Should I Bring a Macro Lens to Africa?

I am traveling to southern Africa in a couple of weeks. I was wondering if i should

bring my 100mm canon macro? I dont know if it is necessary since i dont think

there are so many close up items. I could be wrong. But if anyone has any

suggestions please let me know. Thanks.

Every lens you leave at home is a lens you wish you had with you, every lens you bring with you is extra weight and bulk you wish you'd left at home :)

 

What style do you shoot? If you typically shoot macro's, you should probably bring a macro lens :)

"I dont know if it is necessary since i don't think there are so many close up items."

 

You are right. Everything in Southern Africa is far away from where ever you happen to be at any particular moment.

If it were me, I'd be 100% sure to bring it. But that's my style, herpes, unsual plants, tidepools, and insects. South Africa, notably the coast has some of the world's richest biodiversity both in terms of plants and marine systems.

 

If you are really into large animals and want to limit your equipment then go for it enjoy your trip and don't worry about what you can't photograph.

What about the pink stuff that oozes out of hippo skin. Good abstract macro subject, and great bragging rights if you survive the shoot. ;)

I brought a 105mm macro the last time I visited Kenya. I used it on a chameleon, and it was great. I wish I had tried it on a dung beetle (scarab) that was doing what they do best. For close-ups of the ubiquitous flowers it cannot be beat! There were other subjects for macros but I didn't have time for all of them.

 

Have a great time over there.

As a man selling cemetery plots once told my father "it's better to have and not need, than to need and not have". If you have the room in your bag bring every lens you can.

 

I'd imagine that there will be enough strange insects and small critters, that the macro will be needed. I also think that the100mm is a perfect length for street, portraits, and lots of subjects that need their "space".

Kinda depends on your interests. Do you use your macro lens often? If so, then you'll find something to use it on. and you'll regret leaving it home. If you never use it, then you'll probably just use a different lens anyway, so why carry the extra weight.

I assume that you are going on a safari to Southern Africa. You'll need the usual long lenses for the animals and at least one wide angle for the landscape. You'll need at least two SLR bodies so that you have a backup. (If you are shooting digital, you'll need the memory card, laptop, storage device, etc.)

 

After all of those, if you have any room for photo equipment, I would bring a macro lens for occasional use. The 100mm is not so big and is convenient to bring along. If you somehow simply have no room for a small-mid size 100mm lens, then leave it home.

I'm going to toss out an idea no one has yet mentioned. If you aren't a macro fanatic, and I'm guessing you're not, leave the macro lens at home. Yes, you will likely see some really cool giant insects, lizards, flowers, and other things that would be awesome macro subjects. For those, you whip out your Canon 500D screw-on macro lens. Quality is excellent and it's almost as compact as the polarizer I know you're going to also take.

 

 

Kent in SD

Alternatively you can also take an extension tube that will allow to to focus a little closer with your existing lenses. It is light, not very big, and works reasonably well.

If you are not using a zoom, then a 50mm or 105mm macro is a decent lens to take and use both for macro and scenic work. I'd take my 50mm just to save space and weight.

As both Kent Staubus and I have indicated above, if you aren't a macro freak, or if you don't use your macro lens often, don't bother with the extra weight.

 

What other lenses are you planning to bring?

How many people that don't shoot macro own a macro lens especially in a modern mount since none of them are as cheap as my obsolete Canon FD stuff. I would assume the Op has a macro lens and therefore does take macro photo's from time to time.

Puff Adders are very common in S. Africa!

Chameleons too.

Are you really suggesting getting that close to a Puff Adder...

With 100mm you can get great shots from 3'-4' away from a Puff Adder. Even though their strike is lightning fast they are indeed quite slugish and rely on their puffing in defense.

 

You should give Cobras an extra foot or two.

I went to South Africa 2 years ago and I mostly used the zoom (try to get a 300mm or more) for 80 % of the case.

For 15% of the case, I use a wide angle.

 

But I also used some close-up (but no macro) for the last 5 %

 

--> If you can, take it.

(just one last comment, If you go to South Africa, don't be scared of the country, it is the 'Western Civilisation in Africa'.

David,

I just returned from a trip to South Africa and Botswana. I brought a lot of gear but left my old 105 marcro at home. During 15 days at four different camps in Botswana I wished I had it with me just a few times. While we were waiting to be picked up due to a broken down vehicle we shot photos of beautiful dragonflies. The only other subjects that screamed for a macro were painted reed frogs that we saw during a mocorro (pole pushed canoe) trip. I actually shot my close-ups with my 200-400VR. Not a perfect solution but it worked.

 

I've posted a bunch of shots from my trip at www.photo.net/photos/cbabbitt

Chuck, while i have someone that has just been to botswana, i am going next week and was wondering if you brought a tripod, monopod, or beanbag. The heaviest gear i will be using is the canon 500mm, let me know if you have any other photo related suggestions for botswana. Would really appreciate it. Thanks

I am very interested in this topic also, since my wife and I are planning a trip to Botswana in May of next year. We have a strict weight limit of 44 pounds of luggage for each of us, and I am concerned that I may wind up with 44 pounds of camera gear and the clothes on my back!

 

I am tentatively planning to bring 2 - Canon 40D's, 10-22 lens, 24-105 lens, and 100-400 lens, plus ext tubes and a 1.4x extender. In addition, of course, I'll need many CF cards, batteries, chargers, binoculars, some sort of storage media like hyperdrives or such, and maybe a small tripod or at least a bean bag.

 

I could use any help anyone can give me on the planning side of this once-in-a-lifetime trip!

Jeremy, i have the same problem except i leave next week! I am bringing 2 Canon

Rebel XSI's, canon 100-400, 24-85, 500mm, 1.4 extender, laptop and some

random odds and ends. I am definitely bringing a beanbag and havent decided on

the monopod or tripod yet, it will probably be a last minute decision. But to

eliminate the weight problem (which for me is all the planes we are taking in

botswana) is we bought an extra seat so that gives me double the weight (i

strongly suggest this if you can afford this, even though we are a group of 7 going

and the plane only holds 12-15 so we might be the only people on the plane

anyway) i will let you know how it was when i get back and any other tips that i

may learn.

David,

 

Are you bringing a flash? I always like to be able to ensure a catchlight in a creature's eye, and with the two longer lenses I'll have, the 40D popup flash will likely be obscured. Anyway, fill flash is very useful as well, so I am planning to bring a 580EX.

Yes, i am bringing my canon 580 2ex, and a better beamer flash extender (you can get one through arthur morris at www.birdsasart.com or BH photo video www.bhphotovideo.com) the extender gives you something like 3 extra stops, its great, and saves a ton of battery. But i assume fill flash is useful. ill let you know when i get back next month