Safari lens advice - converter or not?

[moonyaker]

We are off to Tanzania on a once in a lifetime trip in a few weeks on safari for a week followed by a few days in Zanzibar.

Following much research, I was lucky enough to acquire a Sigma 100-300 F4 EX lens which I had intended to mate with a Sigma 1.4x EX DG converter and my old Nikon D70 for this trip.

However, a mate of mine, who went on a similar trip some years ago, had convinced me that, as far as the safari was concerned, the drivers get you nice and close to the animals and that a 300mm lens would be fine (with the crop factor) and that a converter was not required, and so I' ve not acquired one.

But, having taken a few shots of one of our cats over the weekend, (which was no more than 15 metres away), and which spectacularly failed to get mildly close to filling the frame at 300mm, I am starting to seriously reconsider whether I should not get the converter after all, and am after a bit of advice in this regard.

What I am after is a good set of shots, (of whatever), that will act as a nice reminder of our holiday. I guess that it's more likely that I'll be taking shots of larger mammals and people rather than birds. We will be in a vehicle and not walking.

I have a D40 which will either have an 18-70mm lens or 18-200mm lens attached for the closer shots.

With the dust problem, I really want to set up the D70 with the lens set-up from the off and not change it until I get home to the UK.

If my friend is right and I don't need the extra length, I'd be pleased to save the money at the moment, but as it is likely to be a once in a lifetime trip, if I'm really going to miss-out, I guess I'll have to 'bite the bullet' and get the converter.

Any assistance you can offer with this crisis of confidence, would be greatly welcomed.

Thanks.

[DrNickBurton]

Hi -

I've used the 100-300mm quite a lot over the last year, with and without the 1.4 TC. There is some loss in contrast when the TC is fitted, but in good light you can stop down far enough to get nice sharp images. With this combo, I've found the sweet spot is about f/10.

Gotta say, if it were me (and I wish it were ;-)), I'd take the TC. Better to have the reach and not need it, than to not have the reach and need it.

So that would be...

D40 + 18-200mm
D70 + 140-420mm

...and you've got it all covered. Nice light weight kit too.

If after a few excursions you decide you really don't need the reach after all, you can remove the TC - just a single lens change shouldn't hurt.

[stealthpaul]

I used my 120-300 F2.8 on holiday in Arran taking shots of raptors, and i brought along a Sigma 1.4X TC which i used for some out of reach shots.

I was bitterly disappointed, as the TC shots seemed slight OOF and didnt have the sharp punch i expect with the F2.8 normally.

I would expect a slight drop in image quality if you use one.

Paul