mytmoss

I use the rocket blower too, love it :]

sdb2

Thanks, KennyK. I also have the blower, but it didn't help to remove the spots. But you're right, I only noticed them when I was shooting cherry blossoms on a very bright day in D.C. (F/22 and smaller).

cary999

I use Copper Hill Images products for sensor cleaning, reasonably priced and works. http://www.copperhillimages.com/

And like others, having two bodies and not shuffling lenses a lot keeps inside dust way down.

regards - tom

jczinn

Thanks Kenny for the bag info, I've been looking at the ThinkTank bags (Currently have a Lowepro Computrekker which I think could actually fit what I'd want to bring.) But, the issue may be weight.

I will essentially have two carry-ons because hubby will carry-on the other, but he has his own camera gear--currently a D70 (will probably up him to a D90 for this trip), 80-400VR, and he carries the binocs (Swarovski's and B&L Elites, they are heavy.) So not much help getting my gear in his bag

I was hoping to take South Africa Airways but their weight restriction for carry-on is 18 lbs! I may start another thread on this question, but has anyone flown SAA and do they weigh the check-in bags? No way would I get a bag down to 18 lbs.

mytmoss

Delta's weight restriction is 40 pounds, have you considered them?

Mike

sdb2

Tom, thanks for the info. The CHI is a dry/wet system, I take it. Have you ever used the wet part? Canons (which I own) are notorious for having tiny oil droplets get on the sensors purportedly because Canon overdoes lubricant. I'm afraid of turning dust bunnies into dust bears. Am I overly cautious here?

I notice that you carry a sensor loupe. Can you recommend one? I've only seen someone mention the VisibleDust loupe. Is yours lighted (as is VD's)?

Best, Steve

cary999

Steve - CHI, yes I've used the "wet", eclipse fluid, pec pads on stick. Not difficult to use but practice a couple times in the comfort and quiet of you own home before doing it in a safari camp. The only danger is having the mirror and shutter close with the stick in there. But never have had that happen

I do have the VisibleDust sensor loupe. The 5x one with LED lights. It works good, you might think that 5 power is not much to see dust but with the white LEDs dust etc is easily seen against the sensor background. The 7x unit might be even better.

I notice VisibleDust now has a squeeze bulb blower. That has filters for the air you squirt out and negative ion air to repel dust. http://www.visibledust.com/products3.php?pid=444 Cost $38 but might be worth it, think I'll ask around at dpreview and check it out.

regards - tom

cary999

jczinn - re SAA weight for carry-on. I've flown them every year no weighing, last time in 2008, and they did not weigh my carry-on. But I do not make nor "act" like it is heavy. And it is not quite the max size either. BUT last year the flights to/from JNB to Hoedspruit (HDS), small two engine 30 pax plane, we boarded the plane on the tarmac with stairs. At that point they wanted me to give them the (camera) bag to load into the plane. The plane had no overhead compartments. I balked, argued, I don't them trust having luggage broken into at JNB. I told them it was sensitive test equipment and my employer would fire me if I lost it. I needed a receipt if they touched it. They let me carry it on and put it beneath the seat in front of me. On the flight back, at their first request to take it I simply asked if I could put it underneath seat and they said yes. Easy that time.

regards - tom

sdb2

Tom, thanks again. I guess the loupe is on my list then. I feel like I need two budgets for these trips: one for the travel end of things and one for all the gadgets.

Best, Steve

sundowner

I have the Think Tank Airport International rolling bag and my "personal item" is the Think Tank Urban Disguise 50 shoulder bag.

The roller carries the 500, 70-200 or 100-400, two cameras, 1.4x and 2.0x, spare batteries, two portable harddrives, flash, flash brackets, better beamer, incident meter, all chargers.

The shoulder bag carries the 300 2.8 with the hood (reversed), any extra camera gear that doesn't fit in the roller, my Kindle, personal items etc. A lot of stuff will fit in that bag.

On the way to Africa I carry all camera equipment with me (chargers etc). If my checked luggage never makes it I'll be okay because I can still take pictures

jczinn

Thanks all, it sounds like I shouldn't have a problem with the carry-on, so we'll probably go on SAA.

@mytmoss, Delta is our other option but it means flying to Atlanta first--ug why add another four hours to the already agonizing 15 hour flight, plus the chance of a missed connection.

@sdb2 "I feel like I need two budgets for these trips: one for the travel end of things and one for all the gadgets." Tell me about it!! That's why I am trying to get by without purchasing yet another camera bag. As it is, I will need to purchase a beanbag and maybe a 70-200VR lens Oh, and probably a netbook and DVD drive! Sure adds to the cost of the trip

sdb2

jczinn, you're absolutely right: avoid flying to Atlanta. I've done D.C. directly to JNB on SAA several times and via Atlanta other times. To paraphrase Groucho, you'll feel like you spent a week in Atlanta one day . Really, the extra flight time feels like forever---you're actually heading west, away from JNB to start your trip, and worrying about connections is the last thing you want to do. It's even worse coming back, especially when you're landing in Atlanta knowing that about in the same time you could have been landing at JFK.

Have a great time in SA- Steve

africaddict

Hi jczinn
I noticed that you were undecided about the 17-55 or the 24-70?
Seeing as both your bodies are DX the 24-70 is not the way to go.(only giving you 36-105 on DX, I'm sure you know this already?).
If I were you I'd be looking at the 17-55, the 70-200 (most definitely) and your already 200-400 + 1.4 tc. I have this lens as well, it's a beaut. Seeing as I now have the D3, I'll be taking my new 500VR (much better combo on the D3 and leaving the 200-400 at home) The 70-200 (with and without the 1.4 tc) is a great lens on the D300.
I leave for a 24 days Botswana safari in 5 weeks and my kit will include:
Nikon D3 + D300&MB-D10 (share same battery)
1.4 & 1.7 TC's
Nikkor 24-70, 70-200VR & 500VR f/4.
Canon 500D close up filter
SB 900+Better Beamer (flash does no harm as long as used responsibly)
Gitzo 3540LS+Markins M20 & Manfrotto 680B pod+RRS MH-01 heavy duty clamp.
Wimberley sidekick.
Kinesis safari sack (unfilled of course)
Jobo Pro 140GB hard drive (4 inch screen & fastest download for RAW's)& Jobo 120GB Giga One ultra (backup)- NO heavy notebooks required.
Zeiss FL 8 x 42 binos.
Sony HD video & remote mic.
Plus the usual assortment of cables, chargers, tape, rocket blower, dry bag (for lens changing outside), batteries, etc.
All these sundry items fitting in the Think Tank cable. management 50.
All of these items, apart from the tripod, monopod and Think Tank 50 will fit in my Kiboko Gura Gear backpack which weighs only 4 lbs (a lot more when packed of course!)and is the BEST bag available IMHO to have when on safari in a vehicle due to it's brilliant design where you can rollback each side of the bag that divides in two.
Check it out here: (not affiliated in any way)
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/re...s/kiboko.shtml
Just my 2c ;-)
Cheers
Marc

mytmoss

JZinn were you aware that Delta now flies non-stop to JNB?
I have had no problems flying out of Atlanta so far, for what its worth. However I do not know your starting point, which for me is Los Angeles, so Atlanta is on the way.

Mike

amycyma

While I am not at all a great photographer, I did just come back from Botswana, and took pictures of "elephants crossing the road" my focal length on those shots was 70-120m
I was using a Nikon D80 with a Tamron 18-270 lens. My backup camera was a D60 with an 18-135 lens. The only time I shot less than 50m was for sunsets.

enjoy your trip, and I agree, photo gear is TOP priority

amy

jczinn

@sdb2 and mytmoss--the deed is done, I purchased our tickets on Delta--I made a list of all the pros and cons and somehow the Delta flight won out. Just wasn't keen about the luggage limitations on SAA, plus Delta is flying new 777's; also the return stop in Dakar which made that flight even longer than coming back via Atlanta! Finally, Delta is offering me double miles thru the end of the year so that sort of clinched it

@africaddict, thanks for your list! I actually already own both the 17-55 and 24-70 but agree with you, the 24-70 is not practical for this trip. IF I have extra room, the 17-55 will come. As it looks now, I will take the 200-400vr + 1.4 tc, plus the 70-200VR (a friend offered me a good deal on one); and possibly the Tamron 90 macro OR the Canon 500D (could go on the 70-200 for macro.) Plus all those other assorted sundries, I did a test and it should all fit in my Lowepro Computrekker.

The Kiboko bag does look fantastic (I've seen it before) but, would rather put that cash to something else if I can manage with the bag I have.

sdb2

Congrats, jczinn! Between you and me [and the other 30 people who have contributed here], I would have gone for the double miles too. When are you heading out---did I miss that?

jczinn

Leaving the States on November the 13th---oh yeah, its Friday the 13th!!

mytmoss

Congrats jczinn, you will have a great trip! Hopefully those double miles come in handy. I use them all the time!

Mike

jczinn

Just wanted to report back on this very useful thread as we have just returned from our trip with 6,000+ photos...

I did end up bringing the 200-400VR (with 1.4 TC), the 70-200VR, and the 17-55. Also a macro which I almost never used because there was just so much else going on photographically, I never seemed to have time to devote to macro! The 200-400VR + TC was on a D300 and the 70-200VR was on a D300s. I am SO GLAD I decided on getting the 70-200VR because it was my most used lens for animals, and super fast and sharp. We ended up with a lot of dark, overcast and downright rainy days and that 2.8 was a life-saver at times.

The 200-400VR was mainly for birds and occasionally used for wildlife as well, especially in Kruger (as opposed to Sabi Sand where the 70-200 was the primary wildlife lens, as you can get so close...) I did not have trouble at all handling both in the vehicles in either Kruger or Sabi Sand, as there was plenty of room to keep one camera on the seat next to me (we were never more than two across in any Sabi Sand vehicle.)

Another indispensable investment was the Think Tank Airport International roller bag. I was lucky to find a used one on Ebay. Wow it holds a ton, and that combined with my Loweprowe Computrekker held everything we needed (including a spotting scope for birds, three DSLR bodies, aforementioned lenses plus an 80-400VR and 18-200VR which hubby used; and two pairs of full-size binoculars.)

The 17-55 was used only for Blyde River Canyon but I was glad I had it for that. If we hadn't gone there it might have been left home, and a point-and shoot used for scenery. There wasn't much opportunity for scenery shots in Kruger or Sabi.

I had the Molar TV beanbag which I used a lot (and should have used more.) I filled it with Samp which is sort of like a cracked corn, what here in the states we'd call hominy. This was great as it did not have the roly-polyness of beans and felt quite substantial. Two bags cost me just a couple of dollars. It WAS easy to use a beanbag in the Sabi vehicles, in fact the Nkorho vehicle provided a beanbag if you needed one.

I brought a tripod and used it a lot in the Kruger camps and when we stopped at the picnic sites for birds.

Unfortunately, we did experience almost a full week of overcast days (and worse---dense fog/rain in Dullstroom and three solid days of rain in Kruger.) So I am a bit disappointed in my birding shots; there were so many opportunities for great shots IF the weather had cooperated, but what I ended up with was a lot of soaking, bedraggled birds at high ISO. Sigh. Fortunately the weather was great for our second week and I was able to get some good shots at Sabi Sand, but this was primarily mammals as we didn't have the flexibility to stop for bird photography on those vehicles.

No problems getting all our gear on Delta (which, BTW, was a great flight as these things go.)

I was truly surprised that during our two weeks we did not see one single other "professional" type lens on a camera! The only place we saw other serious birders was at the Lake Panic bird hide. BTW, we amassed over 310 bird species for the trip (still doing a final count.) The rains did bring some amazing behavioral sightings, tons of raptors (soaked) perched in trees, etc.

Whew this went on! I will post a link to my photos when they are processed (may take awhile!)