it was fun in 03 when the cheetahs came out for feeding...and just when she looked up...all you heard was RATATATATATATATTATAAAAATT of 1 series, d30s etc going non stop...
I've seen people using a 100-400 on the tram and various longer lenses off the tram as well. While we've mentioned that there is now "less walking," that's a relative statement, there is still a lot of walking to be done, I guess it's just "flatter" now. The village and Heart of Africa area is fairly tight for viewing/shooting distances. Large animals? Depends on how close they feel like getting to the edges of the enclosures or to the tram route. The new tram route is shorter but seemed it could get closer than the old route.
New tram? AFAIK there isn't a tram. You can get the back-of-the-pickup tours that do get closer. For those I'd think anything from a 70-200 to the 16-35 would work, depending on how friendly the animals are feeling as they drive out in the middle of the area where the old tram ran around the edge. I haven't done that tour yet. For the walking paths, a 100-400 is a decent range, even a 500 or 600 could be useful for the close-ups.
What I plan on when going is my 24-70 &/or 70-200 for the Village, then longer glass like the 100-400, 300 + TC, or whatever I can beg, borrow, or steal for the Safari Walk areas where the animals have a lot of room.
Yes there is a new sort of tram.. It is not a tram but a Africa Safari ride in a wheeled tram along a new path. They rearranged some of the exhibits and built the new paved roadway around only part of the large field enclosures.. Personally I found it not all that interesting nor photo friendly...
Way overkill for the amount of gear to bring to the zoo.. When I go I shoot with only one lens.. Either a 70-200+TC17 or my 200-400.. That is all you really need...
lbaird wrote:
I have a 500 f/4 I would like to try but if everyone thinks it's long I won't lug it around.
\Well, I was out there with someone on Saturday using a 600mm F/4 but he was shooting with a full frame D3 DSLR. If you are using a cropped DSLR then the 500 is overkill....
I'm not sure it's "too long" as much as "too heavy." Kind of depends on what you want to shoot. My guess would be you'd have more bird opportunities with it and that the large animals are kind of hit and miss. The "Great Rift Lift" apparently has cut off some of the elevation change but there's still a lot of walking involved in a visit.
I shot with a 70-200 on the caravan but that was way too much. 28-135, 24-105, 17-85, 18-55 kit would do. Short range for the photo trip might want to bring one long range just in case, but for walking the rest of the park i have seen 400, 100-400, 70-200 300 tripods, monopods, flashes, heck just bring it all. I took all my lenses but only shot with a few. On the photo tour the animals usually come up right next to the truck, but on hots days they say they are not out as much. i went on a light drizzling day and they were out and about, fed some rhinos apples. Two bodies would aid on the tour on with a short range the other with the long.
i'll probably not do the photo caravan..kinda like i wouldn't do the cheetah run again..from photo perspective.
The last few times i've been there i've used the 500 on the 1dsII and the 1dII
I just checked my schedule, and it seems like June 29 works the best for me. How about it guys? Who's up for the WAP on June 29? It'll likely be a hot one, but that won't stop a good time.
Well, I am out.. Sunday is not going to happen if I stay there till 8pm ....Anywhoo June 29 it is freakin hot out there anyways... Not the best time to go..
I was there Sunday night/Monday morning (today) (photo overnight) and it was awfully hot. It got to be bearable late afternoon and by about 5:30 - 6:00 it was nicer and the animals got pretty active, coming up close to the Kilima Point area. So one is kind of stuck, perhaps May gray and June gloom wll come back, but if not it's unpleasant until later in the day and the park was already getting to be plenty hot at the time gates open. If you/we go before June 21, then it's going with the hope that it's a pleasnt day as you are out by 6:00 PM (IIRC).
There are photo opportunities for pretty much any focal range one is willing to carry.
