Going to Tanzania, need a new lens recommendation.

[Featherlake]

I have always been an Olympus fan (sorry C & N users).

I currently have a E-410 with a 17.5-45mm and a 40-150mm lens, because of the 2x focal length these factors are obviously doubled.

I am currently considering purchasing a E-510 body and 2 more lenses to add to my kit.

I am going to Tanzania in June for 3 weeks to hopefully photograph the wildebeest migration amongst other things. Ideally I would like 2 cameras to hand:

I would like to use the E-410 for general landscape type photographs and use the E-510 with it's image stabilisation for the zoom photos.

I need advice on which zoom lens to buy, or should I got for telephoto? I would like a focal of approximately 600mm. I would also like to get myself a decent wide angle lens for the E-410.

Sadly I don't have a limitless budget, I have about £ 1,200 to spend on the 2 lenses I need.

Any suggestions greatly appreciated!

[chewyuk]

Can't help you with Olympus I'm afraid, can help with Tanzania. The better telephoto the better, I used a 100-400 at my 30d and nearly always wanted a bit more. 17-40 on a film body was wide enough for landscapes. Not sure if that helps at all?

Serengeti ?

[mobilevirgin]

600mm is unlikely to be necessary. I went to Tanzania a couple of years ago with a Canon 350D and a 200mm prime (see here (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mobilevirgin/sets/72157594360410534/)). I went to Namibia last year with a 300mm prime. Except occasionally for bird shots, I didn't feel I was under-equipped on either trip. I suspect that, with your budget, getting a 600mm will mean a compromise in quality. I'd spend the money getting a better, shorter lens.

My experience of Tanzania is that the animals don't run away from humans and you can get close enough for a decent shot on most occasions.

[Featherlake]

Thanks for the replies, if I have to spend a bit more I will :).

Anyway in answer to Chewys question; me and a friend are going to fly to Mwanza, then hire a 4x4 and self drive to the Serengeti & Ngorongoro crater looking for the widebeest and other things to photograph :).

[mobilevirgin]

... Serengeti & Ngorongoro ....

You'll have a blast :clap:

For wildebeest, go north in the Serengeti, up to the Kenya border.

In Ngorongoro, just drive around - you should get lions and cheetahs there (as well as elsewhere).

Be warned, park fees are expensive - US$50 pp per day and US$100 in Ngorongoro.

Feel free to pm me if you want any other info

[simonj]

I'll second the poster who says that for the most part the animals stay fairly close in Tanzania. I used a crappy 75-300mm Canon on a film camera and it was long enough for most of my shots. Yeah you'll probably miss a few photos that you could have got with a longer one but you'll have plenty of opportunities for some decent close ups! I still have a couple of hundred really nice printed shots that I look back on very fondly! I would go with quality over length. One thing I found was that alot of shots come out a bit flat and washed out because of the harsh light. I'm pretty clueless, but maybe a better quality lens would reduce this problem.? :shrug:

[Featherlake]

Well I have just returned from my trip which was awesome, I stuck with the 300mm lens which was OK but I could have done with a 600 on a few occasions. There was one particular occasion where there were some lion cubs playing but the 300 wasn't quite up to the job.

Here are a few of my favs:

http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/1019/P6114431.jpg

http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/4104/P6032575.jpg

http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/6323/P6042885.jpg

http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/333/P6104061.jpg

http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/5161/P6093824.jpg

http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/4353/P6063111.jpg

[mmcp42]

crikey those are good
there are just too many different animals in the last one!!!

favourites - oh that's easy 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 5 :clap:

[turbotoes]

crikey those are good
there are just too many different animals in the last one!!!

favourites - oh that's easy 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 5 :clap:

+1

[grim8634]

#1 is awesome. I love to colours!