Camera and lenses for wildlife photography?

Banana_Joe · Feb 10, 2013

Hello, next month I'm going to a photo safari in Kenya, and my camera just died. I've been meaning to buy a new one for a while but I was holding out to see what Canon was going to do with the 7d Mark II.
Which camera (and lenses) would you suggest for wildlife photography? My budget is around 2200, and for that money I would be able to get a Canon 7d (1050), a Canon EF 70-300 f/4-5.6 IS USM (400), a Canon EF-S 15-85 f/3.5-5.6 IS USM (590), 32GB CF SanDisk 60 MB/s (82), extra battery (29), Lowepro Fastpack 350 (77) and Cullman Nanomax 260 tripod (71).
I guess there's no point in waiting for the new 7d since I suspect it will cost at least 2000 body only, and that would be outside my budget.
Any advices?

KmH · Feb 10, 2013

I would recommend the Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 AF APO DG OS HSM Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras
Manfrotto MMC3-01 Compact 5 Section Aluminum Monopod for Cameras (Black)

the
Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 IF EX DG HSM AF Standard Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras

and the
Canon EOS 7D 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3-Inch LCD (Body Only)

brunerww · Feb 10, 2013

Joe - if you want to lighten your load a little, you may want to take a look at what pro photographer Daniel Cox said about the new Panasonic GH3 his recent trip to Kenya: Testing Panasonic?s Newest Micro Four Thirds Camera: The GH3 « Equipment Reviews « Natural Exposures ? Corkboard

This picture from Daniel's blog entry tells the story - lenses with 600mm equivalent focal length on both cameras:

View attachment 35640

For just over 2200, you can get the GH3 with the 14-140 lens for 1711.50 and a 527 100-300mm lens. This will give you a tough, splashproof body and two relatively small lenses with a 28-600mm equivalent range.

Good luck on your trip - look forward to seeing pictures!

Bill

Banana_Joe · Feb 11, 2013

KmH said:
I would recommend the Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 AF APO DG OS HSM Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras
Manfrotto MMC3-01 Compact 5 Section Aluminum Monopod for Cameras (Black)

the
Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 IF EX DG HSM AF Standard Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras

and the
Canon EOS 7D 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3-Inch LCD (Body Only)

Those lenses look good, but unfortunately out of my budget!

Banana_Joe · Feb 11, 2013

brunerww said:
Joe - if you want to lighten your load a little, you may want to take a look at what pro photographer Daniel Cox said about the new Panasonic GH3 his recent trip to Kenya: Testing Panasonic?s Newest Micro Four Thirds Camera: The GH3 « Equipment Reviews « Natural Exposures ? Corkboard

This picture from Daniel's blog entry tells the story - lenses with 600mm equivalent focal length on both cameras:

View attachment 35640

For just over 2200€, you can get the GH3 with the 14-140 lens for 1711.50€ and a 527€ 100-300mm lens. This will give you a tough, splashproof body and two relatively small lenses with a 28-600mm equivalent range.

Good luck on your trip - look forward to seeing pictures!

Bill

Thank you! I'm looking forward to shoot them!!!
That camera looks promising and incredibly weight (and bulk) saving, but unfortunately I can't get my self to like the EVR and I prefer the feeling of the DSLRs... So I'm afraid I'm comdemned to bend my back under tons of equipment!

KmH · Feb 11, 2013

Banana_Joe said:
Those lenses look good, but unfortunately out of my budget!

That gear is right on your budget of around $2200€.

Banana_Joe · Feb 11, 2013

KmH said:
Banana_Joe said:

Those lenses look good, but unfortunately out of my budget!

Click to expand...

That gear is right on your budget of around $2200€.

You're right it's almost on my budget, here I can find those (EOS 7D+the 2 lenses) for 2300€, but I'd still have to add the remaining gear getting a bit out of it. Are those Sigma lenses good?

Banana_Joe · Feb 11, 2013

Can anyone comment on the Canon EF 70-300 f/4-5.6 IS USM and the Canon EF-S 15-85 f/3.5-5.6 IS USM? The 70-300 seems to have the best reach/quality ratio I can afford... I could afford to buy a Canon EF 70-200mm f/4 L USM, but it wouldn't have enough reach or IS...

ChrisHeathcote · Feb 12, 2013

Dependant on how wide you want to go, have a look at the Sigma 17-70 F2.8-4 DC OS HSM instead of the 24-70 F2.8. Heres an example of what it can do. Look at the close up of the leopard

Nature & Wildlife | CHP Imaging

SCraig · Feb 12, 2013

Banana_Joe said:
You're right it's almost on my budget, here I can find those (EOS 7D+the 2 lenses) for 2300, but I'd still have to add the remaining gear getting a bit out of it. Are those Sigma lenses good?

All shot with the Sigma 150-500 on a Nikon D7000.