I'm going on a safari in Kenya next week. And I need your opinion and help on choosing an extender to go with my 70-200 f/2.8L IS. I was thinking of the 1.4x extender due to its quality over the 2x extender. But I was just worried about the reach it'll get.
If you guys are interested to know, I'm bringing using my 1d mrk3, Sig 12-24, and a 24-70L. Need your advice urgently.
Hello Paul,
You are going to find that you will not have enough reach. While Kenya will allow you to move a bit closer to the wildlife than Tanzania, you will struggle a bit at the long end. Unless you are willing to invest a bit to get the 100-400IS or 300 f4L (IS or non-IS used), I would get the 2x... your images will not be as sharp as w/ a 1.4x, but at least you'll be able to shoot animals in the distance.
BTW, I spent two weeks on a Tanzania photo Safari with my wife this past June. She used 120-300 f2.8HSM + 1.4x on a 30D and a 300 f4LIS on a 20D. Over 90% of her images were shot w/ the zoom + converter. In contrast I shot w/ a 1DmkII + 300 f2.8LIS + 1.4X and a 5D w/ a 70-200L. Over 90% of my images were w/ my long lens rig. When comparing my stuff to Tamy's, I am a bit jealous about her tighter framing as the 1.6 sensor crop gave her some opportunities that I did not get.
Whatever you do, have fun... nothing like being on safari!
regards,
bruce
well, i was thinking, what if I saved on the picture quality and opt to crop on my computer instead? I don't think I'll buy a new lens cause I'm on a rather tight budget. =D climbing Kilimanjaro right after the safari.
But I'm now reconsidering the 2x extender hearing what you said. Is the Canon one good? or is there better ones that are third party?
Paul,
The Canon will be the best of the bunch. If possible, you might want to compare the 1.4x to the 2x. I have both and almost never use the 2x because it degrades the image quality... it is my option of last resort... I think I am having second thoughts... by the 1.4x and crop to tighten your field of view. Is any chance you could rent a 100-400L or 300 f4LIS to take on the trip?
regards,
bruce
Get rid of that 24-70 and pack a 400 f.5.6 for your sojourn...use a 1.4x tele on it (on your mk3, it will retain AF) . Unless you plan on taking environmental shots only in Kenya.
Also downgrade that 70-200 f/2.8 IS to 70-200 f/4 , use that $ towards a second body, preferably a 30D or 40D. Do it quick !!! Taking one camera body to the trip of a lifetime can be disastrous....not just in Kenya...anywhere!
I've been to Kenya/Tanzania in 2007.
I was shooting with a 1DIII or 400D with 400DO most of the time.
I used a 1.4 TC quite a lot.
The 2.0x TC is not good in combination with the 70-200. Slow AF and degraded IQ.
The 100-400 is a better option.
The game drives are first thing in the morning or at the end of the day.
Difficult conditions, escpecially with a 2.0x TC.
Perhaps you can rent a lens?
Don't know how long you are going but if its not too long give lensrentals.com a try. I rented a 400mm f4 IS DO from them (trip to the Amazon) and couldn't have been happier with the service/equipment. It will run you about $285 for 10 days. They have a lot of other lenses as well.
I knew others would chime in...
A safari is a lifetime experience. If you are serious about your photography you do not want to go without the right optics... I didn't want to say it, but I would sell your gear and gear up for the trip. It is too bad that you did ask this question earlier as you would have had plenty of time to obtain more appropriate optics without taking a financial hit...
No matter what you decide, have fun!
cheers,
bruce
i have to chime in also. having been to kenya 3x and I am also going to Kenya next week (12th) i would definitely ditch the 24-70 and get a 400 f5.6 or 300 f4 IS and a 1.4 TC. i used this set up and found 80% of time on zoom lens i was always at the long end. like every on stated this is probably a lifetime trip and you should take the best you can, buy now and sell the lens when u get home. that's what i always do. good luck and have a great time. look forward to seeing your pics when u get back.
I had my 1D Mark III with a 500mm f/4.0 and used the 1.4X TC a lot last year when I was in Tanzania last year. That combo still felt short in many cases for my taste. I would add a longer lens, the longer the better, to your lens lineup but I wouldn't ditch the 24-70 to shoot landscape and/or people.
Good advice here- longer lenses are a must for this type of shooting. It may seem like a stretch to buy/rent better equipment for your trip, but later you will enjoy your shots and remember the trip, the upfront cost will be forgotten.
Rent what you need. Try thelensdepot.com or some other rental place. Get a second body so you won't have to keep changing lenses in dusty conditions. Get as long as you can afford and carry.
Have a great trip.
Mike
You lucky dog - you'll have a great trip! I used the 100-400 for safari and it worked out quite well. More reach is of course better - although if I remember correctly, tour operators are allowed to leave the road in Kenya (not in Tanzania). This may allow you to get closer. I would also second the suggestion to bring a 2nd body. You want to minimize the number of times you change lenses due to dust and loss of opportunity.
Lastly, the view of Kilimanjaro is best enjoyed...from the top. It's tough but doable. The trip up is NOT technical on most routes. It's the altitude that'll challenge you. Listen to your guide and don't rush. Pole pole - you'll hear that many times.
Some people swear by combining two 1.4X TC, one Kenko and one Canon, for example, on zoom lenses rather than a straight Canon 2X TC. On long Canon super teles, it doesn't make any difference to me but apparently the 2X 1.4 TCs combo performs better on shorter lenses. If you already have a 1.4X TC from Canon, you just have to add another generic 1.4X TC to that for less than a 2X Canon TC. Just something you may consider.... At any rate, enjoy the trip!
My experience on a Tanzania safari was that, no matter how much reach I had, there were times when I wished I had more (I was using mostly a 400mm f2.8 with 2x extender on a Canon 20D). If a lens longer than 200mm is out of the question for you, I'd get the 2x extender.
If you really can't get a 400 5.6 or 100-400 I'd follow your hunch and get a 1.4x over a 2.0x. The 70-200 2.8 + 1.4x yields more than acceptable results; I've heard different from the 2.0x. It'll mean heavy cropping later on though. I've done Etosha's salt pan with a 100-400 and it was barely enough, while 300mm was more than adequate in the bush of Botswana's Moremi and Chobe reserves.
I know about being tight on a budget but have always been sorry afterwards not to stretch the very limits of budgets and credit cards to get something more suited to the trip. As others I'd strongly advise getting a 100-400 or the 400 5.6. Remember you can sell them when you get back.
Having been to Africa three times I concur with the recommendation to obtain a 100-400. You will not have sufficient reach without it. The exception would be if you're going to Lake Nakuru. While there I had to switch from my 100-400 to something shorter as one gets very close to the animals indeed. I also probably wouldn't bother with the 12-24 for Kenya/Tanzania. If you were going to Namibia I'd say absolutely bring it, but travelling in Kenya I used my UWA so seldom I regretted bringing it.
You need a longer lens for sure. You are going on a rare and special trip. Buy a long lens and sell it here when you get back. It'll cost you a couple hundred at most.
Why skimp on a trip like this? Sell one of the wider zooms if need be. If you sell the 24-70 you could almost buy a 400mm and then swap back when you return home.
I've done 10 wildlife photo trips in Africa including 6 in Kenya and 2 in Tanzania. Lately the 500/4 is my most used lens followed by the 100-400, any 70-200, and to a lesser extent the 24-70 or 24-105. In the past I have used various 300 f/2.8 and f/4 lenses with good success. However, I am reluctant to recommend only primes for a first timer since versatility is very important. In many cases the best shot is literally 3-5 seconds after the vehicle stops so you must be proactive and ready. 99% of the time I use FF, so YMMV.
