Lens Choice for Safari

Need some advice regarding lens choice.

I am going on Safari to Sabi Sands in Kruger during second week of September 2013.
This will be my very first safari and would like some advice regarding lens choice.
I currently have the following:

• 16-35L
  
• 24-70L
  
• 70-200L 2.8 II
  
• 400 DO
  
• Canon extender 2Xiii and 1.4Xiii
  

Take the 600mm and the t-Cons. (or the 400mm DO) but if you got the 600mm, then that seems the one to bring.

Now comes the first question, what body/bodies do you have?

If you can lay your hands on a 100-400mm, I'd take that, but if not take the 70-200mm.
Whn i went, I took a Canon 500mm packed as decribed below, it spent pretty much 100% of it's time on one body, the other body sported the 100-400mm most of the time, or my 17-40mm for landscapes.
If I packed my 24-70mm, I don't recall using it once.

Take your 16-35mm

The only maybe is the 24-70mm, but frankly you could take it all and just leave the DO at home.

Here's how to pack it,

Forget about taking your camera bag on the plane, stick it in the checked baggage empty.

Get a good roller luggage with the collapsible handle that is legal for international overhead storage bins in a bright color.
Gut it and strap the 600mm to the rails that hold the collapsible handle.
then pack all your other stuff, bodies lenses into that same bag around the 600mm.
Wrap each item in t-shirts, underwear, socks etc..

Now your carry on has all your important camera gear, and your emergency change of clothes.

Pack your camera bag you want to work out of in your checked bag.

And HAVE FUN!!!!

The 500mm was my most used lens,

Thanks Jake,

Firstly I can definitely get the 600...........that will mean leaving the 400DO
I have 1DX and 5D II bodies

Gut the bag.......do you mean cut part of the top so that part of the 600 is protruding or have I got this wrong.

Thanks for all your advice

No, hopefully you can fit it in the bag.

I mean remove the inner liner to get you access to the inner rails to strap the lens to. (most actually just unzip and let you access this)

It might be that the 600mm is too long for the legal carry on though? I know the MKII 600mm is as light as my older 500mm, but it still must be longer. You might have to put the 600 in at an angle..
I'd do some measuring, find out about what size bag you can bring and take a tape measure when you go luggage shopping.

I know that some bags offer more inner storage length depending on how they handle the wheels.

Thank you
Your explanation is very clear re the bag.

What about using the 600 in the usual safari vehicles..........will it be ok.
I guess I will also get a bean bag to help in using it on a vehicle

Last time I was in Kruger I took the 500 and 100-400. 500 was more than enough for birds but often too much for large mammal and predators (7D and 1DIII). I was crying out for a 300 2.8 for the early and late opportunities (which always presented themselves when light was low). 500 was just too long for most stuff, during the day if you need more than 400mm then you will likely have a problem with heat haze. 600 is just too inflexible, IMO, but great for birds. Kruger is not like the plains of Kenya, if animals are more than 40 yards away chances are there is grass or bush in the way.

Others may disagree. But take this shot:

Thank you Neil for your advice.
Are you saying that 400DO will probably do the job together with 79-200 2.8 II for the animals.

What about the 16-35 for the landscape shots.
I have a mate who will lend me his 14mm L and or the TSE 17mm....do you think one of these for the landscapes

xhosa12 wrote in post #15674172
What about using the 600 in the usual safari vehicles..........will it be ok.

If there's more than two of you (plus guide/driver) in the vehicle then you may have problems waving that huge beast about.

Thanks Frank
It's what I was thinking......big 600 might be cumbersome and in the way of others.

Given the choices I have (see first post in this thread) what lens/es would you choose.

I will use two bodies....1DX and 5D II

xhosa12 wrote in post #15674395
Given the choices I have (see first post in this thread) what lens/es would you choose.

My first safari was with a 70-300 DO, that soon got replaced with a 100-400 which was great. The last two have been with a 300 f2.8 (with a 1.4x TC on most of the time) and a 70-200f4 (to save on weight).

I have noticed that Southern Africa (well, Botswana - which I understand is similar to South Africa) would tend to favour the shorter focal lengths as the animals tend to be relatively close. The wide plains of East Africa make the longer focal length lenses much more useful.

I've always thought the 400DO would make a good safari lens (similar to my 300/1.4x combo) so I would take that, the 70-200, 16-35 and the 1.4xTC. That should only be about twice the allowed carry-on for most airlines!

I have no experience with the 400 DO, alone I would say it is a good all round length and brightness but don't know how it performs with a TC. My first trip to Kruger was with 300 2.8 IS and TCs, I rarely wished for longer than 600mm and was often at 300 or 420. Even in early light my shots with the 300 and 2xTC were not worse than my friends shots, he had 500 f4, due to the atmospherics.

From your list:
•24-70L
•70-200L 2.8 II
•400 DO
•Canon extender 2Xiii and 1.4Xiii

I do not think I found any really brilliant landscapes in Kruger. Outside in the Blyde river canyon or three rondavels etc... there you could use the 16mm but really in the Park 24mm is enough IMO.

From the info gathered it appears that 400DO, 70-200 and the 24-70 together with the TCs maybe adequate.
Anything else you guys can recommend..........gre​atly appreciated

Lots of data storage. We use two Hyperdrives and back up to both at the end of each day.

I took a netbook and 2 external 500BG drives (I always like 2 copies of everything). Also meant I could hire a 3G stick in JBRG airport and keep in touch with the family.

Bean bag for the vehicle, balancing is one thing but a bean bag gives a much more stable base (if you have something to put it on). Sensor brush and or pecpads and liquid, there will be dust. A vest with lots of pockets, makes things easier to find and quicker to get to.

Should you take the 600mm and you have trouble slotting it into your bag: when I lugged my 600f4 around on planes, I had it in a Lowepro lens bag; it is basicly a sqare tube and the 600mm will certainly fit. I never had questions at airport as I sort of hid it when I checked in. enjoy!