SANParks.org Forums

Hi Caracal, what do you think of the macro ring flash???? been thinking about getting something of the sorts but still not sure on results.

Hi Rumuruti
My ring flash is my latest acquisition and as yet I have not had much time to play with it..I will keep you posted though !!!

A bit of an update on my kit:

Lenses now include:

Sigma 150 - 500mm HSM OS
Tokina 11 - 16mm F2.8

Flashes now include:

SB900

Memory cards now include:

1 x 8GB SanDisk Extreme

My kit is the following:

Canon 1DMKIV and 7D
Canon 300mm f2.8 L IS USM
Canon 70-200mm f2.8 L IS ll
Canon EF 17-40mm f4.0 L IS
Canon EF 24-105mm f4.0 L IS
Canon EF 100mm f2.8 L IS USM Macro
Canon 400mm f5.6 L
Canon 50mm f1.8
Canon 1.4 & 2.0 lll
Canon Speedlite 580 EX MKll
Some beanbags, Manfrotto tripod, Wimberley Gimbal and a Badger car rest

Now I just need to get a new nut behind the camera (or work harder at improve the skills of the current one )

Tobie, did you swing the 500mm f4 in favour of the 400mm f4 L DO? Was it a weight issue?

Hi Morkel,

It was a weight issue but I swopped it for the 300mm f2.8 and then with the spare cash got the 400mm f5.6 ( not DO f4.0 ) for BIF. I do miss my 500mm f4.0, it was a stunning, sharp lens but heavy! I have paired the 300mm f2.8 with the 1.4x lll (wow) and 2.0x lll (not too bad).

I have sent my wish list to Father Xmas (500mm f4.0 ll or 200-400mm with built in 1.4x ) Don't know when they will be available (and if he has removed his ear plugs ) What is life without dreams....... (and some drooling)

Thx Morkel. I must say I have never been absolutely amazed at a piece of equipment to the extent that I am by the D3s, 200-400 combo! I was VERY hesitant getting this but managed to get a bargain D3s with 5000 actuations, and a "Expo" special price on a 200-400VR2 that was hugely discounted. I am not sorry at all - money well spent.

I am considering rather selling the D7000 and getting a used D700 as I am just loving FX as well. To me the extra "reach" of the the DX is not as desireable as the Image Quality of the FX. But maybe it's just me but I would rather crop a FX image than shoot it DX but as I said, it's just my opinion on my situation.

I too found the 300mm f2.8 to be "wow" with the 1.4x (II), and decent to very good depending on your technique and the available light with the 2.0x (III).

We need to keep dreaming about that 'one day when I'm old' set of toys .




Have to agree with you regarding the D3s/200-400 combo. I felt it would be a tad short especially for KTP so I went with the 500mm f4 VR-II and have a 1.4xTC for extra reach, and the D7000 if I really need the extra reach. Most times I have the 70-200mm on the D7000 and haven't felt that I need the 200-400 as much as I thought I would.

I agree - the images from the 12mp FX (full frame) sensor holds up to large cropping much better than the APS-C sensors like the 7D. I do find the D7000 image quality quite good!

Hi NickHall, welcome to the wonderful world of wildlife photography.

The Canon 550D is a very capable instrument as a platform for lenses. The 18-55mm kit lens is a good starting point as a 'walk-about' lens. However, when it comes to telephoto capabilities, I would say that the better the 'glass' you can afford, the more satisfied you will be with the results.

The Sigma 150-500mm has the 'reach' to get into the bush, but its design is a big compromise to get the zoom range. If you can, save up for the Canon EF 100-400mm f4.5-5.6 L IS USM (the push-pull zoom lens). The L series lenses are more expensive but deliver a much better image in terms of chromatic aberration and resolution (the latter allows you to crop images to concentrate on the subject).

My wife, 'carolv', has the 100-400mm on her 7D and gets great results.

Until recently I used a Canon EF 70-200mm F2.8 L IS USM on my 7D with an EF 2x extender (equates to 140-400mm F5.6) with really good results, but have now upgraded to the EF 500mm F4 L IS USM with an EF 1.4x extender (equates to a 700mm f5.6). The cost of the 500mm was enormous, but the results are stunning.

Best of luck, WildImage (Richard)

I'm a relative newbie to DSLR's, and from my limited experience with them in game parks (I've been once to what was basically a large zoo outside Krugersdorp) I don't consider the kit I had before worth mentioning for quality of image. So to those that helped themselves to it, good luck and enjoy (and thanks for the insurance money to upgrade!).

So now I have:
Nikon D3100 (entry level I know, but it works for me in it's more usual environment of photographing the wildlife called my kids!)
Nikkor 18-55mm VR
Nikkor 55-200mm VR
16gig SD Card (I think it's an ultra - but don't want to commit to that).

I also have 2 tripods, one monster that works well for 10 year old video cameras that weighed a ton but hopeless overkill for todays lightweight stuff, and a small one that basically could be replaced by a bean bag now.

And that's pretty much it. On the wish list (in order) are UV filters for the lenses, a second battery, an 18-105mm Nikkor lens, a separate flash, and then we'll see. As it is I'm going to need to win the lotto to get that lot! I'd also love a new video camera (the D3100 allegedly takes 1080p video, but I've never managed to get decent footage - acceptable maybe for something like the kids playing, but not much more than that).

The results I got in the game park outside Krugersdorp were acceptable for the most part, but the 200 lens is just not long enough. Something into the 300 range (like the 28-300mm lens) would be nice, but we're back to the lotto winning thing again!

Basic Setup for me at the moment

550D digital + battery grip
300V Film

18-55mm
55-250mm
100-400mm
28-90mm
all canon lenses, dont use filters as they seem to lower the quality of my images (cheap filters)

in total about 50gigs of memory

Sony Handycam

Basic setup at the moment, but when i can afford too i will upgrade

Added the Panasonic Lumix DMC F150 to my kit
ideal walk around camera
(fits into a big pocket)
Tested it and at 200 ISO hardly any noise
great filming (Full HD)

So next time in Kruger with this one and my DSLR with prime lenses
no more 100-400L for me.

So when is that bert ??
Looking forward to seeing some photos taken with your new camera !!!

I am taking the Nikon V1 with the 2 standard lenses for a test run in the Kgalagadi from Sunday...very interested in the results this baby might bring me as a small backup camera...

Morkel, just a question, did you consider one of the Sony NEX models instead of the V1?

V1 sensor crop is 2.7(or about that) where as the sony NEX is a APS-C sensor?

http://www.dpreview.com/products/sony/slrs/sony_nex5n

http://www.dpreview.com/products/sony/slrs/sony_nex7