M w/ 70-180/2.8 & 280/4 for Safari?

[DLS]

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So after leaving SLRs behind almost a decade ago, and having returned to a great love of photography through the use of Leica cameras and lenses, I am now concerned (freaking out really) that the gear I've got will fail me during a once in a lifetime trip planned for Namibia and Botswana in November/December.  Landscapes, people, wildlife will all be important aspects of the trip. It will be hot and it will be dusty.  

 

I've private messaged JAAPV (many thanks!) and read through numerous related topics but to no avail on the reduction of anxiety front.  ALL of my so called friends (none of whom shoot Leica) tell me I'm crazy to go without dSLR hardware.  I've been working for over a year with the magnificent 280/4 and more recently acquired the very special 70-180/2.8.  These lenses attached to an M in reasonably controlled situations on tripod or monopod are great, but am I just being a fool?  Should I sell these beasts and use the proceeds for a state of the art Canon or Nikon with a 200-400?  Yes I'll be in private vehicles, and yes I'll be able to use a monopod or tripod often, but I'm getting worried and thinking if I'm going to make this move, I'll need to do so quickly to get through the learning curve with new gear.  Thanks in advance for your collective wisdom.

[dem331]

If I were to go on Safari now I would take a MFT with a long zoom and my M wirh a couple of lenses

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[mmradman]

I assume you already use M240 camera, Jaap is a rare breed and he used to argue that M240 is good for a safari type shooting but truth be told, especially today in 2017, EVF for M240 is at best substandard.

 

Regarding your 70-180 and 280 lenses i wouldn't sell them if my life depended on it but find a way how to utilise them, i assume your are comfortable with manual focusing.

 

If you wish to stick to full frame format (see above post about MFT as an option) and to get most of first rate R lenses of the calibre and heft you have i would shy away from M240 and consider Leica SL.  With M10 in the shops and SL being in the wild since the end of 2015 they are becoming common in secondhand market, a great deal of S/h Leica cameras had easy life.  That is pretty much what i did last month, sold M240 and acquired like new SL601 with L-M adaptor and spare battery for 2/3 cost of a new camera, already had R-M adaptors.

 

Your M240 could be still your back up camera and with some wide/normal M lenses suitable for situations where 70 - 280mm FL is too narrow.

[ECohen]

IMHO

 

Rent  a DSLR and all the lenses your use to.... this once in a lifetime trip will be more fun for you.

 

However

Your M, not being an everything camera is still a wonderful tool. If you can give up your preconceived ideas of the photos you want to make on the trip.  Then just take the M and document the trip with a different point of view.

 

If you have been using this kit for a year ...are you comfortable with it? Will it do what you want?

 

The fact that your asking and it is a once in a lifetime.......do what your most comfortable with.

And the M's your back up...so you can still have fun with its strengths

 

 

Hope this helps

Edited April 5, 2017 by ECohen

[rafikiphoto]

I took my Fujifilm gear to Namibia last year (X-T1 and X-E2). For landscapes, I used the Fujinon 55-200 predominantly (1.5x crop) and the 100-400 for wildlife. I also took the 10-24 and the 18-55. These were used mainly for the social stuff and towns and cities. Coincidentally I am going to Botswana this year and I do now have a Canon 5D to go with my old EF L lenses ranging from wide to long. However, I am leaning towards the Fuji stuff again because it all performed very well and was relatively light and compact. This time I would take the new X-T2  and the X-T1.

[DLS]

Thanks for your comments.  Couple of followup thoughts: I'm inclined to stay with FF format. From what I've read it would seem that the SL offers increased speed of manual focus via dramatically improved EVF and that has some appeal. The pull in the other direction is twofold: the availability of stabilization and the speed of AF in the top dSLRs. I'll let you know where I end up with this decision point.  

 

Magosak: I sent you a PM

[Mantice]

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Depends on what matter to you the most, and how capable of you doing manual focus as our member mentioned. 

 

If I'm going to Costa Rica (my favorite wildlife place), I will not be without latest AF system, because its too critical to get the shoot.  If I'm doing weekend activities with stationary subjects, then getting them to look "special" I'll opt for Leica lens.

 

I had 280/4 and once the focus is nailed it's wonderful, but that's less than 20% under my untrained hand, so it end up not going with me often, till recently I stab myself and replaced it with 500/4~ .  My suggestion is to try chasing pigeons and less active stuff nearby (kids/cars will do) using 280/4; its possible you'll find 70-180 more manageable, unless you have Don's hand   

[jaapv]

So after leaving SLRs behind almost a decade ago, and having returned to a great love of photography through the use of Leica cameras and lenses, I am now concerned (freaking out really) that the gear I've got will fail me during a once in a lifetime trip planned for Namibia and Botswana in November/December.  Landscapes, people, wildlife will all be important aspects of the trip. It will be hot and it will be dusty.  

 

I've private messaged JAAPV (many thanks!) and read through numerous related topics but to no avail on the reduction of anxiety front.  ALL of my so called friends (none of whom shoot Leica) tell me I'm crazy to go without dSLR hardware.  I've been working for over a year with the magnificent 280/4 and more recently acquired the very special 70-180/2.8.  These lenses attached to an M in reasonably controlled situations on tripod or monopod are great, but am I just being a fool?  Should I sell these beasts and use the proceeds for a state of the art Canon or Nikon with a 200-400?  Yes I'll be in private vehicles, and yes I'll be able to use a monopod or tripod often, but I'm getting worried and thinking if I'm going to make this move, I'll need to do so quickly to get through the learning curve with new gear.  Thanks in advance for your collective wisdom.

Don't let yourself be put off by pessimists. If I can get over 90% properly focused shots with the 105-280, 1.4x Apoextender and EVF2, you will certainly be able to do so too.

For one thing focus peaking works perfectly with these lenses and 5x focus aid (10x is too much, it gets wobbly), secondly it is simply a matter of technique. Often it is hard to get focus on a furry animal, so the trick is to focus on the correct piece of grass next to the animal. The second is to "walk" the lens into focus, watch how DOF and plane of focus shift when focusing, again on the grass.

 

Forget about tripod and monopod in a vehicle, even a private one. They are mounted on springs (although one world not say so for a Landcruiser) and will never be stable. As soon as somebody shifts in the vehicle, and believe me, the tracker and spotter and your wife will be fidgeting all the time, your camera will be swaying. And you will be hitting everybody and everything with your monopod or tripod as soon as you move the camera around.

 

 

Use a beanbag. Ideal! and the monopod for walking. The tripod is useful for landscapes and sunsets when you are in camp.

 

And don't forget: you'll be using high shutterspeeds in the bright light, wide open is no problem with these lenses.

 

 

I know that you want to use FF, but I must confess that I am totally convinced by MFT. Stabilisation far beyond DSLR lenses combined with small,light lenses like the DG Vario-Elmar 100-400 (AKA 200-800) that allow shots @ 1/60th at 800 mm handheld are a dream come true. I find that the (slight with that new 20MP sensor) loss of IQ is offset by the higher number of successful shots

[DLS]

Thank you all for sharing your thoughts.  After much consideration and some experimentation, I made the decision to keep my M(240), sell some of my lenses, acquire a Canon 5D MK iii and get through the learning curve with the new kit ahead of the planned trip.  I’m very pleased with early results out of the Canon with an 85mm f/1.2 and will be adding an 11-24mm and 200-400 w/ 1.4x extender.  I’ll go to Namibia and Botswana with both Leica and Canon bodies but expect to use the M as the backup.  I know, it’s blasphemy here but this just seemed to make sense to me. In the final analysis, the gear must give way to the objective: memorable images; the hardware is simply a means to an end.

[jaapv]

It is not blasphemy, it is just a hassle with extra weight and bulk by an extra system.

Don't forget that the light aircraft that you will be using for your transfers have 12 or 15 kg luggage limit, including hand luggage and camera bags.

Normally the pilots will be quite tolerant, but if the aircraft is full, especially with some heavy passengers on board, or if it has to take extra supplies for the camps, the limit will be applied and you may have to purchase space for you excess luggage on the next flight.

 

I would advise you to go full Canon and leave the M at home if you go the DSLR route anyway. You will have little use for it, not even as a backup, as it will not fit your main lenses, unless you take the EVF and Canon adapter.

A 750D body as backup makes a lot more sense.

Don't forget to take a spare charger. Not only can they fail, people tend to forget them at the charging facilities, it will take a few days for it to catch up with you.

[sblutter]

I'd practice around your home before leaving with a friend driving.  Whichever kit gets you the results you want wins