Camera for Safari

xl500

Hello Everyone

I am going to Africa in March and would like to bring a Camera to capture some Moments

I have no idea what would be suitable I am not an experienced photographer

I would really appreciate some advise which camera to buy

Budget up to 400 Euro

Thanks a Lot

vintagecosmos

suggestion, get something with a high optical zoom. when I was on safari i was quite a distance from animals. I had a 70-300 lens.

ED E

€400 and a long lens wont really match up. Maybe if sit on ebay and deal hunt but somebody with zero experience is less likely to be successful that way.

vintagecosmos

You could try Conns Camera, they have second hand cameras and lenses and provide a warranty.

xl500

Thanks for help but any particular suggestions for models to consider

magicbastarder

someone who is not an experienced photographer will not want to invest in - or carry around - a DSLR with a long lens.
you'd probably want a reasonable compact camera with a zoom lens.
something like this has an enormous zoom range: http://www.connscameras.ie/p/panasonic-dc-tz90/p-5025232867868

bman1

I was the same this summer just gone, went to canada for 7 weeks. Knew I'd be taking a lot of pics, some close up, some I'd need plenty zoom for. Took me ages to decide but in the end I went for a panasonic fz1000. Loads of zoom, but no having to change lenses. Smaller than a dslr too. Ya I could have got a lot of fancier and better cameras for the money but it suited me perfectly and I came home with brilliant pics. Never found myself thinking damn I wish I'd bought sumthing else. There was a few on adverts.ie second hand lately for about 500.

harr

Not much point in getting a DSLR for one trip especially when you are not familiar using one ...for a safari you probably would need to spend a grand on a camera and another on a lens even at that you would be limited in choice.
Go for a good second hand point and shoot or a good bridge camera with a good zoom.
A good point and shoot zoom would take away worries you have about using the camera.
I would recommend getting a couple extra batteries before you go as well.

xl500

Thanks everyone that Panasonic Looks nice what about something like this

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Canon-1300D-Camera-EF-S18-55-F3-5-5-6/dp/B01CU8JQ2W/ref=sr_1_5?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1513938974&sr=1-5&keywords=slr&refinements=p_36%3A138897031

xl500

Ok Guy Thanks for Advise I have been looking and upped the Budget a little

What would you think of Either a Sony RX10 mark 1 or the Panasonic FZ1000

Both available on Amazon

Thanks Again and Happy Christmas

XL500

xl500

Went into Camera Shop in Blanch Centre to look at Sony Camera

I could look at it but no Battery inserted so could not switch on Guy said something about Click Counter etc

So much for trying to support local Camera Shop If I buy off Amazon can try for 30 Days and return if not happy

minidazzler

xl500 wrote: »

Ok Guy Thanks for Advise I have been looking and upped the Budget a little

What would you think of Either a Sony RX10 mark 1 or the Panasonic FZ1000

Both available on Amazon

Thanks Again and Happy Christmas

XL500

Of the two of those (bearing in mind that the initial use will be for a safari) I'd go with the Panasonic all day long. 400mm zoom equivalent Vs 200mm would be enough to sway it for me plus the fact that it does 4k video.

xl500 wrote: »

Went into Camera Shop in Blanch Centre to look at Sony Camera

I could look at it but no Battery inserted so could not switch on Guy said something about Click Counter etc

So much for trying to support local Camera Shop If I buy off Amazon can try for 30 Days and return if not happy

Did you mention buying online or Amazon while you were there ? A lot of shops are p1ssed off of fellas coming in trying out stuff in their shop whilst knowing that they're going to head back out and buy online. Not saying you did but it's a sad and unfortunate fact for most retailers these days.

shinju

The Canon Eos 1300D that you mentioned above just has a regular 18-55mm lens.
That's not going to help very much.

If going with a dslr then a wide range of zoom without changing lens often is key.

So, whichever camera body you choose (e.g. the 1300D) then get an 18-200mm or 18-250mm zoom.

That way you have a wide zoom range without having to change lenses too often.
If you have further funds then get another lens from 200mm upwards as well.

But a 18-200mm or 18-250mm (Sigma) should be sufficient.

Check Adverts. If you can get a good EOS body with a 18-200mm IS lens or Sigma 18-250mm OS within your budget then you are on your way.

I have used similar setups in Canada and South Africa previously with EOS 550D, 600D, 650D bodies.

Normally i am fine with the above plus a 10-20mm lens for wider shots.

An EOS body with a Sigma 18-250mm lens should be sufficient for your needs.

xl500

minidazzler wrote: »

Of the two of those (bearing in mind that the initial use will be for a safari) I'd go with the Panasonic all day long. 400mm zoom equivalent Vs 200mm would be enough to sway it for me plus the fact that it does 4k video.



Did you mention buying online or Amazon while you were there ? A lot of shops are p1ssed off of fellas coming in trying out stuff in their shop whilst knowing that they're going to head back out and buy online. Not saying you did but it's a sad and unfortunate fact for most retailers these days.

NO did not mention Amazon actually I may have purchased from the camera shop as I like to have local support

Thanks for you reply well yesterday Amazon had the RX10 Mark 2 on Deal of the day for £760 and you get 130 Cashback so £630 so I bit the bullet and ordered one I think it will be a steep learning curve but I am not going away until march so a bit of time to practise if anyone wants to advise some settings they use that would be great

Thanks again

mel.b

It would be worth picking up a little bean bag support or something else to help stabilise the camera, especially when you are using the zoom. You most likely won't have room for a tripod, but the bean bag works well and I'm glad I had one when I went a few years ago.

mel.b

xl500 wrote: »

NO did not mention Amazon actually I may have purchased from the camera shop as I like to have local support

Thanks for you reply well yesterday Amazon had the RX10 Mark 2 on Deal of the day for £760 and you get 130 Cashback so £630 so I bit the bullet and ordered one I think it will be a steep learning curve but I am not going away until march so a bit of time to practise if anyone wants to advise some settings they use that would be great

Thanks again

Does that only have a max zoom of 200mm? For safari, you'll really want / wish you had something with more zoom.

I had a Nikon P500 bridge camera when i went that has a 36x zoom and got some great photos.

xl500

mel.b wrote: »

Does that only have a max zoom of 200mm? For safari, you'll really want / wish you had something with more zoom.

I had a Nikon P500 bridge camera when i went that has a 36x zoom and got some great photos.

Thanks for that I thought the RX10 M2 would be large enough Zoom but having tried it out in the park not enough for wildlife so it is now packed up for return to amazon and I am now considering Panasonic Fz1000

Luckily I purchased in Amazon Painless Returns Policy which I find Great

bkrangle

My sister lives near Kruger Park in South Africa and works in lion management so she has quite a lot of interaction with wildlife.
She uses a Canon SX60 bridge camera for her wildlife photography which has impressive zoom and can be acquired at reasonable prices. She's gotten lots of nice shots with this.

Her partner uses a medium tier DSLR with telephoto zoom lens but this combo would be considerably more expensive.

xl500

Well The Sony is Gone back I am now considering either a Panasonic FZ1000 or Panasonic FZ330

The FZ1000 has a larger sensor but is bigger and heavier

The FZ330 is weather sealed and lighter with good Zoom

Any Thoughts

Thanks

mel.b

For me, with a quick look at the specs, I'd go for the one with a bigger zoom, especially as it's for a safari.

Any particular reason you're looking at Panasonics?

This Canon is a similiar price (on currys.ie anyway) to the FZ1000 but has a lot more zoon (16 for the Panasonic, 83 for the Canon (although you'll struggle to hold it still with that much zoon!) and it is 16megapixels, so inbetween the two Panasonics you are looking at.

http://www.currys.ie/Product/nikon-coolpix-p900-bridge-camera-black/337337/398.0.2

This canon has the same sensor as the P900 but slightly less zoom (still more than the Panasonic and is around €200 cheaper).

I'll try and make my album on facebook public so you can look at it to give you an idea of the type of photos I got with the Nikon P500. The Nikon B700 is the equivalent now i think
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Nikon-Coolpix-Digital-Compact-Camera-Black/dp/B01C672QQ0/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1515434880&sr=1-1&keywords=nikon+b700

mel.b

Here's the link to my facebook album. The animal photos are a bit into the album...

https://www.facebook.com/melissa.barnes.9256/media_set?set=a.10150532301378979.399064.809633978&type=3

To give you an idea, we were in the 4WD behind the one in this photo. You can see the lion near the tree.



This is using the zoom on the P500

mel.b

Looking back at those photos you're making me want to go on Safari again!

xl500

mel.b wrote: »

Looking back at those photos you're making me want to go on Safari again!

Looks great cant wait I am going in March

Only reason I was Looking at Panasonics was the reviews were very Good

The Sony I sent back was Great but Zoom Not enough will look at the ones you linked
Thanks Again

bman1

Been keeping an eye on this thread. Like I said at the start I've the fz1000. It did everything I wanted it to do on my trip to Canada. I spent so long deciding between the fz1000 and the rx10 but after lots and lots (and lots!!!) Of research I went for the fz. Look I know owners always rave about their own type of camera, but I just know u won't be disappointed with the fz. It's not a heavy camera either, I hiked everywhere and often had it in my hand, not even in a camera bag. It's got loads of settings and different filters if that's ur thing. And the zoom is more than enough. I downloaded the panasonic image app so transferring pics from the camera to my phone via the wifi was so easy. Best advice I can give u is buy now, it takes a bit to learn any camera, I was still learning as I travelled but it was fun. Not the most info laden reply I know, but whatever you buy I hope u have a great time.

xl500

bman1 wrote: »

Been keeping an eye on this thread. Like I said at the start I've the fz1000. It did everything I wanted it to do on my trip to Canada. I spent so long deciding between the fz1000 and the rx10 but after lots and lots (and lots!!!) Of research I went for the fz. Look I know owners always rave about their own type of camera, but I just know u won't be disappointed with the fz. It's not a heavy camera either, I hiked everywhere and often had it in my hand, not even in a camera bag. It's got loads of settings and different filters if that's ur thing. And the zoom is more than enough. I downloaded the panasonic image app so transferring pics from the camera to my phone via the wifi was so easy. Best advice I can give u is buy now, it takes a bit to learn any camera, I was still learning as I travelled but it was fun. Not the most info laden reply I know, but whatever you buy I hope u have a great time.

Thanks very much its great to hear from a real world user just this morning I had almost decided to get the FZ1000 and your reply has helped

I might PM you for some basic settings if thats ok

Thanks Again

Bluefoam

Telephoto is a must. I'd also bring something a bit wider... Canon M series can be good value at the moment (M100)... I just picked up an M6 with the 55-200 lens (360mm equivalent). Last time I was on a safari (Sri Lanka) I dearly missed the telephoto... Got lots of close up shorts, but missed allot due to the lack of zoom...