Which setup for a trip to Africa ?

[italy74]

So, the question is simple:

Given the same film (new portra 400) and the same flash (Nikon SB-22s), which one of these two sets you would choose for a 15 days trip to Ethiopia? (there's still time to decide before going, just curious to know what you think) Choose the option you like or made yours from scratch

AF SET

Nikon F100 (to be purchased)
Nikkor 28-200G ( t.b.p. ) / Tamron 28-75 ( I have it )
Nikkor 50 F/1.4 ( I have it )
Tamron 90 F/2.8 macro ( I have it )

MF SET (already complete)

Nikon FM3A
Nikkor 28-50 F/3.5 AIS (*)
Nikkor 50 F/1.8 AIS
Nikkor 105 F/2.5 AIS

plus eventually:
Nikkor 75-150 F/3.5 series E / Nikkor 200 F/4 AIS

(* I could take the 28-75 as well, however it wouldn't fit a 52 mm filter size anymore )

In the poll, feel free to choose the lens(es) you would pair with the F100 or the FM3A, from one to all the ones listed, not necessarily as I wrote them.

 

[Pablito]

anything with camouflage or zebra skin covers.

 

[nobbylon]

Dino,
I'd take the set you have already unless you have a burning desire to spend some cash!
The F100 is a great camera though. I had one and the meter was fantastic, always spot on. It's a compact F5 really. I'd take the least lenses I could get away with. If I was going it would be my 24-70 Nikon and maybe a longer zoom,
Enjoy your trip

 

[Shac]

I've had an F100 - agree it's a great camera so is the FM3a (I have one also) I'd tend towards the FM3a kit - less to go wrong and not battery dependent - also probably lighter.
Consider substituting the 90 macro for the 105 - that would give you a good rig for both portraits and close-ups.

 

[emraphoto]

Where abouts in Ethiopia?

If you are on a guided tour or with group doing the tourist thing then you should be good with a big rig.

Bring something compact for anything else. Walking the streets and such. Cameras attract attention... Both good and bad. It can be a bother when folks are 'posing' or when somebody get their nose out of joint.

Be wary of photographing anything official. Specifically in the border region with Eritrea.

 

[dave lackey]

Ummm...depends on what you will be photographing. F100 for sure if you will be shooting moving objects, otherwise, the FM3a would be my choice for the sheer pleasure of using it.😎

 

[filmfan]

Easily the following:
F100, 28mm, 50mm, 80-200mm (if this is an option)

 

[Freakscene]

Take whatever you're comfortable and familiar with. I took an MP, M7, M8 and 35, 50 and 75 mm lenses to Africa last year:
http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/freakscene/Africa+2009/
but if you want to reliably take pictures of wildlife, you'll need something longer than 200 mm, even if I took this with a 75:

and this with a 35:

Practice focusing and holding as much as you can before you go and shoot as much as you can.

Marty

 

[kxl]

Are you proposing to travel with ONE body ONLY?

I say take BOTH the F100 and FM3A.

Lenses: 28-50/3.5 AIS , 75-150/3.5Series E: both are VERY GOOD lenses; since you will likely use the 28-50mm more, mount that on the body that you prefer to use; the tele then goes on the other body.

If you think need longer than 150mm bring as long a lens as you're willing to lug around.

But in general, the 28-50/3.5 AIS and 75-150/3.5 Series E are MUST-HAVE's -- YES, I have both.

 

[nobbylon]

I've had an F100 - agree it's a great camera so is the FM3a (I have one also) I'd tend towards the FM3a kit - less to go wrong and not battery dependent - also probably lighter.
Consider substituting the 90 macro for the 105 - that would give you a good rig for both portraits and close-ups.

I'm not wishing to open up an argument or similar however it always makes me sigh when I read or hear this. I'd guess that there are more moving parts in an FM3a as well as electronics to 'go wrong'. It takes no more effort than carrying a pack of batteries with you. I use both fully mechanical and battery dependant Nikons and have NEVER had one stop working because of batteries. The main concern with batteries is the cold. Even so it's got to be pretty cold before they would pack up. I had my Dslr with me at -18 in the Himalaya and it was fine. A few pocket sony and canon cams etc packed in but not the Nikons.
One thing about the F100 though and I don't know as I've never been to Ethiopia but they are prone to dust inside. The backs are plastic with no seals and it does get in. If it's dusty etc just tape up the back with 2 strips of duct or masking tape.

 

[bigeye]

Hard to beat the 28-200mm G with your 50mm/1.4 (for low light and backup). Thoughtless, simple, almost disposable and competent. You could lose the whole rig and not cry - just get the film out of it.

.

 

[raid]

What exactly do you mean by a "trip to Africa"?
Africa is quite large.

Is it a metropolitan area in a capital or will it be the jungle or ... ?

 

[italy74]

Guys
thanks for your articulated replies

My trip is about adoption and I have to go there twice in the next months. One which will be nearly a hit-and-quit trip (2-3 days) when local judges will match us with a kid and the second time a few weeks later when I'll have to go there to stay 10 days and come back with the kid itself.

I mean to take only one kit - exactly for lightness and security purposes - so my initial idea was (and still is) to get the FM3A and those 28-50 ( unless I spot an AIS 28 F/2 somewhere at a good price ) 50 and 105; eventually also a longer lens (this is why I asked you to help me decide if the 200 of the 75-150 would fit in your opinion). Of course my funds aren't unlimited now (adoption files here are unfortunately expensive) however I could manage to get a F100 if i'd decide to go for the AF. I had already the 28-200 but sold it stupidly time ago. Despite naysayers and nitpickers, I found my sample good enough to be a good walkaround lens, which, paired with the 50 and the blazingly fast AF of the F100 (I had it once) it would be a very compact setup as well. The truth is that I have also a F6 at home but I wouldn't risk to take it with me there. So I decided a F100 might be an unexpensive and effective option to eventually go with. FM3A and lenses are overall more compact than F100 (and I too find a somehow finer pleasure to shoot with it)

Probably we won't have much time to travel there - I mean, I know in other countries you stay there even several weeks where you have plenty of time to do so, but that's not our case. I think adoption people there could escort us somewhere (maybe Gondar falls or something else but I have no idea how far they are and in general we should remain in the Addis Abeba area)

Whatever advice or suggestion you might have is welcome.
About the 90 vs the 105, I thought of this, yet I decided in favour or the little longer lens for a few reasons: it's more compact, a bit longer, a bit faster and it mounts 52 mm filters (while the 90 wants 55 mm ) thus I can go with only one hq filter.

For what I see, none has chosen the little 28-50 so far (another 52mm lens) but is another useful range for street shots during the day. Set it to F/8 - F/11 and the Portra 400 (eventually up to 800 iso) will do the rest.

Oh, thanks also for the tape tip, I'll manage to have some black tape with me and use it accordingly to the outside conditions.

 

[nobbylon]

Dino,
Insure the F6 and take that!
regards john

 

[italy74]

Ciao John
here insuring the F6 isn't that easy as is probably there. It might cost more the insurance than the flight to Ethiopia (or however in the 1000 - 2000 € range) - Once I asked for it and it was the same salesman not to advice me to do it. I mean, although I have a fine set of cameras and lenses, I'm not a pro living on my (photo) work, just a keen amateur with a great passion for (mostly film) photography and some skill above the average.

 

[jarski]

200mm is not very long, if planning to go safaris. I'd take F100 & 28-200, and some third party tele, something from 300 to 500.

F100 makes sense because its affordable, and weather covered.

 

[italy74]

Ciao Jarski
no we won't go safari, we should remain most of the time in capital city area due to papers and later to get acquaintained with the little kid. A one day trip would be possible but lons lenses aren't an option here (nor I have them actually)

 

[kxl]

Best of luck with the adoption. It's a wonderful and rewarding thing to do. Ciao.