Best gear for low-light shooting safari

[Cegonha]

Hi guys, which one you recommend: D3s or D3x for a Safari trip in South Africa?

And the lens, which combination? A 70-200 f2.8 VR II + 2x teleconverter or 200-400 f4 VR II? I will shoot in low light and from a safe distance of the animals.

Thanks

GS

[OsmosisStudios]

You realize you're looking at spending a good $10 000 on this gear, right? Just checking.

For safari, from what I've heard from others experience, you'd want the D3s and the 200-400 f/4.

[i speak in math]

I would actually recommend a crop sensor for even greater reach. The Pentax K-5's sensor scored directly below the D3x and is the #6 (tied with 645D medium format and D3s) best digital camera ever according to DxO Mark sensor reports. Additionally, it is weather sealed and can take a lot of punishment. Throw on the 400mm f/5.6 and you will have more reach in a smaller lighter package with the same sensor results.

[fazekma]

I do a lot of nocturnal photography in African national parks and by trial and error I have ended up with a Nikon D3S, which I use with either my 200-400 f4 or 600mm f4. I also use a cable release and use mirror lock up at f4 and ISO 12800.

Sometimes I'm shooting a leopard drinking at a waterhole over 100 meters away and I'm using a Lightforce spotlight mounted on a second tripod. Sometimes the animals come right to our tent or bungalow so I need just a small head-torch as they are 5 meters away (not leopards but bush babies and genets!)

I'm assuming you will be shooting from a tripod? If not then you'll most probably be on a safari vehicle going on night drives so the VR on the 200-400 will be an added benefit!

[sk66]

I'd say the D3s unless there is a crop sensor body with the same high ISO capabilities. The 2x TC would make the f/2.8 a f/5.6 and faster is going to be better.....
Depending on the subject you may be able to use slower SS rather than raising the ISO...
(I've taken *descent* shots of owls gliding at 1/60 and 800mm)
And I don't care what anyone says..even my D3 rather sucks above ISO 1600 for anything with a lot of detail (I use up to 6400 and get *usable* images, but far from ideal). The D3s is supposed to be a little better w/ High ISO, the D3x the same or worse.