Focal lengths question for Botswana Safari on a micro4/3 setup

[deamonllama]

I'm going to be going on my first safari to Botswana next month with the following m4/3 lenses:

(note, 2x crop factor)
Oly 14-42mm II F3.5-5.6 (28-84mm equiv in 35mm)
Panny 20mm F1.7 (40mm equiv)
Oly 40-150mm F4-5.6 (80-300mm equiv)

I have an Oly PL1 and Oly PM1 bodies so I was planning on keeping the 14-42mm on one and the 40-150mm on the other during the game drives. I also have an older Panasonic FZ18 superzoom (28-504 mm 35mm equiv) that I was planning to use as a backup or if 300mm isn't enough.

I was considering possibly getting the Panasonic 45-200mm F4-5.6 to get a little more reach (and maybe as a backup to the 40-150mm). Would 300mm vs 400mm equiv make that much of a difference?

I was also looking at front mounted teleconverters for the 40-150mm (like the TCON-17 maybe if I can find it) which would take the 40-150mm up to 255mm (510mm equiv). Anyone have experience with these? People on other forums seem to like them.

I'm kinda leaning toward the teleconverter because it's the cheapest solution (about $130 if I can find it). But, I'm also thinking if I get the 45-200mm (since it dropped to $200), then I can bring both the 40-150mm to 45-200mm so I'll have a backup lens in case something happens to one of them.
Then there's also a 100-300mm panasonic (200-600mm equiv), but that one's $500 which is significantly more expensive.

Any thoughts? Thanks.

[Tony Jay]

Are you going to be shooting elephants or finches?

If large wildlife current lenses should do the trick.
If birds then more reach is needed.

Regards

Tony Jay

[stever]

not long enough. you need an oly 75-300 or pany 100-300.  use this on on body and the 40-150 on the other.  there will be times when you want wider, but not too many.  you will not want to change lenses ofterner than necessary because of the dust.  be sure to bring sensor cleaners amd a dust blower.  i like a soft 2 inch paint brush just to clean every thing up

[Ken Bennett]

The 45-200 is nice, but not enough different from your current lens. The Panny 100-300 should be just the ticket, and it's not too expensive.

I've not used the Oly bodies, but I expect they are similar in handling to the GF series (flat, no grip, no built in finder.) I find the longer zooms tough to use on the GF1, and much prefer the GH2 or my wife's G1. The grip makes a big difference.