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General discussion

Seeking digital camera for safari trip (Africa).

Oct 28, 2004 1:41AM PDT

I am new to this forum and would like to thank everyone for responding to this question in advance. Your advice is greatly appreciated!

I was looking for a digital camera (digital SLR or digital) that wouldn't cost too much that would be appropriate for a African safari trip (I would probably buy this camera and use it only for this safari trip because I already have a small digital camera I regularly use but only has a 3x optical zoom (4 Megapixel)). I know I need optical zoom (but what is the minimum? 10x sufficient or should I go with a regular SLR or digital SLR with a strong telephoto lense?) and I don't plan on blowing any picture up greater than an 8 x 10 and again this camera would most likely be used only for this trip (once) or where I plan to take close up shots. I guess I would prefer to spend less than $500 unless someone can convince me that I should spend more and have a nicer camera.

Thanks!

Discussion is locked

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Re: Seeking digital camera for safari trip (Africa).
Oct 28, 2004 8:26AM PDT

The Digital SLR with a good telephoto lens would be around $1,500 (minimum).

I doubt that you want to be carrying around a tripod, so I would suggest that you go with one of the long lens cameras that has image stabilization.

Canon S1 IS
Konica-Minolta Z3
Panasonic FZ20
Panasonic FZ3

Here is a link to a chart that compares their specifications.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/compare_post.asp?method=sidebyside&cameras=canon_s1is%2Ckonicaminolta_dimagez3%2Cpanasonic_dmcfz20%2Cpanasonic_dmcfz3&show=all

...

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Re: Seeking digital camera for safari trip (Africa).
Oct 29, 2004 5:11AM PDT

You will spend more money..but you won't regret it.. The Canon Digital Rebel rocks.. it is the first "affordable" digital slr camera on the market. (under 1000) Look on eBay for some good deals on them.. if you want to see the pics I have taken with this camera go here:

http://www.eddiliddo.com/rebel/Rebel.html

PS You'll have to wait till next month (Nov) to view the site above..guess I exceeded my bandwidth for the month!

Good Luck!

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Re: Seeking digital camera for safari trip (Africa).
Oct 29, 2004 11:47AM PDT

Just purchased our first digital camera. We bought the Kodak DX 7590 for $440. What we liked was the 10 optical zoom, and the picture burst mode where it takes 3-5 shots rapidly [great for taking shots of jumps in basketball]. It had the quickest point and shoot of all the camera's we looked at, so better for actions shots. We tried others and only the Sony came close in how fast the photo was snapped. It has a bright LCD screen that is easy to see in outside sunshine, equal with Sony's screen. You would want a bright LCD in African sun lol. It is a little bigger than some however.

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Re: Seeking digital camera for safari trip (Africa).
Nov 1, 2004 6:31AM PST

Joehawk,
Just be sure to get something that has a lot of manual adjustments for white balance, contrast, brightness, etc etc. If going to the Kenya/Tanzania area the equatorial sun intensity and brightness is usually much more of a surprise than expected by most photogs. Many a safariite with film type 'automatic'AE-1 type cams was sorely disappointed when their pictures came back quite dark (unfortunately I know this first hand!). The preview capability should eliminate that type of sad surprise, but be prepared to fiddle and tinker to combat that sun!
Bon Voyage.. I envy you.

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Re: Seeking digital camera for safari trip (Africa).
Nov 1, 2004 6:35AM PST

oops... new that this... should have directed my previous message to 'ohio boys'

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Re: Seeking digital camera for safari trip (Africa).
Nov 3, 2004 11:00PM PST

Thanks Centaur86 -

So an earlier person suggested several cameras and I am leaning toward a Konica-Minolta z3. It has 12x optical zoom. DO you think 12x is enough also the white balance adjustments should be sufficient? I just need a simple camera not too expensive to take to AFrica and not be too disappointed with my shots.

Any suggestions? Thanks

Ohio Boys

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Re: Seeking digital camera for safari trip (Africa).
Nov 4, 2004 9:03PM PST

I went to Africa several years ago (before I had a digital camera). I went on a regular sightseeing safari, so some of these comments might not apply to other types of trips.

I found that a 300mm lens (or the digital equivilant) is sufficient. I also had a 600 mm, but couldn't get sharp shots at that focal length because the vehicles shake a lot, even when stopped (the guides don't like to turn the engine off-- I guess they want to be able to move quickly if needed). Note that getting out of the vehicle to snap a picture is not a wise idea, unless you can run faster than a lion, so bring a beanbag (a sock filled with dried beans is fine)or other means of keeping your camera steady. If you can find a camera with Image Stabilization, it will help.

Given the choice of longer focal length or higher pixel count, I would go with the higher pixels. Remember, you can crop a 6MP image by 50%, and still have the same resolution as a 3MP camera with a longer lens.

Remember to bring at least 1 extra set of batteries. Also, the current over there is 220V. If your camera takes AA cells, get the highest capacity cells you can find (I think that there are 2300 MaH batteries now) and a 220V charger. If your camera takes a special battery, make sure that you can recharge it over there.

Note that the roads (especially in Kenya and Tanzania) are worse than awful!! You can not believe how much you will bounce or how much dust there is. Wrap your stuff carefully-- and then wrap it 2 more times!!

I don't know your budget, but there are several cameras with 5+ MP's and 7X-10X zooms for under $500. I have heard a lot of good things about the Canon Rebel, but it is more expensive.

Hope this helped. Enjoy your trip.

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Re: Seeking digital camera for safari trip (Africa).
Nov 4, 2004 4:30AM PST

Went to Africa quite a few years ago and took a 17 day safari. I had film cameras at the time and took 90 rolls of film with me and used them all. That trip to Kenya & Tanzania was my trip of a lifetime. If I could go back with my digital camera today, I would take the largest & fastest lens that I could manage and afford. Most of my shots were hand held or propped on the truck with a bean bag.

The largest lens I took back then was 400mm fixed with a doubler to make it 800mm. Didn

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Re: Seeking digital camera for safari trip (Africa).
Nov 4, 2004 5:23AM PST

I say the minolta Z3 too. 12x zoom and image stabilization on a four megapixel camera that's well within your price range of $500 especially at the right store.

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Re: Seeking digital camera for safari trip (Africa).
Nov 4, 2004 5:09PM PST

i feel for 10x requirement Canon Powershot pro S1 IS would be enough. it has 10x optical zoom and 3.2 mp resolution.
should be around $350 to $400.

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Re: Seeking digital camera for safari trip (Africa).
Nov 4, 2004 7:08PM PST

I'm just back from a round trip with a car around lake Victoria (not with a travel agency). For lions, who will not blink an eye when you are close (and safely in your car!) 3x zoom is OK. For the rest (excluding the elephants) I would go for 10-12 times zoom or equivalent. Some other tips:
1. have a good look into how to deal with the excessive & intense light. Sometimes my Coolpix 8700 had problems.
2. Suncap
3. Check the kind of plugs you need over there to charge your batteries.
4. Enough memory cards or do you go for a portable storage device?
5. Check if the places you stay have safe electricity. Powersurges will kill your battery charger. You will not be able to buy your batteries there.. except when they are regular ones used in radios etc.
6. Sofar my clone batteries work as good as the regular expensive ones.
7. Never!!! take a photo of African people without asking them. They HATE it. Ask them in their language... Study on 4-5 sentences to say kindly hello and to ask for the permission. Show them the photo on the LCD screen; they do like that.
7. Have fun!

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Re: Seeking digital camera for safari trip (Africa).
Nov 4, 2004 7:31PM PST

Forgot to add a sensible hint... Traveler cheques are OUT in East Africa as they had a big scam some years ago; you may get money for them (if you are lucky) but much less than you paid for it. Euro are considered good money. New dollars too. You get a worse rate for small bills than for big 100 dollar bills. OLD DOLLARS: older than 1996 or even sometimes older than 2000 are either NOT ACCEPTED or you get a bad rate (20% less!!!) Of course this is robbery by a bank; but what do you do when you stand there with your expensive but aged dollars?. Credit cards are in most (if not all) places not much more worth than the plastic itself. Last tip. Buy sensible anti musquito stuff: containing DEET and get your shots and dutifully take your antimalaria pills. HAVE FUN!! Greetings Anna