We are starting our shopping for a new camera for ROAR. Ken and ChatKat provided some inputs; just wondering what everyone else was planning to bring in way of cameras.

Are most bringing separate telephoto or built in zoom?

Still and video or just still?

Any favorite brand/camera you think is an absolute must or ones to stay away from?

thanks,

Marc:

I plan on purchasing a Sony DCR-HC90 camcorder and I would be more than willing to share my recordings with whomever would like a copy. I send film to my videotographer brother who edits out the bad stuff, adds still pictures that I take, adds music, etc.

My brother does not recommend that I buy a telephoto/wide angle lens for a camcorder. He believes they are quite unnecessary. He's really not into digital cameras so he had no opinion.

I also intend to bring a computer so if anyone needs to download photos to save memory space, that would be available to all as well.

Penny and I both have our own digital cameras and I especially tend to take a lot of pictures.

If you weren't taking a separate drive trip, you may not even need a camera unless you want one anyway. I am sure there are others who would share photos and a cd of your favorites could be made on the spot....or for anyone else for that matter.

Cheers! Ray

WOW!

That is great news Ray! I will look to the true pros for the good animal and scenery pix on ROAR and just use my little digital Canon Elf for photos at dinner (and after?).

Suzanne:

Yep, I'm going to ask Ken to make me a copy of his photos. His shots are going incredibly good and I will have them inserted into the video.

I do ok on pole pictures though :>)

Cheers! Ray

Timely topic! This trip is definitely the time to replace the original digital camera with a different one. Not sure if we'll take the video camera or not.

Ray - which memory cards can your computer read?

Thanks! Anne

GREAT Ray, that will be wonderful to have a video.

Ray, part of the fun of safari is taking the pictures. On my first trip to Africa 22 years ago, I had ordered a 100-300 telephoto from Navy Exchange. Ir arrived on the ship the day I had left. Nothing worse than being on a safari with just 28mm and 50mm lenses. This time, I want to do it right.

We just came back from store. Looked at Canon Digital Rebel (adding a 70-300 telephoto)and Sony CyberShot DSC-H1 with 12x optical zoom. Also looked at Kodak 7950 with 10x optical zoom. The Canon with lens and accessories will be more than twice the cost of the other two. Now, it is back to dpreview.com for further research.

If anyone has any of these three cameras (or similar) and has pros and cons, I would appreciate hearing them.

I have a Nikon 4800 w/ 8.3 zoom. I think the animal pictures I'll leave for the expert Ken unless I come eye to eye :eek: but beware of the people pictures.....isn't the pole dancer my next door neighbor in Boulders? <img border="0" alt="[naughty]" title="" src="graemlins/naughty.gif" />

I bought a Minolta Dimage Z3 after I got advice from several people here. It's not a huge megapixel thing, but I don't need enlargements. I don't take very good pictures, so I'm going to ask for copies from those who do, and I'll ditto what Suzie said about taking some myself.

Ray, we'll definitely also take you up on your offer; our grandkids will love that!

Thanks, Ray, for your kind offer! That's a great camcorder. ..also, would be helpful to know which memory cards your computer reads. It's great to begin planning for this. Tks for bringing it up, Marc.
michele

Since most photos will be made with long telephotos at relatively slow shutter speeds (game drives are at dawn and dusk) you may want to think about stabilizing cameras - some safari vehicles are equipped with bean bags - may want to bring your own or invest in a clampod, which can be attached to rollover bars. Tripods are not very useful! Also plastic bags for dust protection. If you use an external flash, think about a project-a-flash - extends the reach of a flash.

hrprof:

Would a monopod also work while standing or sitting in the vehicle?

Found a new camera during research; Canon S2 IS. Is anyone familiar with this camera? It is also a 12x with image stabilization. Its big advantage over sony is 2.5 frames per seconds for burst photos.

Regarding the laptop, I haven't bought it yet and am starting some research as my desktop is starting to weaken.

At first blush, I'm looking at Toshiba's Qusimo F25/G15 or Libretto although I believe Freddie started a thread on laptops and I'm going to research that as well.

I'll let you know what capabilities I have once I decide on a computer. I always have a craving for all the bells and whistles and then I beg Penny to learn how to use them.

Cheers! Ray

Ray,
While you research laptops be sure and check out Sony's VAIO. I don't think you can find better.

Ray: For those of us back home we will await your trip report and pixs - BUT any pole dancing pixs will be in high demand - is the evil twin going with Suzanne?

I transfer pictures from my camera to my computer with the USB cable that came with the camera. That way, no need for the computer to read the card.

There are two evil twins on this trip.....
"Suzette" and Marilyn "Merlot"

OMG - so Ms Merlot will meet Ms Suzanne???

Watch out for this duo! I hope I can stay awake!

Olivia, shall we agree to help prop each other up to stay awake?

Although .. after doing lots of research over the weekend about the game drives .. I was reading a lot of get out of bed times at 5 am :eek: to be in the land rovers at 6. Pole dancing may be most suited to Cape Grace and Rovos. Cheers, Anne

Marc

Monopod is better than a tripod - all depends on where you are seated and neighbor intrusion. BTW, standing in a stopped vehicle is usually prohibited in the presence of predators - it breaks the profile of the vehicle and may represent a threat or a meal to a nearby lion! The norm in Southern Africa is a completely open vehicle - wonderful for observation and photography, but one does feel a bit more vulnerable!

Anne,
I plan to dress Ms Merlot in her game viewing ensemble the night before so all I have to do is shove her in the Rover and prop her up. ;)

Suzie - Excellent thinking! Perhaps using a few of the camera bean bags will help to keep her balanced. Cheers, Anne

There is a new digital lens for the Canon or Nikon SLR by Tamron that is equal to 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 XR and it's lightweight, reasonable and gets great reviews. I just bought it for travel so that I can take less equipment. So far I am more than happy with it. I favor Canon cameras. The Digital Rebel is nice - I have the model up which is the EOS 20D and I also have a G2. The G7 is a nice camera. I also like the 520 for novice users.

Check out the reviews of cameras at www.dpreview.com

Timely topic. I just have a Canon A80 - it's nice because it can take both a wide angle and a telephoto lens but it's not suitable for game drives. My brothers (both of whom are photography nuts) have advised me against moving to something more advanced......

Thanks Ray for the offer of sharing the results from your video camera.

I was hoping to take my usual people pictures and landscape shots and get copies of the wildlife photos from people who know what they are doing.

As to laptops - I have a little Sony Vaio and it is perfect for travel.

Mary Ellen

I think we decided on Canon S2 IS. Image stabilized, 5Meg, with 12x zoom. Also can take videos of around 8 minutes including stereo sound. Only shortfall is that it does not go down to 18mm for wide angle. Solved with a wide angle adapter.

Now, to purchase, camera, take lessons, and shoot a few hundred pics prior to our trip. A few trips to Animal Kingdom are planned.

Thanks for everyone's help!

hrprof, thank you, I too was told that standing in the vehicle may be considered a threat to the animals, so Marc, if you are in my vehicle, please don't jump up and stand with your new camera, or you may just get us both eaten for breakfast!!! Not to make light of this, we all need to heed the directions we are given, and they are many, from what I hear. Maybe that is why these animals have become so docile at the sight of tracking vehicles; they have become used to their non-threatening presence.

Hmm, all this fancy camera talk is scaring me. the more features a camera has, the less I use them--point and click, that's my style. I think we'll just bring our plain old Cannon A500 and mooch copies of the really good pictures off the rest of you. We got some great pictures with this camera on our Norway trip, but Olivia's were even better. So jhp, we'll count on you.

No, we've got the real pro's with us again, Ron and Ken! That's who I'm counting on for mooching!

Well as long as it is "mooching" and NOT "smooching" Linda and I are all for that.

Funny funny Ngaire!!

Still, there is nothing better than taking your own pictures. I just recommend a telephoto lense. I sure regret not having one my last trip.

Olivia, don't worry, I won't stand up. On my last safari, we were in one of those toyota vans with the pop up roof. There, you stood to take your pictures.

Marc

Yes, in East Africa, vans with "pop tops" are the norm - the open vehicles will be a very different experience -well worth the occasional restrictions on movement. Yes, a telephoto is a necessity for memorable images - minimum of 300mm, IMO. Wide angle less useful except for interiors (have to capture the rooms at Singita - friends won't believe it!)

We went out and bought the digital rebel today along with the 70-300 lense. Now, it is off to photo school and trips to Animal Kingdom.

Again, we would like to thank everyone for their help.

WAtch out Marc you may get the title of a LENS LAD to join Ron and Ken with their big lenses. Of course I have NO idea how big a 70-300 lens is but it sounds big.

There is a ratio of 1: to 1:6 to convert what a 300 mm sees on a regular 35mm camera because the processor on the Digital Rebel is smaller. It is equal to a 480 mm on a 35 mm camera.

Photography is a bit about the law of averages. The more photos you shoot, the more likely you are to get good shots. With digital, you have the tools to do that!

Marc, to get good shots you will also need a tripod with that long a lens or you can get camera shake. If you don't use one, hold your breath when you shoot - it helps. Did you get the image stablizing lens?

Kathy:

It has image stabilization. I also got a lightweight monopod that I can use standing, sitting, or attached to my belt.

Monopod really doesn't help - you push the shutter release and even with IS you can still see the camera shake when using a 100 to 300mm+ lens. What you will have going for you is that you will need a high shutter speed to capture the wild life but you will need to open up your aperture. I have the 75-300mm IS Canon lens and find the images are best with a tripod vs the monopod.

There is a very active Canon board on www.dpreview.com

Andi just got me my 1st Digital camera for my b'day.
Canon SD500
7.1 megapixels
trouble is that for extreme zooms it needs the digital zoom feature.
So, I plan to bring it (it is so small!) as well as my Minolta with the BIG lens. Real film for real people!
Andi is talking about video, so we are still open on that. We have time, yet.
A topic that we all need to focus on as we get close is power. There will be a lot of stuff that will need recharging on a reg basis. Let's all make sure that we know what we need to have to make it so!

Kathy said uptopic something about photos being the law of averages...the more you shoot, the better the chances of getting a GREAT shot!
With this group, I think that we will get more great shots than we can imagine!

Doug

Doug, are you hauling a cooler to keep that film useable and a lead bag to keep the xrays from ruining it? You'll want 800 - 1000 asa to capture the animals, at minimum 400 film.
Sadly, it's so hard to travel with film with the TSA regulations. I think that's been a blessing for the camera manufacturers - everyone is buying new digital equipment. You will really enjoy your new Canon. I am thinking of getting one of the Elph's for snapshots when I am walking around being a tourist and not a photographer.