Fuji What to bring to Africa

I remember that article, now that you link it. Means more to me, now that I have some imminent use for such a thing looming on the horizon. The reach would be nice, but I feel like the ability to back off to 50mm in a pinch would be more valuable. That, and OIS. But it does make me pause and ponder. It can only be one of them, and I think the 50-230 would be the obvious one.

Also, I scored a free backup XE2 for the trip, so my new problem is bag size. -sigh- The current Domke won't be enough to fit the XT1, XE2, 35, 18-55, and 50-230. Have to discretely go check out bags at the local shop, see if I can sneak one into the house without the Mrs noticing. Maybe if I get another green Domke, but larger, and switch the patches over to it... :)
 
Hi,

I've been to a few of these. On the 1st one I went thinking the 600mm equiv. was the way to go, but found that there are a lot of much better animal pictures out there that what I could ever acchieve. And even if I could, well, that would ended up by being just one more... Also, I was so focused on the animals that was not paying enough atention to the scenary.

On the next ones, I changed my perspective on things and the result, at least for me, was a much more interesting trip report.

I've settled with 2 bodies, one with a UWA zoom (Oly 9-18mm) the other with a small tele zoom (Oly 40-150mm). This is what fits me best, I was happy since then (y). You might want to consider a UWA, the landscape can be really amazing.

José
 
Get a superzoom, the FZ200 falls in your budget.

I would actually be ok bring my FZ1000 and LX100 instead of my Canon DSLR.

Right on, right on! I routinely carry an fZ200 and an LX100 in this:

259515_140_41.jpg

I separate the two cameras with a piece of foam. I carry it cross-body and it rides comfortably and almost unnoticeably at my hip, and it weighs about five pounds. At full digital and optical zoom, the FZ200 delivers 1200mm (e) handheld at f/2.8. The LX100 does a commendable job of seeing in the dark. No lens changing, no sensor cleaning, and redundancy in case one camera goes down.

Cheers, Jock
 
Ok here are some quick images from today, all shot with a Fuji XT1 with the XF55-200, I also brought another XT1 body with the XF16-55, used less but not for any of these
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Excellent stuff, Bob. You're getting me excited... one month to go.

As for an ultrawide, I don't own one anymore since I got rid of the 14mm f2.8. SO far I think the 18-55 will be wide enough, and it will always be on me. I'm bringing a spare XE2 from a friend, and I'm going to put either the 18-55 or the 35 f1.4 lens on it, and leave it on the whole trip. That should minimize lens changing / dust issues. As of now I'm thinking it's just those 2 and the 50-230 lens.
 
Ok here are some quick images from today, all shot with a Fuji XT1 with the XF55-200, I also brought another XT1 body with the XF16-55, used less but not for any of these
Elly%201sm_zpsb9wteazw.jpg
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Hippo%20fam%20%20sm_zps0reqxlcz.jpg
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Hip%201sm_zps9srmbbtv.jpg
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Zebra%20fam%20sm_zps4nak1clq.jpg
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Rino1%20sm_zpse6olyvnb.jpg


Him%20and%20her%20sm_zps0ph3poy4.jpg
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Very nice shots! Did you used the Velvia settings?
 
Ok here are some quick images from today, all shot with a Fuji XT1 with the XF55-200, I also brought another XT1 body with the XF16-55, used less but not for any of these
Elly%201sm_zpsb9wteazw.jpg
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Rino1%20sm_zpse6olyvnb.jpg
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Very nice. :)
 
I don't know if you are going anywhere that malaria is endemic (sound like it), but I'd suggest bug repellent with deet. I've made two trips to SE Asia without prophylactic medication being scrupulous about applying bug repellent kept me safe -- and on the first trip two of my travel companions came down with dengue fever. Nasty stuff. And a friend contracted chickungunya, another nasty bit of work. Get whatever you need not to get bit by malaria or dengue fever carrying bugs -- and probably other things I haven't worried my little head about. Lenses don't do you any good if you're in a hospital getting a blood transfusion.
 
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Thanks Lawrence. We've been to the travel clinic / pediatrician already and gotten shots, and prescriptions. And we'll be bringing some Deet. The Mrs hates it, as she hates most strong chemically things, but... it beats the alternative.
 
be careful with deet it eats plastic

I had a plastic bottle of it for years. They suggest around 30 as a maximum, though. Higher concentrations are increasingly toxic. Using 100% deet is nuts. It's nasty stuff, but the alternatives are apparently not as effective. I'd probably risk them if I were travelling for serveral months at a time.
 
Long-sleeve pants and shirts, especially in the morning and evening, helps a lot (provided they're thick / dense enough to protect against mosquitoes). They're also really not as uncomfortable in the heat as you might think, if the fabric is good (I like polyester/cotton combo's better than pure polyester or poly/nylon). In the morning and evening, some deet on the hands, neck/ears, and feet (if wearing sandals and / or thin socks) should be enough.
 
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