I am looking to get a camera for my first plains game safari in Limpopo. I have read many of these posts and its overwhelming.

I do not know if I am thinking about this corectly but what optical zoom would allow good pictures of an animal 100 yards a way?

I am leaning toward "point and shoot" becasue I do not want to mess with f stop.... or what ever ; but do I need a larger lenses (and a DSLR) for taking pictures of animals live in the bush.




I would greatly appreciate any help in selecting an idiot proof camera?

Thanks,

Jim

You wont be able to see an animal att 100 yards with point and shoot. Well, maybe a brown dot. You'll need 300mm maybe 400mm to get good shots at 100 yards. Of course 'good shots' is subjective.

Just because you dont want to mess with f-stop doesnt mean you dont want a good camera. Buy a used Nikon or Canon in the 10 megapixel range and a decent lens. If you are not going to be gone long you can also rent lenses. (and cameras for that matter). All cameras these days have a handy AUTO feature that does about 85& of the shutter/f-stop/white balance work for you.

A point and shoot is great for shots from here to there, but not much farther. I would just take the DSLR and for get about it. With the canon, you can get away with a lot with the 28-135 lens.

I am afraid I have to disagree with our friend BaxterB.

There are many non-SLR camertas that have long zooms which one can use for animals far away.

I am lucky in the sense that I have friend who is a dealer, and allows me to use any camera I wish to try, before buying it.

From the current crop of cameras, my favorites are the following:

Small pocket camera - Panasonic TZ7 or TZ10. Both have 12 X optical zooms, and the picture quality is better than anything from any pocket camera that I have tried. From Canon, Nikon, Fuji or Olympus.

For a larger acmera, the Panasonic FZ100 or the Sony HX1.

If you look at my hunt report on the African Hunting Forum, many of the photos posted there were taken by the above mentioned Panasonic cameras.

I have a Canon SX30IS (14.1 MP, 35x zoom) that I've gotten use to and gotten to like. That telephoto is equivalent to 800+mm and really brings the subject up close.

For Africa, I'd also bring along a pocket point-and-shoot with high optical zoom and megapixels for the times when a larger camera would be too cumbersome. Actually, I'd bring at least 3 cameras - the Canon, the pocket point-and-shoot, and my Sony SLR with 2 lenses.

In point and shoot, even ones with 12x zoom or so, at max zoom there is usually too much camera shake (unless tripod mounted) to make really crisp telephoto shots. To compensate, the cameras can raise their ISO rating, then you run into poor image quality due to noise.

It all depends on what you want to get out of your pictures and what you expect. I respect Saeed's opinion, but if you notice there is no lack of mighty fine DSLR's in Saeed's kit when he takes off for Tanzania. I know he also uses the small point and shoot, but again, if you want to take ONE camera, take a good DSLR preferably with an image stabilizing lens and you are covered on all fronts.

One thing I always tell people is that you never know when you will take the best picture of your life; try as best you can to be prepared for that moment. Since you are going on your first plains game hunt, I presume you want good pictures and to me this means quality and versatile equipment.

COnsider buying used and then re-sell it when you get back. I bought a used Canon 30D a while back and am about to sell it for about what I paid for it for a new body.

Whatever route you take, good luck and most importantly, have fun!

Saeed, BaxterB and Namibiahunter, thank you for your input. I am going togo to a camera store and play with the cameras and see if I can tell the difference between quality pictures and ease of use.

Thanks for narrowing it down for me and giving me a direction to go.

Jim

One more thing in regards to picture quality. Almost any camera will produce excellent quality pics when viewed on a computer screen. To me, the real test is how a picture looks when printed at 8 x 10. The resolution needed to produce these two examples are vastly different.

Cheers