“Which lens should I bring?” is one of the most frequently asked questions before a photo tour. The answer depends on the destination, your distance to the animals and the kind of photos you want to make. The principles below will get you a long way.
The telephoto lens: your most important tool
For most wildlife photos, a telephoto lens is indispensable. With a focal length of 400 to 600 mm you can fill the frame with an animal without disturbing it, and you get a nice, calm background. A prime is often fast and sharp, while a zoom lens gives you more flexibility when the distance to the animal changes quickly.
The 70-200 mm: for animals in their environment
Animals sometimes come closer than you expect. Then a long telephoto lens is quickly too much. With a 70-200 mm you can photograph an animal together with its surroundings and bring more story into your image. That is why on our tours we often work with the combination of a 400 mm prime and a 70-200 mm.
The wide-angle lens: for landscapes and starry skies
A wide-angle lens is not the first lens you think of for wildlife, but it is very valuable. You use it for landscapes and, together with a tripod, for the Milky Way. That makes a wide-angle lens and tripod a good addition to a trip to Namibia, where we can photograph the night sky in the evening.
What do you need for each type of trip?
Safari in a game viewer: a lens up to 600 mm, or a 400 mm combined with a 70-200 mm.
From a boat, as in the Pantanal: lenses up to 600 mm are useful, but animals can also come close. Read more in our blog about photographing jaguars.
Landscape and night: a wide-angle lens and a tripod.
Practical tips
Work with two cameras if you can. That way you can switch quickly between a telephoto lens and a shorter lens without risking dust on your sensor.
Rent what you don't have. A long telephoto lens is a big investment. Renting is a good way to find out what suits you.
Practise before you leave. Make sure you know your camera and lenses well, so you don't have to think when the moment comes. Our blog about camera settings for wildlife photography will help you with that.
Need advice?
Not sure which gear you need for one of our photo tours? Feel free to contact us and we'll be happy to help.