what would you bring on a safari...

Hello all,

I am starting to plan out the particular details of a 13 day African Photo Safari that I will be going on next spring.

I plan on taking my D30 (or the new Canon Pro Digital if I can swing it when it comes out), a 70-200 2.8, and 2 extra batteries (so I can always be charging two at a time).

Do you think my 300 2.8 (with a 2x teleconverter) will suffice or should I consider renting a 400 2.8 or a 600 4.0 lens?

Should a 20 gb Digital Wallet be sufficient for storage (I will be shooting raw and I figure it will provide me with the ability to store approximately 5400 photos) and will it hold up on such an excursion -- or is there a better alternative?

Any camera bag recommendations for such a trip?

Thanks in advance for your input.

Dave...

I've never been on safari, but I plan to go next so will be interested in the replies. I've always thought you need to travel light so I was planning to take a 70-200/2.8 or 100-400IS with 1.4x and 2x converters. Just didn't think they'd be room to be wielding a 300/2.8 or larger piece of glass around when travelling in a jeep chasing lions etc

dave... said:

Hello all,

I am starting to plan out the particular details of a 13 day
African Photo Safari that I will be going on next spring.

I plan on taking my D30 (or the new Canon Pro Digital if I can
swing it when it comes out), a 70-200 2.8, and 2 extra batteries
(so I can always be charging two at a time).

Do you think my 300 2.8 (with a 2x teleconverter) will suffice or
should I consider renting a 400 2.8 or a 600 4.0 lens?

Should a 20 gb Digital Wallet be sufficient for storage (I will be
shooting raw and I figure it will provide me with the ability to
store approximately 5400 photos) and will it hold up on such an
excursion -- or is there a better alternative?

Any camera bag recommendations for such a trip?

Thanks in advance for your input.

Dave...

Click to expand...

ME.

John L.

dave... said:

Hello all,

I am starting to plan out the particular details of a 13 day
African Photo Safari that I will be going on next spring.

I plan on taking my D30 (or the new Canon Pro Digital if I can
swing it when it comes out), a 70-200 2.8, and 2 extra batteries
(so I can always be charging two at a time).

Do you think my 300 2.8 (with a 2x teleconverter) will suffice or
should I consider renting a 400 2.8 or a 600 4.0 lens?

Should a 20 gb Digital Wallet be sufficient for storage (I will be
shooting raw and I figure it will provide me with the ability to
store approximately 5400 photos) and will it hold up on such an
excursion -- or is there a better alternative?

Any camera bag recommendations for such a trip?

Thanks in advance for your input.

Dave...

Click to expand...

The 70-200 will be invaluable, but by all means take the 300 2.8 with the converters there are some elusive critters out there and you don't want to miss those shots
Have fun, If you need a gear bearer I'm your man

Gene

dave... said:

Hello all,

I am starting to plan out the particular details of a 13 day
African Photo Safari that I will be going on next spring.

I plan on taking my D30 (or the new Canon Pro Digital if I can
swing it when it comes out), a 70-200 2.8, and 2 extra batteries
(so I can always be charging two at a time).

Do you think my 300 2.8 (with a 2x teleconverter) will suffice or
should I consider renting a 400 2.8 or a 600 4.0 lens?

Should a 20 gb Digital Wallet be sufficient for storage (I will be
shooting raw and I figure it will provide me with the ability to
store approximately 5400 photos) and will it hold up on such an
excursion -- or is there a better alternative?

Any camera bag recommendations for such a trip?

Thanks in advance for your input.

Dave...

Click to expand...

I had the pleasure of attending a small safari in the Tsavo Game Park. Regretably a long time ago and digital cameras were not even thought of. In fact to think of it - neither were PC's (Yes, a long time ago!)

From my experience you need the longest lens that you can manage plus your 70-200. One very important thing to make allownces for - DUST.

We were there during a drought and came back as though dressed for some African ceremony - RED DUST all over. Imagine it during lens change over! From memory not a happy thought.

Bryan

and by the way if the lens proves to be too heavy give me a call for assistance

dave... said:

Hello all,

I am starting to plan out the particular details of a 13 day
African Photo Safari that I will be going on next spring.

I plan on taking my D30 (or the new Canon Pro Digital if I can
swing it when it comes out), a 70-200 2.8, and 2 extra batteries
(so I can always be charging two at a time).

Do you think my 300 2.8 (with a 2x teleconverter) will suffice or
should I consider renting a 400 2.8 or a 600 4.0 lens?

Should a 20 gb Digital Wallet be sufficient for storage (I will be
shooting raw and I figure it will provide me with the ability to
store approximately 5400 photos) and will it hold up on such an
excursion -- or is there a better alternative?

Any camera bag recommendations for such a trip?

Thanks in advance for your input.

Dave...

Click to expand...

Thanks all for the input.

Bryan,

So I assume you don't think a 600 4.0 is overkill then?

Dave...

Definately not, but I would also take your 70-200, plus 28-135.

As I say (hope you will be all green and lush) watch out for the dust when changing lenses. we travelled on red dust tracks for most of the time.

Enjoy you trip.

Bryan

dave... said:

Thanks all for the input.

Bryan,

So I assume you don't think a 600 4.0 is overkill then?

Dave...

Click to expand...

I took a 13 day safari in Tanzania in June this year. I took two D30 cameras, with one semi-permanently attached to a 28-200 zoom, and the other semi-permanently attached to a 500/f4. Most of my shots were taken with the long lens, and probably about half of those were including a 1.4x Canon teleconverter. I also took a 20mm wide-angle lens for some landscapes.

For storage, I took a Sony VAIO laptop with a 20GB hard disk, and a 10GB Digital Wallet. Both performed perfectly, and I downloaded to the computer and backed up to the digital wallet each night after shooting all day.

I shot high-res JPEG, and averaged about 450-500 shots/day. I've been very happy with the results. I used two IBM 1GB microdrives for daily shooting, and took a 128MB solid-state CF card as a backup, in case there were some problem with the microdrives. None materialized.

I carried the long lens + camera body attached in a Domke 600mm bag, and carried the rest of the equipment, including computer, in a Tamrac Extreme (the biggest one -- I don't remember the model number) backpack. Flying coach, you do need to be careful with the size of the bag, and somewhat concerned with regulations only allowing one carry-on. For me, the saving grace was that, at the one airport where the gate agent threatened to put one of my carry-ons into the baggage compartment, I was able to convince him that my second bag was "just a camera bag", and therefore acceptable as a second carry-on. Check the regulations for the airline you are flying -- their carry-on regulations are typically specified on-line.

The safari company I went with was organized for photo safaris, so there were just 3 people per Land Cruiser. This allowed plenty of room for the equipment. Dust can be an issue -- I took several plastic garbage bags and used them on occasion. I took a tripod, but only used it for sunrise and sunset shots, where I wanted a low perspective and couldn't use the beanbag on the vehicle. If you wanted to save weight, you could probably even forgo the tripod if you take a good beanbag.

I also took 3 extra batteries, and a charger which operates from a 12V supply. I actually didn't need to use this, as there was always power available in the camp, but the generator was only on during the day.

Have fun -- I'll look forward to hearing your results! If I can help any further, please let me know.

Vic

dave... said:

Hello all,

I am starting to plan out the particular details of a 13 day
African Photo Safari that I will be going on next spring.

I plan on taking my D30 (or the new Canon Pro Digital if I can
swing it when it comes out), a 70-200 2.8, and 2 extra batteries
(so I can always be charging two at a time).

Do you think my 300 2.8 (with a 2x teleconverter) will suffice or
should I consider renting a 400 2.8 or a 600 4.0 lens?

Should a 20 gb Digital Wallet be sufficient for storage (I will be
shooting raw and I figure it will provide me with the ability to
store approximately 5400 photos) and will it hold up on such an
excursion -- or is there a better alternative?

Any camera bag recommendations for such a trip?

Thanks in advance for your input.

Dave...

Click to expand...

Member said:

Any camera bag recommendations for such a trip?

Click to expand...

I use the LOWEPRO mini trekker (back pack)... If you don't bring to much things with wou it is enough...

http://www.lowepro.com/pages/byStyle/backpack.htm#

Pascal

Included some samples:

http://ezprints.mye-pix.com/PhotoShareddologin.asp?SC=12345&ID=22401

Vic

Victor Steel said:

For storage, I took a Sony VAIO laptop with a 20GB hard disk, and a
10GB Digital Wallet. Both performed perfectly, and I downloaded to
the computer and backed up to the digital wallet each night after
shooting all day.

I shot high-res JPEG, and averaged about 450-500 shots/day. I've
been very happy with the results. I used two IBM 1GB microdrives
for daily shooting, and took a 128MB solid-state CF card as a
backup, in case there were some problem with the microdrives. None
materialized.

I carried the long lens + camera body attached in a Domke 600mm
bag, and carried the rest of the equipment, including computer, in
a Tamrac Extreme (the biggest one -- I don't remember the model
number) backpack. Flying coach, you do need to be careful with the
size of the bag, and somewhat concerned with regulations only
allowing one carry-on. For me, the saving grace was that, at the
one airport where the gate agent threatened to put one of my
carry-ons into the baggage compartment, I was able to convince him
that my second bag was "just a camera bag", and therefore
acceptable as a second carry-on. Check the regulations for the
airline you are flying -- their carry-on regulations are typically
specified on-line.

The safari company I went with was organized for photo safaris, so
there were just 3 people per Land Cruiser. This allowed plenty of
room for the equipment. Dust can be an issue -- I took several
plastic garbage bags and used them on occasion. I took a tripod,
but only used it for sunrise and sunset shots, where I wanted a low
perspective and couldn't use the beanbag on the vehicle. If you
wanted to save weight, you could probably even forgo the tripod if
you take a good beanbag.

I also took 3 extra batteries, and a charger which operates from a
12V supply. I actually didn't need to use this, as there was always
power available in the camp, but the generator was only on during
the day.

Have fun -- I'll look forward to hearing your results! If I can
help any further, please let me know.

Vic

dave... said:

Hello all,

I am starting to plan out the particular details of a 13 day
African Photo Safari that I will be going on next spring.

I plan on taking my D30 (or the new Canon Pro Digital if I can
swing it when it comes out), a 70-200 2.8, and 2 extra batteries
(so I can always be charging two at a time).

Do you think my 300 2.8 (with a 2x teleconverter) will suffice or
should I consider renting a 400 2.8 or a 600 4.0 lens?

Should a 20 gb Digital Wallet be sufficient for storage (I will be
shooting raw and I figure it will provide me with the ability to
store approximately 5400 photos) and will it hold up on such an
excursion -- or is there a better alternative?

Any camera bag recommendations for such a trip?

Thanks in advance for your input.

Dave...

Click to expand...

Click to expand...