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Archive 2019 · Shooting tigers

nugeny
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Shooting tigers

Next year, I will have the luck of shooting tigers in 2 of the Indian NP. I am wondering what lenses should I take. The two cameras will be: Nikon D850 and D500. Here are the choices I boiled down about the lenses:
1– —. 24-120, 300 f4 PF, 500 PF f5.6.
Or 2— 24-120, 70-200 and 200-500 f5.6.

For those experts of tigers in India, which one would you pick?
The first choice would save me 1 kg of weight.

Edited on Dec 25, 2019 at 11:19 AM · View previous versions

Dec 24, 2019 at 11:01 PM

kdacharya
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Shooting tigers

Hi Bob,
I do not claim to be a tiger expert, but here's my 2 cents.
if you do not go to India often, I would not worry about 1kg extra. The lenses that you carry should be adequate for every situation. I like the option 1 which has a prime 500 mm plus mid range 300 mm which is (in canon line which I use) the sharpest lense and then the 24-105.
I am headed to India on the 5th and will be most likely carrying 500mm, 100-400mm and 16-35 and/or 70-300
Good luck and happy shooting.

Dec 24, 2019 at 11:25 PM

morris
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Shooting tigers

Hi Bob,

Who makes that 20-500mm f5.6. It will do all you need :-}

Happy Holidays,

Morris

Dec 25, 2019 at 07:46 AM

AZHeaven
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Shooting tigers

My good friend was in India last year with his other photo buddies. His 4th time there, and his first seeing a tiger in the wild. He did see several on that trip.

But the one that stands out is one morning with the guides and the group a tiger came out from the underbrush. Not 12 feet away. No, he didn't have to change his underwear, but it almost happened! He got one shot in focus. I believe he had on a 600mm prime lens but that's a guess.

My point is a 100-400 option or near that focal length would probably be an option to take. Problem is you just don't know how close or far away they will be.

Dec 25, 2019 at 08:42 AM

Bobg657
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Shooting tigers

You might send a PM to Bibek, he's gone several times and should be helpful.

Dec 25, 2019 at 10:03 AM

nugeny
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Shooting tigers

kdacharya wrote:
Hi Bob,
I do not claim to be a tiger expert, but here's my 2 cents.
if you do not go to India often, I would not worry about 1kg extra. The lenses that you carry should be adequate for every situation. I like the option 1 which has a prime 500 mm plus mid range 300 mm which is (in canon line which I use) the sharpest lense and then the 24-105.
I am headed to India on the 5th and will be most likely carrying 500mm, 100-400mm and 16-35 and/or 70-300
Good luck and happy shooting.

Thanks, have lots of fun.
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morris wrote:
Hi Bob,

Who makes that 20-500mm f5.6. It will do all you need :-}

Happy Holidays,

Morris
Sorry for the typo. It is now corrected.
---------------------------------------------

AZHeaven wrote:
My good friend was in India last year with his other photo buddies. His 4th time there, and his first seeing a tiger in the wild. He did see several on that trip.

But the one that stands out is one morning with the guides and the group a tiger came out from the underbrush. Not 12 feet away. No, he didn't have to change his underwear, but it almost happened! He got one shot in focus. I believe he had on a 600mm prime lens but that's a guess.

My point is a 100-400 option or near that focal...Show more →
Let,s hope a big cat jump out at me even closer.

)
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Bobg657 wrote:
You might send a PM to Bibek, he's gone several times and should be helpful.

Thanks, l may do just that

Dec 25, 2019 at 11:54 AM

KJindaUK
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Shooting tigers

Not yet done it but a friend who has did warn that if you do any internal flights they can be very strict on cabin bag weight and size. Just something you might want to inquire about with your travel company and might impact what you take.

Kev

Dec 26, 2019 at 04:48 AM

kdacharya
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Shooting tigers

KJindaUK wrote:
Not yet done it but a friend who has did warn that if you do any internal flights they can be very strict on cabin bag weight and size. Just something you might want to inquire about with your travel company and might impact what you take.

Kev

Kev - good point
the internal flights may charge excess baggage, which I have paid occasionally and which is not that excessive, but that did not prevent me from carrying the gear I thought was appropriate.

Dec 26, 2019 at 07:24 AM

KJindaUK
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Shooting tigers

If you are ok with your gear going in the hold then that's fine. I wouldn't want to risk it though.

Best wishes,
Kev

kdacharya wrote:
Kev - good point
the internal flights may charge excess baggage, which I have paid occasionally and which is not that excessive, but that did not prevent me from carrying the gear I thought was appropriate.

Dec 30, 2019 at 04:45 PM

kdacharya
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Shooting tigers

KJindaUK wrote:
If you are ok with your gear going in the hold then that's fine. I wouldn't want to risk it though.

Best wishes,
Kev

I never check in my gear, always carry on. paying excess baggage fees allows you to carry it in

Dec 30, 2019 at 04:49 PM

bibek
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Shooting tigers

Nugeny,

I am no expert but I have gotten very good results with the following:

1) 100-400 on my Canon 7D MkII - cropped sensor
2) 400mm f/2.8 on my 5D MkIV with and without the 1.4x TC - This is my preferred lens though it falls short on some of the birds that you will be surprised with. With the Canon this lens works very well with both the 1.4x and the 2x TC (I used the latter in Kenya but not in India, but will definitely take it in March when I am there).

Given the weight restrictions, this is the best. Honestly, I use my iPhone for any landscape images so if you prepare for anything between 100-500 (may be 800 with TC or Cropped sensor) you will be fine. This will save you a lot of weight.

PM me, I wrote up an article for my friends that came along with me, I will share it with you.

Also, I have my EXIF data with my uploads and you can refer to them as a guide.

My metadata breakdown from the trip in March.

Dec 30, 2019 at 05:35 PM

KJindaUK
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Shooting tigers

Really? I never knew that. A friend of mine went last year and said their group had problems with the limits on smaller aircraft.

I never check in my gear, always carry on. paying excess baggage fees allows you to carry it in

Jan 01, 2020 at 09:35 AM

nugeny
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Shooting tigers

I have decided on lenses. No I wouldn’t take 200-500. The 300 f4 is coming with me + tc 1.4 or 1.7,
70-200 and 24-120- Now i am super light. The 300 f 4 is the very best lens, that will give me good pictures.

Jan 11, 2020 at 10:35 PM

Peter Kelly
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Shooting tigers

I just got back from a trip to India. Spent 2.5 days in Ranthambhore Park looking for tigers but had no luck.

Still a beautiful spot to visit with decent other wildlife possibilities

Jan 14, 2020 at 06:03 PM

nugeny
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Shooting tigers

Peter Kelly wrote:
I just got back from a trip to India. Spent 2.5 days in Ranthambhore Park looking for tigers but had no luck.

Still a beautiful spot to visit with decent other wildlife possibilities

Sorry to hear that. I will be in two NP , 4 days in Ranthamhore, hope to have some luck. Well, that is part of the game. What lenses did you have?

Jan 14, 2020 at 08:47 PM

dalite
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Shooting tigers

What is the other national park? Kanha?

Jan 14, 2020 at 10:57 PM

Peter Kelly
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Shooting tigers

nugeny wrote:
Sorry to hear that. I will be in two NP , 4 days in Ranthamhore, hope to have some luck. Well, that is part of the game. What lenses did you have?

I traveled light as it was mainly a travel/street photography trip. I had a z6 a 24-70, 70-300 and a 300pf with a 1.4 tc. Space is limited in the vehicle although being in a private four seater Jeep rather than the 10 to 12 seater cantors helps.

Ranthambhore was a welcome respite from hustle and bustle of the cities.

Tiger spotting and photography is tricky in RP. The tigers, particularly the males have large territories (up to 35 square kilometers) and the terrain in places is very bushy. You are assigned a different area for each game drive and have to stay in it. There is no radio communication between the vehicles. Apparently there are 60 to 80 tigers in RP which is about 800 square miles so sightings are very possible but not as common as I hoped or expected.During our stay we only heard of one.very brief sighting so you have to be lucky to get a good photographic sighting. There is other wildlife around including spotted deer, a local antelope, wild boar, crocodiles and a decent variety of birds. It’s certainly not as prevalent or varied as the South or East African countries but makes for some good photography.

As I said our trip was mainly sightseeing and street photography and we absolutely LOVED India 🇮🇳. I would go back in a heartbeat.

Good luck, the tigers I didn’t see are waiting for you‼️

Jan 15, 2020 at 11:39 AM

nugeny
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · Shooting tigers

dalite wrote:
What is the other national park? Kanha?

---------------------------------------------

Peter Kelly wrote:
I traveled light as it was mainly a travel/street photography trip. I had a z6 a 24-70, 70-300 and a 300pf with a 1.4 tc. Space is limited in the vehicle although being in a private four seater Jeep rather than the 10 to 12 seater cantors helps.

Ranthambhore was a welcome respite from hustle and bustle of the cities.

Tiger spotting and photography is tricky in RP. The tigers, particularly the males have large territories (up to 35 square kilometers) and the terrain in places is very bushy. You are assigned a different area for each game drive and have...Show more →

The other NP will be Bandhavgarh. I will go very light. Wish me good luck with tigers. But other wildlife will do

Jan 15, 2020 at 06:27 PM

PhotoSteve134
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · Shooting tigers

Here are some great wildlife shot for inspiration for you https://9mousai.com/beautiful-animal-photography-shots/

Jan 18, 2020 at 03:27 PM

kdacharya
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p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · Shooting tigers

Hi Nugeny
I just finished 8 Safaries and 2 full days in Bandhavgarh
Took the 500 mm, 100-400
Never checked in any photo equipment
My friend carried the 600 mm, 300 mm and 70-200
No problems on interval flights for him either

Jan 18, 2020 at 08:20 PM

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