New Lens ideas for Africa safari trip (nikon)

paul/cambags

paul/cambags

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Hi All

I`m lucky enough to be able to go on an safari trip to Africa in May and I`m wanting to buy a suitable lens for the journey.

My budget is about £800 max and I`d rather sell a few lenses that I dont use that often to fund the purchase.
This is what I currently have for my Nikon D90, any suggesions on what I could get and what I should take?

Tokina 12-22mm f4 (Nice travel,landscape lens)
Nikon 35mm f/2 (love this lens, used mainly for indoor kids shots)
Nikon 50mm f/1.4 (as 35mm)
Tamron 90mm 2.8 macro (great macro lens)
Nikon 18-200mm VR ( Walkaround lens, although never been impressed. will prob sell)
Nikon 180mm 2.8 (nice lens but rarely use it.will prob sell)
Kenko x2 Pro 300 teleconverter


I`m considering a Nikon 300mm f/4 to use with the Kenko x2 teleconverter. Just concerned that the fixed focal length might be too restrictive. Perhaps a sigma 150-500mm?

Thanks in advance

Paul
 
where in Africa are you going? The lens requirements for Sabi Sands are a bit different to the Serengeti. We were at Sabi Sands in May and I shot with a 55-200 and didn't want for more length aside from the birds. To go back, I'd use the 70-300 and have (ideally) a second body with a 300 + 1.7x on the side.

Thanks
Rick
 
casts_by_fly said:
where in Africa are you going? The lens requirements for Sabi Sands are a bit different to the Serengeti. We were at Sabi Sands in May and I shot with a 55-200 and didn't want for more length aside from the birds. To go back, I'd use the 70-300 and have (ideally) a second body with a 300 + 1.7x on the side.

Thanks
Rick
Click to expand...

Thanks. I`m going to Kruger national park in South Africa. Looking for a lens for mammals and birds basically.

Paul
 
We`ve been to Kenya on safari 4 times. First time I had a Sigma 170-500 which was great for the reach but Kenya gets cloudy and isn`t always 12+ hours of brilliant sunshine, plus early morning game drives as the sun rose posed problems.
Sold that and bought the sigma 120-300 and its a superb lens, great for all lighting and combined with a teleconvertor was awesome.
My suggestion would be to look for something a bit more expensive but that is within budget on ebay etc, or look at renting a lens and make sure you have plenty of cards and some form of backup.
Also remember that a safari is properley knackering, you might think that being in a safari bus is quite a pleasant way to spend a few hours but all that standing really does take it out of you.
Hope you have a great trip and enjoy yourself.
 
If I'm in your situation. I'll buy two Sigma lenses.
- Sigma 10-20mm or Sigma 12-24mm.
And
- Sigma 70-200mm f2.8 APO HSM

You can easily see the purpose why I choose these two lenses. One for wide angel, and one for distance shot.

Don't just fancy Nikon. Give it a try with Sigma. I currently have both of these Sigma lenses and I'm very pleased and happy with the quality they bring.

Total price for these two lenses is about £800 or a bit more.
 
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I saw a safari column in a magazine and this retired lady was using 300mm max and it wasn't long enough for some amazing lion shots and she had to borrow his (luckily they were both using Canon) so to avoid disappointment take one of the long Sigma's they're f6.3 at the long end but you can always raise your ISO.. AND still shoot 4 shutter stops lower due to the outstanding OS on the lens.
 
We don't really talk about "safari" in SA. It's more of an East African term, but I know what you mean.

You're visiting in autumn, and the trees/bush will be starting to go back after the summer rains, but visibility won't be quite as good as it gets in July - August. Expect warm - hot days, and chilly nights - by SA standards anyway. It won't be bitterly cold, but early mornings, which are one of the best times for game viewing, can be nippy. Malaria is endemic in Kruger, although the risk is a lot less in the dry winter months, but don't listen to the macho types who tell you just to ignore it. Malaria is a very serious disease (one of my friends spent several days in ICU after a fishing trip in the Lowveld) and the anopheles mosquito doesn't make a noise, so you can't assume that they're not about just because you can't hear them. Take appropriate prophylaxis.

For (big) mammals, something in the 70 - 200 or 70 - 300mm range is good, preferably F2.8 because the best opportunities are often early and late in the day when the light may not be very strong, but you can use smaller apertures and rack up the ISO/use a beanbag if necessary. IS is handy if the subject isn't moving. For birds, 500mm or 600mm is ideal, but you can get away with 300mm or 400mm, preferably with a 1.4 converter. I'd take the 35mm f2.0 for general photography too, and the macro - insects, spiders etc make good subjects and these lenses aren't heavy.

Hamba kahle!
 
lala said:
We`ve been to Kenya on safari 4 times. First time I had a Sigma 170-500 which was great for the reach but Kenya gets cloudy and isn`t always 12+ hours of brilliant sunshine, plus early morning game drives as the sun rose posed problems.
Sold that and bought the sigma 120-300 and its a superb lens, great for all lighting and combined with a teleconvertor was awesome.
My suggestion would be to look for something a bit more expensive but that is within budget on ebay etc, or look at renting a lens and make sure you have plenty of cards and some form of backup.
Also remember that a safari is properley knackering, you might think that being in a safari bus is quite a pleasant way to spend a few hours but all that standing really does take it out of you.
Hope you have a great trip and enjoy yourself.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tips. THe Sigma 120-300mm looks interesting , hadnt come across that one. But alas I think its going to be out of my price range, even 2nd hand.
 
ngthanhcong said:
If I'm in your situation. I'll buy two Sigma lenses.
- Sigma 10-20mm or Sigma 12-24mm.
And
- Sigma 70-200mm f2.8 APO HSM

You can easily see the purpose why I choose these two lenses. One for wide angel, and one for distance shot.

Don't just fancy Nikon. Give it a try with Sigma. I currently have both of these Sigma lenses and I'm very pleased and happy with the quality they bring.

Total price for these two lenses is about £800 or a bit more.
Click to expand...

Thanks, the Sigma 70-200mm f2.8 APO HSM Looks good and affordable especially if I pickup a used one. Just wondering if it`ll give me enough reach, even with teleconverter.

Paul
 
ngthanhcong said:
If I'm in your situation. I'll buy two Sigma lenses.
- Sigma 10-20mm or Sigma 12-24mm.
And
- Sigma 70-200mm f2.8 APO HSM

You can easily see the purpose why I choose these two lenses. One for wide angel, and one for distance shot.

Don't just fancy Nikon. Give it a try with Sigma. I currently have both of these Sigma lenses and I'm very pleased and happy with the quality they bring.

Total price for these two lenses is about £800 or a bit more.
Click to expand...
what about 24-70mm thats alot of missed shots or cropping,
 
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