Photography on safari

We have purchased a Nikon D70, been using it for a few months to try to get used to the camera. I have the regular wide angle lens and a 100/300 zoom. I am probably going to buy a doubler for the 100/300 lens and possibly a fixed 500 mm lens. I specifically want to be able to take great pictures of birds. Would it be worth it to go ahead and get the 500 mm lens also??? (I'm talking about one that's relatively cheap--maybe $150 or so--as opposed to the fully autofocus one, which I couldn't afford, under any circumstances....) Any thoughts on photography on safaris and on the D70 in particular would be appreciated...

Carol,

On safari if you are shooting into the bush you will probably use manual focus as auto focus may focus on the wrong aspect of what you are shooting AKA the trees in the foreground.

You will also be shooting in either morning or evening light so make sure the lens is fast enough. However bumping the ISO on the camera will help a lot in low light.

Also get a large enough card and someway to download the card during your trip.

I would go with the doubler rather than the 500mm. Less weight to carry around.

Mike--thanks for the reply. I didn't realize that the autofocus would lead me astray like that. I don't use manual focus too much, so will have to practice on that more! I am definitely going to get the doubler, and will see how I like that, and then decide whether to get the other lens also or not.

Carol,

Generally the animals are laying down and not too active - just like housecats. So you will have pleanty of time for manual focus. But at least with a D70 you will know if the autofocus buggers you.

Remember also part of the show is the very different night sky.

One other important tip. Before morning drives they generally will offer up tea/coffee. Take a pass, as there will be no restroom breaks for about 3 hours.

My sister mentioned to me that she wished she had brought along her wide angle lens...
in order to get the full effect of a heard of Thousands & thousands of Zebra in a herd in one shot!
She said it was like, what she imagines, a heard of buffallo, before the Trans-Continental RR went thru, would have looked like...

Mike--Can I have ONE cup of coffee??? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" /> I am NOT a morning person at all, and one of the things that I am NOT looking forward to at all is getting up at 5 or 5:30 AM... I think I have already decided to bring along some kleenex, for, uhm, emergency pit stops....

Definitely going to take the wide angle, as that is the lens I use most of the time..

Coffee is available in the morning, as is tea, and often hot chocolate. You'll likely be going to bed very early so those early risings are not so bad. Kleenex is a good idea too.

Lynn--I definitely am going to be having that one cup of coffee, anyway! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/Smile.gif" alt="" /> And, now I can carry more stuff, those Kleenexes will definitely be there!!!

Hi Carol,

Part of the fun with a gamedrive is that it is a whole picnic outting. We never went into the park without coffee laced with whisky (warms up the cold morning) or cold beers for the afternoon. Bush pitstops are very clean. Just make sure to bury any kleenex. Bush pitstop is one of the things I really miss. Beats public restrooms by a long shot.
Cheers
Anne

Now, coffee laced with whiskey--why didn't I think of that?????????? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" /> You guys are the greatest!

BTW, have gotten through most of the books you sent, and have enjoyed them much. The only thing I wish I had was a book on birds. Think I will try to go to local library here and find one...

Are those the ones Wendell traded Heinkeen for? JD had to trade is soul to get them back. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />

Don't know the full story. All I know is the books arrived safe and sound!! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/Smile.gif" alt="" />

We were at Chief's Camp for 5 days in November. Flew from Maun on a Cessna 206 to the same landing strip used by Mombo.

I had a new Olympus E-1 with a 14-54 and a 50-200 which is the 35mm equivalent to 28-108 and 100-400. I used them both a lot. I had a light tripod but would recommend at least a monopod for some of the shots. Some of the early morning and late afternoon shots did not have much light.

It sounds like you are spending time experimenting with your camera which is a good idea. It also sounds like storage and file size will not be a problem so I suggest shooting in RAW as well as JPEG. If you have tiemwhen you get home to edit then RAW will give you a lot of flexibility. It won't correct for a really bad exposure but you can do a lot with color and white balance if you need to in RAW. I still have not had the time to do much editing but here are a few of the photos I took. Most of them are Botswana but a few are Capetown and I think there is one of the Penguins in Simons Town. http://www.pbase.com/rm3/africa

I am very jealous of your trip and want to go back!

rm3

We are thinking at this point for Tiff and jpeg, will get both the possibilities for the adjustments and the jpeg for the viewing. About the same difference I think, but have to look to make sure. Still experimenting with the camera some. Better to learn the operation and determine the format after that fact sort of. That and when I get the gizmo later this week then we can practice on moving stuff from the camera to the storage device. Then it may not make that much difference about the file selection as long as it is one of the top two selections anyway.

Thanks for the pics!! Could I talk you into posting a trip report from your trip????? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/Smile.gif" alt="" />

I will dig out our field guides. We were fanatical birders so have all the (very worn) field guides.
Bye
Anne

All righty then! We have a bunch of people coming down in the next month or so, we'll get someone to come by for them! Thanks!