JEF

I have a nikon D7000camera with a 28-300 lens. Do you think i need any other lenses? There will be a couple of point and shoot cameras. Any helpful hints anyone has? Do you think a bean bag is a must. There are four of us on a private safari. How about a rain sleeve. Thanks for your help.going end of feb. To march 8.

rsnyder

I don't know the particular camera but unless you are a birder your camera should do fine. Usually we take a zoom lens for our Rebel t1i and a point and shoot. Given the dust issue and maybe laziness I don't like to switch lens during game drives and don't think I have suffered due to such. On some 8 safaris I have yet to use a bean bag but one might be helpful. Often I use my non-shooting arm and lay the camera across it. Don't have a rain sleeve. Main thing is to be quite comfy with whatever camera you take as lighting and other situations may give reason to use different modes. I am sure you have already used your camera at local zoo or wildlife in backyard, etc so you should already have a feel on its capabilities.

atravelynn

You'll be fine. A rain sleeve can't hurt, but you'll be able to take refuge in the vehicle.

JEF

Thank you for your replies! Looking forward to getting there.

cary999

That lens is fine. Good there will be a couple of other cameras is case your DSLR decides to quit.

You might run into some dust, especially if following another vehicle. Take a bag of some kind, e.g. a small pillow case, to put camera in if very dusty.

Spare batteries. How many camera cards? Depends. Maybe 2 G per day?

regards - tom

andybiggs

JEF, that's a great combo that will cover most of your needs. One thing to think about is whether you want or need to shoot wide open landscapes with a wide angle lens, and the 28mm on a 1.5x crop camera might not be wide enough, depending on how you see and interpret the world. May I ask where you are going on safari? I ask, because a place like Ngorongoro Crater would be fantastic to shoot wide a wide angle lens from the top of the crater. You can take it all in, so to speak, with a single frame.

Enjoy your safari and I think you have a great setup already!

Andy

JEF

Andy,
yes I will be at the crater, and following the wildebeest. I was thing about a wide angle lens. I am interested in the fish eye (rokinon??). not really sure if that would be a good idea, I think its pretty interesting. thank you all!!

cary999

First, for me fish eye lenses have to be used very carefully, and not very often. I'm not a big fan of them.

To take a wide angle, panoramic, shot, take multiple overlapping photos. You know, one shot left, one center, one right, all from same camera position. Join them into one image. Practice before you go, and how to "stitch" them together so you have a good feel for it all.

And if that gives you a panorama but not enough "height", take the photos with camera in vertical "portrait" position.

You will LOVE the Crater. Get in early morning soon as gate opens (6am?) because by 11am the vehicles really start to get in the way.

regards - tom

atravelynn

Have a great time! I second the early crater arrival if you can.

JEF

thank you Tom! and Lynn! Can't wait to go.

JEF

Think I want to get a wide angle lens, any suggestions? What you think the best is no matter what.

cary999

I have a Tokina 12-24mm F4 that does a nice job. (But don't use it much). Since for me it is with a Nikon APS-C size sensor (same as your D7000) it uses the center better part of the lens (not the edges as if FF sensor). It would match well with your 28-300.

Here is a review of it - http://www.dpreview.com/lensreviews/tokina_12-24_4_n1
Sells for around for around $400.

As for "no matter what", look at genuine Nikon lenses. A zoom is nice but a prime at say 12mm or 14mm would be best picture quality. But big $,$$$.

regards - tom

JEF

thanks tom for all your help!

cary999

above link to dpreview does not seem to work. Try this one that lists all the Tokina wide angles. And those that dpreview has reviewed.
http://www.dpreview.com/products/tok...egoryId=lenses

regards - tom

Gayle

You should be fine with what you have.

I used a Nikon1 J3 and was very pleased. You can read all about how I used it during our safari on my blog: http://wp.me/s3cJtv-camera

Our vehicle wasn't covered but we also didn't have any rain. I didn't need a bean bag, though one was available in the truck if I wanted to use it.

JEF

Thank you all so much for your help!!

Gardyloo

The lens ought to be fine. One thing you should consider, however, is adjusting the ISO setting so that you can get a higher shutter speed in low light conditions. Ultra-zooms like yours (I have one too that I use on safari) are slow to begin with, and in low light conditions they tend to be wide open. Even with vibration control (which I think you have) the narrow depth of field and slow shutter speeds can play havoc with sharpness and focus. With 16mp you can afford to lose a little sharpness with a higher ISO (unless you're planning 10% crops and printing billboards) so that would be my big suggestion.

Try it at home in low light conditions and see how it works for you.

JEF

ok Gardyloo thank you.