Which lens to buy for Safari. Opinions wanted.

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canon 100-400

100-400.

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memoriesoftomorrow wrote in post #12600467
Would I need the level of zoom on the 100-400 though given I'd have 224-640 on the 60D?

if your on a safari you can never have to much zoom. A 100-400 would also be a great daytime sports lens

I did a safari in Kenya with only 2 lenses and a 2X about 15 years ago. I brought a 35-105 and a 100-300 and the 2X. Did fine. As mentioned you can ever have too much reach on safari. But the driver I had could get literaly within feet of the animals.

I think it depend on where in Africa. In East Africa you might get lots of those long savanna shots that can use a 500mm (or larger) with a TC all on a cropped body.

Our experience last year in Kruger SA was that most animals, were definitely within 100-400 range. So we put the rented 500s and our 1.4 TC on our 40Ds. On our 7Ds we had our 100-400s. The vast majority of shots were with the 100-400.

When we go back next summer for 2 weeks, we will again rent the 500s. But rest assured we will be packing the 100-400s and the trusty 24-105s for walkaround.

The 100-400 is not going to give you any addition reach over the 70-200 + 2x extender combo. At this combo you're going to be at f5.6 the whole way, which is the widest aperture of the 100-400... It really comes down to picture quality. In my opinion, the 100-400 is much better than the 70-200+2x. The pics i've seen coming from the 70-200 Mk II and 2x Mk III combo seem about on par, but i'm not convinced the older combo is up to it.

With that in mind, I've had purchased the 100-400 for my upcoming Kenya safari. I may take my 70-200 as well, for use in lower light at 2.8 if things are close enough.

As others have said, you can never have "too much" zoom on safari. I previously hired a 100-400 and a 600mm for a safari in Kruger. As MCAsan has said, most things were in the 100-400 range, but I also found a LOT of use for the 600, and even took quite a few shots with the 1.4x mounted to it. (all this on a pair of crop 40Ds)

If money is a problem, stick with your 70-200 and extender. If you can spend the $$, i would (and have) get the 100-400.

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That might not be a bad plan at all actually... If you don't think you're going to have use for the 100-400 after your trip, better to spend the money on something you will use. The other option of course would be to sell the 100-400 when you come back, if you find yourself not using it.

I shoot a bit of motorsport, so that also swayed me into buying the 100-400 as i plan to use it for this purpose once i return.

I have heard only bad things about using the 100-400 with extenders, although I haven't tried this myself. Maybe i'll do some tests with my 1.4x next week, and see if I'm happy enough with the results. I do know that the lens will not autofocus with either extender (unless you do the pin taping trick)

memoriesoftomorrow wrote in post #12601524
It is if I stick the 2x extender on the 60D with a 100-400 i.e. 320-1280

Then you won't be able to get any shots at all! You'll be at 800mm and f11. AF won't work and MF will be near impossible.

You seem to have got the idea that mm is all you need. In fact, very often you'll be easily close enough for 400mm (or 640mm if, as you seem to do, you believe in crop factors) but you'll be hankering after more light.

As others have said - get the 100-400 for use on the 60D and use the 70-200 on the 5D. Here's a selection of images I took in Kenya with a 100-400 a few years ago.

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memoriesoftomorrow wrote in post #12600397
Okay so I'm off to Kenya later this year to shoot a wedding but also going on a few Safaris at the same time. I am taking a fair bit of kit with me but I'm thinking about getting a bigger zoom. The questions would be do I need it with the kit I already have? and if so which one should I get?

The kit I am taking is which is is relevant to the safari is as follows:

2x 5D MKII
1x 60D

70-200mm f2.8 L IS MKI
135mm f2.0 L
85mm f1.2 L
2x Extender II

The question I guess is the 70-200 with the 2x Extender enough zoom (224-640) on the crop body?

If not, I am considering one of these options (I'd also get the Sigma 2x Extender if I got one of the Sigma options). I've taken a good look through the forum and can't really decide if the zoom is long enough or not. What would I miss by not having something longer?

Canon EF 300mm f/4L IS USM
Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM
Sigma APO 100-300mm F4 EX DG HSM
Sigma APO 120-400mm F4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM

The price of these is not so relevant but these are all the ones that fall in my budget for the trip.

I don't shoot a huge amount that would use this lens at the moment however I firmly believe in investing well in my glass and it would open up sports work in my off season if I wanted to do it.

Any thoughts would be very welcome.

I just got back from the Serengeti, and my opinion would be to go with the 100-400. With your extenders you should be set for anything.

memoriesoftomorrow wrote in post #12600467
Would I need the level of zoom on the 100-400 though given I'd have 224-640 on the 60D?

The 70 - 200 will likely be your main lens, however there will be occasions where you will need the reach of 300, 400 mm or more, so get the 100-400

The 100-400 no question. You'll use it on 95% of your shots, its sharp so you can crop in PP. In Kenya I found 400mm is a minimum and even if you get in close you'll get some fantastic close ups of lions, cheetahs etc.