Which Sigma for safari

[ian clark]

Going to Kenya next year on business so will take oppurtunity to get out in the bush (I hope) So which lens do I take.
Current camera is Nikon D3100 with kit lens plus 18-200.
No way can I afford the Nikon lenses so am thinking Sigma but which one
120-400
50-500
150-500
any one tryed them???

[MattUK]

I did a bunch of research on these the other week - see my 500mm thread in this forum. The 50-500 is optically superior to the others, unless you pay mega bucks for the 120-300 and a 1.4 or 2.0x converter

[thefonz78]

Amateur photographer last week went for the 120-400mm. It always the way.

[ian clark]

Now sorted as a relative has offered me the loan of his Nikon 200-400. Boy what a lens, all i have to do now is decide when to go there will need to be two trips the first to set up the companies equipment the follw up to carry out inspection and calibration so I will plan my trips to suit the wildlife probrably Jan -Feb with follow up July August

[hssutton]

You don't say where in Kenya you will be visiting. If it's the Tsarvo the the 200-400 will be ideal. However if you go to the Masai Mara, then the 200-400 could well be to long at the short end. The 50-500mm is the better all rounder for safari. Unless of cause you take two bodies, which is the ideal.
Having said that my the EOS mount parted company from the 50-500 body when travelling cross country on the Masai

[MattUK]

By the way, I tested the 50-500mm at Park Cameras, and was impressed by the OS and by the quality of the image at the long end. It's a great lens, and lighter than I thought.