You have your choice of two lenses. What are you taking? Feel free to explain if you wish or add other lenses. I never bring a 12-40 focal length as my iPhone has always been easier and effective at that range. If you wish to add a wide angle or portrait lens please do.
Please assume tc's are included. Also assume two bodies, no lens changing in the dusty bush.
Kit #1 40-150 and 300
Kit #2 40-150 and 150-400
Kit #3 50-200 and 300
Kit #4 50-200 and 150-400
Kit #4 might be the obvious choice for range but it is slightly heavier and I do believe the other kits will fit in a 26L backpack whereas a 30L+ pack would be needed for Kit #4. Kits #1 and #3 offer the best low light, IQ, and size/weight but least focal length.
Cost is a factor as well, but for the sake of a pure discussion, please assume you already own all these lenses.
Anything as long as it includes the 150-400 f/4.5!! Been to the Mara 4 times. You need reach and the 150-400 gives you framing options you may not have with the 300. Due to the smaller sensor and for noise purposes I always try to "fill the frame." I used the 150-400 for 80% of my photos, and with the 1.25TC in often.
40-150 vs 50-200 is a personal choice. One or the other will work. I had a Canon RF 100-300 f/2.8 paired with Gandalf. So 100-1000mm coverage. This on the seat beside mw in the Land Cruiser.
Dawatm wrote:
You have your choice of two lenses. What are you taking? Feel free to explain if you wish or add other lenses. I never bring a 12-40 focal length as my iPhone has always been easier and effective at that range. If you wish to add a wide angle or portrait lens please do.
Please assume tc's are included. Also assume two bodies, no lens changing in the dusty bush.
Kit #1 40-150 and 300
Kit #2 40-150 and 150-400
Kit #3 50-200 and 300
Kit #4 50-200 and 150-400
Kit #4 might be the obvious choice for range but it is slightly heavier and I do believe the other kits will fit in a 26L backpack whereas a 30L+ pack would be needed for Kit #4. Kits #1 and #3 offer the best low light, IQ, and size/weight but least focal length.
Cost is a factor as well, but for the sake of a pure discussion, please assume you already own all these lenses....Show more →
Like Alan, been to Africa many times. We used Kit #2 40-150 and 150-400 but with recent purchase looking forward to using Kit #4 50-200 and 150-400. Cost could be a factor on initial purchase, but if you are going to travel a lot it is a small cost of the trip itself that you can keep using the gear for future trips. If one-and- done trip, then maybe consider rental. Or buy and resale after for loss as rental fees.
We use the 150-400 lens around 95 percent of the time. Also like Alan, like to use zooms to crop in camera for the most pixels on the subject and image quality. We find ourselves using the 1.4x extender less, but have it if we feel it is best for what we are photographing.
We also bring the 12-100 f/4 lens. The 7-14mm f/2.8 also goes for the ride but seldom gets used.
We take 3 camera bodies each just incase and limit switching lenses in the field. We use Gura Gear 26L Bataflae camera bags each. The loaded weight is around 24 pounds. There might still be used bags around for sale as this is a discontinued item. Or find you a nice small profile bag that fits for you and does not draw attention in the airline personnel.
Enjoy your trip, Patrick
To ADD that I reconfigured my 26L bag to fit Kit #4 50-200 and 150-400 with 3 bodies, 12-100mm and 7-14mm lens.
Thanks! Appreciate the feedback. I am likely going to go with Kit #4 and have been intrigued to hear you and Alan both used the 150-400 such a large percentage of the time for pixels on subject. I have been to the Mara and Serengeti several times with my Nikon system, but this will be my first OM trip coming up.
I am very excited to hear you were able and happy to fit everything in the Bataflae 26. I have a Bataflae 30 and a Tamrac G Elite 26 which is from the few years when Gura was owned by Tamrac. It is identical and I am really happy it will work well over the 30. I have not purchased the 12-100 or 7-14 lenses yet. I am very on the fence about what I want/need. I had the 14-30 in Nikon and was very happy with it. That focal range probably constitutes 3-5% of my photography...but when you need it, you need it.
Dawatm wrote:
Thanks! Appreciate the feedback. I am likely going to go with Kit #4 and have been intrigued to hear you and Alan both used the 150-400 such a large percentage of the time for pixels on subject. I have been to the Mara and Serengeti several times with my Nikon system, but this will be my first OM trip coming up.
I am very excited to hear you were able and happy to fit everything in the Bataflae 26. I have a Bataflae 30 and a Tamrac G Elite 26 which is from the few years when Gura was owned by Tamrac. It is identical and I am really happy it will work well over the 30. I have not purchased the 12-100 or 7-14 lenses yet. I am very on the fence about what I want/need. I had the 14-30 in Nikon and was very happy with it. That focal range probably constitutes 3-5% of my photography...but when you need it, you need it.
Never been but plan to in the future. My kit would be number 4, as I’ve just sold my 300mm and my 40-150mm and replaced them with the 50-200mm. I have the 150-400mm. I’d also take a third body, but not sure which lens.
I've used a 26L Gumba Gear Elite several times in Africa. I've done 11 safaris in Kenya. Although I'm usually on the FF, your options mostly leave some gaps at the shorter end. If possible I'd have the 150-400, 50-200 and 12-100 or something like that. The Ellies and Giraffes etc. will overwhelm your 50mm and probably 40mm on m43 as they get closer. There are also some times when animal action is wide. Sometimes you are quite closer than you would expect and you want a wider environmental view. Keep your iPhone mostly for videos. Have two good cameras and 3rd one as a backup. You don't want to change lenses too often. If you don't have all the right gear rent it. If you have extra space add a smaller spare tele. More than in many locations I've seen and experienced numerous camera gear broken and damaged due to the terrain, vibrations, dirt, and human error like drops/falls.
I'm wondering about bags now. I have the 30L GuraGear that I bought 10 years ago for my Canon gear. Is that bag too large and a potential issue traveling in Africa, or would it work with travel restrictions?
The 30L is not too large at all. I have used the 30L Gura Bataflae on 3 trips to the Mara/Serengeti with Nikon gear with no problems. If you can get everything in a 26L you have less to lug around and more space at your feet and/or on your seat next to you in the safari vehicle. That may seem a minor detail until you spend 8-12hrs straight in the safari vehicle.
IIRC the Bataflae was 18, 26 or 32L. The original Kibuki and some later backpacks were 30L.
I have the 30L Kibuki original, 26L Bataflae (modified), 32L Elite and 26L Elite. I've used both of the 26L in Africa with up to 500/4 and the 32L for a 600/4.
