Your opinion please: I own a Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS10 which has a zoom equivalent to 384 mm. I am leaving for South Africa shortly and am wondering if I should get a camera with a...

Francyne Loc: Bromont, Qc

I own a Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS10 which has a zoom equivalent to 384 mm. I am leaving for South Africa shortly and am wondering if I should get a camera with a longer zoom especially for safaris. I cannot consider a DSLR and it is way too heavy for me.

Thank you

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

frank265 wrote:

I own a Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS10 which has a zoom equivalent to 384 mm. I am leaving for South Africa shortly and am wondering if I should get a camera with a longer zoom especially for safaris. I cannot consider a DSLR and it is way too heavy for me.

Thank you

Take what you are comfortable with and enjoy yourself!!!

ecobin Loc: Paoli, PA

frank265 wrote:

I own a Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS10 which has a zoom equivalent to 384 mm. I am leaving for South Africa shortly and am wondering if I should get a camera with a longer zoom especially for safaris. I cannot consider a DSLR and it is way too heavy for me.

Thank you

384mm should be fine. I used a 70-300mm when we went there in 2011 and I wouldn't take anything more. We had a great time - enjoy!

Francyne Loc: Bromont, Qc

Thank you. Yes I plan to enjoy this trip immensly.

Francyne Loc: Bromont, Qc

Thank you. This saves me many $$$$$.

rogerl Loc: UK (Harrogate, North Yorkshire)

We've been on several safaris. I use Nikon 80-400 VR which is fine for the wildlife. My wife has 18-200 VR which is not really adequate so we tend to use my photos for wildlife & hers for views. Consider a beanbag - even one of these: http://www.amazon.com/The-Camera-Support-Compact-Cameras/dp/B005ZTYD3Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1358766931&sr=8-1&keywords=the+pod+camera+support (I've seen them on US sites for considerably less than this price); I used one in Churchill for polar bears & it was very useful (as it screws into the camera you don't have to worry about dropping it over the side of the vehicle!).

DaveMM Loc: Port Elizabeth, South Africa

frank265 wrote:

I own a Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS10 which has a zoom equivalent to 384 mm. I am leaving for South Africa shortly and am wondering if I should get a camera with a longer zoom especially for safaris. I cannot consider a DSLR and it is way too heavy for me.

Thank you

I have been to a few game parks in South Africa, and there have been very few times I have needed lens longer than my 400mm equivalent on my Canon DSLR. Bird shots are the only real problem at 400mm, but then a longer zoom will be hard to hold steady in a car or safari vehicle.

To whet your appetite, the attached picture was taken at Addo Elephant Part, near Port Elizabeth, using 350mm equivalent - it is great how close one can get to the animals.

Your lens will do fine. Enjoy your trip.

hamtrack Loc: Omaha NE

We have been on Safari in Tanzania on the Serengeti. It was a wonderful trip. I got very interested in photography at that time, but did not have the experience or advice I needed to take full advantage of the photo ops. If I had the opportunity to go back I would take my Nikon d-5000 camera, and a Tamron 18-270 lens and probably a wide angle lens as well. The 18-270 can do a good job on close ups and reach out there for far away shots. You will have plenty of both. The wide angle will do best for landscape shots.

Francyne Loc: Bromont, Qc

Thank you. I already have the Pod and also a magnetic gozilla pod. I hope this will help for those long zoom shots.

OddJobber Loc: Portland, OR

Enjoy your trip, but if your guide tells you to get out of the vehicle for closer shots with the rhinos, watch out!
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-90253-1.html

Francyne Loc: Bromont, Qc

Thanks Oddjobber. I'll remember that!

hamtrack Loc: Omaha NE

In order of most dangerous animals, Cape Buffalo, Hippos, Elephants in must, Baboons, Cats except Chitas and if a guide says no he means no.

OddJobber wrote:

Enjoy your trip, but if your guide tells you to get out of the vehicle for closer shots with the rhinos, watch out!
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-90253-1.html

hamtrack Loc: Omaha NE

A couple of shots of what you will no doubt see.

Morning after a night of dinning

Yes he is pissed off.

The young lions

jbrown

frank265 wrote:

I own a Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS10 which has a zoom equivalent to 384 mm. I am leaving for South Africa shortly and am wondering if I should get a camera with a longer zoom especially for safaris. I cannot consider a DSLR and it is way too heavy for me.

Thank you

I took my Lumix DMC zs6 to Europe rather than lugging my DSLR bag and lenses, and was very pleased with the results, including the zoom feature. Also great for video. I took lots of extra SD cards.

Francyne Loc: Bromont, Qc

Thank you Hamtrack for the beautiful photos. I hope I will see all those animals and get photos as good as yours.