Which long lens on a safari?

[xcite]

Hi folks,
I'll be going on a 2 week safari in Botswana and Zimbabwe and wondering which long lens to bring (all Nikon). I have a Nikon D300 and currently own the Nikon 70-200VR f2.8 and a Nikon TC1.7.
I'm wondering if I should consider the Nikon 80-400 (don't read that many good reviews about it though) or rent a Nikon 200-400?

On the one hand the 70-200 is a really good lens and the TC gives me a reasonable zoom. On the other hand... more zoom is always better, especially if getting closer to the action is not really possible.

 

[jankap]

You should have a look here:
On Safari (luminous-landscape com essays on_safari)
Jan

 

[xcite]

Good article but I think he was there under different circumstances, i.e. private or self-drive safari where he basically could do what he want (get closer, wait for hours, etc) so not exactly what I will be doing.

 

[xcite]

No one compared those two lenses (the one with a TC)?

 

[K S Kong]

AFS 70-200VR f2.8 ED, definitely a superior quality lens,
but unfortunately 200mm is too short a focal length for wildlife.

AF 80-400mm f4.5-5.6 because the auto-focusing too slow,
is not suitable for wildlife shooting.

AF-S 200-400mm f/4G ED VR II or VR l Is definitely a better choice
for both Handheld or sandbags support shooting , even add on a
1.4x teleconverter still can focus fast and accurate.

Hope to see you wonderful photos soon.

for your reference : Alaska (2010)

 

[Ian]

As long and as fast as you can get your hands on.

When I'm shooting in Botswana in the Okavango delta I use mostly 600/4, 800/5.6 and 400/2.8 with TC's as well as 1200/f11 and sometimes I wish for longer. It depends entirely which reserve your going to, what time of year and how good the tour operator is.

 

[xcite]

As long and as fast as you can get your hands on.

When I'm shooting in Botswana in the Okavango delta I use mostly 600/4, 800/5.6 and 400/2.8 with TC's as well as 1200/f11 and sometimes I wish for longer. It depends entirely which reserve your going to, what time of year and how good the tour operator is.

Oh how I would love to shoot with those lenses as well but unless I win in the lottery it won't happen Will be sticking to my 200 2.8 and see how far I get

 

[Ian]

Make sure you've got a good 2 x TC then, you WILL need it.

 

[xcite]

Back from the Safari and have to admit that the longer the lens the better it is. In the end I took a Sigma 150-500 with me as one of the dealers had a very tempting offer on a second hand lens. It goes a bit unsharp after 400mm so I usually tried not to go beyond that but 400mm was definitely necessary but in most cases sufficient, however more would have been good in some cases.

 

[eleveninth]

ef 1200 would be good i reckon.

 

[yagizaneo]

Is nikon 80-400 comparable to sigma 120-400 in terms of performance? Im considering these 2 options to buy for safari. Any advice will be appreciated! Thanks!

 

[p3l3r]

70-200 with 2x coverter