Safari next summer needs new camera!

I've done a lot of travel/sports/nature/p​ortrait photography over the years using A2 film camera, then 20D, 30D, 40D. My travel kit lenses are 17-40L, 70-200 F4 L, 100mm Macro (with 3 Kenko Tubes), 430EX and a 1.4 extender. So next summer I'm heading to Kenya and Tanzania and I'm ready for the next camera. I've read all the threads and I'm in the midst of the 5D2/7d choice dilemma. The big questions that keeps coming back to me are the:

a. Reach question - Will going with FF diminish my ability to pull in all the great wildlife I will see?
b. Video question - I used to travel with a Canon GL2 but don't plan on taking that along. I wouldn't mind picking up video clips. Will both of these cameras perform similarly? I think I understand the limitations but I haven't found too much regarding the difference in FF and croppers in the video realm.
c. I'm nearly done with the sports photography as my son is graduating high school and we're almost done with soccer so I don't need the 40d characteristics there.

So, any of you who have the safari experience or would like to pipe in here, please let me hear your thoughts.
Bill

I'd keep the camera and get a 100-400. On the 40D it's long enough for most of the shots you'll want, but still too short for many of them. With a FF sensor and a maximum FL of 280mm you're going to be too short for much of the wildlife, and way to short if you want to shoot birds.

I'll take the contrary position to Hollis.

I say NOW is the time to upgrade your camera. I say treat yourself!

Of course the dilemma is then, which one? The 5D or the 7D?

Get the 7D for the reach and speed or the 5D for the landscapes and IQ.

It's a toss up.

Both are GREAT for video, although the 7D has improved on the video features and has the slight edge to the 5D with more manual control and 24fps mode for more film like look as well as 60fps for capturing motion better. Actually the 7D's sensor is CLOSER to real 35mm film size and alot of filmmakers like this fact. However, the 5D is LARGER and creates a unique look that others appreciate with shallower DOF.

Here is a great article by a professional filmmaker comparing the two you might find helpful: http://philipbloom.co.​uk/2009/10/01/5dmkii-or-the-7d/

You should have two bodies for a safari. It is so dusty on the velt and in the bush that you will get the body dirty inside as you change lenses. When I was in the Kruger in SA, I had a two 5D bodies, one with a 24-105 lens, the other with a 100-400L lens.

I would buy whatever body suits you best (I would seriously consider the 5D2 as I have blown up several Africa shots to 20 x 30,) and rent another one for your time in the game parks, a crop frame if you like. You can probably rent a 5D for a very reasonalbe price now.

I asked this question a couple weeks ago. I think ultimately, it's your call on the trade-off but exit polls have it at 2:1 on the 7D over the 5DMKII.

New body for Tanzanian Safari: 5D MkII or 7D

Some interesting safari related sites

Here are some interesting sites regarding safari photography:

http://photo.net …er-photos?user_id=2383016

http://www.chobesafari​.com/

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/essays/S​afari-Tips.shtml

As an afterthought: I would not do a once-in-a-lifetime trip and be at the mercy of a single camera. I would carry at least two bodies.

I fell climbing a slope on Alaska's Kenai Peninsula on the first day of a 10 day trip to that state last year. My 40D was creamed but, my 30D carried the day. If I had taken only one camera, I would have missed out on a lot of interesting photography.

MURPHY'S LAW OF PHOTOGRAPHY: "The possibility of a piece of photo gear failing is in a direct relationship to the importance of the shoot and in an indirect relationship to the availablity of back-up equipment!"

If cost were an issue, I would opt for a pair of refurbished 40D cameras at $800 USD each over one 7D.

http://www.adorama.com​/ICA40DR.html

Another advantage of a pair of cameras is that it eliminates or at least reduces the need to switch lenses in the field. Depending upon where you are shooting and what time of year, conditions can get pretty dusty. The less time you have your vulnerable sensor unprotected; the better off you are.

The 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 IS is probably the most popular lens for safari (and other nature work) if you are shooting with a single camera. However a 70-200mm (series) lens AND either a 400mm f/5.6 or a 300mm f/4L IS lens (along with a 1.4x TC) is even more of a versatile battery on a pair of cameras.

You can equip yourself with the lens or lenses that you need by purchasing the lens/lenses used on eBay and then selling the lens at the end of the trip. You should not lose much, if any money on the transaction. If you use Paypal credit to finance the lens purchases; you may not even have to fork out any money up front! You may even be able to buy the lens or lenses, use the glass and resell before your first Paypal payment is due.

Good luck and have a GREAT TRIP!

tvphotog wrote in post #8805868
You should have two bodies for a safari. It is so dusty on the velt and in the bush that you will get the body dirty inside as you change lenses. When I was in the Kruger in SA, I had a two 5D bodies, one with a 24-105 lens, the other with a 100-400L lens.

I would buy whatever body suits you best (I would seriously consider the 5D2 as I have blown up several Africa shots to 20 x 30,) and rent another one for your time in the game parks. You can probably rent a 5D for a very reasonalbe price now.

Nah. He's already got the 40D. He could use THAT as a back up should he buy a new 5D or 7D.

Thanks so much for the info. There were some great links that I hadn't found before. Search doesn't always find everything. I like the idea of taking two bodies. I'd figured I would sell the 40D for either the 5D2 or the 7d but now I may just hang onto it. Maybe I'll put a 100-400L on the 40D for that reach and keep my 70-200L and wide angle for the 5d2 or 7d that I add to the collection. Seems like people really like the 24fps on the 7d...

I did a safari in Tanzania in late 2007. I used a 1ds2 and a 40D. my longest lens was a 400f2.8, and I had the 100-400 and 70-200 with me as well. I put the 40D on the 400f2.8 with a 1.4x, that gives you a 900mm f4, and I then put the 1ds2 on the 100-400. I would say my photos were about half and half, between the two cameras. You need multiple cameras. It is DUSTY. I did switch lenses some, and I would find it easier now with self cleaning cameras. Back then we'd all be cleaning sensors at camp before dinner. We started before sunrise, so some days I would go with the 1ds2 on the 400f2.8 and the 40D on the 70-200f2.8 just for the added stop of light, then switch to my longer setup once it was after sunrise.

You could go on safari with a G10 and get some printable pics. You could just take a 600mm on a crop body and get some printable pics. The problem is if you limit yourself, you will see pics and think, damn I wish I had more/less lens to take that. Multiple cameras and you're covered. The G10 reminds me, if you have a bit of light, and not too much dynamic range, a G10 or G11, etc. will cover the 28-100mm range. Don't overlook this. Sometimes it's great to have that inside the nostril shot of an animal, sometimes it's better to have a wide view of the herd, or the animal and a lot of negative space. You just have to know your equipment and what it can and can't do.

Video: I also did the POTN 3 safari this year in Kruger. Two of us had 5D2's. We would stop at some sighting, get our pictures, and then shoot video. The video is simply fantastic. My wife also shot video with a Canon HF11, and it's not bad in good light, but the 5D2 blows it away even then. In lowlight it's unbelievable what you can do. The downside is noise. A lot of my video sounds like the car motor is running even when it's not. What is running is the IS motors in the lenses. Get an external microphone to capture the sound with, maybe even an external audio recorder.

I would go 7D for the added reach, and shutter speed and it's supposed to have better autofocus. A lot of times you're shooting through limbs or brush, or maybe you're shooting a bird flying, good autofocus is nice. The 5D2 autofocus has been great for me in good light, in bad light and low contrast though, it hunts something awful. When you shoot animals you can rip off a dozen shots of a stationary animal, look through them and be amazed that only 2 are good. A blink, a sniff, ears moving to listen, all these things and more are happening on the animals face and you wind up with a lot of goofy looking pictures, a few that look nice. Maybe there's flies or gnats that you don't even see until you're culling pictures later. I had the 5D2 as my main camera this last time, 50D for somethings. The other guys had a D3 and a 1D3(with the 5d2). When a bird takes off, a leopard or lion yawns, a hippo surfaces and exhales, you'll wish you had more frames per second that the 5d2. You'll be glad you're machine gunning with the 7D.

Buy a 100-400 and have a great trip.

Update: I'm keeping the 40D (at least till after the July safari) and added the 5D2. Love what I'm getting with the full frame and the video is astonishing. Now I'm after lenses. I have looked at the 500mm f/4, the 400mm DO, and the 100-400L. Still some more testing and and decisions on buying, renting or buying and possibly selling. Need to decide how much to schlep.