jaapv Posted June 2, 2014 Share #61 Posted June 2, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) Ummm.. One still needs to be called Dagobert;) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted June 2, 2014 Posted June 2, 2014 Hi jaapv, Take a look here Safari lenses for M240?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Peter H Posted June 2, 2014 Share #62 Posted June 2, 2014 Possibly leaving the camera home is indeed the way to have a Safari of a lifetime. I love wildlife and nature photography, but often I just leave the camera be in order to enjoy the experience. The worst thing to do is to is to see your safari through a viewfinder only. I couldn't agree more Jaap. Every moment spent behind the viewfinder is a moment of magic lost, in return for a photograph which, at its very best, will be a pale reflection of the unforgettable reality. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carduelis Posted June 2, 2014 Share #63 Posted June 2, 2014 I would be tempted to take a digital camcorder on a safari to record the action and sounds of the animals/birds. There are many camcorders that have good optical zooms that are image stabilised and can extend out to about a 400 mm equivalent focal length on a full frame camera. The zooms also autofocus which makes a big difference as well. I went to the Antarctic Peninsula in 2006 armed with a Panasonic 3CCD camcorder (with Leica lens) and got some great video footage of the antics of the penguins and unfortunately the skuas that were disturbing the chicks. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted June 2, 2014 Share #64 Posted June 2, 2014 Nowadays one could even consider a drone, for unusual aerial shots and getting close. Though it might get slammed by a Martial Eagle. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DMJ Posted June 2, 2014 Share #65 Posted June 2, 2014 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pragmatist Posted June 3, 2014 Share #66 Posted June 3, 2014 your first ever Safari, so the trip of a lifetime possibly? I would forget Leica and hire (if you can afford it) a Canon 5D 3 and 300mm F2.8 plus a 1.4x converter. Go out with that and have a damn good time. I'm an ex wildlife photographer by the way and have owned lenses from 16mm to 800mm F5.6 with a 500 and 600mm F4 thrown in for good measures so i do feel qualified. Also a 16-35mm would be nice for some of the amazing vistas you will encounter. Hope you have a great trip. ps this is nothing against Leica, i just want the OP to come back with some of the best images he can. Matt Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted June 3, 2014 Share #67 Posted June 3, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) And as I said, practise with the long lenses before you leave, it is an aquired skill. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
albireo_double Posted June 3, 2014 Share #68 Posted June 3, 2014 Leaving for a two week trip to Uganda in a month - one week mountain trek and one week safari. Taking the S2, 30-90 zoom and the 180. Last time I went, I just had a 35 and a 120. Still took many nice pictures and cropped when needed. The 120 lens wasn't that difficult to handhold. I didn't worry about the pictures I couldn't take and rather enjoyed the views. We had a private car with a driver all the time - definitely the way to go. Uganda | OpenEyesPhoto | Martin Drazsky Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted June 3, 2014 Share #69 Posted June 3, 2014 Gorillas too? One of the ultimate wildlife experiences. You’ll love the people. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wmspa Posted June 3, 2014 Share #70 Posted June 3, 2014 Don't bring too much equipment, but try to travel light. My favourite camera on a trip to Kenia and Tansania was an M9 with the 50/1.4 asph lens. Of course, this will also work with the M240. The 50 mm focal length was perfect for landscape - better than a 35 mm lens - and quite a few animal shots, as well, because we often got really close. In addition, I would take an SLR with a 70 - 300 or (if you use a camera with 1.5 or 1.6 crop factor) 70 - 200 mm lens; a lightweight f4 lens is fine. Possibly, a 1.4 extender when the animals are really far away (we saw a cheetah with eight cubs when this was useful). This set-up will also reduce lens swapping to a minimum (dust!). Wolfgang Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnbuckley Posted June 4, 2014 Share #71 Posted June 4, 2014 I love Albiero Double's line: don't worry about the pictures you can't take and enjoy the views. Going on safari for the first time in August -- Botswana, yes, I know it is chilly in August -- I have read this thread and learned a lot. I have learned: to let my 16-year old son with his excellent Canon 6d get those pictures I can't get; to use my M-240 with my 80-200 f/4 to get the long-distance photos I can, but not stress about the ones I can't; to make sure I bring my Leica binocs as I'll enjoy using them while my son uses his teles to get certain pics; to make sure I bring home the pictures my M and Monochrom can get: landscape, people, animals in closer range. We are going to Mombo and Savuti camps, which are known for small crowds and close proximity to animals, so I think I may get what I'm looking for. But will take Jaap's advice and both practice my long lens shooting in our nearby zoo, and bring along an empty beanbag. Very helpful thread. Thank you to all who have offered advice and good luck to all who are going on safari for the first time -- several of us this summer, it seems. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted June 4, 2014 Share #72 Posted June 4, 2014 The wildlife at Mombo is amazing and you will not need too long lenses there. The camp itself is rather over the top in my experience, but nice enough. Savuti is different and less gamerich but very satisfying nevertheless. A good plan to go with Wilderness Safaris; they are a good outfit. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carduelis Posted June 4, 2014 Share #73 Posted June 4, 2014 your first ever Safari, so the trip of a lifetime possibly? I would forget Leica and hire (if you can afford it) a Canon 5D 3 and 300mm F2.8 plus a 1.4x converter. Go out with that and have a damn good time. I'm an ex wildlife photographer by the way and have owned lenses from 16mm to 800mm F5.6 with a 500 and 600mm F4 thrown in for good measures so i do feel qualified. Also a 16-35mm would be nice for some of the amazing vistas you will encounter. Hope you have a great trip. ps this is nothing against Leica, i just want the OP to come back with some of the best images he can. Matt Good advice above. Although I am no expert, I can also recommend the 300 mm F4 L IS lens which also takes acceptably sharp images with the 1.4x convertor. Considering one of the latest cropped sensor Canon Digital SLRs will also give you an extra 1.6x focal length boost with a bit extra depth of field. However, a sensor with good high ISO behaviour is important as well. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delcredere Posted June 4, 2014 Share #74 Posted June 4, 2014 And as I said, practise with the long lenses before you leave, it is an aquired skill. At the risk of asking a silly question, what are the things to concentrate on when practicing, please? I have used the Vario 80-200 with the APO 2x extension tube and got some cracking shots but also quite a few duds I am sure from inadequate expertise on my part. Thank you for your advice on what is a terrific thread. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted June 4, 2014 Share #75 Posted June 4, 2014 Well,to begin with you must obviously practice keeping steady when shooting freehand. Stance, breathing technique, etc., and decide for yourself whether you need to use a small chestpod. Also find out what your longest shutterspeed is that yields acceptable results, so to be able to shoot at the lowest ISO. On the 240 you should also practice your "piano fingers" operate the focus aid smoothly. I would not go to 10x magnification, 5x is just OK regarding stability. As for focusing, it is not easy to focus exactly on a furry creature. I usually take advantage of grass or pebbles that lie in the plane of focus next to the animal. The same things go when using a bean bag, but of course at far higher levels of stability. I like to set image review to hold shutter button. This prevents the blackout after the exposure and is more pleasant, you hardly notice the resulting freeze of the scene. On freezes: the 240 can lock up after one shot using the EVF at very high ambient temperatures. Firstly you only need to switch off and on to clear the jam, secondly, not using autoshutoff mitigates the problem. If you have to figure all this out on the moment supreme you will not be a happy shooter. I'll probably think of more later... Lastly, take the camera from your eye. sit back and enjoy Your very best images will be stored in your mind, not on your SD card. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delcredere Posted June 4, 2014 Share #76 Posted June 4, 2014 Well,to begin with you must obviously practice keeping steady when shooting freehand. Stance, breathing technique, etc., and decide for yourself whether you need to use a small chestpod. Also find out what your longest shutterspeed is that yields acceptable results, so to be able to shoot at the lowest ISO. On the 240 you should also practice your "piano fingers" operate the focus aid smoothly. I would not go to 10x magnification, 5x is just OK regarding stability. As for focusing, it is not easy to focus exactly on a furry creature. I usually take advantage of grass or pebbles that lie in the plane of focus next to the animal. The same things go when using a bean bag, but of course at far higher levels of stability. I like to set image review to hold shutter button. This prevents the blackout after the exposure and is more pleasant, you hardly notice the resulting freeze of the scene. On freezes: the 240 can lock up after one shot using the EVF at very high ambient temperatures. Firstly you only need to switch off and on to clear the jam, secondly, not using autoshutoff mitigates the problem. If you have to figure all this out on the moment supreme you will not be a happy shooter. I'll probably think of more later... Lastly, take the camera from your eye. sit back and enjoy Your very best images will be stored in your mind, not on your SD card. Just tapping the "Thanks" button seems ungracious. So thank you! I seem to recall reading that you should focus using the widest aperture and then move to the aperture that you want if it is smaller. Is this right? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted June 4, 2014 Share #77 Posted June 4, 2014 Yes - but I would advise to shoot wide open anyway for fastest shutterspeed. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mmark Posted June 5, 2014 Share #78 Posted June 5, 2014 Some general advices for Kenya safari. Hire a car with guide/driver, you can do that at many lodges but I prefer getting one of independent ones from Nairobi. Avoid tour operators offer "3 days safari" you will end in mediocre lodges and small Toyota buses (9 persons inside!). I prefer car drive to the location, seeing all the villages, country and people. But be warned; roads aren't good. Try to change lodges during your safari, especially in Mara. It's big park and you can't go far away during game drive. 1-3 nights in one place is best. Visit Lake Nakuru, although not the most popular destination it's worth to see million of lemmings. Protect your equipment against dust/sand. I'd recommend Gura Gear bags or other similar. Keep them zipped all the times. Try to minimize lens changes during game drive, dust is everywhere! Get more batteries with you. Most of the lodges have power generators so be ready to quickly charge everything you have to. Usually electricity is available early morning, during lunch time and in the evening. Have a laptop, tablet or any other device to backup your photos. DON'T reuse your memory cards. Have many of them and keep TWO COPIES of your precious photos. Get a flash with you, it will help during night life in lodges but also as fill flash when needed. Go for a walking safari, you may not see too much wildlife but it's still great experience. Visit Masai village. It usually cost you 50-100 USD (unlimited photos during visit included). Help their community. Buy some souvenirs from them. Get a sound recorder (or video recorder) with you. Record all the African sounds. As other already said; don't see wildlife thru viewfinder only Enjoy Africa and plan your next safari right after getting back home Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted June 5, 2014 Share #79 Posted June 5, 2014 Spell checker ? I guess you mean Flamingoes.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
adli Posted June 5, 2014 Author Share #80 Posted June 5, 2014 Thanks for all the tips. Seems as I will settle on a Vario-Elmar 105-280, as I don't want to buy a new camera system for the trip and I will bring the leica anyway. I will probably sell my 75 Lux to finance the lens. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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