Lynn-

Yes, you can plug the camera into the computer with Sony as well. I don't know if they make one for MS Duo, but I have a sony optical mouse that has a slot in the front for memory stick so it doubles as a card reader.

My comment about portable storage had more to do with storing pictures during the trip. Although flash memory keeps getting cheaper, most people like to have a PSD to offload their cards on safari. If you are planning to bring a laptop then obviously this is not an issue.

-Matt

Won't taking a couple of memory cards or sticks work? When one is about used up, remove it store it in the camera bag that is always with me and put in the next memory card or stick. When it is time to transfer the photos to the computer, put each card/stick in the camera and transfer. Is that a good procedure?

I'd rather not take extra stuff with me like a laptop or portable storage device or anything.

I love your statement that I can plug the Sony into the computer. That's what I want to do. That's what I do now with my point and shoot digital to get the pictures from the memory card to the computer.

MS Duo--don't know what that is and hope it is not needed.

Is a card reader something that should be acquired for use at home? Don't want any extra stuff on the road.

Pardon the extrmeme ignorance.

A tip I learned at my photo class the other night is NOT to download your photos from your camera to the laptop. If your batteries die in the process you can lose all your photos! He recommended using a card reader. For what its worth.....

CarlaM - interesting, talking about the -camera- battery I would think. Have to try it with any given camera to be sure. A card reader is powered by the PC USB slot. (5 volts, 500ma max out of the USB). All of the batteries, chargers, backup this and that weighs probably 5 times as much as my camera!
regards - tom

Lynn-

Your previous safari experience should give you a good estimate of the number of photos you will be taking, so you could calculate the number of cards you'll need based on the "timings & sizes" review page on dpreview.

Consider that 6mp images will eat up significantly more memory without noticeably differences in quality (though with the potential for more cropping later). Thus it may or may not be worth getting the latest models, as last year's 5mp cameras can make photos as large as you'd like. Furthermore, since the sensors are staying the same size while pixels are increasing, you may actually get cleaner results from the 5mp cameras.

Either way, if you are planning to invest in a bunch of memory cards then that multiplies the cost disadvantage of the Sony (MS Duo is memory stick duo, and the duo just refers to the fact that the card is about half the length of the original MS). Unless you have handled the Panasonic, Canon, and Sony and found that you REALLY liked the Sony, there is little reason to choose it over the other two.

-Matt

More good advice!

Nevermind:

I had never heard of the Samsung until your post. Dpreview is the only place that has reviwed it. Based on what's written there, it has several major disadvantages compared to the Fz30:

1) Max aperture falls to 4.6 at full zoom. That's about 50% less light than the Fz30.
2) Highest quality movie mode is restricted to 30 second clips.
3) Reviewer felt in-camera image processing was sub-standard.
4) Costs about $200 more than Fz30.
5) NO IMAGE STABILIZATION!

That last point seems like a real deal-breaker. That huge zoom is much less useful w/o stabilization. The only big plus is the 28mm, but for the price difference you could easily buy a wide-angle conversion lens for the Fz30. As the review pointed out, you can get an entry dSLR and some lenses for the price of the Samsung. Now that Samsung is working with Pentax they may be able to improve on the next version of the camera.

-Matt

Matt, thanks for the reply. I have decided upon the Canon S2 for my safari photo ops!

Nevermind,

Why did you decide not to wait for the S3?

I've read a lot about the S2 and figured it would be a good value for the money. Also, I'm going to Europe next month and want to do a "trial run" with it. My DH will bring a backup camera... By getting it now, I have time to become familiar with it. By safari time, hopefully I'll have some idea of what I'm doing. I'm not a real photog buff, just want to take some decent pictures!