Kavey
I would love to see your photographs. Do you have them posted somewhere. I am going to Bateleur Camp, Masai Mara this month, looking for good ideas.
Thank You
John Dunne

I think I said somewhere before but I don't recall which thread, a second hand 10D or a new 350D would be fine as a BACKUP for your 20D. These cameras will both produce good images. Heck, a good photographer can get good images from much, much less expensive equipment.

I've said on many threads that I really do NOT think L glass is a good investment for a learner or indeed anyone who's photography is not already pretty darn good - the difference for a good photographer is noticable but for the rest of us it's not the main thing that will improve our photographs. I don't have L glass myself yet though I think I'm improving so I may get a single L glass lens when I next purchase a new lens if I have the budget. Then again I may not.

Cooncat, I do think you have what it takes to get better images from your equipment - that is the will to learn and the patience to research and spend your budget most wisely.

Kylebrook
Photos from my 2004 Southern Africa trip, taken on a Nikon D70 digital with the kit lens wider zoom and a CHEAP Nikon telephoto zoom are here:

http://www.kaveyland.com/FavellesTra...2004/index.htm

Photos from my brief April 2004 trip to Kenya were taken on my Minolta film SLR using regular Fuji Superia print film and inexpensive equipment/ lenses and are here:

www.kavey.dpcprints.com (the ones with DSWF in the title)

Kind Regards
Kavey

PS the Canon 350D (what is called the Rebel XT in the States) feels too small to me too. Friends that have it LOVE it, photographer hobbiests included but it HAS to feel comfortable to hold and use so if you find it too small, as I do... don't buy it!

Kavey -- Funny that you mention it being too small -- I have never found any camera too small, let alone the Rebel, only too large -- now I'm thinking maybe this means I'm carrying mine around too much instead of holding it & using it! :)

Then again my hands are small...I always look enviously at people holding a tiny Canon Elph, etc... and think how much spare room they must have in their packs for souvenirs!

Lawrence,

Thanks for the feedback.

Man, that lens lust is very hard to resist. My current lenses slap me every time they see me looking lustily at another lens, but it does little good! ;)

Now, if I may disclose the entire reason why I have gone the DSLR route...it was while I was at Kulefu in Lower Zambezi last year. There was this Scandinavian guest there and his lens was just so...well, BIG. Yes, his camera was very well hung!

Imagine my embarrassment as I sat there for about three days with him in the same vehicle with my little Sony F707 while he was sporting a massive 400mm lens on his body. Oh, the shame!

It was then that I decided that I would not be put to shame by anybody else's large focal unit next time around! ;)

Anyway, only because I have so much other stuff to still get before my safari (really good ball mount to support my big lens), laptop, a couple more Gigs of memory, a couple more batteries, a couple more filters (one for sunsets and possibly a neutral density), a backup Canon 20d body and especially a good Tamrac photo backpack.

The 120-300mm f/2.8 lens will be on top of my wish list, but for now it will have to wait. :(

Roccco, Re lens lust:
Hanging around a fire after sundowners with friends, all conservationists, mostly women, we were musing over how men who are hunters think they are so macho...but we think they are overcompensating. If you know what I mean. In a word, big gun, little....

Now we did not talk about lenses, but before anyone gets too lustful...

By the way, we definitely concluded that if the photographer is a woman, then a lense really is just a lense.

That's a really funny story Rocco. I am just the opposite. I love my super small XT (350D) with a little 50mm prime on it. Its about the same sime as your old 707 but it takes fantastic portraits. The best part is it only costs $70.

I uploaded some photos I took in the last month or so with it, mostly at two friend's weddings.
http://individual.utoronto.ca/ltaylor/web/

Tasha,

While that may hold true for hunters, I have never lied about the zoom of my lens! ;)

Thank you Kavey
Stunning pics

Thanks!

Lisa, I don't find the Rebel too small (the 300d) just the new Rebel XT (350D) which is much smaller than any other SLR I've ever held.

Friends with smaller hands really like it and if it weren't for the comfort in holding it I'd probably be happy with it too.

Kavey - Thanks for the vote of confidence! I do remember your advice about the 10D for a backup- I was responding to, I think Tashak? Or someone who suggested that I save money on the body and buy a better lens.

Sunny Days - Very nice pictures!

Rocco - you are too funny. :-D I hope your arms are as big as your... ahem....lenses, because you've got yourself quite an arsenal to carry around! ;-)

Cooncat, I really like cameras with a body and hand grip shape that allows me to easily swing it up one handed straight to my eye, composing FAST and pressing that shutter button in one fluid motion if necessary.

The 350D is just too small for me to do that.

Also, my husband, 6 foot 6 inches tall and with hands and feet to match, finds it almost toy like to hold and given that he'd be using it a lot too... it's a definite no-no for us.

But it looks like a great camera for the price.

Kavey (you braggart) ;)

And just what does the size of your hubby's feet have to do with holding a camera? :)

It's his HANDS that hold the camera - but as with most tall people, he has large hands AND feet. I think the phrase "hands and feet" just came to mind automatically in one lump phrase when explaining why his hands are so big - because he's so tall!

:D

Kavey - I'm with you. It's easier for me to hold steady a larger, heavier camera. And it's not like the 20D weighs 10 pounds! Or kilos!;-)