Anyone regret NOT bringing a 150-600mm on safari?
I’m traveling to Africa next month with my three kids (Kenya - Maasai Mara) (14, 12 and 9) and I’ve fallen deep into the “perfect safari lens” rabbit hole.
I shoot with a Nikon D7500 and everywhere I look, people say I need a Sigma or Tamron 150-600 for the trip. But the more reviews and sample photos I see, the less convinced I am.
I enjoy photography, but in a very personal/family way. After trips, the photos we actually revisit are usually the ones showing the experience: my kids enjoying the place, the atmosphere, the context, the memories. Not necessarily the perfect lion shot at golden hour. Of course I’d love to get that photo, but it’s not the main reason for the trip.
I already own:
10-20
35mm
50mm
70-300
I use a single body and don’t mind swapping lenses depending on the day. Some days I even just carry my iPhone.
So my real question is:
Would a 150-600 genuinely change the experience for someone like me, or is a 70-300 on a DX body already “good enough” for a family-oriented safari?
Would love to hear from people who went with simpler gear and didn’t regret it.