03-13-2023 06:26 PM
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!
Solved! Go to Solution.
03-16-2023 08:16 AM - edited 03-16-2023 08:24 AM
The doohickey...
Your RF 600mm f/11 lens has a tripod foot, but it's not on a collar that can be rotated. So if you wish to take a portrait-format photo, you'll need to use your tripod's head to rotate the camera/lens combination. Users of Canon's 'big white' lenses with proper tripod collar can simply slacken the collar clamp, rotate the lens in its collar, and re-clamp.
The illustrated doohickey is a third-party item, there are several versions available (check out Amazon) and they screw to your lens's tripod foot and provide an Arca-compatible foot, but also a second one at right angles, so you can release your lens from your Arca quick-release shoe and re-mount it on the other foot for portrait pics.
I have one mounted to my RF 800mm f/11 which is slightly different to the illustrated one, in that its 'main' Arca-compatible foot is longer, so I can slide it along the quick-release shoe to obtain optimum balance of my camera/lens combination. This is helpful when I'm using a gimbal head.
03-16-2023 08:43 AM
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.
03-16-2023 10:44 AM
@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 (1.0.7.1) ~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 ~ImageClass MF644Cdw/MF656Cdw ~Pixel 8 ~CarePaks Are Worth It
03-16-2023 11:59 AM
" I'd be wary of taking a 5D3 on safari" - could you expand on this a little?
03-16-2023 11:13 AM
@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 (1.0.7.1) ~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 ~ImageClass MF644Cdw/MF656Cdw ~Pixel 8 ~CarePaks Are Worth It
06-26-2024 12:41 PM
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.
09/26/2024: New firmware updates are available.
EOS R5 Mark II - Version 1.0.1
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07/01/2024: New firmware updates are available.
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RF100-300mm F2.8 L IS USM - Version 1.0.6
RF400mm F2.8 L IS USM - Version 1.0.6
RF600mm F4 L IS USM - Version 1.0.6
RF800mm F5.6 L IS USM - Version 1.0.4
RF1200mm F8 L IS USM - Version 1.0.4
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