Kgalagadi lens / camera combination advice needed

[Helenus Kruger]

To all the wildlife, Kgalagadi (and Nikon 200-400 experts) out there, some advice please:

I've rented a 200-400 f4 Nikon for my trip to the KTP (missed out on the 500 f4 AF-S and the 600 f4 VR is just too expensive to rent for 2 weeks). My kit now consists of:

D700
D300
20-200 f.2.8 VR I
200-400 f4 VR II
TC 1.4

After reading the 200-400 test on www.bythom.com/nikkor-200-400mm-lensreview.htm where the use of TC's is not really ecommended I wonder if best would not be to skip the use of the TC on the 200-400 lens. So should I:

1. Put the 200-400 on the D300 for best reach and maximum aperture, no TC. Then the D700 can get the 70-200 with the TC 1.4.
2. Consider changing bodies on the 200-400, starting off with D700 and when light increases change over to the D300?
3. Skip the use of the TC 1.4 on the 200-400 sacrificing reach for better quality and then just live with it that some things will be too far for the reach that I have.

Considering not changing lenses in the dusty conditions, best possible reach, camera sensor, focus, TC or not, and everything else, what combination of camera / lens would you use?

[Rooikop1]

Does not matterhow you look at it, there is always some loss in IQ when the extenders are added into the mix. I also experienced a greater loss on the 200-400 than on the 70-200, and therefore refrain from using it in combination with the 200-400 as far as possible. What I have done in the past is to get the 200-400 onto the D300s (giving a theoretical 300-600) and then the other one on the D700, giving you a coverage of 70-600 on the 2 bodies with a gap between 200 and 300. (I presume you ment the 70-200 f2.8).

Being in a Park and on designated roads, one always need the extra reach have I found, and looking @ the bulk of my photo's from the Parks, most have been shot @ 400mm (600 on the D300s). In my view a bit senseless driving around without something short enough to also get the small things next to the road. Never knows what interesting critters one might experience next to the road, and although the 70-200 does take very well to extenders, still one of the best lenses out there without any add-ons.

So my 2cents worth, go for the D300 with the 200-400 and the D700 with the 70-200, and leave the 1.4. The D700 with that lens produces fantastic images.

[Helenus Kruger]

Hi Deon, thanks for the input, that's the direction I was thinking as well. On the other hand, a couple of lens changes under controlled-as-dust-free-as possible-conditions might not be a bad idea just to get that 200-400 working on the D700 as well....