P&S or other simple camera for African safari

[ymc226]

I've been asked to recommend a camera to take on a 2 week private African safari (they're doing it in style as it comes with "running water" in the tents).

The person is not into camera gear, is not a hobbyist of any sort, but wants a simple lightweight camera. She not going to make any large prints and likely going to view it on a computer screen mostly.

I was thinking about a Canon PowerShot SX10 IS as it is digital with optical zoom (equivalent of 28-560mm) and runs on AA batteries so there is no issue about finding an outlet to recharge lithium batteries.

Any other suggestions?

 

[bmattock]

I've been asked to recommend a camera to take on a 2 week private African safari (they're doing it in style as it comes with "running water" in the tents).

The person is not into camera gear, is not a hobbyist of any sort, but wants a simple lightweight camera. She not going to make any large prints and likely going to view it on a computer screen mostly.

I was thinking about a Canon PowerShot SX10 IS as it is digital with optical zoom (equivalent of 28-560mm) and runs on AA batteries so there is no issue about finding an outlet to recharge lithium batteries.

Any other suggestions?

That sounds pretty reasonable for such a person as you describe. I would give some thought to water/weatherproof cameras, but they tend not to have the long zooms, which I suspect would be of some importance on safari.

I might therefore suggest taking TWO cameras, even identical ones. Don't want the photos of a lifetime ruined by a camera going belly-up in a place where it could not easily be replaced. Cheap insurance.

 

[ymc226]

Thanks. Would the Olympus PEN with a zoom lens be good also as I assume the sensor is larger.

 

[bmattock]

Thanks. Would the Olympus PEN with a zoom lens be good also as I assume the sensor is larger.

Yes, the sensor is larger. However, I am not certain that this would give your friend anything that he or she would find particularly valuable. The quality of good point-n-shoots is quite high these days, and I presume that your friend is not particularly interested in portraits with lots of out-of-focus backgrounds, as one gets with larger sensors and faster lenses. Presuming they are as you say, primarily interested in 'simple' and 'lightweight', I think a good quality P&S with a nice stabilized long lens would be quite nice for them.

Not what I would take, but that's me - a camera nut. I would not expect the typical tourist to find my choice of gear very useful.

 

[ferider]

I recommend one of the super-zoom P&S, like a Lumix or the Canon that you mentioned.

And a "digital wallet" for card backups. Last time we went, my wife came back with 1400 pictures taken
in a week or so.

Power is no problem if she does the typical luxury camping.

Let her not forget Malaria and Hepatitis medication. And enough small cash for tips.

Cheers,

Roland.

 

[mfunnell]

I was thinking about a Canon PowerShot SX10 IS as it is digital with optical zoom (equivalent of 28-560mm) and runs on AA batteries so there is no issue about finding an outlet to recharge lithium batteries.

That's roughly what I was thinking when I saw your question (a decent movie mode is another reason for this type of camera on a trip like that). However, I just checked that model (and some similar ones) over at dpreview and all, it seems to me, are in a "baby SLR" form factor. There's an argument for taking a truly pocket-sized camera as well (something like, say, Canon's SD1100IS aka IXUS 80 IS) as an "in your pocket, all the time" camera.

I have an old and beat-up IXUS 40 which does that job for me. It's always in my pocket, so I always have a camera. While mine mostly gets used to photograph business cards and whiteboards, if I were in Africa for a while it would probably be used for more photogenic things as well.

...Mike

 

[dougi]

Lumix TZ7 would fit the bill very nicely and is very compact. Good movie mode too.

 

[ymc226]

Thanks for all of the replies. How much zoom do you think they will need as I have never been on a safari.

Judging from my experience on the sidelines of a soccer field taking pictures of my son using a 70-200 zoom with a 1.7 teleconverter, (equivalent of 340mm max) that is not enough to get an 11 year old on the far side of the field large enough as I would want.

 

[wgerrard]

Recharging batteries shouldn't be an issue. Most safari camps are rather luxurious. Might be wise to check if she needs a plug adapter or a voltage converter. Roland is right. She needs to get the right shots, and maybe start taking malaria pills.

Does your friend understand what it takes to get those really dramatic closeups of animals we've all seen on TV and in magazines? I visited Kruger Park some years ago. Few animals got within closeup range.

 

[ferider]

Sometimes one is lucky. This was taken with a 200mm:

But often 300mm and up is more interesting, in particular if your friend likes birds.

One of the 5 species of kingfishers in Tanzania (with 300mm):

A 400mm shot by my wife, of one of the rarest African animals:

She would have preferred an even longer lens. And they were gone in seconds.

Lots of macro opportunities, too, some cool insects there. And very pretty landscapes, IMO:

(35mm on film).

Or like this with a 50mm on film:

Cheers,

Roland.

 

[Nikon Bob]

I think your Canon powershot is a good suggestion under the circumstances you mentioned. Two years ago I went to South Africa and took a Panasonic FZ50 and it worked very well. The Canon lens is a little wider and longer too. You just have to get used to the idea that there will be times you just don't have enough focal length no matter what you bring. Also remember that a roadside elephant does not need a very long focal length. Bring lots of memory cards and at least two sets of batteries and charger. Make sure that she gets all the necessary shots and pills for where she is going as recommended by the WHO. Also some meds/shots may have to be taken well beforehand.

Bob