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Options for a DSLR.. If you want good high ISO for a reasonable price.

Pentax K-30/K-50 + 18-55 and 55-300
Nikon D5100 + 18-55 + 55-300

Ofcourse you can also buy SIgma or Tamron lens alternatives..

I'd say - make all parts of your gear of high quality. Spending money quickly to have to replace a shitty or unsuitable lens or camera makes you want to get rid of it later and then you end up buying better gear after all and spending more money in total.

Depending on how accustomed these large species are to humans, I'd say even a 300mm might not suffice, in my experience, but it depends on your expectations of the picture result. Depends also on how much time you want and can spend on creeping up to those animals and how many chances they give you.

Michal Szkudlarek wrote:But will 55-210 be sufficient for photographing monitor lizards or crocodiles? I worry about missing a chance for good pic.

don't quail
Although I've never been there, I know it from friends, spending all together long times on the island.
Monitors (bengalensis and salvator) are everywhere. You would need a wide angle to get the full lizard
Also crocs are not to hard to photograph in Yala NP.
To get good pictures in "dark" surroundings, like rain forest, you should use a stabilisator lens (VR) for sure.

examples of V. salvator (snapshots from a movie with a cheap video camera)

Matthieu Berroneau wrote:Can be useful in deep forest.

What can be useful? Tamron 70-300 USD? In my local shop there is 70-300 4-5,6 APO MACRO DGN for 180€. With alpha350 I can borrow DT 4-5.6/55-200 and kit lens.

Jeroen Speybroeck wrote:I'd say - make all parts of your gear of high quality. Spending money quickly to have to replace a shitty or unsuitable lens or camera makes you want to get rid of it later and then you end up buying better gear after all and spending more money in total.

Depending on how accustomed these large species are to humans, I'd say even a 300mm might not suffice, in my experience, but it depends on your expectations of the picture result. Depends also on how much time you want and can spend on creeping up to those animals and how many chances they give you.

I know. But to start with buying a kit of at least €2500 is not for everybody Buying stuff second hand and selling it for more (after using it) and buying better stuff is my way to go

Will "Filtr Hoya UV 62 mm HMC (C)" be ok as a filter to Tamron 70-300mm?

Michal Szkudlarek wrote:Will "Filtr Hoya UV 62 mm HMC (C)" be ok as a filter to Tamron 70-300mm?

UV filters are a waste of money. Use a hood to protect and the lenscap on the lens when you don't use it. UV-filter is not a great protection. Instead of that you can buy a circular polarizer.

Damn tamron 70-300 USD for Sony has no stabilization and the sony a350 I borrow has stabilization removed. What do?

Sorry to be late, just come back field with lot of zinnikeri .
In deep forest 200 mm is very fast (I usually use 180 macro or 70-200 2.8. For your a350 I proposed the tamron 70-300 USD because it's the better compromise between price and optical quality (almost as good the sony 70-300G SSM but really less expensive.
But -finally- maybe you have to replace your a350 (In second hand you probably can easly find a550, a65 or a77 in second hand for low price)...

Ps : today the material is very good... any choice will be good...But always with the same rule : bigger sensor -> better picture quality.