I'm going on safari in Singita and Botswana in September. I have a EOS Rebel XT EOS350 digital with a lens, EF75-300, f4-5.6 111. I've been reading the messages on the forum about Canon 100-400L and Panasonic FZ30 and Fz7 and Canon 20D and Canon S2 Is and Canon S3 350+.

The Rebel belongs to my daughter. I do have time to learn how to use it. What should I do? What do you recommend? Buy my own camera or buy a lens with a good stabilizer that will fit on the rebel? Do I need a different lense for night photos.

I am presently using a Nikon film N55 with a 28-80mm which is a pain. It lacks autofocus and doesn't have enought distance. I know it won't work for safaris. Should I buy a new camera and lens or borrow the Rebel and buy an extra lens? Is it too bulky for safari? Is it too slow to catch moving animals?

I'm not a camera buff but I do want to prepare myself to take really good pictures.

caton,

I have a Rebel XT and I am still learning it's capabilities, but can say it takes awesome pic's. The 75-300mm lens should be Ok since at the long end the 300mm is = to 460mm on a film camera due to the digital sensor. If you can rent a 100-400mm IS Canon, even better, unless you take something to stabilize you lens. I'm off to Madikwe & Mozambique in May to get married and will be using a Sigma 18-200 and also just bought a Sigma 170-500mm for my long lens work. I'm taking a "Safari Bag"- bean bag as well as a monopod & tripod to stabilize my lenses. Hindsight, I would have spent the extra $ 400+ and bought a 100-400mm, but should do well with what I bought. For night work I will use the 18-200 since everything will be in spotlight distance. I do have the Canon EX 580 flash, so can throw extra light.I'm going to have to teach my bride-to-be how to operate the Panasonic PV-GS500 Camcorder for all our video. Maybe the real camera folks will chime in, since I'm just a little above novice on camera's. Digital is the way to go if you are less than a pro just for the ability to delete less than good stuff. If you go with the Rebel XT, make sure you take plenty of memory cards + a means to download or transfer to a portable hard drive device for safe keeping. Extra batteries also.

Hi caton,
You want to share a camera? Do you think that will work?? I know it would not for me and my wife
My suggestion is that you get a good camera with a super zoom. Such, as the Canon or Panasonic ones you mention. All of these have a lens zoom range of 35-430mm. A very nice range for safari. And, they all cost around $400, a lot of camera for the money. Easy to learn but also very flexible if you want to do your own shutter speed, aperature, iso, and more thing. The three (yes 3) of us each took the Canon S2 on safari in Sept. 2005 and it was great. If you want to see a few pictures using that camera take a look at my Kodak album at- http://www.kodakgallery.com/tdgraham/safari_2005
regards - tom
ps - a lot of people want a second backup camera for safari. Another reason for you to have one. Like I said we each had the S2 and I also took along an S60 in case any one of us needed it.

Caton,

For less than the price of one night at Singita for a couple sharing, I suggest you go out and get a Canon 20d with a Sigma 80-400mm Optical Stabilizing lens. For a wide lens, the Canon 17-85 Image Stabilizing lens will suffice.

Then, as Tom suggested, take along your daughter's Rebel XT as a backup camera, or better yet, use it for your wide lens and this will avoid the need of changing lenses.

Hi TXTRAVL,

I really appreciate your help. I'm going to check out your suggestions. Have a wonderful wedding and honeymoom! I'll let you know you what I decide upon.

Caton

Carry 999, Thank you for your reply. We are not sharing her camera; she is lending to me. I will check out you suggestions about the Canon and Panasonic. Your pictures and comments were great. Caton

Roccco, Thank you for hour help. You seem to be in the know. I've read your responses to other requests. I'll check out your suggestions and let you know what I'm doing.

Caton

A vote for the Canon EOS 20D -

http://www.african-safari-pictures.c...fe-camera.html

I recently returned from safari in Botswana where I used my new Canon Digital Rebel XT (350D), which is the camera your daughter has. I have a Canon 75 - 300mm IS lens that I've used on 7 safaris on three different Canon camera bodies. With the digital body, that lens is the equivalent of about a 420mm lens on a film camera body. I think the combo is a great one, without "breaking the bank." I'm not a professional, but have taken some good shots, including a leopard close-up that was published in the book, "On Safari." I also have a 28 - 200mm Canon lens for landscapes, etc. I've started to post a few of my Botswana photos on http://sharontaylor.smugmug.com. There are also photos from a previous trip to Tanzania on that website, also taken with the 75 - 300mm lens and film body.

While the 20D and 400 zoom lens would be a nice combo, that will set you back about $2000. Outside this trip, how often do you plan to use it? I also took a video camera, small backup digital camera, and an Epson P2000 on which I stored my digital photos. Video is actually my favorite medium for safari...all the movement, ambient sounds, and comments from the guides and fellow guests are priceless! If you have a traveling companion that isn't a photographer, perhaps they might use a video camera.

Regarding photography at night: if the animal is spotlighted, use can use the Rebel XT with the 800 or 1600 ASA setting. The camera has a built-in flash, as well, if that is practical. It's definitely not too bulky for safari. You'll want to get fast CF cards if you want to shoot a series of photos of moving animals or birds. I did that as a test before I left and they came out quite clear. I've never had much luck using beanbags or monopods in the open cars of Botswana. That's where the IS lens comes in handy.

I shot in the "P" program mode, so that I could adjust the white balance and ASA easily. I used the "cloudy" white balance setting, as this gives the photos a warmer tone. In the early mornings and late afternoon/evenings, the 800 ASA setting was handy.

ShayTay - Some very nice images in there!
Sharon

Thanks, Sharon #1! One of these days, I'll get the rest of the photos online and do a trip report. I'm usually out on business trips 4 weeks at a time, working 6 days a week...doesn't leave much time for the photos!

Sharon #2

Shay Tay,

Thanx! I don't want to spend $2000 for a camera I don't usually need. Is the Epson P2000 digital good for photo back home for family and travel Europe and Austalia? I'll probably take my daughter's Rebel with a back up. Your picture are crisp and colorful. Caton

Caton

My tgoughts...

1) Take your daughter's EOS Rebel. There's NO MATCH for it in the non-dslr cams. Yes, the FZ30 may be great. Yes the S2: idem ditto. But a DSLR is a different league.

2) When it comes to lenses; the IS will not be that important. Read; it costs a lot of money, and I can imagine you'd rather spend that money on something else. There's plenty of light in Africa, and you can push the ISO to 400 or even 800 to get to the shutterspeed you need, without ruining the shot. So IS would only be usefull when taking tele-shots at dusk or dawn. When shooting tele, just remember the golden rule: shutter speed = zoom length. Or an example with figures; if you're at 300mm, you need 1/300s. If you're at 200mm, you need 1/200s. One thing I would do; if you're not used to this camera and lens; test it first. Make sure your lens works flawlesly with the rebel, and gives sharp results.

3) Other tips; get a beanbag, bring plenty of batteries and a car recharger. You might also want to consider the Rebel battery grip. It balances the lens.

Good luck!

I've seen a lot of mention of the Canon S2 on this board, and it was also recommended in the info packet that came with my upcoming trip documents.

I've seen the following on Amazon: "Canon Powershot S2 IS 5MP Digital Camera with 12x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom". Is this the S2 everyone is talking about?

Also, are the adaptor plugs in SA, Botswana and Namibia the same as are used in Europe? TIA

Hi Caton,

I'm not quite sure what your question was about the P2000; could you clarify? As to the expense of the IS lens, the one I use runs about $550 online. It's not large enough to require a battery grip. Also, in the open safari vehicles in southern Africa, there is little chance to use a beanbag. You "might" be able to use the beanbag on the bar in front of you, but you'll probably be looking at the back of the person's head in the next seat. In photographing wildlife, you may only have a few seconds to take the photo before they move off or change to a less photogenic position.

panecott-
Yes, that one on Amazon is it. There is a new model out, the S3. Don't know how easy it is to find. The S2 is a mighty fine safari camera and prices should be a bargain now, around $350. I paid $450 10 months ago for the S2. See above message for link to photos taken with it.
regards - tom

Regarding your question about plugs: the Wilderness Safari camps in Botswana are using the two-prong round plugs, which may be the same as in Europe. They called them a "universal plug", which doesn't help us Americans. Other camps may not do so, though, as other parts of Botswana uses the SA plugs. South Africa uses the three-prong plugs (large round and sometimes flat blades). Zimbabwe used yet another plug and Namibia may do so, as well. This website may of help: http://kropla.com/electric2.htm.

Thanks, Tom. Yes, Amazon is selling it for $349, which seems like a good price. A lot of recent user reviews on Amazon said they paid a lot more. Looks like I'll go with that one. I hope it's relatively easy to use. Any tips?

Thanks for the link, ShayTay. I guess I'll get one of those kits Magellan's sells with supposedly every kind of adaptor plug you could ever need.

The photos are amazing, Tom. I loved the Mala Mala leopards.

panecott - thanks, we are pleased with the photos and several 11x14 prints are now on our walls. The camera works fine just out of the box on automatic.

Notice you can set the image size/quality jpg settings. I'd recommend L plus the superfine or fine. Also on the back just right of the screen there is a button with an S in a box. This is for a "short-cut". By default (out of box) when pressed, easily by accident, it changes these image quality settings and you don't know it. Not good. It happened to all of us so I reprogramed the button to only turn on or off the display. You get 700 photos per 1gig card memory with the L and fine setting.

Along that same button thing is that you will likely push the "menu" button by accident at first. No big deal, just hit it again. You'll get used to not touching it.

The flash is automatic, if you pop it up. But I like to use the flash a lot, especially for people pictures. And if you are in the sun, it won't flash on auto. So I keep my S2 set on P, not auto. With P I can make it flash whenever. And the other automatic stuff still works.

You will think the lens cap is too loose but is meant to be that way so it does not trap the lens when you turn the camera on.

The movie mode is really nice. And easy to start and stop with a button on the back. Note you also set the image quality of movies from the display menu. You can also take a still picture while taking a movie. Try it.

The only occasional real problem is somtimes it wants to focus on something that is in front of, like tall grass, the real subject.

Of course you will need memory cards if you don't have any. SD type, and I'd recommend taking 3 1gig cards and perhaps 2 512meg cards. More if you want is good. Recommend SanDisk Ultra II cards. Amazon has them now for $59 for 1 gig, no sales tax, free shipping. I paid $80 a year ago. Anyone else listening? Then you have to decide, do you keep the photos on the SD cards until you get home or do you off-load them onto a gizmo and then re-use the card? Actually for the price of cards, I'd just get another 2 1gig cards, total of 5. And at your leasure delete the bad shots. I know, this is adding up, we're talking $300 for SD cards. With all of this card memory you can bring home 2,000 photos and 15 minutes worth of video clips. At least. If you are like my wife who takes a photo of each and every elephant she sees, you need a lot of memory of some type.

And another set of rechargeable batteries (4 AA type).

If you get it and have any questions, I may be able to help, ask.

Don't let all this scare you off, all decent cameras have "issues". If you want the ultimate in simplicity, get a little pocket type Canon or Nikon. But you won't be happy with it on safari.
The S2 is a really fine safari camera, you've seen what it can do.

regards - tom