What camera(s) for Africa?

My main reason to go is, of course, to hunt, but I found that I had more time than I had originally thought to take quality pics between shots. The next time I go I'll be taking:
- a digital SLR-like 8.1 MP 12x optical zoom with optical image stabilizer
- a digital point-and-shoot 5x optical zoom 10 MP
- an camcorder HD 3-ccd with digital image stabilizer
- and a trail cam (haven't yet got one or decided which to get)

Just wondering what others are taking.

Namibiahunter

what we've found works well
#1 - a small pocket digital (we use a minolta)
#2 - a nikon D70/80 SLR type with a couple of lenses
#3 - camcorder
no need of trail camera

A bit late...

Agree with the above.

I do live in Africa, and carry a D70 whenever possible, especially in the bush.

A 18-200VR lens covers 90% of what you may want to shoot, and with that on your camera you don't need to fumble with lenses out there in the dust and bumps.

A good rifle of the appropriate caliber covers most of your other shooting needs.

And a good tele lens is often regretted when a wonderful picture finds you just too far. But it's also often regretted when you actually have one and find yourself carrying it... These things are heavy! Got a 80-400VR a few months ago, will give a report on it when I'll have used it long enough in the bush.

/

I carry all my cameras and computer in my carry bag.

I normally have an SLR - currently a Nikon D300, with a Nikon 18-200 VR lense installed. Sometimes I take a Nikon 80-400 VR, or a Nikon 70-300 VR.

I also take a small HD DV camera for video - currently a Sony HC7.

A small pocket camera is always in my pocket - Canon Ixus 860IS.

When going to places with access to water - snorkling or diving, I also take a Canon G9 with an underwater housing.

All these, together with AC adaptors and cables, make an interesting discussion with customs officers, especially in Europe!

An interesting thing happened to me last year in Munich.

I carry a few of our Champions DVDs to give as presents. They are in see-through plastic sleeves.

The customs officer took one look at them, saw the photoes on them of people shooting a rifle, took one look at me, told me to stay put, and disappeared into a door close by.

About five minutes later, he came back, and I could see the look of disappointment on his face. He gave me back all the disks, and told me to pass through!

Was he a real Bavarian Saeed?!?!? If so you're lucky they didn't send you to Gitmo!!

Bavaria!! The Texas of Germany!!

Last fall I was waiting in the boarding area for a flight from BUD to JFK when some rather large guys came and retrieved me and my wife and took us into a small room. They had a color x-ray scan of one of my bags.

I had half a dozen B+W Filters in their plastic containers which were packed in a Zip Loc. They showed up as overlapping rings in the scan. I guess they thought they could have been a shaped charge or something!!

Those guys take their security very seriously and stealthily there.

1- Pentax Optio W30, waterproof, fits in your pocket and takes awesome short videos.

2- Pentax K10D DSLR with a 18-250 tele and a 50mm X 1.2 lens for the low light situations. Camera is dust proof and water resistant.

Both cameras use the same SD card.

Someone needs to produce a "helmet/cap cam" that switches to scope/barrel-cam whenever the scope/barrel is 90 degrees +/- 10 degrees of the helmet/cap, or a barrel-cam that come on when the barrel approaches horizontal.

quote:

Originally posted by SGraves155:
Someone needs to produce a "helmet/cap cam" that switches to scope/barrel-cam whenever the scope/barrel is 90 degrees +/- 10 degrees of the helmet/cap, or a barrel-cam that come on when the barrel approaches horizontal.

Easily done!! If you got the $$$$$ I can make it for ya!!

Last year I took a Sony Cybershot compact with me to Zimbabwe and was very happy with it. I took over 1500 pictures and I think that other than the long range photo's they all look really good. The compact camera used AA batteries wich I thought were convienient since I didn't have to fool with the recharger and adaptor.

I now have a Sony DSC H3, 8 mega pixel with a 10x zoom and an 8GB memory card. The camera screen says I can take 2000 pitures at 8m! Man thats cool! I used the camera last month while in Idaho hunting waterfowl and was very happy. I'm looking forward to having this package when I return to Zim. This camera uses the rechargeable type battery so now I'll have to worry about bringing the additional stuff.

Going marts 17 bount for RSA.
Canon 20D as main camera /10D fore backup
lots of cf card = 14bg shooting raw and small jpg.
100-400 canon
17-85 canon
1,4 extender and 2x extender
flash
Dell PDA incase of nead to upload via FTP.
Travel light but be safe.
Going to limpopo province hunting and photo safari.
Hunt safe
wisent