I need a new camera to take with me on my upcoming hunt in RSA. I am undecided as to whether to use film or digital (haven't had one before). Video is not an option.

Ideally I would like something reasonably small, at least water resistant, hopefully waterproof, zoom, and tough that will take half way decent photos.

I'd appreciate suggestions, or experiences, either negative or positive.

Oops, sorry guys, meant to post this in the general African forum, been a long day. But since it's here, I'll leave it.

[ 03-28-2003, 05:26: Message edited by: Gatogordo ]

Fat Cat,

They covered this recently at these two posts;

Digital Cameras

Film Cameras

The only thing I know about cameras (which isn't much) is that my digital camera eats regular batteries for lunch. I took three sets of the rechargeable batteries and they lasted for the 20 days we were gone (and over 500 pictures). We had one set of Radio Shack batteries and two sets of Ray-O-Vac batteries (all were Nickel Metal Hydride type and all were charged up while in the states before we left). The Radio Shack brand batteries had significantly less "life" than the Ray-O-Vac. I would not recommend Radio Shack brand rechargeable batteries.

Regards,

Terry

Thanks, I missed those.

Gatogordo,

Forget about waterproof, as the only way you can have that is by buying a waterproof housing, and I suspect you won't like it.

If you keep the camera away from pouring rain, you should be OK. A few drops on it won't matter. At least that has been my own experience.

Take a serious look at the Canon S45 or S50. Both are the same size and looks, but one is a 4 M pixel and one is a 5 M pixel.

It is one of the smallest usuable cameras on teh market - there are smaller ones, but I find them very hard to handle, and I suspect you will too. It is very hardy, and its battery seems to last for a long time.

Whatever camera you get, get a spare battery. And if you are not taking a laptop computer with you, you might consider either taking a few extra memory cards, or you can purchase one of those little hard disk storage gizmos that can be used to store your photos.

Here are a few more links for you to look at at.

Digital Cameras Review

Digital Cameras Resources

I would go with digital. We have been doing that for the past few years, and never regretted our decision.

I know that you were asking about cameras for still photos, but dont over look video in addition to photos. Where my still photos missed something the video caught it and vice-versa. Like Saeed suggested go to those sites, as those guys are to cameras what we are to guns.

Olympus has a digital they advertise as being an "all weather" camera,its weather resistant.I went digital,and I'll never go back.
Jeff
http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_section/cpg_product.asp?more_info_lobby=1&p=16&bc=27&product=902
http://www.steves-digicams.com/2003_reviews/stylus300.html

Gatogordo,

How interested are you in photography? How important are the results?

I would say learning to take decent photographs takes as much time and effort as loading your own ammo. Simply buying a good camera is the first step, much like buying a reloading press is just the first step in reloading.

Not trying to be a smart ass here, just suggesting that "hunt photography" can be another side line to your hunting much as reloading is and you will get out of it what you put in.

In some ways it is perhaps more important than your reloading, as your pictures (along with your trophies) will be your (and your kids and grand kids?) "memories" in a few years time....

Regards,

Peter

Gatogordo
In one of my earlier incarnations I was a commericial photograper. I learned photography the hard way, handed a 4*5 Graphic, shown what 125th of a sec at F16 looked like and sent out to make exposures. After I have been at it for six months I was allowed to use a light meter, by then I would argue with it and seldom used it.
One of the things I've learned over the years small formats, 35mm can't make as good an image as larger formats 21/4 * 2 3/4. Since I'm not making images for money I got lazy and sold my Mamiya 6 * 7 format. Rifle equivilent would be a 458 Win mag. They are both 21/4 * 2 3/4 and the 458, but heavy and not appropriate for making photos of my grand sons or shooting the squirels the back yard.
Another important thing I learned was that lenses are everything. If you have a crappy lens you'll get crappy images. For instance, a Kodak lens will not be as good as a Sony or Panasonic, Sony/Panasonic will not be as good a Nikon and Nikon will not be as good Zeiss or Leica.
The body of the camera needs to be strong and durable. The old Nikon F series of cameras was most notable for the shear brute strength, durability and the good lenses not excellent lenses. Leica was known for the M series camers bodies and the magnificient lenses. But it was not a SLR, it was rangefinder. The Nikon F series was so durable that there are factual stories of photographers use them a flail to remind two legged and 4 legged animals some manners. Then the photographer made an image of the downed critter. I know of several photographers using Nikon Fs with motor drives to bang heads during the VN demonstrations/riots.
What this is leading up to is get the biggest format, largest number of pixtels or negitive size. Get the best optics available with the most durable body.
I use four different camera, #1 is a little Olypus 35 that's about the size of a pack of cigaretts that I've been using for 25 years, a larger 35 by Pentax Rangefinder that I've been using for 15 years, a old Leica SLR with interchangable lenes that is so strong it could second for driving tent pegs, and a Sony Mavica using 3.5 floppy discs.
All of these cameras have served me well.
jim

The biggest reason I went to digital from film was because of the x-rays in the airports. The negative effects are cumlative.

I bought a Canon G-3. It has more features than I need, but it is large enough for someone who is somewhat ham-handed.

I would definitely take along a 12 volt DC charger so the battery can be charged in the hunting vehicle.

The Canon battery lasts a long time, but I still bought a spare and keep it charged.

Go with Lithium ion batteries. No memory on recharge. Take a charger with you and a power converter. I did last year and was able to keep my video running the whole trip.

I recommend the Nikon Coolpix 995 or Coolpix 4500 for a digital unit.

Peter E, LV Eric et al:

Thanks for the advice.

I'll be the first to admit that I am somewhat out of the mainstream in my views of photography. I used to be a very accomplished amateur photographer, using Nikon and Pentax SLRs but finally it got to where I was more concerned with framing a shot than I was in living the experience. So I quit. Didn't take any photos for years. Frankly it was wonderful. Finally bought a "do everything" Pentax zoom a few years back so that we could take photos of our kids. I am still reluctant to take many photos, if I can't remember what it was like, I'll do it or something similar again.

I still feel pretty much the same way and video is out of the question, watching people walk around with video cameras instead of paying attention to the experience is amazing to me.

However, these are my views and if someone lives for the images they capture (so they can re-live the experience they missed capturing them ), more power to them.

That's why they have more than one flavor of ice cream.

These new point and shoot with the zoom are ok , but just don't have the quality of the old SLR or large format. That being said it is easier than carrying three or four different fixed lenses. I carry a bag which mostly stays with the vehicle with all three, but when I want a good quality picture made I always go to the fixed lense. I find I use the 20mm and 90mm the most.

I have a Nikon digital for general pictures when hunting. But when I want real quality pictures that I may make large prints for framing I use a leica titanium point and shoot 35mm film camera. That camera amazes me and others all the time.

Cat,

I have posted this opinion before to mixed reviews (like most of my posts on the political forum ) but I have to advocate disposable cameras for safaris. I would at least pack two or three in my field bag or day back. I usually take four or five on safari and make sure that I keep one in the landcruiser glve box, my field bag, shirt pocket etc. They are packaged in those neat little water-proof plastic bubbles and are cheap enough that I can snap away at everything that interests me and take a bunch of shots of each animal taken. Further, I usually have them scattered about as described above so that I KNOW I will never be without a camera. Even if you take a "real" camera with you, I would still pack a couple of disposables.

JMHO,

JohnTheGreek

Fat Cat
I got an Olympus C-50 digital for Xmas. 5.0 megapixel that they claim is photo quality to 12 x 18 inches. I am very happy with it so far. Metal case and the size of a fat pack of cigarettes. Zoom lens and takes up to 1 min 30 sec of video. Best of all is the size. A camera is only good if you have it with you and a big camera or video is often left behind on a stalk. Cost was around $550.00.

I just bought a Canon S-50, 5 megapixel, 3X optical zoom, about the size of a typical 35mm point and shoot.(and smaller than some of them) Lightweight, easy to use and just enough manual features to get me confused.

I'm just tring to decide if 2 256m flash cards are enough. I should be able to get around 400 or so pics on those cards.

I'm also taking a 35mm point and shoot and a video camera with me. But if I use the video as much as I use it at home, I'll have about 5 minutes of video of my trip.

I recently decided to make the switch from film to digital as my main photography format, and after much research and fondling of cameras in stores, I chose a Minolta Dimage 7Hi fixed lens SLR (a "prosumer" level camera with 5 megapixels and 7X optical zoom) as my primary camera, and a Canon Powershot S400 ELPH (an ultracompact rangefinder with 4 megapixels and 3X optical zoon) as my backup. They share the Compact Flash storage media format, and the Minolta uses the inexpensive NiMH AA batteries (the Canon is too small to use them, so I'm stuck with a proprietary battery there).

And because a lot of my photography takes place on vacations, rather than buy a lot of digital film I instead went with a 20GB "digital wallet," a portable, battery-run hard drive onto which you download files from your camera's digital film, then erase the film and reuse it. The cost per GB stored is much, much less for the hard drive compared to digital film.

I'm still learning the ropes, but I'm pleased with the images, and it's definitely a whole lot easier and quicker to download them to the computer, review your results, and immediately delete the images you don't want to keep. Saving and organizing digitally sure beats storing negatives and prints!