While SN was down over the past couple of days, I posted this on EOS forums. Would appreciate your opinions also;
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I am going on a family holiday to South Africa in Sept. I'm visiting Cape Town, The Garden Route and Kruger and hoping to take in the wildlife and whale watching while we are there.
Originally I was going to take all of my equipment which fits nicely in the my Lowepro Computrekker but a recent back problem means I'd struggle with the weight.
I'd like to be equipped to cover the following subjects;
wildlife (cats, elephants etc)
sealife (whales and dolphins)
landscapes
cityscapes
general travel

my equipment consists of the following;
Canon 30D
70-200mm f2.8L IS
24-70mm f2.8L
50mm f1.8
efs 10-22mm
70-300mm f4-5.6 IS
1.4 x EFII
Speedlite 430EX

What would you leave behind and why?
Thanks in advance
Andy

If travelling fairly light, I'd take:

30D

70-200 f2.8L IS
24-70 f2.8L
1.4x TC

Even with the 200mm with a 1.4 TC and 1.6 crop you'll still find you need more length on your zoom. However, I'd take the 70-200 in preference to the 70-300 as it'll work much better on the 30D with the TC. A 100-400 with a 1.4TC and a body that'll still autofocus at the high end would be better for game, but probably still not ideal!

Your choice as to whether you need a flash for the sort of images you're looking to capture. Landscapes and game shooting won't benefit from it!

I've just come back from Jo'burg and CT and couldn't be bothered to lug my SLR gear over there, risk it getting nicked, etc. - so just took a little Sony p&s which worked pretty well considering....

Going back in October for some game shooting (images, not bullets) and will take some serious kit with me then, probably!

Shades

If you are wanting to travel really light I'd leave out the 24-70 as well.
If most of your shots will be outdoors loosing the 24-70 range wouldn't matter that much really to me.
You can always use your legs to go "wider" if you catch my drift. i.e 70mm of the 70-200 and 10 paces backwards. Make sure you aren't near a cliff first though:D

For what it's worth I am currently in Cape Town on a contract (Telecoms).
I have been out since June, should be home by August.
I have a 10D, 20D, 17-40L, 50 F1.8, 28-75Tamron, 70-200f2.8, 100-400L and 1.4TC 550EX etc.
I decided instead to bring a little point and shoot:D
Mainly because as mentioned above I'd always be worried about muggings with all that gear on show.
I'ts not quite Iraq out here but you do need to be sensible etc.
I have done the Garden route before and you'll have a great time, enjoy, beautiful country shame about the politics and crime.

Just to be contrary ;)

30D
10-22mm
17-85mm IS
70-300mm IS

That's a nicely balanced outfit for most things. I think that's what Canon was thinking for EF-S users would go for.

Then when on safari where expesnive kit and low light are not a problem, leave the 70-300mm behind and hire a 100-400mm IS. Use with your 1.4x Extender for serious reach.

Richard.

PS Not sure why you have got both 70-300mm IS and 70-200mm IS with Extender :confused: Could sell both and get 100-400mm IS???

Thanks for your advice,

PS Not sure why you have got both 70-300mm IS and 70-200mm IS with Extender Could sell both and get 100-400mm IS???
I bought the 70-300mm first and found it wasn't fast enough and a bit soft so I bought the 70-200mm. I kept the 70-300mm for those situations where I didn't need the speed of the 70-200mm and where weight is a problem. I'm toying with the idea of replacing them both with a 70-200mm f4 and also a 400mm prime.

I have done the Garden route before and you'll have a great time, enjoy, beautiful country shame about the politics and crime.
This is my sixth trip to SA, my wife is from Jo'burg. I'd be interested to hear what the work situation is in the telecoms industry. I've been working in Telecoms industry for 20 years and have thought about moving to SA.

Andy, I see where you're coming from ;) I guess you know about the IQ problems the 70-300mm IS has in portrait orientation and that your lens is okay?

It looks like your lens problems are centred around the long end, and I spotted this quote from Andy Rouse who has recently returned from three months in Antarctica. His full story is on www.warehouseexpress.com

"Lenses – Canon 500mm F4L IS, Canon 300mm F2.8L IS, Canon 100-400mm IS, Canon 70-200mm F2.8L IS, Canon 100mm macro, Canon 24-70mm F2.8L. Oh yes and my trusty 1.4x teleconverter. A decent range of lenses that covered all eventualities, although we only took a small subset of these to each location with us. The most popular lens combination that we used was the 70-200 with the 1.4x teleconverter or the 100-400, both of which gave us flexibility and more options than a fixed lens."

I am thinking that in terms of lens reach your circumstances may be similar. From what I've seen of safari pictures, animals range from a few feet away to hundreds of yards, and I would not want to be stuck with a fixed prime lens, or be without IS.

I would also think about a second body as things may change quicker than you can change lenses, which will not be easy in the back of a truck on a bumpy, dusty track :eek: And if one body gets a bash, you're stuffed.

Cheers,

Richard.

I'd take the 10-22, 50, 70-200 and 1.4x. Leaving the big white lens at home isn't an option if you want to take wildlife pics. The other two lenses are pretty small and light, so you might as well have them with you.

Regarding the 100-400, I wouldn't have one in preference to a 70-200 and it doesn't work at all well with the 1.4x in my experience. Apart from losing AF, the image quality is degraded too much, especially at the long end, which is the whole point of using it! :)

you say family - this implies wife and kids. load them up like packhorses and take all the gear :)

you say family - this implies wife and kids. load them up like packhorses and take all the gear :)

Wife, Brother, Sister-in-law, Mother and Father. On second thoughts, I'd better go and buy some more gear so they've all got something to carry :p

Hiya Andy

I think you got the gear right - but please bring cleaning kit - SA is very dusty and when changing lenses you going to have to do a lot of cleaning specifically when in the game areas

And as to telecoms - what do you have experience in ?

I am a nortel reseller / supporter etc myself

Box for condoms then.

:) :) :)

And as to telecoms - what do you have experience in ?

I am a nortel reseller / supporter etc myself

Worked in many areas, originally a business systems fitter / programmer. Now wokring as a Retail Product Manager, just launched a VoIP Service.

aha
well here in South Africa we have a single carrier and thats about to change - a second carrier has been approved and its now a "waiting" game for the second carrier to be launched - this means that the scope for alternate carriers etc like VoIP in country and to neighbouring states etc is ripe for oppurtunity - if someone could come along with a great big wi max network that would sort the existing carrier out !

This does mean that VoIP services are all on a vertical growth climb !

I've been in SA since mid-April... coming home in 3-4 weeks :luxhello:
Don't get me wrong, had an EXCELLENT time, but missing good olde blighty!

So kit-wise I have a D70, 18-70mm kit lens, 80-200 2.8 AFS and a 1.7x teleconverter. Have yet to use my flash gun!! Also brought along a medium format Bronica ETRS. Shot about 10-15 rolls with this puppy.

Canon 30D - obvious, bring this!
70-200mm f2.8L IS - bring this
24-70mm f2.8L - hmm... toss a coin, might be useful for family shots
50mm f1.8 - leave this - no point in my opinion
efs 10-22mm - Definitely bring this. SPECTACULAR views!!
70-300mm f4-5.6 IS - leave this
1.4 x EFII - bring this
Speedlite 430EX - again toss a coin.

DEFINITELY get yourself a monopod. Game viewing is often done at dawn/dusk when light is low. You'll need stability even with IS.

There is a good shop in Cape Town, with outstanding printing/development. Kit is expensive even with the GBP/ZAR exchange rate:
http://www.orms.co.za/

If you want some more points advice etc drop me a PM. I've spent 7-8 days on safari and there's good and bad things about Kruger. Private Game reserves are the way forward. You get much closer to the animals!!

Garden Route is stunning!

I'm working in Finance, not telecoms so can't add to that discussion :lol1: