Beginner Photographer, Need Help For African Safari

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T

Theboondocks

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Hi everyone,

I'm new here and new to photography in general (never owned a professional camera before). I am going to South Africa and Zimbabwe in November and really need help with picking out the right camera setup and equipment. I've talked to a few local shops that have helped me narrow down what I'm looking for, but hoping to further narrow down my questions here. I will be renting a camera, lenses, and other equipment since I can't afford to own one right now. Please help and let me know if the setup below will be good for me?

So basically my questions are:
  1. Which of the telephoto lens' would be better?
  2. Do I need the additional wide angle lens if I have the normal lens? I will have my iPhone 13 with me for shots as well.
  3. What specific filters would fit this camera? I was told I should get a UV and a Polarizing Filter. Is this correct? What sizes then for these filters, since there seems to be different sizes?
  4. Will I have any issues with lighting with these lenses, since safaris are generally early morning or at night?
  5. Would a camera bean bag be all I need to support the camera for shots? I was told not to bring a tripod.
  6. Any other lenses, filters, or accessories that I should bring? Something for flash or no?
Really appreciate everyone's help here, thank you!
 
J

joe43

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I have been to Tanzania and Botswana, but not to South Africa or Zimbabwe.
Your equipment choices can be impacted by the type of afari you are going on. A photo safari will afford more shooting situations and flexibility over a regular safari, where you may have viewing limitations and time spent on a given subject. The former allows for more equipment; the latter, less, more universal equipment.

Another factor is what type of images do you need to capture--small jpegs vs large RAW images? If your only need is for internet images as opposed to larger prints, a point and shoot with a fixed zoom may be all that you need. One such camera is the Nikon Coolpix, 900, 950 or 1000. Other brands offer similar offerings. The Coolpix 950 comes with a fixed zoom lens from 24-2000mm in 35mm equivalent. It takes RAW or Jpeg images. It costs about $800.

If you want a system with a bigger sensor for larger prints and images, you will need a lens that allows for 500mm or more like 600-800mm. A crop sensor camera offers more focal length reach than a full frame camera. The amount of reach needed also depends on practices in each country, shooting location. Some may allow vehicles to leae the road and get closer to the animal. Others may restrict the vehicles to the road.

Based on my African trips, about 60-70 % were taken with lenses of 500mm or more; 30-40% with a 70-200mm; less than 5% with something wider.

Yes to the cell phone. I used UV filters in Africa. I had a polarizer but did not use it. No for a flash. Yes for a bean bag. Take lots of image cards and extra batteries. Make sure you have all needed electric plug types and maybe a power strip too as outlets may be limited.

I do not use Canon equipment (I shoot with Nikon) so others will have to add info on Canon gear. Renting is what a lot of people do for such a trip. Just make sure you have time to learn how to use anything you rent
 
Ivan Rothman

Ivan Rothman

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I've been to Africa many times, including a number of trips to South Africa. Only one trip to Zimbabwe. I'm a Nikon shooter and not familiar with the Canon models.
First, I would suggest bringing 2 camera bodies with you. Nothing is worse than taking that 1st time trip to Africa and have a camera fail on you - malfunction, dropping it.
Tripods not necessary unless you are doing nighttime Milky Way photography. Hand holding or using a beanbag is perfect. When you are doing the usual Safari by vehicle, tripods don't work well. You just want a beanbag (or even a sweatshirt) to put on rail or roof or window of the vehicle.
You can get by with lenses in the 24mm to 400mm range. Animals will often be quite close to the vehicles - imagine a lion coming over and lying next to the vehicle's tire. Of course, it is nice to get out to 500mm or 600mm or even further, especially if doing bird photography. If you have an DX sized sensor then a 400mm lens becomes a 600mm. If you have a FX sensor with enough megapixels, for example at least 40MP, then you can easily crop your photo if needed to give the same results as if you had a DX sensor, that is a 400mm lens becomes a 600mm lens.
Bring plenty of memory cards and extra batteries. Most places in Africa have power available for downloading pictures to laptop and recharging batteries, either during the midday break or in the evening. If you bring a power strip to plug in your items, make sure it is compatible with 110/240 volts, otherwise you blow the fuses plugging a 110V only power strip into a 240 volt sysytem. Make sure you have adapter plugs to fit into whatever outlet size the country you are going to has.
 
Rassie

Rassie

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I did two South African safaris in private game reserves. It's important to know that in private reserves the game drives are done with open jeeps owned by the game reserve. They also provide the driver and tracker. Since these companies own the land they set their own rules where they drive, on or off road. This means when they spot something interesting (usually larger animals or one of the big 5), they will often leave the road and drive closer and you don't always need the longest lens. They tend to be less inclined to go off-road for birds or antelope. The same is not always true for government-run game reserves. There one is forced to stay on the road at all times, so longer lenses are even more of a necessity.

I managed just fine with a 16-80mm lens, 70-200mm, and 200-500mm lenses on crop sensor bodies. The longest lens captured about 40% of my images, the 70-200m another 40%, and the remainder were shot with the 16-80mm lens. I would do the same safari with a 24-70mm or 24-120mm, 70-200mm, and a long zoom up to 500 or 600mm, and I would also add a 1.4X teleconverter to that lens when necessary, using a full frame body. I replaced my 200-500mm lens with a 500mm prime, so I would use that lens with and without a teleconverter if I had to do the safari today. So in a nutshell, you need lenses covering from 24mm to 700mm+ minimum. I never had need for a wider lens than 24mm.

As for beanbags, yes, I used one successfully from the vehicle for many of my long shots (the 200-500mm lens is heavy). It allowed slower shutter speeds in dim light to keep ISO down. My newer equipment today has such effective vibration reduction that I would do the safari without beanbags, especially since my long lens is much lighter now and easier to hand-hold than the one I used before.

The beanbag made this image possible at 1/30 sec shutter speed, at 750mm focal length.

_DSC8056BCG.jpg
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.
 
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Winston Churchill (Sir)

Winston Churchill (Sir)

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What a trip to look forward to!
Can we start at the beginning?
What camera have you used before ? are you familiar with a DSLR / MIRRORLESS? Skill level?
I understand that you want the best photos you can possibly get from your trip - but that is your purpose with these? Holiday album memories? Or putting your feet in the water of trying more professional photography?
 
R

ricardo00

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First, since it sounds like you will have only one camera body, I would only bring a single lens. As someone new to photography, you don't want to be switching lenses in the middle of shooting. I would go with the 100-500mm since it is lighter and has a broader range. And use your iPhone for when the wildlife are close to the vehicle or when you want a picture that shows the environment. And skip the bean bag, it is possible they will supply one and/or you can lean it on some clothes. You should bring some bag to stick the camera/lens i if there is rain or a lot of dust. Try to keep it simple (no filters) and enjoy yourself! If you decide you like photography and have sufficient funds, a return trip which is with a dedicated photography group and two bodies would allow you to get shots that you missed.
 
T

Theboondocks

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Thank you all for the help! Much appreciated. To address a few questions below.
Winston Churchill (Sir) said:
What a trip to look forward to!
Can we start at the beginning?
What camera have you used before ? are you familiar with a DSLR / MIRRORLESS? Skill level?
I understand that you want the best photos you can possibly get from your trip - but that is your purpose with these? Holiday album memories? Or putting your feet in the water of trying more professional photography?
Click to expand...
I am somewhat familiar with DSLR, but not with mirrorless. Never owned one, but have used it a handful of times. The purpose is to get high quality shots for albums yes, but to also dip my feet into more professional photography.

This has all been super helpful. Most of my questions have been addressed for now. I guess my only remaining questions is about the UV/ND/Polarizing filters. Do I need them and where would I use them? Seems like for the R7, it's 77mm.

ricardo00 said:
First, since it sounds like you will have only one camera body, I would only bring a single lens. As someone new to photography, you don't want to be switching lenses in the middle of shooting. I would go with the 100-500mm since it is lighter and has a broader range. And use your iPhone for when the wildlife are close to the vehicle or when you want a picture that shows the environment. And skip the bean bag, it is possible they will supply one and/or you can lean it on some clothes. You should bring some bag to stick the camera/lens i if there is rain or a lot of dust. Try to keep it simple (no filters) and enjoy yourself! If you decide you like photography and have sufficient funds, a return trip which is with a dedicated photography group and two bodies would allow you to get shots that you missed.
Click to expand...
I'm debating whether I can afford two camera bodies. If I am able to do it, I will prob do the Canon R6 so that batteries and lenses are the same. I would put the longer lens on the R7 and the shorter lens on the R6. Would this be right?

The rest of this is super helpful though.
 
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Ivan Rothman

Ivan Rothman

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Theboondocks said:
Thank you all for the help! Much appreciated. To address a few questions below.

I am somewhat familiar with DSLR, but not with mirrorless. Never owned one, but have used it a handful of times. The purpose is to get high quality shots for albums yes, but to also dip my feet into more professional photography.

This has all been super helpful. Most of my questions have been addressed for now. I guess my only remaining questions is about the UV/ND/Polarizing filters. Do I need them and where would I use them? Seems like for the R7, it's 77mm.


I'm debating whether I can afford two camera bodies. If I am able to do it, I will prob do the Canon R6 so that batteries and lenses are the same. I would put the longer lens on the R7 and the shorter lens on the R6. Would this be right?

The rest of this is super helpful though.
Click to expand...
Yes that's the way to do it. The R7 having the DX sensor should have the longer lens and the R6 having the full frame sensor should have the shorter lens.
 
R

ricardo00

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Theboondocks said:
I'm debating whether I can afford two camera bodies. If I am able to do it, I will prob do the Canon R6 so that batteries and lenses are the same. I would put the longer lens on the R7 and the shorter lens on the R6. Would this be right?
Click to expand...
Yes it is best to take a second camera that can use the same lenses and batteries as well as having similar controls. The second camera allows one to easily switch from animals nearby to something occurring further away. It is also useful in case there is a problem with your camera. This can happen for many reasons in the middle of a shoot and by having a second camera body, one can keep on shooting.
 
C

Calson

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Consider the total cost of your trip and then decide whether it makes sense to go with cameras with which you have little or no experience. Better to buy a less expensive camera on the used market and have two months to learn how to use it. I would also take a look at the Sony cameras and lenses where the sensors provide higher resolution images that can be cropped to a greater degree.

A Sony A7R III can be bought on fredmiranda for $1,000. The Sony 100-400mm lens can be bought for $800. Renting makes sense for a lens like the 600mm f/4 or even the 200-600mm lens.
 
C

Calson

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When I left Nikon and switched to Canon for my wedding photography (where one cannot not get the shot) it took a couple of months to be at the same level with the Canon cameras. When two years later I switched back to Nikon with their D3 camera I continued with the Canon for two months until my knowledge and experience with the new Nikon cameras was at a level where I felt comfortable using them for my wedding clients.

A friend conducted photo tours that targeted novice photographers and she would always tell her clients to bring their camera manual. Often a client would bring a camera they had purchased just before the trip and not have a clue about important features and settings and they expected her to be able to help them. For her having happy clients coming back with good pictures was what mattered and she would do as much as possible to make that happen.
 
David Berry

David Berry

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Boondocks …

Canon has a made-for-each-other combo for enthusiast wildlife photographers:
  • camera : R5
  • lens : RF 100–500
If you're interested, I can share my experiences.

… David
 
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F

Flemming Morgan

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Theboondocks said:
Thank you all for the help! Much appreciated. To address a few questions below.

I am somewhat familiar with DSLR, but not with mirrorless. Never owned one, but have used it a handful of times. The purpose is to get high quality shots for albums yes, but to also dip my feet into more professional photography.

This has all been super helpful. Most of my questions have been addressed for now. I guess my only remaining questions is about the UV/ND/Polarizing filters. Do I need them and where would I use them? Seems like for the R7, it's 77mm.


I'm debating whether I can afford two camera bodies. If I am able to do it, I will prob do the Canon R6 so that batteries and lenses are the same. I would put the longer lens on the R7 and the shorter lens on the R6. Would this be right?

The rest of this is super helpful though.
Click to expand...
I won’t repeat the excellent advice already given but from my safari trips I would highly recommend taking two bodies. The environment is often very dusty and you also need to adapt very quickly to different situations so having two bodies is invaluable. Also, I find a monopod useful for the larger lenses as the vehicles don’t always have places to support bean bags. Have a great trip! There’s nothing better than being in the bush!
 
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