Other Looking for advice

[tbar23]

Hi all - I posted several days ago about choosing a lens for my EOS Rp for an upcoming safari. I am leaning towards renting an RF 100-500 mm f/4.5-7.1 L IS USM.
I am not an experienced wildlife photographer. In fact, I’m not a terribly experienced photographer, period. Most of my photos since buying this camera several months ago have been of the sky (e.g. astrophotography).

I am wondering if any of the experts here have advice on how to prepare for this trip.

 

[Dave Williams]

I'm heading to South Africa on a self drive later this year. I have the 100-500 plus a 1.4 TC and debating should I take anything else to be honest. I only have one camera body now so I can only use one lens at a time. I also have the RF 800f11 which I'm debating keeping and the EF 500mm f4 plus TC's. Last time I took my now sold 100-400 which was the most used lens for mammals, the 500 plus TC for birds.
The shorter barrel and weight of the 100-500 is perfect in an enclosed space such as a vehicle or for walkabout depending on what sort of safari you are taking and what your main subject matter will be. If you are wanting birds too I'd rent a 1.4TC too but when you attach it your lens becomes a minimum 420mm extending to 700mm.
Reach isn't everything on safari though. Heat haze often negates some of the benefit of longer reach. The one thing that the 100-500 doesn't produce is the smooth bokeh an f4 lens would but get the angle right and lots of background separation and the results can be very pleasing.
If you wanted to save on the expense you could check out how much the EF 100-400 plus a TC is to rent but you would also need a EF-EOSR adaptor.That combination with TC attached works extremely well and gives you 140-560mm reach.
Alternatively you could even buy the RF version although I have no experience of it so can't comment on performance but it's very inexpensive and would be yours to keep.
On all the above suggestions, I would double check their compatibility with your EOS RP. I say that because when I bought the RF 800mm f11 I wasn't aware of the AF point limitations that lens has. You basically can only use 25% of the available AF points. I have no experience of the RP whatsoever.
Where are you heading out of interest?

 

[tbar23]

Thanks @Dave Williams! I have wondered whether one of the TCs makes sense. I’m thinking of going to the local rental shop to chat with the folks there.
With regards to destinations:
Tarangire, Lake Manyara National Park and Serengeti Mara in Tanzania.
Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in Nairobi and then a stop at Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe.

 

[Dave Williams]

Looks like an excellent trip! One thing I didn't take on my last safari but wished I had was a trail camera to see what goes around and about, especially after dark, right outside your accommodation. The minute I got home I bought one for the next trip which will be nearly three years later on for obvious reasons! However, I decided to test it in our garden which is large and borders open countryside. The first night out I was amazed to capture a Badger on camera and this led to a photo project which kept me occupied throughout lockdown. Trail Cameras are not very expensive to buy, I bought mine from the local supermarket for less than $US 100 and it's great fun finding out what's about before deciding how to capture a better image.

 

[Hali]

Hi, Let me say you both will have an amazing time on Safari. It is an incredible experience and you will come home with so many images you might not know what to do with all of them.

I went on Safari in Tanzani in 2019 in early March for 12 days. I shot close to 15000 images. The 100-500 will cover most of your needs. I would not attach a teleconverter. There will be plenty of times you will want the "wider" end of the range because it's not all about the portrait shots. It's also about the environment the animal lives in and you need context for that. If you only do closeup portraits, who's to say someone might not ask you if that was a particularly dusty zoo shot? My go to lens was a 500mm prime I took 75% of my shots with that. My second most used lens was a 70-200 I took 20% with that and most of those were in the 100-200mm range. I took a smattering of images with my 24-105. So, again, I would say the 100-500 is your best bet. You don't want to be changing lenses when your out on a drive - you will get dust everywhere in your camera and lens. Don't forget to use your smart phone camera. We took video and lots of shots with the phone that were actually keepers.

 

[Steinr98]

The long reacheis your greatest advantage!! If you are too close, you can always shoot for an eye photo or something similar and you will be happy you did! Sometimes only a part of a photo is more to your likilng!