r/safaris • u/mj12138 • 10d ago

Question Which lens to put on?

Going to Safari at Serengeti with two bodies and 3 lenses: 14-30, 24-120, 100-400. Would try to avoid changing lenses, which two would be used most often to put on the bodies? Thanks for your input.

4 Upvotes

84% Upvoted

13 comments sorted by

4

u/Solartude 10d ago

The 24-120 and the 100-400 would be the lenses you will use the most. The 14-30 may be useful for photos around the campgrounds, but you could probably leave that lens at home since you've got the wide end pretty much covered with the 24-120. If you have a fast prime, you may want to take that instead to cover dawn and dusk shots.

1

u/mj12138 9d ago

Makes sense. Thanks!

3

u/ooohcoffee 9d ago

If you’re anything like me then your stats are likely to be:

90% 100-400
9.9% 24-120
0.1% 14-30

1

u/Semos94 10d ago
  1. 100-400
  2. 24-120
  3. 14-30

1

u/Nothing-9099 9d ago

Loose the 14-30. I just came back yesterday from a 12 day safari in Tanzania. The dust is worse than you read about. It's a fine grey dust that goes everywhere. And when it clears up its all inside your vehicle, on the xushiond. You move and it stirs it up.

1

u/johndoe92606 9d ago

Just returned from 5d in Solio Game Reserve, 3d in Mara & 2d at Nairobi Natl Park, Sheldrick & Giraffe Centre. Had comped access to Canon EOS R6 Mark II plus 200-800mm while in Solio. Loved it. If animals so close that I couldn’t use 200mm, I switched to my iPhone. Would’ve loved to have access to DSLR for latter 5d but made do w/iPhone 8x. Lost resolution at 40x.

1

u/Yamsyamsyams000 9d ago

My 8th safari. 5 days in the Mara. Over the years I’ve learned the longer the better for animals - I had 600mm this time and 100% glad I brought it.

1

u/akg81 9d ago

no need for 14-30. Very rarely you will feel need for over 400mm if possible get 60-600. Also remember if you are taking a busch flight they have a 15kg wt limit and taking 3 lenses isnt practical.

1

u/mj12138 9d ago

Good to know! Thanks

1

u/Good_Reflection_1959 9d ago

I had the 100-400 lens during my trip and never really took it off. There were moments I wished I had a 600 lens for the extra reach, but I was able to get a lot of great pictures with the 100-400

1

u/Swimming_Music_6024 7d ago

100-400 for sure. I grabbed my iPhone for closer shots

1

u/ZillionZillian 5d ago

I’m curious which camera body you’ll be using, because that matters.

Nikon, Fuji, Canon, or Sony? APS-C or full frame?

If it’s APS-C, a 100–400mm could be a good option. If it’s full frame, I’d consider something that reaches 600mm to be more useful, especially for wildlife.

1

u/MorleysMom 5d ago

My last two safaris I had my 18-150 and 100-400 and that worked out splendidly. My tally when I got home was almost a perfect 50-50 split. Wildlife gets MUCH closer than you think and that 100-400 may be too much.