We are off to Tanzania on our annual safari. And as usual, everyone seems to be packing a different camera.

The ones I know are:

Nikon 40X, Nikon 18-200VR and Nikon 70-300VR lenses
Canon G7
Panasonic FZ18
Canon S5 IS
Canon IXUS 950 IS
Canon IXUS 850 IS

We are on a sort of promise for a Nikon D300 to arrive before we go. If that happens we will take it too.

Saeed you know by now that Canon rules! Leave the panasonic & nikon stuff at home!

Saeed,

do you use the image stabilising lenses on the 40X?

I've just bought one and I'm not sure what lens to get other than the 18-55 that came with it.

rgds,
FB

Yes, both of the lenses I have have image stabilizing - hence the VR sticker.

In fact, I almost make it a point of buying only lenses - or cameras - that have image stabilization.

Once you have used IS you will never look back! Awesome tool to have.

Fallow Buck,

get the variable out to 300 That, along with a 2X converter will be just about all you need for anything. I shoot for a lot of folks and that one lens, along with the 11-55 is on my camera about 99 percent of the time.

i have a panasonic 12x stabilized lense camera and it takes great pics...or is that me

We have a slight modification to the list of cameras going to Tanzania this year.

Our Nikon 40X is being borrowed, and has not come back. Instead, we are taking a Canon 40D, with two lenses. 17-85 and 70-300. Both have image stabilizing.
Canon G7
Panasonic FZ18
Canon S5 IS
Sony H9
Canon IXUS 950 IS
Canon IXUS 850 IS
Canon IXUS 860 IS

We leave in an hours time, and those who might be interested, we hope to post daily reports from the camp on the African Hunting Forum.

Saeed - any feedback on the G7 in the field? I have been using one for a few months and so far it's quite exceptional given its reasonable cost.

I use the Energizer E2 lithium AA batteries in my Canon S3 IS. It's absolutely incredible how long they last in that camera. I understand the S5 drinks very little power as well.

I don't like fighting for recharge plugs in the field and you can go through an awful lot of alkalines in a hurry.

Energizer claims you get 630 photos with these batteries. With my S3 (I don't use the LCD all the time) I get closer to 1000+.

Absolutely worth it if your ability to recharge is limited.

I shoot the G7 with flash, macro, stabilizer, LCD etc and 1.2 to 2 meg file sizes. The battery usually lasts a couple hundred shots before recharge. I will buy a half dozen rechargeables, memory cards, and a second G7 before heading into nowhereland.