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 p.14 #17 · African safari talk...recommendations? | |
I just came across this thread with lots of good informations. Thank you all so far ! Though I didn't read every line, I've browsed through all the posts and replies. I'm late at the discussion but I hope that nevertheless there will be some comments and help from the safari experts to the points listed below.
In October, I will join a photo tour to Tanzania including Arusha, Tangire, Ngorongoro, Sergenti and an extension to Masai Mara for a few days hoping to see the crossing. I've been in Namibia in the 80s on a private trip but apart from that this will be my first "real" photo safari to Africa. In the last decades, my main focus for photography has been on the polar regions but also on South America, US NPs, Costa Rica, Japan and Kamchatka.
My wife does some photography, too, but not to the extent I'm doing. However, we can (and will) split the equipment for the planned trip to Tanzania and that's where the first point is addressed to:
#1: For wildlife and birds, I optionally have the 200-400mm + Ext, the EF 400mm II, EF 600mm II, plus 1,4 + 2.0 Ext III, of course and the EF 100-400mm II.
From what I've read in this thread, some say that reach is the most important point. That's what I was thinking, too. Therefore, we originally have planned to bring the 200-400, 600mm + Ext and 100-400mm. On the other hand, some of the safari experts here evidentally prefer the 400mm instead of the 600m because of the low light in the early morning and late evening, which is a good point, too. Maybe the even better isolation of the subject against the background also can be a plus of the 400mm. To the contrary to the "reach" argument above, the proponents of the 400mm say that 600mm regularily is too much. So I'm now struggling with the decision to go for the 400mm or better bring the 600mm to Tanzania ? As for the 400mm, the 200-400mm offers some redundancy at the long end, of course, but the latter is one stop slower. Moreover, the zooms give a lot of flexibility so that I don't tend to leave the 200-400mm (and 100-400mm) at home the more as my wife is shooting, too. So any additional input to the optional 600mm vs 400mm supertele is very much appreciated - especially from those who have been in Tanzania multiple times.
BTW, for closer/wider scenarios and landscapes we also plan to bring the EF 70-200mm/f2.8 II and EF 24-70mm II or RF 24-105mm - and maybe the EF 16-35mm/f4, too (the 11-24 would also be an option, but it's pretty heavy and I don't think that we really need a wider angle than 16mm (?)).
As for the bodies, there's the 1 DxIII, R5, 7D Mark II, 5D Mark IV and 5DsR to choose. From today's standpoint, I think both of us will opt for 2 bodies. The R5 and 1 DxIII certainly are no brainer. Maybe the R3 would have been even better than the 1 DxIII because of the superbe animal-AF and less weight but I currently don't want to trade in the 1DXIII the more as the prices on the used market are insane (and it will be last 1series DSLR, I've been familiar with for years) - Moreover, 24 vs 20 MP is not a big step, I think.
My "outdated" 7D Mark II works very well with the 100-400mm but the AF is considerably less reliable with the 200-400mm and 600mm once the 1.4 Ext or even 2.0 is mounted on the long lens, at least. My wife prefers the 7DII/100-400mm combo. So we tend to bring the 7DII, too which also gives an additional reach due to the 1.6 crop sensor. I have been thinking of going for the R7 instead because of the advanced AF capabilities and 32MP . But the extremely small buffer, reports on wobbling backgrounds and sharpness issues in EFCS shutter mode, occasional AF problems in busy backgrounds, lack of a grip and less rugged body in that dusty enviroment have made me to think twice though I have not yet come to a final decision.
With the 5DsR the 1.6 "false" crop mode would be an option, too (also with the R5, of course) by additionally offering very good options for landscape shots. But the slower frame rate compared to the 7DII would be a disadvantage, IMO.
Nevertheless I also have not yet come to a conclusion to bring the 5DsR or 5D Mark IV as our fourth camera. I'm not much into video yet. But the 5D Mark IV certainly is a much better choice in this regard - and has a better DR, too.
So to sum things up, the options so far are as follows:
600mm II or 400mm II ?? Incl the Ext for both options
200-400mm
100-400mm II
70-200mm/2.8 II
24-70mm/2.8 II or RF 24-105mm
16-35mm/f4
R5
1Dx III
7d II ( still thinking of the R7)
5DsR or 5d Mark IV (?)
#2 Weight, restriction on airlines etc.
Whatever the final choices regarding the equipment, there's no chance of staying within the 8kg limit most airlines allow for carry-on luggage, of course. Even if you wear an additional photo vest which was recommended by some posters here, it simply has been impossible to stay within those limits on the past photo trips -and Tanzania will be no exception. Given the weight of 2 longer lenses that you cannot put into a vest plus 1-2 cameras, batteries, laptop, back pack etc. you will easily exceed that limit. Each of our back packs generally had around 13-15 kg in the past, at least. Although we often felt tense and stressed before going through the airport check-in counter, we ended lucky with the controls as they hadn't weighed our back packs in nearly all of our travels around the world over the past few decades I can only remember 2 problems in the past 35 years, though, with one at Ushuaia airport in Argentina which is known for trouble . I was lucky, though, because they just skipped checking the weight of my equipment while all fellow travellers had to put their fragile equipment into the checked luggage at additional fees. Second, when my wife traveled to Antarctica 20 years ago, she was put on standby by Iberian Airlines ground crew at Madrid Airport because she refused to check in her camera bag. But the consulted flight captain said "where's the problem" ;-). So she could board in the end. BTW, we also never had problems on smaller plains in the Pantanal and elsewhere.
Anyway, the negative experiences with Lufthansa reported in this thread can raise concern. Living in Germany, LH has been our most frequently booked airline for our trips and we never had problems in the past. We have not travelled for almost 3 years because of the pandemic, though, and possibly a lot has changed since. While GDC in France (and also Fra in Germany) could also be problematic in the past due to the mass of passengers and extended controls, the TV news is currently reporting absolute chaos at the main German airports with luggage left behind or lost, endless queues of passengers waiting many hours at check-in and flights being postponed or cancelled. They say that during the pandemic many employees of the ground staff and baggage handlers have lost their jobs and taken better-paying jobs now. Additionally, people are tired of protective measures against corona and evidentally decide to ignore the virus. So, though it's summer here, the infection rate is rapidly going up affecting the airline staff, too, forcing them into quarantine.
In any case, I don't know about the concrete situation at the airports in other countries but can only hope that it will be better in October here after the peak of the holiday season - unless another virus wave will hit us. I also don't know if there are even stricter weight controls of the carry-on luggage now. For the first time, we have booked our flight tickets for the business class, at least, which was originally intended to have more room in times of the pandemic but hopefully it can help regarding strict weight controls of the photobags, too.
#3 vaccinations
There was a question regarding preventive vaccinations at the beginning of this thread, too. If I haven't miss it, this point did not get much attention yet because it certainly is depending on the concrete region people want to visit for the safari to Africa.
Anyways, Malaria is said to be prominent all over Tanzania. So I would be interested to know how you guys, especially the experienced Tanzania travellers handle this danger. - Any vaccinations (if so, which ?) ,- or just stand by medicine ? I guess that the risk also varies in the dry vs. wet season ? As said, I will be in Tanzania in mid October. However, you never know...... When I was in Namibia including the more critical zone at the Kunene river , I haven't taken any medicine. But that's another region and the trip was back in the 80s with only Lariam available as a preventive medicine against Malaria back in those days which could cause serious side effects. So I stayed away from it. But each moskito bite provoked kind of uncertainty ;-)
What about vaccinations recommended against other diseases in Tanzania ?
Of course, in the end it's all a personal decision which individiually must discussed and decided talking to a tropical doctor. Nevertheless, it's helpful to know about the approach of experienced travelers. Thank you in advance !
#4 Finally a short comment regarding the discussion on drones in this thread. I also think that the protection of African wildlife must have absolute priority and therefore any disturbance must be avoided. There are already several reports of ignorance and violations of the laws even by the locals and safari drivers themselves - especially at the crossings. Why should Africa differ from other fragile destinations in the world threatened by human ignorance, greed or just mass tourism. Nevertheless, the strict rules and ban of drones make sense to me though I theoretically could imagine some nice scenarios captured with drones, of course, i.e. capturing the migration from above. So I definetely leave my drone at home. That said, it really would be very annoying, though, if I see any drone pilots circumventing the rules or just paying enough baksheesh for a permit without having a scientific order
Apologies for this long post which to some extent may already have been discussed with a general perspective on safaris to Africa. Specifically for Tanzania and the various comments on the gear especially regarding the 400mm or 600mm, cameras as well as on the vaccinations (Malaria risk etc.) I would still be very grateful for some more insights and recommendations from the experienced travelers.
Thank you in advance
Wolfgang
www.wjaekel-foto.de
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. Lots of culling to do.