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Perhaps post a thread in the Destination/Africa forum with more details about where in Africa you will be going, will it be a dedicated photo safari or a tour catering to the general public, etc. Then we can better advise you as to lenses and support, among other things.
I have a Nikon Z7, I bought it when it first came out. I consider that camera a landscape/nature camera. I use my Z8, I have two, for wildlife and did use a Z9. For wildlife I like a fast camera with high fps and a large and fast buffer rate, this makes shooting a lot easier. I started photographing wildlife with a D800 and then later on with a D850, I learned the differences in different camera uses along the way. There was some frustration on my part with the slower cameras. Here is what one review said, "Generally good performance for its class, but somewhat limited buffer." I learned quickly that the buffer was very important in wildlife photography. I've included the review below. I think you start out shooting with what you have, learn about wildlife photography, and then along the way you figure out what works for you and what your equipment needs are. If it's portrait type shots the Z7 is fine, if you get into wildlife in action shots it may be a bit slower and less accurate than some of the newer Z cameras. I love the Z8, which is why I bought the second one, but I found the Z9 a bit heavy and bulky so sold it once I tried out the Z8. I still use my Z7 as a lighter camera for landscape/nature shots.
Thank you so much. I can only afford lens or camera upgrade. Was hoping the 400 prime would be easy to run out when eagles and herons, hawks come across the street. Here is yesterday from my balcony on tripod with Sigma @600. edited in LR. The link did not work but will look up. Thanks for taking the time.
Speed Shooter - whistling wings photgraphy. It goes everywhere my 600TC goes.
My wife shoots with the OM-1 and Olympus MFT lenses that weigh half as much as their full size counterparts and also cost half as much. Her images have been on par with the ones I have shot with a D850 and Z9 camera.
Edit: We are lucky that lenses are getting lighter as we age. I find my wife and I can share the burden of these items on walks.
I wish…my wife steadfastly and adamantly refuses to be my Sherpa. She will consent to being a sweetie Shoulder-pod…and will pull stuff out of the backpack and provide a 3rd hand…carrying my stuff isn’t happening. She shoots with a Z50 2 lens kit and simply won’t carry any more.
Same here exactly. Z9 with z600 6.3. I had the 500 5.6 pf and before that had to use a monopod or tripod with the 200-500. Both the 500 5.6 and 600 6.3 are amazingly light and manageable. I understand the want of the 600 f4 but it's just not fun to carry and lug around and I feel tied down.
Exactly the reason I don’t have either of the TC Z lenses…too much weight for too little gain and too much loss of overall flexibility for my needs And wants.
I usually put the smaller lens around my neck and the 600pf across my shoulder. It can get confusing at times but you get used to it. Who are you using for the Puma trip?Fun thread! It's encouraging to see how many of us older women are here--and how many older than me are carrying as much or more. I'm 67 and can easily carry the Z9 or Z8 with the 600PF walking all day; I use a Black Rapid "Retro" sling strap and what I love is that I can pretty much be hands-free and just let it hang (of course with a safety strap on it.) This way I can use my binoculars concurrently. I did try the 180-600 Z but found it too heavy and now my spouse is using that. I still have my beloved 500 F4E and may still sometimes take that on safari for it's speed, I can handhold it for short amounts of time in the safari vehicle, but can't really walk and shoot with it for too long. My tripod gathers dust but I suppose if I took the 500F4 out locally I might still use it someday
My dilemma now is trying to figure out how to carry two heavy-ish cameras while walking/hiking, for an upcoming trip (Puma tracking in Patagonia) I'm going to want to carry both the Z9 with the 600PF and the Z8 with the 100-400, both at the ready. Not sure how I'm going to manage that. It's not only the weight, but too many straps! (binoculars too!)
Problem is I always wear large binoculars as well, since we are birders. The Chile trip is for birds and pumas so we are doing a privately guided trip with Albatross Birding. Four days of puma tracking and the rest is birding. For the birding part I'll only need to carry the 600PF but for the pumas my understanding is that they can come rather close, actually the 180-600 would be the perfect single lens but spouse will be using it.
Double BR strap is what I use.Fun thread! It's encouraging to see how many of us older women are here--and how many older than me are carrying as much or more. I'm 67 and can easily carry the Z9 or Z8 with the 600PF walking all day; I use a Black Rapid "Retro" sling strap and what I love is that I can pretty much be hands-free and just let it hang (of course with a safety strap on it.) This way I can use my binoculars concurrently. I did try the 180-600 Z but found it too heavy and now my spouse is using that. I still have my beloved 500 F4E and may still sometimes take that on safari for it's speed, I can handhold it for short amounts of time in the safari vehicle, but can't really walk and shoot with it for too long. My tripod gathers dust but I suppose if I took the 500F4 out locally I might still use it someday
My dilemma now is trying to figure out how to carry two heavy-ish cameras while walking/hiking, for an upcoming trip (Puma tracking in Patagonia) I'm going to want to carry both the Z9 with the 600PF and the Z8 with the 100-400, both at the ready. Not sure how I'm going to manage that. It's not only the weight, but too many straps! (binoculars too!)
I'll look at that. I actually just started a thread on this so as not to hijack this one.
I bought one instead of a second regular BR. With the double the right side camera is on the right shoulder and vice versa with the two straps held together in front and back. I tried disassembling and crisscrossing the straps and that didn’t work right at ll so back to the same side config. I have a ThinkTank belt and several pouches for batteries, TC and stuff…tried those and they don’t work with the double strap but do work with the single if the pouches are on the other side from the camera…I usually use my lightweight BigPockets vest and cargo shorts pockets for the ancillary stuff. If my wife is with me we usually take a couple of Rick Steves really small backpacks (like 6 or 9 liter small) for snacks and water.
I found one on eBay and love it. Thanks!!
