Is this a stupid idea...? Safari Lens question

Auraomega said:
I did indeed, I didn't realise it was you last time! I've been racking my brain all day to find something to compare it against, but it turns out it's rare to find anything large and of a standard size that most people have. I'll try and do it against a 2l bottle of something fizzy later :D
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Excellent, thanks! I did wonder what you could use as well but wasn't sure myself. A bottle was a good idea though. I have to say though looking at that 2xTC I'm not sure I'd trust such a heavy lens on just that!:p Those pictures have given me a good idea of size though, I will go check a 2l bottle in a minute.:)

Auraomega said:
If you shoot me a message in trust I'll email a couple of full res samples, although bare in mind that the 300mm is on a D300, and the 600mm are on a D3.
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Thanks, I shall send you an email shortly.:)

Auraomega said:
To me that sounds like a definite buy over rent, if you were to rent something like the 200-400 (which is a better lens, but for the record is a heavier and significantly larger lens than the 120-300) 3 times over you'd have paid for the 120-300 outright.
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That is my feeling too, aside from the general going out and shooting things as well as long as I have the space whatever I choose will hopefully be useful over the next few years. I may still keep the 70-300 as a general muck around lens if I'm just taking the camera along for a ride.

bigredshark said:
I'm not sure which, the 300 f/4 is underrated in my view and the 300 f/2.8 is obviously fantastic, I think on a crop body I'd take one of those if I wasn't satisfied with the 70-300 and wanted more reach than the 70-200 (oh, and didn't fancy paying for the 200-400). On a full frame body I'd take a 400 or the 200-400. Obviously

I'm not convinced any zoom other than the 200-400 would be enough of an upgrade to be worth the money personally but I don't know the 120-300 at all.
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I loved the Canon 300 f/4 and the Nikon is supposed to be just as good. I think they are underrated by many who immediately go for the f/2.8 versions, not realising how much easier an f/4 is to carry around, and just how sharp they are. Just a shame Nikon seem to have missed upgrading the current f/4 to VR...

I'm currently umming and arring about whether to pick one of the 120-300's up shortly but I know a new version is coming out soon, all I know is spring, with no official price... Higher or lower and when... Anyone want to guess...?;) I've also read one poster suggesting there are a lot of problems with the OS version, apparently lots up for sale and sent back, however I haven't actually seen any posts from anyone sending them back (or many sales of them), is it just someone talking out of their **** or is there actually a problem no one else has mentioned?:confused:
 
DoubleCheese said:
I seem to remember quite distinctly from reading a few wildlife photographers say that their Okavango kit is very different to their East Africa Safari kit.
Longer lenses are a must. I'll try & find the articles but I think you may want to rent a 200-400VR for this :-*

*Edit* Link
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/locations/okavango.shtml
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Very true, different places will have different needs. You might be OK with a 300 on a crop body still, the pros will use 400 or 500s but on full frame (maybe with a TC), the 600s less so. 450 equivalent from the 300 on a crop seems reasonable in comparison. I'd probably want a 300 that could take a TC though. Or the 200-400 (you can't really overstate how usefully a lens it is here). With a 300 or particularly a 400 you'll be wanting something in the shorter telephoto range too on occasions (a 70-200 ideally).

Given this, the 120-300 with a 1.4 TC might be the way to go, I just don't know it at all unfortunately so can't really comment.
 
those pics remind me of seeing a guy with a nex 3 or 5 walk past me, with a massive lense on his camera.... xD, same size ish as those i guess, but white. looked very funny :D

2 camera's would make it easier, maybe comprimise and go for a small point n shoot or similer for the close range stuff, or your phone?
 
So I've bitten the bullet... Just bought a used 120-300 OS... Should be arriving tomorrow so I have the weekend to play with it and see if it is sharp (or too big).

I did wonder about waiting for the new version to come out but the pre order prices mean I doubt it will go down to anything like the current OS for a year or so and the OS comes up so infrequently on the used market I don't want to chance not getting one now. Gives me chance to play with it as well.

I shall report back when I have have had a play...
 
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