your plan is solid. Using the 24 to 120 will most likely be close up. Those photos do not typically require the highest autofocus capability. Have a great time!

The 400/2.8, 600/4 are much brighter and faster focussing than any zoom. However, they are also vastly more expensive and larger/heavier.

I am lucky enough to have been on safari in a vehicle (always based on the landcruiser conversion) with a driver and spotter/student for the last 3 trips (most 2-3 weeks long) and so handling / carrying the gear and ensuring it is safe has been easy. The same cannot be said for those who shoot from open vehicles or the awful white buses.

You need to take account of the vehicle you will be going in on game drives, how full it is going to be and quite literally how much space you will have to swing a lens.

Lions are most active around sun rise and sunset -- if there is a kill then you can have some interaction. Sometimes lions are still chasing, say a buffalo, and you can come across action - but during daylight (except when there are crossings in the mara) most often the only action is opportunistic (some prey "volunteers" to be lunch), mating, or some battle that has been going on over night.

Leopards also more often hunt in dusk - but they tend to come out of their dens a few hours before they hunt to sun/warm themselves atop of termite mounds. Large males patrol their territory and can be seen during daylight.

Cheetahs are almost exclusively day time hunters - sure early morning and late evening but almost anytime - as far away from other cats and hyenas as they can - both will steal their kills and attack them. When we shoot cheetah chases most often we are standing back some distance to give the cheetah space to hunt and to not disturb/alert the prey. Once the 6-8 second long chase starts at 70 mph it can go almost anywhere - and typically this is when what often are a large number of safari vehicles vie for the best spots - me I ask my driver to give me a stable shooting platform until we need to move typically to see beyond other vehicles.

So you will need long glass. If you want to shoot cats, small/medium birds and just about all forms of action. Particularly in the Kruger National Park (a public access park), where you have to stay on the roads and any hint of a sighting creates crowds of vehicles.

Other cats - Servals etc.. are much smaller and spotting them can be very challenging.


Primes and the zoom for closer/wider I put on my 3rd body (used to take this photo) - not the panning plate I use on a beanbag. The zoom is the Z100-400. I also carried the 24-120/4, which I used for this shot and some "landscapes"

Just a couple of examples and no ultimate action shots. Mainly close in shots.


Young female leopard fleeing from a pack of hyena who had surrounded the tree where she stored her dinner. NIKKOR Z 400mm f-2.8 TC VR S -¹⁄₁₂₅₀ sec at ƒ - 5.0 - ISO 450 - ²⁄₃ EV

[ATTACH alt="One of the great advantages of the 600/4 TC is you can "Zoom" in with the flick of a switch. But don't over use it."]4945280._xfImport[/ATTACH]
One of the great advantages of the 600/4 TC is you can "Zoom" in with the flick of a switch. But don't over use it.


Shot with 400TC and Z9

[ATTACH alt="Shot with 400mm on Z9 - Mother moving her cubs as she works to keep up with the pride - each of the 3 cubs was carried about 400m, put in a safe spot and then she went back for the next -- a risky but essential task. She has to look after the cubs and eat kills made by the pride, once the cubs are old enough to "survive" in the pride."]4945282._xfImport[/ATTACH]
Shot with 400mm on Z9 - Mother moving her cubs as she works to keep up with the pride - each of the 3 cubs was carried about 400m, put in a safe spot and then she went back for the next -- a risky but essential task. She has to look after the cubs and eat kills made by the pride, once the cubs are old enough to "survive" in the pride.


Shoot with 400mm onZ9


Leopards return to the kills they have stored in trees to feed -- NIKKOR Z 400mm f-2.8 TC VR S -¹⁄₁₆₀₀ sec at ƒ - 4.0 - ISO 1800 - ²⁄₃ EV

--
areallygrumpyoldsod
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[C Sean]

Thank you for all your replies.

I'm looking at Mabula Game Reserve for March to capitalise on the bird migration. This is in case if my ski trip doesn't go ahead. However, I need to see a specialist to see if I have a reoccurring hernia before I consider any holidays.