Masai Mara 2007

I nearly booked that one! I also want to go to Patagonia, Namibia, Zambia, Yellowstone, Candian Rockies, Victoria Falls, to see Polar Bears and Tigers if they move them!

Keep on dreaming

I mean't to mention to you. If you are taking Deet insect repellant (normally 50%), don't get it anywhere near you camera or equipment. It melts plastic

You can rest assured that I've never been known to flirt . . . my wife won't let me .

Ah, but those big puppy-dog eyes!

Some nice memories here Jeanette, I especially like the rhino. I suppose your already saving up for the next trip

On the subject of camera insurance I have mine covered under my house insurance, I have £4000 specified for camera equipment and its written onto the policy as such, Direct Line might not be the cheapest but I cant fault their customer service and claims handling.

Sounds a great trip.

Anyway, as I'm heading off to Kenya in three weeks and have money sitting in my account (which I was going to waste on food, clothes and electricity) I am still pondering the Bigma.

I have a 60-250 f/4.0, tamron 70-300 and a 1.4x and 1.7x teleconverter and will have two bodies to travel with. So am I going to regret no having the full reach of 500mm? Or is it just a lot of weight to carry with few benefits?

Love those wildlife shots, the rhino is my pick of these

It depends on how you are traveling in Kenya. If you have any internal flights on small planes then you will have weight restrictions which will be enforced. I have occassionally wanted a longer lens than my 135 - 400mm, (the lion clubs shot), however, usually we have had another opporunity to get a shot of the animal at closer range (the lion club shot here was an exception). In Tanzania, we had one Canon user that had a 500mm zoom lens with him and I think he only used it once. Another consideration is how many other people you will be sharing the minivan or landcruiser with. They are designed to take 6-8 but this would not leave much space to move about. I am not sure I would take the bigger lens due to the wieght, you might also what to consider taking something to rest the camera on when taking window or roof shots. We use bean bags taken empty and filled with rice when we get there. So if you want to use this you would need to ensure you could get the rice. Bean bags have a tendency to fall out of the van unless you are careful and if you are in the middle of a pride of lions you may not get it back

Also don't take many clothes. You tend to be les concerned with wearing clean clothes over there. I take 2 pairs of trousers for a 2 week trip and use the laundry.

Are you taking a monopod?

Hope that has helped

J

Don,

I was actually kneeling on the floor about 10 feet away from these two. We were at a sanctuary where you can walk with the two Rhinos with a warden. We were protected by his stick! If the Rhinos got too close we were asked to move away! Amazing experience - they got really close.

J

Bit the bullet and bought the Bigma. Just kept thinking if I got there and didn't have it.... Was thinking of the 150-500 for the HSM but heard too many horror stories.

18 days and counting....

(Keep looking at your first shot. Hope I don't get overly tempted to take one home).

When we saw the Lion cubs this year being introduced to the pride (see Tanzania 2009) I just wanted to pick them up and cuddle them!

Don't forget about the DEET melting plastic. DEET and cameras do not mix

Yes, will be careful about that one. I've heard many tales of squaddies DEETing each others backpacks! Using Jungle Formula which is about 50%.

Bigma just arrived at the office. Pity I can't put it on my camera until this evening. Might go and shoot some ducks!

It's actually smaller and lighter than I anticipated. But I think with this, the 60-250 and two bodies around my neck I may change my mind!