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We're thinking of taking that same Pangolin safari next year. What did you think of the trip and were your gear choices right? I'll have a Z8, 180-600Z, 24-120/4Z, and 14-24Z for some astro in Kalahari (I'm hoping to borrow a tripod from Pangolin for the astro or find a good tabletop to rest the gear on). As the OP in this thread, I'm concerned about weight on the transfer flights.
Thanks, that’s what I hoped. I kept the 500pf when I sold all of my F-mount lenses (I’m pretty sure I’ll be selling it on this site soon) and hadn’t planned to take it to Botswana. I also thought about Pangolin’s Masai Mara trip, but chose the safari we’re talking about because everything I’ve read about Mara photo safaris said that it’s pretty common to have many trucks at any sighting, because of all of the guides communicating with each other and sometimes interfering with sightlines and scaring the animals away.
You made a good decision. If a trip to Zambia were offered next year, I might be interested in it. Have fun with the Z8.
Is that 25kg for all baggage or just hand held?
To tell the truth…i am going to Tanzania next month with Steve and while I will have either the 24-70 or 24-120…my iPhone 15 Pro Max is going to be my first choice for close encounters…of left at 1x it shoots 24mm 48MP RAW files and doesn’t require a lens swap. And if my backpack, vest, and weight limit can swing it, I might bring a third body with the Z7II and 24-70 and that will mean zero lens swaps in the field though the TCs might be on and off I guess…depends on what we see.
I’m on again and off again with the 180-600…but am probably going to get one anyway since it is pretty inexpensive and good…and I’m not getting any younger and spending the kid‘s inheritance (or some of it anyway) isn’t an issue as he’s a liberal who doesn’t care about money much anyway. I’m not sure that it will replace the 600PF…but a 2 body 2 lens kit of the 600 and TC and the zoom on the other body covers almost everything one sees here in FL.
I agree, the 200-500 does so much for me, i mean if i had a 180-600 it would be much the same in terms or coverage, if i needed a second lens it would be my 70-200 FL.Nice to have problems like that
When I am in the Kgalagdi (next to Botswana) I use the 200-500 (on a cropped body) at least 80% of the time, 70-200 and 24-70 on FX 20% of the time
The 800 is excellent for birds, and there are plenty. But you will be seeing bigger animals - a lot ....
I could quite comfortably go on a safari with JUST the 200-500. Seriously.
Yes, this is for all baggage.
Very interesting about the iPhone 15 Pro Max Anjin, I have never ever considered using a phone camera on safari but this sounds like a good idea for when I decide on a new phone. I deliberately chose a cheaper phone than my family a few years back as I carry the cameras and felt I didn't need the best phone camera on the planet. But the weight restrictions on these small flights is a constant battle/concern as after paying for a safari one wants to know one has the best gear available to take advantage of all the opportunities that arise and one always has to leave gear behind that one would rather have on the trip. I have done 3 Botswana safaris in the last 2 years and another one coming up soon, I STILL don't feel I have the situation under control regarding what gear to take. There is always a gap...
John I live in South Africa, use Airlink for these cross-border flights into Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia. It's not what you can carry on Airlink that is the trouble, it's the inter-camp flights on the safari. They are anything from 4 seaters to 12 seaters depending on the day and who has to be moved from where to where, but they are super strict about your 20kg limit in total, clothes, toiletries and gear. That is a major problem for all of us.
I recently acquired the Z180-600, so I think on my upcoming trip I'l take that and my Z24-70 and Z70 -200mm. 2 bodies. That leaves out the wide angle which is a nice-to-have for when beautiful Baobab trees come into view from the vehicle quite close up, or the minuscule little frogs living on reeds in the water require a macro lens. Also I bought the 800PF especially for these trips and absolutely love it but found that it's another bag to carry. This gear alone is already about 20kg - I can hardly pick up my back pack and the 800PF has its own bag. I'm hoping my hubby will carry the 800PF for me as part of his luggage but even so, it leaves very little room for jackets for cooler nights etc. I have tried my TC with the 180-200 once and thought the results were awful but then I have the 2.0 TC which was clearly a mistake..
Right now, I’m looking at Eagle Creek rolling duffle bags, which should squash down well in the baggage pod below the Cessna Caravan or other types of small planes going to the Kalahari from Chobe on Pangolin’s safari. The wheels are almost buried in the body of the duffle, so I don’t think that will be a problem. It also doesn’t have a frame, like some Samsonite duffles I’ve seen, which I’ve read can be a problem for some pilots to get past. I’d appreciate hearing whether duffles are a good idea and other folks’ experiences with getting bags into those baggage pods below the small planes.
Yeah…an iPhone obviously isn’t a ‘real‘ camera…but at 48MP as long as you use 1x RAW…it’s pretty darned good and there’s no lens swap involved.
Yes agreed, but thinking at 48MP RAW it would do nicely for landscapes which present while the cameras remain available with right lenses on them for any wildlife that pops up,
