Lens for future Africa trip

Hi all! I have a budget here of about $2000 or so. I'm looking at one of the following three lenses -

Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6
Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3
Tamron 150-600mm f/5-6.3

...most likely with either a good 1.4 or 2.0 teleconverter.

Between the Sigma (non-sport) and Tamron, I'd probably go with the Sigma though from what I've read it's almost a wash. I've also read a lot of reviews of TCs by Kenko and Sigma and Nikon saying to stay away from the 2.0... I'd be shooting animals from a distance, so the reach is important, but not as important as IQ.

What have people seen from the three super-telephoto zooms above with and without teleconverters? I realize you lose several stops of light but I'm thinking on a tripod on the savannah the light level may not be a huge issue. Is a 600mm with a 2.0 going to be unusable dark? Any chance of having some auto-focus if I help it hunt?

Just looking for people's experiences with mentioned items.

Jon

I have the Tam 150-600mm and would not advise her. When you're going to Africa, the most important part is that your lens works when you push the button and sadly that's where the Tam is unreliable. Better consider one of both others.

A TC1.4 might work at the Nikon (if it physically fits) and maybe at the short end of both others but it's not going to perform smoothly or fast. At the long end of the f/6.3 it likely will hunt considering new Nikons only AF up to f/8.

However, nothing stops you from manually focusing them. I'd not get a 2.0x on those lenses since the quality would suffer too much.

Another thing to consider is weight, these lenses can get heavy, so think of buying a good strap like the black rapid sports.

I have done Africa (10 Countries in 3 Months) I took my then 80-400VR. Next time I would take something at the 600 range but not the Tamron, so it would be the Sigma sports version, 600 is great for the small birds that are everywhere and also to spot those elusive Leopards which I never saw.

Have a great trip.

My trip link here - http://nikonites.com/general-photography/13619-africa-2013-a.html?highlight=Africa

nikonpup said:

https://luminous-landscape.com/digital-safari-equipment-tips/

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What an awesome link. I'll hang onto that one.

I have a solution for the weight consideration......... take me with you and I'll carry the lens. Great idea, huh?

Okay, I'll rule the Tamron out and I still may yet just rent a lens... but what I really was asking is if anyone had used the Sigma/Tamron/Nikon super-telephoto with a teleconverter and what their experience was. I may stretch the budget a bit and get the Sigma Sport which was always ALMOST an option.

The Nikon lens looks to be 1/3 to 1/2-stop wider on the long end, but at a cost of the extra 100mm focal length (500mm as opposed to 600mm.) How is the IQ on the long end with or without decent teleconverters? ...looking for a first-hand account. I can definitely research on my own, but I love my photog community and value experiences presented here.

Jon Rowlison said:

Okay, I'll rule the Tamron out and I still may yet just rent a lens... but what I really was asking is if anyone had used the Sigma/Tamron/Nikon super-telephoto with a teleconverter and what their experience was. I may stretch the budget a bit and get the Sigma Sport which was always ALMOST an option.

The Nikon lens looks to be 1/3 to 1/2-stop wider on the long end, but at a cost of the extra 100mm focal length (500mm as opposed to 600mm.) How is the IQ on the long end with or without decent teleconverters? ...looking for a first-hand account. I can definitely research on my own, but I love my photog community and value experiences presented here.

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Now I know that this does not answer the question that you are asking... BUT... You may be surprised at how close you can get to some of the animals; assuming that you are going to be in a vehicle of some sort.

When I went to Kenya I miscalculated the weight of my carry-on and only took a 70-300mm lens, as a long lens, on my D90 and did not really struggle to get reasonable shots. We got to within about 8m (25ft) of a female Cheetah and cub and she didn't bat an eyelid.

If this is truly the trip of a lifetime, buy or rent what you think you will need and go all out. There's no sense standing/sitting in the field, wishing that you had this lens or that camera body to capture that perfect photo that you'll never, ever have a chance to see again. And if weight becomes an issue, that's what the wife is for ... or at lest the non-photographers on the trip. Make a deal for someone to help carry your gear and give that person a flash drive of the photos at journey's end.

If you owned a screw drive DX I would tell you to get a TC16a (modified for modern dslr) and a 600mm f/5.6 ais lens along with a 70-300vrg. That would be the best 2000 spent if your goal is taking nice pictures of things that would eat you given the chance.

MaxBlake said:

If this is truly the trip of a lifetime, buy or rent what you think you will need and go all out. There's no sense standing/sitting in the field, wishing that you had this lens or that camera body to capture that perfect photo that you'll never, ever have a chance to see again. And if weight becomes an issue, that's what the wife is for ... or at lest the non-photographers on the trip. Make a deal for someone to help carry your gear and give that person a flash drive of the photos at journey's end.

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This is really the best answer of all. Maybe rent a big prime (with a tc) along with a 80-400.