Mammals which gear for safari?

[Dr Mike]

currently own Sony alpha 6000s and a range of wides - tamron 11-20 viltrox 9mm - apsc primes 35 and 50, and a 90mm sony FE macro for U/w photography

we may go on safari in the future and I am wondering what I would need - I am assuming a short and a long zoom - like the 200-600?

Secondly - given the cost of the safari it may be reasonable to buy a full frame body with a sensor that handles low light better than the alpha 6000 does like the A7?


all thoughts welcome


Dr Mike

 

[FowlersFreeTime]

Hey Doc, when is the Safari? perhaps you could rent a zoom lens [short term] to give it a try with your current camera body? might help you narrow your choices? As you probably know, your A6000 is an APSC, so whatever the focal length your APSC crop makes the images look 1.5X compared to same lens on a full frame camera body. So if you stayed with an APSC camera, like your A6000 or an A6600/A6700, a lens like the 200-600 would be the full frame equivalent of 300-900mm.

On the other hand, there are many advantages to getting a newer camera body; the A6700 and the A7IV/V and have amazing animal eye autofocus and subject recognition in comparison to your A6000. If you want to keep the form factor of what you carry now, but want full frame, there is the A7CII and A7CR to consider.

But hey, what do I know, I've never been on a Safari! I'd probably go on one with my a6700 and upgrade my Tamron zoom to the 50-400mm lens and call it a day. We have a few folks here who have been on safaris and many bird photographers (who I suspect have similar requirements). Hope you find the guidance you're looking for.

 

[Unframed Dave]

My chosen kit would be 200-600 for small birds, distant game.

70-200mm for larger game close up. If I don't have much luggage space, I'd go for the f4, otherwise the 2.8 for the subject separation.

24 - 700 for any landscape.

2 bodies, in my case both A1s, I might pack the a7cr if there were some street opportunities. I hate changing lenses in dusty conditions and you will miss opportunities.

I can get all of that on most airlines hand baggage allowance, but internal flights can have very low weight allowances, then I'd have to take my big coat, it has very deep pockets.

A tripod is pretty well next to useless. I can use all of the above handheld.

A compact pair of binoculars can be very useful.

Insect repellent ditto.