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What Canon lenses are best for use on Safari in Kenya?

garymak
Enthusiast

What Canon lenses are best for use on Safari in Kenya?  I am looking for advice based on experience, specifically in Africa, preferably Kenya, on a safari.   ("Experience" means you have first-hand knowledge of the tight spaces and even tighter weight restrictions on in-country flying, which means you have to carefully choose your equipment given these restrictions.)

Body is the R5, and if I can, 5D MKIII as back up.

What would experienced people recommend? 
1) Lenses I will bring:
- 16mm pancake (tiny, no weight consideration, and needed for those open plains shots...)
- 24-240mm ƒF4-6.3 IS (not an "L" but good range for travel)
- graduate ND 8 square glass filter for quick holding and eliminating time screwing round filters on and off
- polarizers

2) Lenses I can also bring given the above:
- EF 100-400mmL ƒ/4.5-5.6L IS II USM (+RF adapter)
- RF 600mm ƒ11 IS
- RF 70-200mmL ƒ4 IS

4) For accessories I will bring:
- unfilled bean bag - will scrounge around for beans or something to fill it with since we're dealing with weight restrictions
- Manfrotto PIXI Mini Tripod
- large nylon drawstring bags to put camera in on Land Rover outings.
- WANDRD PRVKE Lite Photography Bag (small, expandable, backside opening, comfortable, waterproof-ish)

5) For accessories what about:
- monopod (I've heard a tripod is impractical and the small Manfrotto works well most of the time and if I need height, I'll find something to put it on)

So, thoughts? I'd appreciate any feedback, suggestions, tips, tricks, considerations, recommendations, and considerations... Thanks!

14 REPLIES 14


@robinh12 wrote:

You are correct. Was being reserved. I had no idea single-use plastic bags had been prohibited since 2017. However, it appears that they still have a plastic problem. I'd be wary of taking a 5D3 on safari, but if this is your backup camera, it'll suffice. It is powered by the same battery as your R5 (good). Taking two bodies is a difficult decision. If something happens to the R5, everything is lost.


Random?  I think maybe you mis-quoted me?  Does this mean we'll get a malicious link in your signature shortly?

~Rick
Bay Area - CA


~R5 C (1.0.9.1) ~RF Trinity, ~RF 100 Macro, ~RF 100~400, ~RF 100~500, ~RF 200-800 +RF 1.4x TC, BG-R10, 430EX III-RT ~DxO PhotoLab Elite ~DaVinci Resolve Studio ~ImageClass MF644Cdw/MF656Cdw ~Pixel 8 ~CarePaks Are Worth It

shadowsports
Legend
Legend

@joeySnaps described it perfectly.  The RF 100~400, 600 and 800 non L's don't come with cases, hoods or collars.  They are great lenses, affordable and great for travel.  

@garymak, you would probably only need the adapter if you wanted quick on/off.  I don't think you will do a lot of vertical shooting.  Maybe a simple arca plate for it instead.  (like the rest of your gear)

The 24-240 remails a good choice as it might eliminate the need to bring (24-105 and 70-200).  Even at 240 f6.3 you can still get an adequate amount of background blur behind your subject.  

~Rick
Bay Area - CA


~R5 C (1.0.9.1) ~RF Trinity, ~RF 100 Macro, ~RF 100~400, ~RF 100~500, ~RF 200-800 +RF 1.4x TC, BG-R10, 430EX III-RT ~DxO PhotoLab Elite ~DaVinci Resolve Studio ~ImageClass MF644Cdw/MF656Cdw ~Pixel 8 ~CarePaks Are Worth It

Ah! Gotcha!

" I'd be wary of taking a 5D3 on safari" - could you expand on this a little?

ddronron
Apprentice

Thanks so much for your thorough advice.  Given your experience, would the 100-400 mm Canon lens  be the best to take on safari (90% usage )if I don't want to change lenses   I'm thinking my phone can take any shots needed that are close.  

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