Safari suggestions
Apr 6, 2015 09:44:05 #
Apr 6, 2015 10:17:08 #
sb wrote:
Very informative article. Makes me think that if/when I ever go on a safari I will take a bridge camera for the lighter weight and lack of a requirement to change lenses... He makes lots of good points, but many of them are from the perspective of a professional who can hire a private vehicle and driver. But those points also point out the potential difficulties and frustrations for a photographer traveling in a group of non-photographers on a normal safari.
Very true. Unless you're on a photo safari designed specifically for photographers you will run into such difficulties. On our safari in East Africa we had, by chance, 4 serious photographers and 3 birders. While one might think that birders are much like serious photographers such was not the case. In fact the birders for the most part took no photos whatsoever. They carried large books of bird descriptions and notebooks in which they apparently recorded the details of their sightings. The practice of our safari company was to rotate seating within and between vehicles daily. Once it was discovered what the makeup of our group entailed one of the photographers approached our guide and suggested that the rotational system would not work. Our solution was to put the serious photographers in one vehicle and the birders in another--permanently. As a result the folks in both vehicles came away from the trip with very different and totally satisfying experiences.
Apr 6, 2015 10:40:57 #
NYKen
Loc: New York
I've been on safari twice, once in South Africa and more recently in Tanzania. In Tanzania only two of us were in the vehicle, and my wife did not take pictures, which made it easier to take a lot of equipment. I would take as little as possible and not change lenses. If I had it to do over again I would probably take a bridge camera or a mirrorless camera with one good telephoto lens.
Apr 6, 2015 11:10:05 #
Apr 6, 2015 11:10:40 #
NYKen wrote:
I've been on safari twice, once in South Africa and more recently in Tanzania. In Tanzania only two of us were in the vehicle, and my wife did not take pictures, which made it easier to take a lot of equipment. I would take as little as possible and not change lenses. If I had it to do over again I would probably take a bridge camera or a mirrorless camera with one good telephoto lens.
Good information
Apr 6, 2015 11:29:11 #
I've been to Africa over half a dozen times. Fascinating place
I fell in love with it. A little advice if you're interested.
With what is going on there at the moment I would suggest limiting your visit to Botswana and Namibia/South Africa area. East Africa has become embroiled in the El Shabab (sp?) fracus and it probably won't get any better for awhile.
Having said that, on to the photo stuff:
I used to carry nearly 40 lbs of gear but got really tired of muscling that stuff on and off jeeps/airplanes/etc. More to carry = more to take care of and weight is a factor.
Finally stripped my gear down to two bodies and two lenses (all interchangeable). I use a D7000 and a P7000 as back-up. I carry the 28-280mm on the camera (sometimes carry a 70-400mm but not often -too heavy), with a UV filter and a polarizing filter attached (for the sunny days at the water holes).
Thank god for digital as I now use a dozen 4gb SD cards instead of 35 rolls of 35mm film. I use my laptop as backup and send the photos to an on-line storage service.
I have the appropriate lens cleaning solution and the soft brush with a squeezable air blower. I make a point of NOT cleaning the sensor .. just blow it if needed. Don't want to take the chance on scratching it and losing the use of the camera.
Take a spare battery for each camera. Some camps don't have 110v service and most turn off the generators at night. Recharge whenever possible..it may be a day or so before you get the chance to do it again.
I pack everything in its own individual ziplock bag when in transit from camp to camp. Keeps the dust out. On game drives I carry my gear in a soft easily accessible shoulder bag with the lens attached to the D7000. Don't change lenses in the field sure way to get dust contamination.
You will take more photos than you would think I take a dozen 4gb cards on my trips, usually only 3-4 on game drives. I've seen people use 16-32bg cards and have two weeks of photos die when the card fails. The odd one will fail and losing all those photos from the bush is heartbreaking. Change cards frequently - and know for sure that you get the best photo opportunities when you don't have your camera with you. Take the smaller one everywhere .. even to dinner in the camp. Never can tell what is around the corner.
We had dinner in the bush one night and a warthog came right into camp, sat down beside us and waited for scraps. As polite as could be, very patient this was not a common event at all. We thought he might have been hand reared but the guide said no he was wild.. just knew how to get food.
If you want any info about camps, countries, etc let me know by personal mail and I'll get back to you. You're in for a wonderful trip and the experience of a life time. Enjoy it.
With what is going on there at the moment I would suggest limiting your visit to Botswana and Namibia/South Africa area. East Africa has become embroiled in the El Shabab (sp?) fracus and it probably won't get any better for awhile.
Having said that, on to the photo stuff:
I used to carry nearly 40 lbs of gear but got really tired of muscling that stuff on and off jeeps/airplanes/etc. More to carry = more to take care of and weight is a factor.
Finally stripped my gear down to two bodies and two lenses (all interchangeable). I use a D7000 and a P7000 as back-up. I carry the 28-280mm on the camera (sometimes carry a 70-400mm but not often -too heavy), with a UV filter and a polarizing filter attached (for the sunny days at the water holes).
Thank god for digital as I now use a dozen 4gb SD cards instead of 35 rolls of 35mm film. I use my laptop as backup and send the photos to an on-line storage service.
I have the appropriate lens cleaning solution and the soft brush with a squeezable air blower. I make a point of NOT cleaning the sensor .. just blow it if needed. Don't want to take the chance on scratching it and losing the use of the camera.
Take a spare battery for each camera. Some camps don't have 110v service and most turn off the generators at night. Recharge whenever possible..it may be a day or so before you get the chance to do it again.
I pack everything in its own individual ziplock bag when in transit from camp to camp. Keeps the dust out. On game drives I carry my gear in a soft easily accessible shoulder bag with the lens attached to the D7000. Don't change lenses in the field sure way to get dust contamination.
You will take more photos than you would think I take a dozen 4gb cards on my trips, usually only 3-4 on game drives. I've seen people use 16-32bg cards and have two weeks of photos die when the card fails. The odd one will fail and losing all those photos from the bush is heartbreaking. Change cards frequently - and know for sure that you get the best photo opportunities when you don't have your camera with you. Take the smaller one everywhere .. even to dinner in the camp. Never can tell what is around the corner.
We had dinner in the bush one night and a warthog came right into camp, sat down beside us and waited for scraps. As polite as could be, very patient this was not a common event at all. We thought he might have been hand reared but the guide said no he was wild.. just knew how to get food.
If you want any info about camps, countries, etc let me know by personal mail and I'll get back to you. You're in for a wonderful trip and the experience of a life time. Enjoy it.
Apr 6, 2015 15:49:56 #
I have been to Africa several times from South Africa, Zambia, Botwana, Tanzania and Kenya. I really love Tanzania and Kenya, although it is getting risky. The last time I brought two 7100 and my 18-300 and 80-400 (newest version as old version was too slow in focasing) Here are a few of my favorites
In Love in Ngorongoro
(Download)
Kili and the Eli
(Download)
Lake Navasha, took my 18-300 as we were in flat bottomed boat
(Download)
Apr 6, 2015 17:30:08 #
sb wrote:
Very informative article. Makes me think that if/when I ever go on a safari I will take a bridge camera for the lighter weight and lack of a requirement to change lenses... He makes lots of good points, but many of them are from the perspective of a professional who can hire a private vehicle and driver. But those points also point out the potential difficulties and frustrations for a photographer traveling in a group of non-photographers on a normal safari.
I noticed that he uses a 600mm f/4 lens as only ONE of his lenses, plus the extra bodies...the biggest lens I saw on the Sony website was 500mm, and it cost more than 1/2 of what my car did (and I still have over 3 yrs worth pf payments to make on it!) I'm going to Israel next year for 15 days and I won't even be able to afford to rent a 70-400 or an extra body for the trip. I'd LOVE to take a safari, though!
Apr 6, 2015 21:29:34 #
Archiefamous
Loc: Manhattan
jolefont wrote:
I have been to Africa several times from South Africa, Zambia, Botwana, Tanzania and Kenya. I really love Tanzania and Kenya, although it is getting risky. The last time I brought two 7100 and my 18-300 and 80-400 (newest version as old version was too slow in focasing) Here are a few of my favorites
All fantastic images. Great advice
Apr 6, 2015 21:46:39 #
Where are you planning to go in Africa. If you are going to be in a open top vehicle, bring an empty bean bag, get the beans after you are there. Then I give the beans to guide for their enjoyment. If in open vehicle, bring lense that you are comfortable hand holding as no room for tripod or bean bag. Personallly I like open top 4x4s. Here is another one of my favorites
Apr 7, 2015 03:58:05 #
grubnide
Loc: Sydney
I have just returned from the Kruger Park. Nikon d800 and Tamron 150-600. Most important was both a 5 and a 10kg bag of rice to sturdy the camera which was placed on the car door with the window down. For sharp results I also used a remote device. This is the best holiday. Switch off tour engine and just listen to the wind and the birds.
Apr 11, 2015 12:57:46 #
Monopod may transfer vehicle vibration to the camera. I suggest hand-held and up the ISO a bit. I shot my safari with a D300 and a D5000. Never changed lenses. A Sigma 150-500 on the D 5000 and a Tamron 18-270 on the D300. No regrets.
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