SANParks.org Forums

Kit Questions:

Sorry there are so many questions! This is a DREAM vacation and I wanna get it right. Whatever guidance you can provide is appreciated!!

1. Not sure which body I'm bringing yet. (I planned to research and buy a new body before this trip, but I ran out of time...) I have a few hours here and there over the next week to mess around before coming to SA. Would you bring your trusty old body or try to learn the new one in a hurry?

Choices:
Canon Rebel XTi - I know this well-worn camera
Canon Rebel T1i - We use this at our optical shop for retinal photos, but have NEVER used it in real life. I don't know the buttons or menus, but it has a video function

2. Current Lens: Tamron 18-200, with (uv, polorizing and warming filters as needed).

3. New Lens, my old telephoto died a tragic death... I want to buy a 70-300. I know I need a new lens with a longer reach than my day-to-day lens (above). I'm to decide on the Sigma, Canon or Tamron. I have loved my Tamrons in the past.

4. Lens Rental: BUT - - For this trip, I'm seriously considering renting a 100-400. I'm unlikely to need one of my own again for several years... And for around $180 US I can use it during my stay in Kruger. What do you think??

Misc:
Extra batteries & memory cards, cleaning cloths, plus I have a fabulous little Olympus 770SW waterproof camera to use while on the western cape beaches!
5. Separate Canon flash (should I bother to carry this along??)
6. Tripod (Is this worth the hassle?? It sounds like we can't get out of our cars at all.)

Thank you, thank you!!

Hi eventr,
You have very little time, so I’m going to advise very strongly and bluntly!!

Bring the 100-400 5.6 L IS Canon, without spending a shed full of money, it is simply the best for Kruger. $180 is not much compared with the cost of getting there!

You will need your 18-200 for the wider shots and you will not want to change lenses when that leopard is walking towards you, so bring both bodies.

A been bag for the car window is absolutely essential, get one that has 2 inner bags so that it settles over the window when it’s raised 2 inches. Take it unfilled and fill it when you get there. This is the one I use
http://www.wildlifewatchingsupplies.co. ... ags_1.html

If you are staying for more than a couple of days you will need a laptop or Portable Hard Drive to store your photos. Evan multiple cards are unlikely to store enough photos if you get lucky with your sightings!

We always take a short extension lead with an SA adapter input and 4 outputs, for all those battery, phone, laptop ---- chargers, as most Kruger accommodation has only one electric socket.

Get your Kit together quickly, then get out and practice with your cameras/lenses, then practice some more. You will definitely not want to be fiddling with the settings when the chance of a lifetime is playing out before you.

Have a great, great time!

UKB

same like UKB... bring 100-400 and 18-200

for the beans bag, you can reduce a pillow-case (about 25x15cm) and fill it with rice (2kg for mine) just before enter the park.
there is adaptators (electric socket) in all shops in Kruger, very cheap

PS I bring a laptop + an external hard drive... in case

The tripod can be used for night photography and some landscaping (in camps and getout spots)
But otherwise you wont use it much

Get some cheap shower caps to cover the lens.
Easy to remove and cheap
Can get a bit dusty.
And the 100-400 is perfect for wildlife/landscape

Thank you for all the great suggestions!

You're right. I should bring both bodies with me. I'm a little worried about the extra luggage, (with 4 adults and luggage in one car.) But, more importatnly I don't want to miss a great shot.

You helped me to decide to rent the 100-400 for the trip. But, I'm still considering buying my own smaller telephoto for home use before I go (what if the rental lens "hand-off" in the J'Burg airport doesn't happen? I'll be on safari with only an 18-200... ARGH!)

So, I was wondering you guys felt like the optics with the canon lenses really is worth the big price difference over tamron or sigma?? Any suggestions for a decent all-round 70-300? Obvisouly I'm a novice (but a VERY EXCITED novice!!)

I will add a bean bag to my purchase list for later today. And, I'll take a look at hard drives (I've never migrated stiff directly to a hard drive. I've always had a computer to interface with. I will need to figure out how to do that...

Thank you, thak you!!!

Hello eventr;

As others have said; the 100-400 is pretty well the ideal Kruger lens; I have mine permanently attached to one body!

I haven't used one, but I know of a number of experienced photographers who do... the new Canon 70-300L IS gets fantastic reviews... but it's almost as expensive as the 100-400, and gets you nothing more in terms of aperture or speed (it's much newer technology of course...), so if you have the choice, my advice would be to get the 100-400! You won't be dissapointed.

Good glass will last you a lifetime; get the best you can!

As for laptops/backup hard-drives; if weight & baggage transportation is a problem, (as it is for most long-haul travellers) don't bother! If you're going to take one anyway, that's fine, but I never do - anywhere, anytime, and haven't run into any problems to date!

I do though use multiple 4Gb & 8Gb cards; never a single big-card, and I make sure they are stored safely in a handy-dandy pouch like this one here; http://www.speedgraphic.co.uk/card_stor ... 233_p.html

Using a series of smaller cards minimises the (remote) risk of card-failure.

Hope that helps...

I migrated fist on the laptop, then from the laptop to an external hard drive

my nephew has a 100 (or less, maybe 50???)-500 Sigma... the lens are "much more less good" than the 100-400 of Canon

"beaucoup moins bon" in French... sorry

THANK YOU for all of your suggestions. It has been invaluable!! I'm REALLY getting stoked now!

My updated kit (once things arrive from my online orders today...)

Canon Rebel XTi - w/ Tamron 18-200 (w/ filters)
Canon Rebel T1i - w/ rented Canon L series 100-400 (YEA!!)
2 Batteries per body
Memory cards total 40GB per body
Travel Tripod
1 Double Bean Bag
1 plan to fill a pillowcase as a secondary beanbag for smaller setup - Thanks for the idea Ann-Marie!
1 Lowenpro camera bag for each setup
Cleaning Supplies

Still Need:
Shower Caps to cover lenses - Thanks for the tip Bert!
Electrical Strip and Outlet Adapter

Remining ??: Separate Canon Speedlite Flash (should I bother to carry this along??)

Now, I'm gonna get out of the house and go shooting. I haven't kept up my skills the last couple of years. There are so many (beachy) distractions where I live in Florida...

Ideally - yes. For low-light shots it will help a great deal. The on-board pop-up flashes don't have that much reach...

If you are planning on a sunset or night drive, you may also want to look at getting a 'Better Beamer' flash extender. They look clumsy, but work great. Using one I lit up a leopard that was at least 50' into the bush with ease! See here;
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Nt ... yes&sts=ta

Cheers...

Here is a tip for myself really, showing what a sad addict I am.


I’m always so concentrating on photos of the wildlife, that I forget to bring back photos of the people we meet!!


I always regret this badly, but somehow never quite remember at the time.

Oh I can so relate UK Badger, that's why I always give my wife my old Canon 50D with an 18 - 200 lens. Keeps me out of trouble.

To note, my kit which includes

EOS7D
Canon 15-85mm IS Lens

has now been upgraded to include these items too;

Lowepro Vertex 200AW
Canon 600EX-RT Flash
Canon 70-300mm L IS Lens
Sigma 10-20mm
Sigma 50mm - for portraits with Lions
Manfrotto Tripod
Extra filters etc.

Hi AnimalMad

Congrats on new kit

How are you going to store all those thousands of photos? If you are not taking a laptop, you will definitely need a portable hard disk down loader------------------ or two!!

The 7D eats HD space, I filled up my 80gb disk by 2/3 through the last trip and had to rely on my 160 drive as the only copy, scary.

There are quite a few on the market and this is one of them.
[ Mine is the old model! ]

Nexto ND2730 is great but I need too sets of glasses on to see the tiny screen!!

You have a tripod, but for Kruger for example, a good double BEENBAG is ABSOLUTELY ESENTIAL.

UKB

Hi guys,

So I am updating my photography kit.

I used to have the Canon 40D, buy just bought a Canon 7D.

lenses are still the same:

Canon 200mm F2.8 MKI L
Canon 300mm F4 IS USM L
Canon 50mm F1.8
Tamron 90mm F2.8 Macro
Tokian 20-35mm 3.5-5.6
Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 EX APO DG

All of the above are in a National Geographic shoulder bag (squeezed in as I have run out of space)

going to put the 7D to the test when I am in Kruger next week