For all of you gear junkies; I need your input.

I am heavily considering going with a friend next year to an area that has tremendous water holes and great photo opportunities from 5-45 yards.

I most likely won't be pulling the trigger unless it is just something absolutely amazing. I had an unreal safari there last year and took some amazing trophies.

I want to take many many many quality photos in lieu of doing the shooting with a rifle. What is a great lens? I want some magnification but want it clear. I know that a lens won't be cheap but I am willing to spend if I can get up close and personal great photos.

Thoughts and opinions are much appreciated.

Justin

Need more info. Do you already have an SLR or are you looking for a compact or bridge camera?

Canon or Nikon?

If Canon the versatility of a good copy of the Canon 100-400mm f/5.6L Zoom
or
Nikon...Their high-end 200-400mmVC

Primo stuff for up-close with versatility of a zoom can't be beat...IMHO

I am using a Canon T3i with a Tamron 18-270mm lens.

you have to double your magnification

Mike

Joe,

I suspect you are not using a Canon lense.

I have used practically all the after market lenses available for both Canon and Nikon, and one thing that has always came out very clear to me.

Nikon lense work best with Nikon Cameras, and Canon lense work best with Canon acmeras - if you want the best results.

At the distances you have specified, the Canon 70-200mm F2.8 lense cannot be beat. This is one of my favourite lenses for the Canon. It works great by itself, and if you need further reach, a 2X converter works well with it.

If you want something lighter and gives fantastic results, I highly recommend the Panasonic FZ200 camera.

Enjoy your safari.

I will give you my thoughts. In addition to hunting and guns, photography is another hobby. I shoot canon, so I can only speak to canon. To give a better answer, I would need to know the conditions you will be shooting within. Is it dusty, rain, windy etc? Do you anticipate more pics at dusk and dawn?

If I assume, dusk and dawn, as well as dust, I will first say that changing a lens in the blind should be avoided and this includes adding TC's.( TC's will slow a lens) Also, for the distance you have described, a zoom will better suit your needs. You will want a camera that performs well in low light--has good ISO performance. You will want a fast lens. (large aperture)

Hence, I would suggest the 70-200 2.8 vII. It is very sharp wide open. In my opinion, much more than the version one. If shooting at 45 yards it may be a bit short, but with a good camera body, you will be able to crop the picture. If you are shooting in good light, not low light situations, than the 100-400 5.6 is the go to lens. Both have good weather resistance with the nod to the 70-200.

Regarding the body, if adverse weather conditions are expected, I would suggest the 1dm4, which can be bought used or if FF and want pro body the 1dX. If conditions are not adverse, the 5d3 is a great camera with very good ISO performance, plus the quiet shutter feature works. Just some thoughts.

Cheers, Steve

Nikon we run with.

For us a 300mm lens for all field work.

18-55 for all taken game shots.

Regards Mark

I second PG's comments, go for a faster lens first then magnification. I prefer large scene shots myself thus look to the lower end of magnification. With what you described the 200 to 300 on the top end sounds about right. 50 to 70 on the low end would be good for the wider angle shots. 2.8 aperture will keep you in good with the low light of early and late.

Best of luck...and now that you have asked for advice from AR you are OBLIGATED to post some of the pictures.

Stay safe, have fun.

Carl

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:

If you want something lighter and gives fantastic results, I highly recommend the Panasonic FZ200 camera.

I second this. You will not find a more powerful option (f2.8 throughout it's considerable zoom range) in a smaller package.

Thanks for the suggestions and info. Now time to research the suggestions.

I will tag on on Joe message

What is the best all in camera for like african hunting conditions similar to what Joe mentioned?

I have used a canon Sx10 in 2010-2011 and was very impressed. Even with that I actually got some of the best footage with a old i-phone 4 i handed to an appi.

I would like a all in one camera that is easy to use, has a good zoom, video and take good pictures. Canon sx10 did that but is 3 year old technology.

Anything i should buy?

If you are just needing the lens for one safari you might consider renting one. There are several lens rental places that carry the big glass. And if you've been looking at them you already know the lenses can be quite an investment.

My passion is Africa and wildlife photography and I have Canon gear. The 70-200 II f/2.8 is a versatile lens if you are close and the 1.4x or 2x teleconverter gives you more distance. My favorite lens is the 500 f/4 but it's not as versatile so I carry both.

Remember that you will be in a truck, or on foot. In 2010, I took my Canon SLR, 18-55mm, 50-250mm, and a Tamron 100-400mm lens. The Tamron is an excellent lens, but is bulky and heavy and I usually left it in the camp's safe. Both my 55-250mm and my son's 70-210mm on his Canon SLR did well, although there were times that subject animals were far away and too spooky to approach closer. That's a part of the game.

Next time, I am taking my wife's new Leica DSLR that is the same camera as Saeed's Panasonic.

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
If you want something lighter and gives fantastic results, I highly recommend the Panasonic FZ200 camera.

I used a Panasonic Lumix FZ150 on my last hunt. I decided to save a little money by buying last year's model even though the FZ200 has been upgraded over the FZ150 to provide better aperture performance. I was very pleased with the FZ150. A good compromise between a DSLR and a compact camera.

I've got a Nikon D7000 and the wife has a D800. We are Nikon fans. Personally, the D7000 puts out great images at a lower price than the D800....and it's more user friendly. That's my .02 anyhow.

I also have a Nikon D7000. If you put a Nikkor 300m f/4 AF-S lens on it you will get the equivalent of a 450mm lens because of the sensor size on the D7000. Since the lens costs around $1,300 new (although things may have changed), I don't think you can get better quality telephoto images for less. Stick the shutter at 1/1000th of a second, hold it steady like your shooting your rifle, and you will get sharp as tacks photos. It autofocuses faster than you can blink.

I enjoy my Nikon D90 with NIKKOR
70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G or my NIKKOR
70-200mm f/2.8G for photos at a distance. For photos of harvested game I use a standard NIKKOR
18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G.

I'd say the key is to familiarize yourself with your camera's settings (lots of feature rich cameras on the market today) and understand aperture and shutter speed trade offs. Of course, overall picture composition has to be considered to complete the effort.

The joy of today's digital camera is that you can snap pictures at will and review on site. Don't like what you see, DELETE and try again! No longer are we hampered by having to wait for a roll of film to be processed!

I have been using a Panasonic FZ200 in my business for about 2 months and so far am delighted with it. The only problem I have had is keeping the lens hood on. For some reason it does not lock into place. Apart from that the pictures are fantastic.

LittleJoe- SJ has the same setup I took to Namibia, only I used image stabilized lenses of the same type on a Canon DSLR, because we often were hauling butt when we saw stuff. I only used the big camera for live game.

I used a little pocket Pentax for the success shots and landscapes and such.

I took along an iPad with adapter where I could look at the day's images each evening and delete what I didn't want. Saved me from having to carry a crapload of SD cards!

I would rent a 70-200 F2.8 with a 1.4x and 2x, and/or the 100-400. Renting is a cheaper alternative, or if you have the cash buy used then resale upon return. I've neve lost money that way if I wait for a good used deal on fredmiranda.com