First Safari in Tanzania – Camera and Lens Advice?

Hi all,

I will be going to Tanzania in September for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro, followed by a 5-day safari! I am usually a landscape photographer and this will be my first time in Africa as well as shooting wildlife, so I need all the help I can get. I started a new thread because I wanted to get some specific advice from all of you.

We will be visiting the following areas:

Lake Manyara National Park
Olduvai Gorge
Serengeti National Park
Ngorongoro Crater
Tarangire National Park

My current gear are:

6D
7D II
16-35mm f/4L IS
24-205mm f/4L IS
70-200mm f/4L
100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II
Gitzo GT1541T tripod with Markins Q3T ballhead (weights 3lbs and supports 17lbs)
580EX II flash

Additional gear I may purchase if necessary (open to other suggestions as well):

5D III or 5DS R
70-200mm f/4L IS or 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II
Teleconverters 1.4x III and/or 2x III
Battery grips
Monopod and/or Bean Bag

Due to baggage weight limit and lots of moving around, I would like to streamline my gear if possible. I don’t plan on shooting much wildlife in the future, so I will sell any unneeded items after the trip.

Questions:

1) Between the 6D, 7D II and 5D III/5DS R, which 2 cameras should I bring? The 7D II seems like a no-brainer. As for the full-frame, I would prefer to bring the 6D for climbing Kilimanjaro due to its light weight (it is a difficult mountain), but I may purchase and bring the 5D III/5DS R if it offers significant advantages for the safari. The 5DS R in particular would provide the same pixel density as the 7D II but on a full-frame sensor.

2) Which lenses and TC should I bring/purchase and how should I pair them with the camera bodies?

3) Should I bring a monopod/tripod, or will a bean bag be sufficient? I will be traveling in a vehicle with pop-up roof with 1 other person.

4) Are battery grips and a flash recommended?

5) Can you recommend a good insurance company for all my gear?

6) Any other tips for my first safari trip?

Thank you all in advance!

I’ve been to all the places you mention and climbed Kili.

I don’t think you really need to buy anything else.

You would do very well with the 6D, 7DII. I would have the 100-400 on the 7DII and the 24-105 on the 6D most of the time. I would also take the 16-35 for wider shots on the 6D and call it good. No need for anything else. You could get the 1.4 extender for the 100-400 for maximum reach which could be useful.

I would not bother with a tripod or monopod. This gear is pretty light and being more mobile is important. I wouldn’t use a grip personally, just take extra batteries. It will keep your rig lighter. They take just seconds to change.

One thing you might do is to see if you can use an accessory outlet in the car. Then you could bring a small inverter to charge batteries on the go. I bought this product for New Zealand and it was great. http://www.amazon.com/​gp/product/B004MDXS0U

For Kili you really don't need to carry much since porters should be carrying the gear.

Should be a great trip.

Doug

I agree entirely with the above poster's gear recommendations.

Thanks for your inputs so far! Always good to hear from someone who has been there.

Do you think I might get better shots using a 5D III/5DS R as the primary camera and 7D II for action shots or ones that need longer 'reach'? Somehow, the images produced by full frame cameras just look much more pleasing to me; I have been underwhelmed by 7D 1's IQ in the past especially at higher ISOs. As a landscape photographer, I'm always thinking about how to maximize IQ, but perhaps in wildlife getting the shot is more important.

I'm also surprised that I should leave the 70-200mm at home. Is that FL not useful in a safari?

Also, how much would a 1.4x or 2x extender affect IQ on the 100-400mm II, if at all?

From the list of gear you have mentioned you don't really "need" anything else. You can of course spend money if you really want too i.e G.A.S Syndrome (It is fun)

1) Between the 6D, 7D II and 5D III/5DS R, which 2 cameras should I bring? The 7D II seems like a no-brainer. As for the full-frame, I would prefer to bring the 6D for climbing Kilimanjaro due to its light weight (it is a difficult mountain), but I may purchase and bring the 5D III/5DS R if it offers significant advantages for the safari. The 5DS R in particular would provide the same pixel density as the 7D II but on a full-frame sensor.

I wouldn't bother with the 5DS R, I see that more suited to landscapes and studio than wildlife. The 5DIII would be my pick but I wouldn't go out and buy one if I already had a 6D which will do just fine the majority of the time.

2) Which lenses and TC should I bring/purchase and how should I pair them with the camera bodies?

As already mentioned, 6D + 24-105 & 7DII with 100-400 also the 1.4x TC would be worthwhile to have IMO (I'm not a huge fan of the 2x) as you don't want to get there and think "gee, wish I had a bit more reach" atleast with the TC you have that with out spending huge $$$
My only other want would be a longer F2.8 lens such as the 70-200 2.8 to par with the 6D for better low light performance.
I'd also bring the 16-35 for landscape shots, I think the 24-105 on the 6D would be plenty for 95% of the wide wildlife shots though.

3) Should I bring a monopod/tripod, or will a bean bag be sufficient? I will be traveling in a vehicle with pop-up roof with 1 other person.

I wouldn't bother with a monopod, I had my 200-400 on my 1dIV and rarely bothered to use my monopod as it was quicker and easier to handhold or use a bean bag/rest on something else.
The 7D and 100-400 combo is relatively pretty darn light
A tripod only if your dedicated to some landscape shots.

Bean bags are very useful, I'd take two so that you can position them in key positions and quickly change shooting positions with out having to worry about moving the bean bag.Of course don't fill them before leaving, do it once there to save on weight.

4) Are battery grips and a flash recommended?

I think the battery grip is very useful, obviously the much extended battery life but also to help balance a longer lens and also the added controls when shooting portrait orientation.
I think a flash can be very useful, I had one but never really got the chance to use it. I was on a self drive with 1 mate in a landy and with my big lens it was already cramped enough trying to swing that around that adding a flash off camera would have been very difficult.
If you do decide to take a speedlight get a better beamer for it.

5) Can you recommend a good insurance company for all my gear?

Not for the USA

6) Any other tips for my first safari trip?

Don't forget to put the camera down at times and just enjoy the view

For insurance, I have my photography gear insured through the same agent as my home and auto (I think it was added to our Progressive account which is what our auto is through). I took out the added policy before going to Africa last fall. It's not that expensive and having everything insured adds some peace of mind.

Kered wrote in post #17648224
Thanks for your inputs so far! Always good to hear from someone who has been there.

Do you think I might get better shots using a 5D III/5DS R as the primary camera and 7D II for action shots or ones that need longer 'reach'? Somehow, the images produced by full frame cameras just look much more pleasing to me; I have been underwhelmed by 7D 1's IQ in the past especially at higher ISOs. As a landscape photographer, I'm always thinking about how to maximize IQ, but perhaps in wildlife getting the shot is more important.

I'm also surprised that I should leave the 70-200mm at home. Is that FL not useful in a safari?

Also, how much would a 1.4x or 2x extender affect IQ on the 100-400mm II, if at all?

I510 pelican case , camera cleaning supplies. and the right back pack for hiking up killer.

Personally I think the 70 - 200 mm would be a good lens to take, along with your 100 to 400mm.

I wouldn't be packing a ton of camera gear up the mountain, one camera and maybe 2 lenses.

I would also plan on doing some land scape photos too.

I would be worried about dust and moisture .

Once in a life time you might want to pop for a 500mm lens .

You may want to read and follow this thread, no only for gear for your Safari, but for especially the story: https://photography-on-the.net …/showthread.php​?t=1435472

Stick with your existing bodies,
You'll be bringing the 100-400mm on your 7D2 and the 16-35mm on your 6D for sure.

The rest?
Me, if I was trekking up a mountain, I'd leave the 70-200mm at home. The only debate would be the 24-105mm on occasion in place of one of the other two lenses listed above. Wildlife may not be as prevalent on the hike, so you might even have the 24-105 on the 7D2 up the hill.

Get a photo vest, in which even the 100-400mm can easily be carried in the rear pocket.

Purchases:
Consider the 1.4X T-Con (not the 2X)

When i was in Africa, I did not use my 70-200mm at all, and shot mainly with three lenses

500mm, 100-400mm, and 17-40mm.

In your case, (and with the 7D2 and MkII 100-400mm) I would not recommend bothering with a 500mm. It certainly is not going up Kilimanjaro.

The ONLY reason to bring the tripod would be to plop under your 6D & 16-35mm for some low light landscapes. Me, I'd leave it at home.

A big thank you to all of you who have contributed so far! This has been incredibly helpful!

I should clarify that I'm planning to bring only 1 camera and lens up Kili - the 6D with 16-35mm, and leave the rest at the hotel.

As for the safari, it seems the general consensus is that I should bring the 7D II with 100-400mm, and 6D with 16-35mm or 24-105mm or (maybe) a 70-200mm f/2.8. I should definitely buy the TC 1.4x and bean bags, but leave the flash and tripod at home.

Could anyone else share their experience about gear insurance?

Also, I would like to ask for tips about wildlife photography. Coming from a landscape photography background where most subjects are stationary, I usually use low ISO, slow shutter speed, small apertures, one shot AF and always on tripods. Wildlife seems to be the complete opposite and it's a bit daunting to me.

Do you use Tv, Av or Manual?
Do you use Auto ISO?
What do you do for focusing - focus-recompose or changing AF point on the fly?
AI Focus or AI Servo?
Lastly, do you tend to take single shots, or many shots hoping for a 'keeper'?

If you can point me to some good internet resources to learn wildlife photography, that would be fantastic. Thank you very much!

Insurance:
You can put all your gear on your homeowners insurance with a rider. simply contact your agent, provide a list with serial numbers and value, and you'll be done.

Wildlife Photography:

Check the sticky threads in "Wildlife talk" and "Birds talk", reads those threads and look at threads in the corresponding photo forums. Ask specif questions in those talk forums as well.

https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=518554

https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=584262

Kered wrote in post #17652736
Also, I would like to ask for tips about wildlife photography. Coming from a landscape photography background where most subjects are stationary, I usually use low ISO, slow shutter speed, small apertures, one shot AF and always on tripods. Wildlife seems to be the complete opposite and it's a bit daunting to me.

Do you use Tv, Av or Manual?
Do you use Auto ISO?
What do you do for focusing - focus-recompose or changing AF point on the fly?
AI Focus or AI Servo?
Lastly, do you tend to take single shots, or many shots hoping for a 'keeper'?

If you can point me to some good internet resources to learn wildlife photography, that would be fantastic. Thank you very much!

I would suggest taking advantage of the three custom shooting modes on your 7D2 -- C1 -> C3 -- to setup your camera for different situations. In my case, I will usually shoot wildlife that is not in motion simply using Av mode, moving the AF point to the eyes of the animal if it is a portrait shot. I have C2 setup with high speed continuous shooting, AI Servo, Tv with a high shutter speed, auto ISO and an expanded AF point. C1 is setup similar, but in single shot mode. Then when I need to shoot wildlife in motion, all I need to do is turn the dial from Av to C2 (or C1) and everything's preset the way I need it. I can then move back to my normal shooting mode with another turn of the mode dial afterwards.

CyberDyneSystems wrote in post #17651596
Stick with your existing bodies,
You'll be bringing the 100-400mm on your 7D2 and the 16-35mm on your 6D for sure.

The rest?
Me, if I was trekking up a mountain, I'd leave the 70-200mm at home. The only debate would be the 24-105mm on occasion in place of one of the other two lenses listed above. Wildlife may not be as prevalent on the hike, so you might even have the 24-105 on the 7D2 up the hill.

Get a photo vest, in which even the 100-400mm can easily be carried in the rear pocket.

Purchases:
Consider the 1.4X T-Con (not the 2X)

When i was in Africa, I did not use my 70-200mm at all, and shot mainly with three lenses

500mm, 100-400mm, and 17-40mm.

In your case, (and with the 7D2 and MkII 100-400mm) I would not recommend bothering with a 500mm. It certainly is not going up Kilimanjaro.

The ONLY reason to bring the tripod would be to plop under your 6D & 16-35mm for some low light landscapes. Me, I'd leave it at home.

i agree with this post; just got back from our 5th safari in Tanzania.
Due to weight restrictions (we were flying to and from in small planes) I took a 100-400 II on a 1DIV, a 500f4IS on a 1DIII and a 28-70F2.8. I shot most with the 100-400/DIV combo; I used the 500f4 on a shot of a far away leopard; the 28-70 I only used for some shots inside the planes. Then again, I don't do landscapes. Didn't use a converter on the 100-400, as I had a 500f4.
I given up on take a tripod; did take a monopod. Used mainly a beanbag. And a photovest is very useful, for binocs, TC's memorycards, birdbooks etc.
Enjoy your trip.

I just got back from a safari to Kenya. Surprised you are going to Tanzania for a safari this time of the year. The place to go right now is the Maasai Mara. The animals have moved across the Serengeti and into the Mara. We missed the wildbeest and zebra migration by 2 weeks. It was late this year. In terms of gear. I really have to recommend the 200-400 F4. I rented this lens for this trip and it was my go to lens. You will barely use the 16-35 unless you want to do landscaping. Leave the flash at home. You will not use it. How are you going to get the tripod there? Is your game vehicle one row per customer? Our trip was a photography trip so we usually had our own row to ourself. I handheld my 200-400 most of the time. You do not have time to setup a bean bag. Contact me at ssydnor44@gmail.com if you would like to discuss further.

Sean