Hi David

Thanks. I had considered a manual 300mm, but didn't really know what to look for. Eyesight is so-so, age and varifocals! I use manual focus all the time for macro work and find the focus indicator on my K-r to be very accurate. Not sure I have the skills to us it successfully on a moving (or even temporarily stationary) animal. They are usually gone by the time I have finished getting things 'just right'

Good advice. I read something similar from an ex news photographer. He reckoned he missed so much that he eventually didn't take a camera at all, once retired.

Too late for the other advice. We didn't travel at all for over 20 years when bringing the kids up. Went on our first long trip 2 years ago and have been on four more since. Mostly spend every moment at home wishing we were away again. It's actually really cheap at the moment if you are careful where and when you go. If we won the lottery I doubt we would be at home much at all. Just need the final kids to leave so we can downsize and use the money for travelling

India is my most longed for return so far

K-r

Unfortunately tying up £1000, even for a short time, isn't a possibility. I wish it was

Again, all the comments much appreciated and I have lots to think about. Whatever I decide I'll probably wish I had done differently.....

Thanks. Lots to consider. Weight of luggage isn't going to be an issue - I have minimalist travelling down to a fine art. Cash on the other hand, especially after paying for the trip.....

Stopping over in Hong Kong for a few days first, so not too far from you. No need for the long lens there I guess, just the 10-20mm!

Cheers. I have the Sigma 10-20mm which I love and the DA 40mm Ltd so probably wouldn't need to duplicate that range. I don't tend to miss the 20-40mm range, but there is always a first time! Most of the game drives are going to be dawn/dusk so that isn't something I had considered with the 55-300mm so thanks. I also like shooting at night, where possible, but have the tripod for that.

Small and light, as far as possible is a must. I probably should just have kept the 18-250mm.

Haven't seen any prices for the 18-270mm yet, but rumoured to be quite pricey for what it is.

There is a Sigma 170-500mm for sale at a reasonable price on the forum, but the weight might be an issue. That said, I'm going to be in a vehicle for most of the game drives and can use the tripod from the lodge.

Thanks for all the quick responses.

Just about covered everything that has gone through my head, but nice to see it from other points of view.

John - to be honest that's the sort of decision I had arrived at. The 55-300mm is lighter and more flexible. It was just a case of only likely to go once so I just wondered if it was worth the extra expense of something like the * 200mm/300mm's. Having looked at the 60-250mm the other day it's really a bit heavy and bulky, plus pretty expensive.

woodworm - I don't have anything longer than 50mm at the moment so nothing to use with a tele-converter. It's likely to be animals and birds. Luggage allowance will be 23kg and I already have a decent amount of proper light travelling gear so weight is unlikely to be an issue. Camera stuff tends to be my carry-on anyway.

Don - that is something else I have considered. The problem is I upgraded from a decent Panasonic bridge to a K-r because i wasn't happy with the image quality. I have considered selling the K-r because of the weight, but haven't found anything smaller that comes close in IQ. Other than that it makes absolutely perfect sense, especially with the zooms available. Seen the X-5 very cheap, much less than a used 55-300mm, but reviews have been pretty negative.

Hiring from SRS is a possibility, but it's likely to cost a lot more than any loss I might make on a lens purchase, plus I would be terrified of damaging it. Looking at the DA* 300mm and 60-250mm it's going to be around £270 plus insurance for the 32 days. £202 for the 55-300mm which I could buy one for.

Appreciate all the comments. Thanks

I have the chance to go to South Africa early next year. I don't usually tend to need a longer lens these days and have recently sold my Pentax 18-250mm in favour of lighter kit due to health issues (DA 40mm ltd - can't get much lighter)

I'm not going to get up close and personal with much South African wildlife with that, or my Sigma 10-20mm, so will need something longer. It will probably be a purchase for this specific trip and then sell on so I will probably look for used or something like one of the SRS ex-demo deals that crop up.

Probably too long a trip for hiring a lens - going to be a month or so.

I can read all the reviews I want, but would appreciate some input from actual users. The obvious choice is the 55-300mm, but given that used prices are holding up pretty well (I had the 18-250mm for about a year and got my money back) I might consider something more expensive as I'm unlikely to lose much when I sell it.

Bottom line is there a significant enough difference between the 55-300mm and something like the DA* 200mm or DA* 300mm to justify the additional cost? Would a crop from a DA* 200mm be better than a 300mm image from the 55-300mm? Is there any other lens I should consider?

Weight is an issue so probably rules out Sigma 150-500mm or similar, though the reach would be nice. Needs to be capable of being hand held much of the time.

I'm unlikely to go there again so want to get it right.

That's it. You know you are getting old when you can only remember things when someone reminds you.

I had the same strange processing time difference with my Pentax 18-250mm and another lens. I can't remember which lens it was and which was the fast one and which was the slow one. Someone did explain it, but I can't remember what they said. So all in all not a lot of use except that I was told it was completely normal and nothing to worry about