Safari choice
Hi, I’m a relatively inexperienced amateur who has only been off auto for a year or so. Planning a safari holiday. I own pan GX9 and number of lenses but no zoom. I want to enjoy the holiday and concerned about the stress of choosing and changing lenses and missing the experience.
My options are either to purchase a limited use long zoom (pan 100-300) - not cheap and mean changing lenses for close ups, Ldcapes (and back again) or to purchase a super zoom eg. Pan fz1000 (or fz1000 iI) with 25-400 equiv FL and use that alongside my GX9, latter for WA or night time around camp.
My last safari 10 years ago was with a much earlier and smaller
My options are either to purchase a limited use long zoom (pan 100-300) - not cheap and mean changing lenses for close ups, Ldcapes (and back again) or to purchase a super zoom eg. Pan fz1000 (or fz1000 iI) with 25-400 equiv FL and use that alongside my GX9, latter for WA or night time around camp.
My last safari 10 years ago was with a much earlier and smaller
Before giving any equipment advice - how are you travelling during the safari?
8 or 10 in a minibus gives little scope for changing lenses, or getting an uninterrupted view of the wildlife.
Up to 3 photographers in a 4x4 with a roll down top is far better - but costs more.
Is your safari intended to be a "part a holiday" with breakfast at a lodge, or up to 13 hours a day in the vehicle getting up in the dark, in the vehicle about 5.45 and at a lodge gate by the common opening time of 6am?
8 or 10 in a minibus gives little scope for changing lenses, or getting an uninterrupted view of the wildlife.
Up to 3 photographers in a 4x4 with a roll down top is far better - but costs more.
Is your safari intended to be a "part a holiday" with breakfast at a lodge, or up to 13 hours a day in the vehicle getting up in the dark, in the vehicle about 5.45 and at a lodge gate by the common opening time of 6am?
Thankyou LensSheperd, you raise really good question. At this stage answer is I don’t know just exploring options and the cost difference. Are you asking based on need for wider aperture in low light on a ‘photo’ tour? The safari would likely be 6 or so in a vehicle and for my purpose will be about the animals and landscape. Thanks
Quote: Are you asking based on need for wider aperture in low light on a ‘photo’ tour? The safari would likely be 6 or so in a vehicle and for my purpose will be about the animals and landscape. Thanks
The chances of low light action before sunrise or after sunset are fairly remote - unless you are on a private reserve. "Public access" (not free) reserves are usually only open just after sunrise and just before sunset.
For many safaris fast wider angle lenses are not needed.
The best way to steady long lenses is on a bean bag - with the guide buying the beans so you can take an empty bean bag on the flight to Africa. For this a vehicle with an open top roof facility rather than open sided is usually better.
6 in a vehicle is cramped as 6 cannot shoot easily from I side of a typical 4x4 vehicle.
Where you go and when affects the price - depending on how much wildlife is likely to be about in each season.
