I was wondering what you guys have for cameras on your Safaris? I am about to buy a new pocket camera for my hunts and want to get something that will last for years, easy to use and takes great pictures. Are there any recomendations out there for such a camera? I have a couple ideas from conversations in the past but want to make sure I get the best for my needs. I don't need the newest one out there either as I have found sometimes that even discontinued models are sometimes just as good as they have proven themselves in the past.

Buy a high megapixel Canon. I am personally taking a Canon T3i in three weeks when I go but it is not a pocket camera. I am taking one of those as well but want the big camera even though not pocket sized.

I carry a pocket sized Canon on my belt at all times. Wife carries a larger Canon. 16GB cards in both.

I have a Nikon digital SLR with a good zoom lens - not a pocket camera, but when space/weight is not a big problem (in a blind or in the vehicle), it provides a lot more flexibility with distance, light, depth of field, etc. There's a lot to see & photograph in Africa.
My "pocket camera " is a Pentax, but any top of the line point & shoot camera from Canon, Nikon, etc. should meet your needs - get the highest optical zoom (not digital- you can do that later with your computer) you can find/afford.

Another vote for the Canon cameras. Not only a good camera, but in my experience a tough camera as well. And I prefer the compact digitals with IS.

I have a Canon G9. Best camera I have ever owned and as LionHunter said Canon cameras are tough, my G9 is built like a tank.

My two hobbies have always been Guns and Photography. I made 8 safaris to Africa and took countless pictures. I have also been an avid bird watcher all my life (I'm currently 77). I learned early on that you can either WATCH birds or take pictures of them but not do both at the same time. I have always had a full complement of professional 35mm equipoment. I currently own and use D series nikon Pro bodies (3 of them with a complete complement of lenses to 400mm). I tried taking an slr to Africa but found I didn't have it with me while hunting and it was quite bulky. Then I tried a Leica and a couple of lenses and found that little more accomodating. I settled on a Canon Elph in APS film format when it first came out for several reasons. The APS cartridge held the most frames of any film cartridge at the time and the Elph fit in a shirt pocket. I used this until the advent of the digital Elph when I changed to that. To be of use to me to document the hunt it must be available 100% of the time. The Elph filled this requirement perfectly. One of the current high quality point and shoot digitals that fits in a shirt pocket would easily fill the bill today. All the quality P&S digitals today will do a more than adequate job. With the luggage restrictions they are today one of my full size D2x's with a 120-400 zoom would be huge to lug along plus quite expensive. Just my opinions of course. But the only camera that is usable is the one you have with you at the time you want the picture.

Dear Nude

A small unit on your belt greater than 10 meg. I use Sony.

For you good shots I have a Nikon with 35mm for close up wide angle shot. It is a must and you will not regret it. $1,000 will be your memories for life.

A 200mm lens min will get in the field game shots covered.

Any of the top brands will do up to you.
just need the 2 lens. A pocket camera will never give you the good quality.

Make sure you have a good SD card.

Regards Mark

This will service all needs 12X zoom and takes AA batteries take the e batteries with you and you are set. Set camera for finest pixel setting and outstanding photosthis is what they can do.

picasaweb.google.com/retreever/DadsTanzania09?authkey=Gv1sRgCKKKsPz1zp39TA#

http://usa.canon.com/cusa/cons...30_is#Specifications

Phil,

We just bought a new pocket camera recently. Sadie always researches these things before buying and the Canon Power Shot S95 seemed to float to the top so we bought it. It's very easy to use,compact enough to just drop in your pocket and it takes beautiful pix.

Mark

Gentlemen,

Here is my recommendations for cameras.

For best photo quality, there is nothing to beat an SLR.

My choice would be anything from either Canon or Nikon. I would not even consider any other make when it comes to an SLR.

For pocket cameras, the Canon S95 mentionmed above by Mark is an excellent one. It is only second to the Canon G12, and beats all other smaller cameras when it comes to quality.

Sadly, neither the G12 or the S95 has much zoom.

For a pocket camera with a good zoom my favourite right now is the Panasonic TZ7 or TZ10. Many of the photos I have posted above in my hunt report of last year were taken with a TZ10.

If you want something a bit bigger, my recommendations are either the Sony HX1 or the Panasonic FZ45 or FZ100.

In the old days one has to think about battries and charging. Now this is no longer a concern, as all camps have electric power.

I thought I would get a pile of different answers on this subject. I appreciate all that has been said. There are a lot of good points to think about here for sure. My wife wants to get one of those big bulky 35 mm type cameras and I want a smaller one to pack around. Maybe a decent camrera like the Rebel for the bigger one that is easy to use and takes decent photos and try to figure out what I want for a small pocket camera is the way to go.
I am open to suggestions and will keep looking around before I make a decision. Thanks again for what has been said.

As someone else said, my wife and I have two Cannons, a big and a small (I don't know the models). Whoever is the "shooter" carries the little camera and the "observer" carries the big one and takes most of the pix.

Hugh

Just a thought. Make sure you get one that powers up quick! Our pocket digital camera died recently and we haven't replaced it yet but will before we go on our next hunt. The biggest problem with our old camera is that it took about 20 seconds from when you turned it on until it was ready to take a picture. I can't tell you how many shots we missed because by the time the camera was ready the subject had vanished into the bush.

I'll throw out another option. I too have spent a lot of my life taking pictures, sometimes as a professional. I used mostly large format for landscapes, but also used smaller cameras. My favorites in 35mm were always Canon, but when I decided to buy a serious digital travelling camera, I looked at them all and decided on an Olympus EL-P2. I think their system shared with the new Panasonics and Leica's, are the new wave coming, and for good reason. They have done away with the whole mirror through the lens system and gone all digital with interchangeable lenses. They are the functional equivalent of an SLR without the size and mirror shake problems. They also allow focal plane lenses, eliminating hyperfocal design, which allows lenses to be much smaller and simpler for the same quality. This also opens up the possibility of much less expensive really wide angle lenses for scenics, which has always been the bugaboo of digital cameras(limited wide angle capability).

The whole Olympus system will slip into a jacket pocket, with a body, a wide angle zoom, and a long telephoto. Picture quality is really good. I stitched together a panoramic of Yosemite valley from the rim and printed it on a 17"x48" sheet and it really riveled some of the silver prints I have made from big negatives. It also includes HD movies in the same format as Canon offers(along with others) in the T2i.

Give it or the Panasonic a look. I have heard rumblings that Nikon and Canon are working on similar designs, but nothing available from them yet.

iPhone 4 (as a back-up for anything you might use).

These things have come a looooong way...They now have zoom, hi-res setting (up to 2.5 mb.) Most of us are in the habit of having them near by at all times (like it or not) and you can easily and quickly download images to your home / office / remote PC / servers. (once back into civilization)

Not as good as an SLR, but as previously mentioned; a great back-up.

JW


JW

Oh, and not to forget the video feature!!!

Another great one we have been using is the Panasonic LUMIX TS3. Super for a pocket camera where conditions are not always favorable; takes good fish pictures and can even submerge it when releasing them.

Waterproof, shockproof, and dustproof with a nice Leica lens and 12MP for great definition. Shoots 1920x1080 HD video also.

All in a nice package for about $350.

quote:

Originally posted by Blank:
Another great one we have been using is the Panasonic LUMIX TS3. Super for a pocket camera where conditions are not always favorable; takes good fish pictures and can even submerge it when releasing them.

Waterproof, shockproof, and dustproof with a nice Leica lens and 12MP for great definition. Shoots 1920x1080 HD video also.

All in a nice package for about $350.

I have one of these as well as an SLR. I think the SLR is pretty tough to beat, but it is bulkier. In Africa that is no big deal, but for our mountaineering/Grand Canyon adventures, it is a bit much.

I just bought a Panasonic ZS6 with Leica lens and 12X zoom, manufacturer refurb with 90 day warranty, off of ebay for $138.

Been giving it the workout and it takes good photos. Will be with me in Africa in a couple of weeks.

Panasonic GH2 with 14-140. You will get the best options from both worlds

I have three things to say,Canon,Canon,Canon.

On a DG hunt, do most of you make do just with a good pocket camera or also take a SLR? As I understand it, a tracker or someone can be counted on to carry a day pack that might have an SLR and a couple of lenses in it. Is that usually true?

It goes without saying, especially on a DG hunt, to disable the audible alerts on both your camera and video camera! What doesn't seem very loud to you is extremely noisy and different in quiet jess when you are close to something you want a picture.

I usually give one of the trackers some extra dollars and let him carry my camera bag. I use a canon 5dmk2 with 4-5 lenses.

I like A. Dahlgren's thinking... and his camera and his photos as well. I hear a soft undertone of 'don't compromise' in his last post, if I may be so bold.

I just bought a nikon d7000 with two different lenses. So far, it is everything I could ever want.

My new Nikon D7000 with two lenses is what I want to bring with me when I leave at the end of July for Zimbabwe.

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
For a pocket camera with a good zoom my favourite right now is the Panasonic TZ7 or TZ10.

My pick as well - Saeed's reports are a reference per-se. You may check my as well. All taken in full auto - no special programs or settings - just point and shoot - that counts because there will never be enough time:

http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/7481090541

And a couple of stray pics I found surprisingly nice from a pocket camera that TZ7 is:





Macro mode is decent and Very user friendly:

quote:

Originally posted by Jeff Wemmer:
Oh, and not to forget the video feature!!!

Very good point - for example - I did some stalking on Saturday evening - therefore I was in a "shoot" not in a "photo" mode - came across a Red Stag - hunting those starts on August the 16th, so "photo" mode took over.

Those guys are bloody spooky and once you are inside 30m seconds count - this one gave me more than enough time - however camera had to be at hand - fully operative with one hand in couple of seconds. As you can see taking in account branches in two layers in front of Stag auto focus did OK:



Anyway - what ever you choose - make sure it is at least as good as this one - I wish you a good pick!

If you want a point and shoot camera any of the above will do just fine. Although if you want to play with DOF and maybe take photos of birds/animals from long distance a SLR camera is the only way to go.

What other fast primes are in your camera bag besides the 85 f1.2?

I have traded away some and bought a new lens last week but this how my bag looks now.

Canon EF 24-70/2,8 L USM
EF 85mm f/1.2 L II USM
Canon EF 14mm f/2.8 L USM
Canon EF 100-400/4,5-5,6 L USM IS

no macro at the moment

Upgraded my point and shoot recently from a Leica D-Lux 3 to a Leica D-Lux 5 with its f2.0 lens. Fits in a small belt pouch and zooms adequately (NOT for birds). Comes with Lightroom 3.2. Winner.

Regards

I have the Canon S95 as a pocket camera also. It starts up quickly, takes good pics and video and is small enough to fit in a pocket or on a belt. Mine lives in my purse. You just never know when you want to snap a pic.

I also have a couple of Canon Mark IV's and a few lenses from 16-35 to 500 but the weight limits the practibility of carrying them on a hunt. I do have a Black Rapid Strap that makes carrying a heavy camera out of the way until you need it and seems to distribute the weight so you don't notice it as much.

Cindy
www.pbase.com/cjw

I have a Panasonic DMC-FX37 that has been on my belt every day for 2+ years now with no issues. I have taken literally thousands of pictures with it.

No complaints and no issues. My wife has the slightly larger model that does take better pics but at the cost of convenience of size.

Sometimes you have to ask yourself..........do I want a slightly inferior image...........but at least have an image or possess a larger more capable camera but one you seldom use because its simply too much hassle to wag around?

It is probably not hard to figure out why, but I am partial to these 3 cameras and I list why. Kodak puts the food on my table, but I really love these cameras.

Kodak M580 - 14 MP and 8x optical zoom. Fits in your pocket. HD video as well.
http://store.kodak.com/store/e.../productID.169771600

Kodak Playsport Zx3 or ZX5 - 1080p HD video, fits in your pocket, waterproof, shockproof, 4x digital zoom and also 5mp still pictures.
http://store.kodak.com/store/e.../categoryID.28889100

Kodak Easyshare Max Z990 12 mp 30x zoom and 1080p HD video.
http://store.kodak.com/store/e.../productID.169771600

To be released this month, at $750, the Leica V-Lux 30 may become the pocket camera of choice.


Leica V-Lux 30


"Enormous capabilities

The photographic options offered by the Leica V-Lux 30 and its 16× optical-zoom range cover everything from wide-angle and macro shots to telephoto shots of distant subjects. Extremely precise aspherical lenses in the construction of its Leica DC Vario-Elmar 1:3.3-5.9 4.3-68.8 mm ASPH. zoom lens (24-384 mm, 35-mm equivalent) enable an enormous range of focal lengths from 24 to 384 mm - for video as well as still pictures. The camera is made even more versatile by a continuous shooting mode (burst mode), allowing the capture of an impressive ten images per second at full resolution (14.1 MP), and a 3D image-capture mode. Another highlight of the V-Lux 30 is its amazingly efficient video recording format: it records videos in 1920 × 1080i AVCHD full-HD including GPS data and, in contrast to the usual M-JPEG format, uses about 50% less memory - for the same brilliant image quality.

Easy handling

The LCD touch screen display of the Leica V-Lux 30 offers the ultimate in convenient handling. In addition to the familiar button menu, many features can be controlled simply by touching the screen with a fingertip. At the same time, it lets users conveniently leaf through captured images in playback mode and enlarge them with just a light tap of a fingertip. For an easy and fast starting of the video function, the video start button is located on the top of the camera, right next to the shutter-release button.

Integrated GPS function

The camera's integrated GPS module records the geographical coordinates of the location and the local time of every picture taken, and stores the data in the EXIF data of the image files.

In conjunction with social networks, image portals and map services, such as Google Maps and Google Earth, these pictures can be sorted according to time and location and displayed in online slideshows or shown on maps at the exact location they were taken. In addition, the GPS function also shows sightseeing highlights and interesting places to visit in the immediate area. The Leica V-Lux 30 provides access to over one million points of interest."

The Leica V-Lux 30 is the same as the Panasonic, but at double the price.

This Panasonic has not been getting good reviews, so please try it before you buy it.

I have been getting questions about cameras I take.

I generally take 3 cameras with me on safari.

A small, pocket camera that I can carry with me all the time, and I carry a spare battry for it too.

I also take a good SLR, and I prefer an APS size sensor, for the extra zoom I get for wildlife.

My current favourite is the Canon 7D. For this I take at least 2 lenses. A 17-55 and a 100-400.

I also like to take along a third, bridge camera.

Something like the Sony HX1 or the Panasonic FZ100.

These are normally kept in the back of the truck with us, and any opportunity I get of taking either a photo or a video clip, I use this one.

I second Saeeds listing of the TZ Pnasonic series. There has been a TZ with me on every trip in the last 6 years. The TZ series has become the ZS series here in the states. I'll also sometimes take the canon superzoom SX 10is which is now a SX30is. Nice camera too. But as has been said many times a SLR is th ebest for ultimate quality.

My wife shoots a Nikon D7000 and D3100 Dig SLR--and she has a host of lenses, and she gets some awesome pic's.

I carry this camera for work and shooting the odd pic.. does a nice job

http://www.sonystyle.com/webap...=8198552921644718498

Nice shot of my mug with it!


By null at 2010-09-13

Ed