Tele for Safari ? 100-400L vs. 300/4L IS (with 1.4x) + 70-200/4L

In next winter vacation, I'll be heading to Tanzania (Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro, Oldupairotko and Serengeti) and afterwards for couple days in Sansibar.
Since this is going to be once in lifetime kind of trip for me, I've already started to ponder ideal photography set for the trip. I will take 20D and 40D as camera bodies with me and 17-40/4L USM as a lens for landscape photography, but I am having hardtime on figuring, what to do with tele part on a trip ...
One option would be to use existing set of 70-200/4L non-IS on 20D and 300/4L IS with 1.4x II on 40D. The other option would involve selling 70-200/4L, 200/2.8L II, and with some additional funding, buy 100-400/4L IS, which seems to be everyones favorite as one lens solution for safaris.

I guess my main questions on comparing these two options is whether or not its worth an effort to take landscape shots during game drives (need for having 17-40/4L on one body) or would 70-200/4L on 20D and 300/4L IS + 1.4x II on 40D cover all bases?

Another question is also whether it makes sense to takes tripod for times in camp or would it make more sense to leave tripod at home and use beanbag whenever you need support for a camera?

Regarding buy&sell stuff... 70-200/4L is probably going to be sold at somepoint, it is just question of whether it happens before or after this trip.
If I buy 100-400L, it would overlap with 100mm macro and 300mm lenses and as such its quite likely that either 100-400L or 300/4L IS (and 1.4x and 2x) gets sold after the trip.

jylitalo wrote in post #5688731
In next winter vacation, I'll be heading to Tanzania (Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro, Oldupairotko and Serengeti) and afterwards for couple days in Sansibar.
Since this is going to be once in lifetime kind of trip for me, I've already started to ponder ideal photography set for the trip. I will take 20D and 40D as camera bodies with me and 17-40/4L USM as a lens for landscape photography, but I am having hardtime on figuring, what to do with tele part on a trip ...
One option would be to use existing set of 70-200/4L non-IS on 20D and 300/4L IS with 1.4x II on 40D. The other option would involve selling 70-200/4L, 200/2.8L II, and with some additional funding, buy 100-400/4L IS, which seems to be everyones favorite as one lens solution for safaris.

I guess my main questions on comparing these two options is whether or not its worth an effort to take landscape shots during game drives (need for having 17-40/4L on one body) or would 70-200/4L on 20D and 300/4L IS + 1.4x II on 40D cover all bases?

Another question is also whether it makes sense to takes tripod for times in camp or would it make more sense to leave tripod at home and use beanbag whenever you need support for a camera?

Regarding buy&sell stuff... 70-200/4L is probably going to be sold at somepoint, it is just question of whether it happens before or after this trip.
If I buy 100-400L, it would overlap with 100mm macro and 300mm lenses and as such its quite likely that either 100-400L or 300/4L IS (and 1.4x and 2x) gets sold after the trip.

good questions. we leave in less than a month. once we get to south africa we have strict weight limits on the charter flights that fly us to the various locations.

we are allowed 15 lbs. carry-on and a 26-lb checked bag.

i am carrying 100-400L, 16-35L II, 1d mark III & 30d. instead of a laptop i'm taking my epson p3000 for file viewing and storage.

on the game drives i will have the 100-400L on my 1d mark III and the 16-35L II on the 30d. when i'm doing dedicated landscapes -- e.g., victoria falls -- i'll use the 16-35L II on the 1d mark III.

i'll have a tripod and a CPL with me. i'll carry a 25mm extension tube for close-ups.

i will be carrying my gear in a domke f1-x. total weight will be about 20 lbs, which means that on the charter flights i'll have to redistribute my gear or get my wife to carry some stuff.

i weighed my other bag and i think i can bring it in under 26 lbs and that's with tripod, monopod and empty beanbag.

that's where i'm at and if i were you i'd get the 100-400L and leave the 70-200L and 300L behind.

ed rader

I've never been on safari, but as an owner of a 100-400 for the past year I can tell you it is a great wildlife lens and it is my most used lens, more so than my 50 f/1.8, 10-22, 17-55 or70-200 f/2.8 IS.

From what I've read, you may be surprised at how big the animals may become - elephant, giraffe, rhino etc., as you may get really quite close. Even 100mm may be too long to get everything in, but no doubt great for portraits. The 17-40 may come in handy then. Plus, hopefully you will get some breathtaking sunsets/sunrises.

When I went to NZ last Nov/Dec I had my 100-400 on my 40D for most of the time and my 10-22 on my 30D. That was a great combination that gave me wildlife and scenery without fiddling around with lens changes (and camera setting changes) and avoid dust problems too.

Hey jylitalo,

I just got back from this exact same trip yesterday. I own a 40D as well. I can tell you that you are going to LOVE this trip. When I get time I will be posting some pictures. You will see every kind of animal, and insect on this trip.
I brought my 24-105 IS and my 70-200 with a 1.4 tele.

I felt that I sometimes needed longer reach than my 70-200, and wished I had the 400. However, be aware that MANY animals are not afraid and will come up to the vehicle, so thats where my 24-105 came in very handy.

I also brought my Tri-pod and set it up inside the vehicle, because the roof opens up.
I will get some pics posted so u can see what Im talking about when I get home from work. I live in Dar Es Salaam, and loved this trip, and you will too.

Tripod is only useful; if you know you will visit areas where there is something of interest to shoot from a wide angle POV. A lot of landscape is attractive in a bush/scrub/savanha kinda way but often lacks a main point of interest. You will need to decide how much opportunity you will have for finding more interesting landscape. I will only take a tripod if I know I will likely use it. Otherwise, just a monopod and beanbag, or even just a eban bag. All depends on the trip.

As to lenses then I would consider the 100-400mm as a better option to what you have. Less fuss having a single lens unless have a 400mm or longer (not 300mm and 1.4). I use a 400mm and 70-200mm and does great. A 1-4 will be fine too and you get more fklexibility. You will use it 70-80% of the time. In Zanzibar then the 17-40mm will be good for walkaround scenes. The 1-4 will be too overt and attract too much attention IMO. You may or may not want that.

it is also true that the distance of animals depends where you are and what the animal is. A herd of Zebra will be fairly close often, Lion will just lounge around if you pass them, Elephant will lumber by close or far. But many other animals will not get close. It also depends on the specific park. Some places the animals are habituated to vehicles, like in a safari park, and the tourists are driven to and fro place to oplace where the driver knows the animals hang out - many tourists want 'the big five' so they are herded in their vehicles to enable them to see them. In the large wilderness national parks that isn't the case to the same degree and so you need more length more often.

So, the 1-4 is a good overall compromise lens, or check out the new 150-500mm OS Sigma which seems to be getting very good and rather bad shots depending on the copy or the shooter (time will tell which!) A beanbag for sure is useful in hides if you encoubter any. Some vehicles they are useless as nothing to lean them on. Hard to say. A tripod and monopod is a judgement call depending on your expected needs. A 17-40mm will be good for landscape and walkaround. Think about a Lee filter holder and some Hitech or Lee ND Grads as there is a lot of light and haze to consider. A CP would do instead if you want a tad lighter/easier to manage. I would always take a small, fast prime too. Packs easy and good for camp-fire shots.

I have read that on safari a tripod is simply too bulky to use when in the truck/jeep, so at best you have to use it as a monopod, or not at all. A monopod could be handy when using a long lens, but is a tripod wise?

tdodd wrote in post #5700709
I have read that on safari a tripod is simply too bulky to use when in the truck/jeep, so at best you have to use it as a monopod, or not at all. A monopod could be handy when using a long lens, but is a tripod wise?

In Africa you can do more than game drives so a tripod can be useful. As I say, depends on the nature of the trip. For example on my next trip a tripod will be very useful IMO but on the last trip it wasn't, other than at floodlit waterholes at camp. There isn't a single take it or don't take it rule.

tdodd wrote in post #5700709
I have read that on safari a tripod is simply too bulky to use when in the truck/jeep, so at best you have to use it as a monopod, or not at all. A monopod could be handy when using a long lens, but is a tripod wise?

Guys,
I live here, and go on safaris more often than the average person. Whatever you take is up to you, but in my experience, I have to have my tri-pod. I did bring my Monopod last week as well, but the tripod takes 2 minutes to set up, and I leave it there....no fuss, no problems. The Land Cruisers are plenty big enough.
Also to the OP, where in Zanzibar are you going to be? Stone Town or a resort?
Edit: I forgot to mention I do not have IS on my 70-200. That is my basis for bringing a tripod.

Angry Dad wrote in post #5700844
Also to the OP, where in Zanzibar are you going to be? Stone Town or a resort?

Couple days in resort, but last night in Stone Town.

Condyk's comment on having white lens in Zanzibar sounds like valid point. I will have to see if I have space for 100mm macro (without hood) as tele lens, while on island. Small prime is tougher question, since 35L isn't exactly small (at least when compared to 35/2, 50/1.8, ...)

Some resorts on Zanzibar do not have a beach. Make sure you book one that does. In fact book 2, it costs nothing to reserve, and if you dont like the 1st one, drive to the other one.

I had a chance to fix up some fotos tonight:

https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=518429
and
https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=518416