Camera for Safari

WhatsGoingOn

Hi all,

I am going on safari in a few weeks, so am looking into getting a good camera to capture the occasion. Can anyone recommend a camera with a good zoom please? Budget would be about €500.

Thanks.

This one is the favourite at the moment for me..
http://www.pixmania.co.uk/uk/uk/316116/art/fuji/finepix-s9500-zoom.html

Going by these shots the zoom is top class and I don't know enough about photography to buy an SLR
http://www.trustedreviews.com/article.aspx?page=4687&head=0

Roen

Check here for a 15 page indepth review of the camera, looks like it's got everything you need on paper anyway. Stock up on PLENTY of memory and study up on both the wildlife you'll be shooting and what the expected weather will be. Some of your safaris may be at night don't forget.
And don't forget a waterproof bag or case if it'll be rainy, they're heading into spring in Africa atm if that's where you're headed.

Shrimp

Thats pretty good. The lens will give you about the zoom of a 300mm slr lens. So thats what you'd be looking for! that is a nice camera. I'd recommend it.

WhatsGoingOn

Roen wrote:

Check here for a 15 page indepth review of the camera, looks like it's got everything you need on paper anyway. Stock up on PLENTY of memory and study up on both the wildlife you'll be shooting and what the expected weather will be. Some of your safaris may be at night don't forget.
And don't forget a waterproof bag or case if it'll be rainy, they're heading into spring in Africa atm if that's where you're headed.

Good stuff. Thanks Roen (and Shrimp).

Oriel

It has a "proper" manual zoom ring which I missed having on my S5500, I was sick of the electronic zooming and focusing on that. Will be a good camera. Get your self a AA battery charger, and a lot of batteries, as I'd say this camera would be hard on the batteries.

mervifwdc

That camera should be fine.
Ditto on the loads of cards and/or download facilities and battery chargers.

Merv.

WhatsGoingOn

mervifwdc wrote:

That camera should be fine.
Ditto on the loads of cards and/or download facilities and battery chargers.

Merv.

Speaking of memory...
Looking into getting a 2Gb card from here
Whats the difference between the 2Gb 80x Compact Flash Memory Card - Transcend Ultra Performance! , the 2Gb 120x Ultra Performance CompactFlash Memory Card - Transcend TS2GCF120 and the 2Gb CompactFlash Memory Card - Kingston Elite Pro CF/2048-s?

Is it worth paying the 40 or so euro extra for the more expensive one?

bp_me

A 2 gb xd and 4gb CF will give you place for approx 1350 pictures. You WILL need lots of batteries (I have 5 sets at the moment, though only using 3. In relastic shooting conditions expect to kill a set every 200 shots or so, less if using the large lcd for reviewing). It eats them. High ISO performance is poor enough, but if shooting during the day it wont really be an issue. . Max frame rate of 1.1fps may leave you wanting more. There are a few small irritations in the way the camera works in various modes, but nothing that can't be worked around.

The 9500 is about the be replaced by the 9600, which as far as I can see is the exact same camera, though with a claimed improved AF.

Consider a s/h 350d with the 18-55 & 55-200 lenses (300ish at the wide end on the camera) and leave it in full auto mode if not confident about the manual modes.

WhatsGoingOn

I see that a lot of people have had problems with ordering from Pixmania. Just to let ye know that I ordered this camera Monday lunchtime and it arrived at my house yesterday lunchtime. 48 hours between ordering and actualy having it, which is very impressive. I'm usually very quick to give out when something goes wrong, so credit where credit is due.

Roen

Don't be forgetting to post up the safari pics when you get back!

joe_elway

I was in Tanzania in Feb and wrote a diary with photos. Used a Canon 350D with 100-400 lens (used a 1.4 tcon a few times). I've also written a tips/guide section based on my experience and conversations with our guide: http://www.highwaycsl.com/Travel/Tanzania/Tanzania.htm

Main thing to remember... you are likely to have limited access to electricity. Many lodges only have power for a few hours at night. Some campsites have no power. Get lots of batteries and charge them whenever you can.

WhatsGoingOn

joe_elway wrote:

I was in Tanzania in Feb and wrote a diary with photos. Used a Canon 350D with 100-400 lens (used a 1.4 tcon a few times). I've also written a tips/guide section based on my experience and conversations with our guide: http://www.highwaycsl.com/Travel/Tanzania/Tanzania.htm

Main thing to remember... you are likely to have limited access to electricity. Many lodges only have power for a few hours at night. Some campsites have no power. Get lots of batteries and charge them whenever you can.

A lot of good tips there Joe. The photos are amazing, if I get them half as good I'll be happy.
Thanks for that.

joe_elway

No worries. Glad if I could help any.

WhatsGoingOn

Roen wrote:

Don't be forgetting to post up the safari pics when you get back!

A few pics...

African Eagle
Rhino
Kariega River
Buffalo
Lion
Lioness
Blesbuk
Baby
Rhino
Elephants
Giraffes

mikeanywhere

All these pics are making me home sick!!

Roen

WhatsGoingOn wrote:

A few pics...

Wooo, cheers!
Some good stuff there, hope you had a great trip.