Just put my deposit down for the R1 and Im stressing over what to pair it with for a Kenya trip this September. I want to make the most of that speed but Im torn between two setups:
- the RF 600mm f4L because obviously the reach is king
- the RF 400mm f2.8L plus a 1.4x extender for the low light flexibility
The 400mm is tempting for those early morning drives when the light is garbage but part of me thinks I will miss the 600mm reach for leopard sightings. Budget is flexible since I am already this deep in but I can only carry one big prime for this trip. Which would you pick?
Ive been really happy with the Canon RF 400mm f2.8L IS USM since its basically two lenses. When i was in Namibia, that f2.8 was a lifesaver for lions in low 6400 ISO light.
- saves a lot of money over the 600mm
- 400mm f2.8 glass is technically superior for bokeh
- the Canon RF 1.4x Extender keeps the R1 autofocus snappy Honestly, its the smarter financial play for a Kenya trip. Works great.
@Reply #1 - good point about the speed, but I have had issues with that combo. Unfortunately, the Canon RF 1.4x Extender on the Canon RF 400mm f2.8L IS USM was not as good as expected during my last trip. The AF felt a hair slower, which is frustrating when you are paying top dollar. Swapping extenders in the Kenyan dust is also a total disaster... I ruined a few shots because of sensor spots. I eventually moved away from the Canon RF 600mm f4L IS USM because it was just too bulky for those small safari planes. Spending 13,000 dollars on glass only to realize you are over the baggage weight limit for your bush flight is a joke. Honestly, if you have the budget, just bring the 400mm and a second body like the Canon EOS R5 Mark II for cropping. Reach is always an issue no matter what you bring.
@Reply #2 - good point! Swapping glass in the Mara is a recipe for disaster... honestly, those micro-particles get everywhere and the R1 sensor is too nice to ruin. I had a nightmare trip once where I spent more time cloning out sensor spots than actually editing the lions. If you are worried about reliability and versatility, you might want to consider the Canon RF 100-300mm f2.8L IS USM. It might sound like a weird choice for wildlife, but hear me out:
- The dual Nano USM motors are insanely fast, matching the R1 autofocus drive speed perfectly.
- You get that f2.8 for the low light 'garbage' hours before sunrise.
- It actually handles the Canon RF 2.0x Extender better than the 400mm does in my data tests. Be careful with the 600mm if you are in a tight vehicle; sometimes that reach is actually too much when a leopard walks right past the truck. I have missed shots because I simply could not back up enough. The 100-300mm gives you a safety net while staying in the L-series prime quality bracket. Just make sure to keep the extender on if you need the reach to avoid that dust issue.
Honestly I am so glad you posted this because I am struggling with the exact same choice right now. I have been going back and forth for like a month and it is driving me crazy... every time I think I have a plan, I see a comment about the dust or the AF speed and I am right back to square one. It is so frustrating because:
- I want that 600mm reach for the smaller stuff
- The low light on the 400mm is basically a dream for those first light drives
- Carrying both is totally out of the question for my back Before I keep spiraling, what kind of safari setup are you actually looking at? Like, are you going to be in an open-sided vehicle or one of those closed ones with the pop-up roof? Tbh that might change how much you can realistically swap things around in the field. I still haven't found a straight answer either and it is honestly just exhausting trying to decide.
Helpful thread 👍
