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Sam
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Now im off to kenya next year and looking for lens advice, ive just ordered my self a sigma 70-200 2.8 lens, and going to invest in the 1.4 converter.

now will the 280mm be enough reach on a 1.5 crop?

im also thinking without the converter the F2.8 could be good in low light as we will be out early morning and late nights.

or should i invest in a lens with a bit more reach, ie sigma 120-400?

any advice will be very helpfull
 
Check out the thread
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=166979&highlight=safari

Depends how close you get to the animals. In the Kurger National Park in South Africa, you needed 300-400mm or more, then again, at the Private Game Reserve I also went to 70-200mm was just as useful.

The sigma 120-400mm (not my favourite lens), but it does have its supporters and its very affordable. It would work well during the day on safari, the light conditions are usual very good, so you should be able to get the best from that lens, however, its f5.6, so if the light drop, so does the lens performance.

But check out the thread, has some great tips and info
 
The 70-200 is great but you still have to get very close! Just a warning even with the AF Converter, if you can stretch get the 2x Converter, your not gonna need that extra stop anyway in the light.

But have a good time!
 
I have to completely disagree with rtdesign I'm afraid. I started with a Sigma 70-200 and it does not take the 2x well at all. I'd stick to the 1.4, which as you say will give you 280mm. That's equivalent to 420mm on full frame which will get you good mammal shots. It depends what you want around birds, mammals, portraits, environmental etc.

I normally use 500mm full frame when I go.

As Pete says, also depends where you go.

I don't by this "there's loads of light in Africa" bit because when there is lots of light, it's normally too harsh as the sun is overhead. The vast majority of my better pictures are taken around dawn and dusk (or in the rain!) where light levels are low.

Paul
 
rtjdesign said:
The 70-200 is great but you still have to get very close! Just a warning even with the AF Converter, if you can stretch get the 2x Converter, your not gonna need that extra stop anyway in the light.

But have a good time!
Click to expand...

Don't recommend the 2x TC on the 70-200mm, not a great combination, image quality suffers, autofocus speed significantly reduced, you would get better results with a 300mm f4 + 1.4x TC or 400mm f5.6 than the zoom + TC combo.
TC's are specifically designed for prime lenses like 300mm f2.8, 500mm f4 etc and not really intended for zooms, although they use has become more common place.
 
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