DSLR for above water use?

[Helen]

Hi all,

Going to South Africa in a few weeks to visit friends but also go on safari and diving. I'm happy to use my compact for diving but am thinking about getting an SLR for hopefully getting some safari pics. What camera would everyone recommend? Don't want anything too expensive and if I can buy a good quality second hand one that would be great. Any recommendations?

Thanks
Helen

[KenByrne]

To be honest I don't think there's a particulary bad DSLR camera out there.

Ergonomics is very important and it's worth going to a camera shop to try out different cameras to see how they feel.

If you think you might want to house it at some point I'd say Nikon, Canon possibly Olympus as these seem the best supported.

You also need to think about the lenses you want. For safari I'd think of something that went to at least 300mm and at that length A lens with image stabilization is worth considering. You should have good light though so keeping the shutter speed above 1/300 will help prevent camera shake.

[Cussy]

Helen,
Having been on safari myself, Ken is right, the size of the lens is more important than the camera. If you think about Nikon I have 18-70 and 70-300 mm lenses I'm thinking of putting on eBay as they don't get used much anymore (replaced with a single 18-200).
Rob

[Cerianthus]

the cheaper 70-300 's are mostly f 5.6 on the 300mm end. works well in daytime, but less so in worse conditions. I dont know how easy it is to hire a longer or faster (larger opening) tele ?

Take a tripod, monopod or at least a bean bag to stabilize the shots.......

(PS: and of course I would suggest Canon, Nikon or Olympus....) For Canon, there is a cheapish 70-300 with IS that is reportedely very good, dont get the older 75-300 IS ! which is not as good)

If you never want to house it, you might also think about sony/minolta or other brands where the sensor itself has IS

[DDT uk]

Helen

Do you have any idea of what you want to spend? Also, do you know the type of vehicles that you will be using?

There is a world of difference between going on safari in a 4x4 compared to some of those converted trucks or vans. With the 4x4 you tend to be able to get close. An 80-200mm is likely to be sufficent. If you are on a truck then buy the biggest lens you can.
The best drives tend to be morning and evening where the light is not so strong. If you are shooting at 300mm on a cropped sensor then you are looking at shooting at 1/500th and so you really want the lowest f-stop lens that you can afford.

In terms of cameras, the Nikon D70 are £150 second hand on ebay. Great cameras with everything that you would want.

Maria took a Sigma 150-500mm to Kenya. There are some good reviews of this lens but we sold it as soon as we got back. Didn't like it at all. I took a Sigma EX f4 100-300mm which is an absolute cracking lenses, especially if you add a 1.4 mulitplier. You can buy these from Hong Kong on ebay for about £500. Well worth it.

[Mike W]

Echo the other comments you've already read - don't think there's a bad dSLR around, just some you may like more than others, but decent lenses are essential.

In kenya our standard lens on film was a 300mm f4, but when Dawn bought her first dSLR she got a 75-300 Canon thrown in for nearly nothing that turned out to suit the 300D perfectly, giving razor-sharp images, though at the long end the maximum aperture is f5.6. Nevertheless, it was our workhorse because it was so sharp, maybe we just got a really good example?





We've also tried the Sigma 170-500, and it's good, but not outstanding as well as pretty heavy (Though not compared to the 600mm f4 Nikons sported by the people in the vehicles either side of ours as we watched wildebeest cross the Mara river!), may well replace it before we go to Kenya next.

Don't forget the standard kit lens as well; the wildlife is spectacular but the scenery can be pretty amazing

[Cerianthus]

are these using the simple 70-300, they look great. I used this lens quite a bit during my canada holiday, but there were some limitations:



(1/60th, on f7 and iso 800)



1/250 f8 @ 300mm, iso 200

Can't blame the lens the sun wasnt shining though....

[zan]

Having never been to Africa, I can't really advise regarding what kit to take. Something that's not been mentioned is that none of the cheaper DSlRs are weather-sealed, so you might have problems with dust. it's probably better to have one fairly all-round lens that you don't need to change a lot than try and switch lenses. To keep dust out the camera, putting a clear shower cap around the body and taping it over the lens is a cheap and cheerful way of keeping the worst out (also works for splash-proofing, but that's probably less of an issue!).

hope this is some help

Zan

[Mike W]

[quote=Cerianthus;37957]are these using the simple 70-300,


Yup! I think we might have been lucky with the specific lens we got but it really is good.

[Cussy]

Originally Posted by DDT uk

The best drives tend to be morning and evening where the light is not so strong.

Helen,
I've done three safaris in Southern Africa (Pilanesburg in RSA was the best) and from experience if you aren't there an hour or two after dawn and before sunset then think twice. A lot of tours are for lazy sods who want a lie in and everything hides during the midday sun. When there is a lot around the long lens becomes less important, but on all of my safaris I had a 110mm compact at best and the subjects are just too small.

As with diving, the guides are obsessed by the big stuff. Just like a good reef, if you slow down and take your time you can see some amazing small stuff too. I did one safari on my own, no guide. I could do what I wanted and it was fantastic. That was in Botswana in a tiny reserve that was virtually free to do and I loved it. My over riding memory was driving dead slow around a corner and being face to face with a Gemsbok. Not one of the big 5, but an amazing mystical looking animal. Beats the lions anyday!

Where are you planning to dive?
Rob