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So we've already booked next year's holiday. Incredibly proactive I know. Family safari to Namibia.
The question of camera has already come up
Do I stick with an old canon 30d, with a couple of decent lenses,filters, tripods etc etc. I'd need a new memory card, but I have all the other equipment. Still takes amazing photos. Very quick. Lovely shots etc. One of the old school magnesium body ones.
Or do I buy a small decent compact zoom like this one recommended on here recently
Technology moves on so fast - and the decent camera will be 14 years old at that point.
I don't want a new dSLR, as the reason we don't take the existing one about is the weight, the inconvenience of changing lenses, dust on the lens etc (and I know a new mirrorless would be a lot smaller etc). But then I also don't just want to be left with a [small] white elephant compact we'll use for one holiday, and then it'll sit in a drawer.
I know taking shots is all about the composition, and the equipment is incidental. But....we're talking 14 years!
I also don't just want a point and shoot. I do like fiddling around with settings. I've been out of proper photography for about ten years. What should i do?
Still takes amazing photos
Stick.
My 'old' DSLR is 'only' 6mp, but the image quality is stunning. The best lens is a 40 year old manual 40mm as well..!
yeah - was thinking that. The 30d is 8.2mp, but the sensor is a decent size, so...
Do you think a new compact will sit in a drawer after the holiday? If so, there's little point in getting one.
I am not familiar with the Canon range to be honest, but any magnesium bodied camera must have been at the higher end of the range, but 14 years is a long time.
I've got a Nikon D80, which at the time was halfway up the range, I suppose - I think it cost about £750 for the body alone.
Looking at more modern cameras though, the sensor quality has moved on so much that the image quality is much better - noise on my D80 starts to become noticeable from about ISO400 & I rarely use 800 & above. The latest sensors (even in compact cameras with a decent size sensor) seem to get better noise performance at ISO1600 & above than I get at ISO400 with the D80.
It seems a waste to buy a compact camera that you fear will just sit in a cupboard after the holiday, but equally there is no point buying a new SLR body if it too will sit unused.
Could you not hire a Canon body for your holiday, so you can still use your lenses etc?
You can hire a Canon body from somewhere like this, for ~£5/day https://www.lenslab.co.uk/category.php?catname=canon-cameras
although you have postage costs etc. on top.
The hiring is a good idea, but it'd be ~£200 with nothing at the end of it (apart from decent photos, obv).
The 30d was - back in the day - the semi pro range. Lovely camera, but just too big now to carry around all the time. Especially as phone cameras are a lot better.
If I got a compact i'd like to think I'd use it out all the time, but again it would probably come down to another thing to carry.
The best camera is the one you have with you. I think in your case I might be tempted to get a smaller modern Canon xD body simply because you have all the gear already. Either that or the Canon G-series might float your boat maybe, compact-ish camera, well regarded, and you have full control like with the dSLR. The interface should be pretty familiar to you as well (I went from an Ixus to a 450D and the basic controls were almost exactly the same).
https://www.canon.co.uk/cameras/powershot-and-ixus-cameras/
You say you don't want the faff of changing lenses, but also don't want a compact that'll sit in a drawer. This holiday aside, which of those arguments is most compelling? After the holiday are you going to be happy going back to playing Musical Lenses or will the same issue apply and you'd want something you can stuff in a coat pocket?
For the holiday itself, realistically how much lens swapping are you actually likely to be doing?
What's improved since the 30D - high ISO quality, pixel count (ability to crop), movie mode, autofocus (more points, more sensitive), articulating live-view screens.
Is any of that likely to be relevant for your intended use?
How big are your existing lenses? Are your subjects likely to be a long way away? The compact gives you the rough equivalent of a 500mm lens in a much more smaller package but less ergonomic (fiddly controls, harder to hold still).
You'll likely need new batteries as well as a memory card. Tripod will be transferrable, although one recommendation is a tripod head superclamped to a roll bar.
+1 the best camera is the one you have with you.
I rarely use my dslr these days, but i always carry a smartphone with me.
I wouldn’t buy a compact mirrorless camera for the same reason, I’d be worried about it not being used.
How about a relatively basic newish dslr?
Many more pixels and a more up to date sensor, using the existing lenses.
For a trip like that I'd want the best camera I could take with me if the photos are something you will care about.
Worth looking at a second hand body you could stick a lens on then re-sell when you get back?
Depreciation shouldn't be too bad over the holiday term and you never know, you may fall in love with it?
Or iphone 11 pro, with a gimbal.
Worthy of consideration at least.nobody would seriously suggest is a replacement of course, but investigate every option
Question is ... what lenses do you have? I imagine you'll need some pretty long telephoto for wildlife? If you don't own one, how would getting one compare with the cost of a super-zoom "bridge" camera ?
The 30d goes up 3200 anyway (and in fact doubles that with a setting called High or something), but it does get noisy.
It's got a decent number of autofocus points, but I often turn all but the central few off, to concentrate on that area anyway.
Don't care about movies - got a go pro thing for them.
Live view screens - never been a fan on a decent camera as it'll turn it into a point and shoot almost. I always think (possibly a sign of my age) that decent composition comes with sticking an eye up to a view finder.
I've got a vaguely decent 100-300 lens, which using the smaller sensor takes it to amount 480mm equivalent. The sony i was looking at reckoned it went to 720mm. The distance will help on a safari.
There's also a couple of shorter ones. Changing lenses in the middle of a desert is never fun though. And I ruined a little compact last time i went sand boarding, and that was obviously fully enclosed!
Reading your post again - if you are going on a safari, you will want something with a decent zoom.
On my honeymoon we spent an afternoon at a national park in Sri Lanka.
I had my SLR with a 70-300mm stabilised lens.
We were only there with one other couple & they had a fairly nice ultra-zoom compact - I think it went up to 600mm equivalent.
We both got some pretty decent shots to be honest, but while they had a bit more reach with compact zoom, the quality at the long end definitely tailed off & as the light levels dropped they were struggling to get sharp images. We were there quite late in the day though, so this would likely not be an issue earlier on.
This was with a small sensor compact though - with a modern larger sensor compact you could just whack the ISO up.
I think it's only a question you can answer. If you know that you are gonna get fed up with lugging an SLR around, then you'd probably be better off buying a half decent compact zoom with the largest sensor your budget will stretch to. Otherwise take the SLR and strip the kit back to the bare essentials - a couple of lenses - I'm not sure you'll need the filters/tripod etc....maybe a polarising filter, but apart from that...?
If you've not used it for ages, what is the battery life like? It might be worth buying a second battery?
This is the only pic I have on flickr from that day (part of my pic/day album from 2013)....it was taken on my D80 at only 120mm zoom (according to the exif) but I have plenty more pics where without the reach of the 300mm zoom I'd have need to crop the image a lot to make it worth bothering with.
I ummmmed and aaaahed about whether to lug my SLR about with me for our honeymoon, but was glad I did in the end.
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/7437/10090486444_720566792d_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/7437/10090486444_720566792d_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/gnEo5d ]13-06-29 DSC_6806[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/me96kka/ ]STW stumpy01[/url], on Flickr
Batteries are £12 for two. Memory cards, similarly priced.
I could save the £400 I'd presumably have to spend, divert some to a memory card or two, new batteries etc. Then get the rest of the family some decent binocs, and myself a set of night vision goggles.
Photos are good. But actual memories are better. And arguing over the binocs is a pain in the botty
just get a used 7d, cheap as chips more MP use the same lenses.
Can you go for the middle ground and get a mirrorless camera? I've bought a Canon M50 mirrorless and use it loads more than my old DSLR as it's smaller, easy to use and I'm therefore much more likely to have it with me.
You may also find you could keep your existing lenses and use then on a new mirrorless body, though you may need an adaptor.
A modern body will also be able to transfer pics by WiFi that may well be useful to you.
I have a 10 year old dSLR. It's ok - you can waffle on about IQ but none of that really matters much unless you're a pro. However the only thing where it's massively outclassed by modern cams is in evening and at night. I'm not pixel peeping about noise in the shadows and whatever; it just doesn't focus on stuff because it can't see. Nor can I see enough through the VF to focus manually.
if you are going on a safari, you will want something with a decent zoom.
Really? Do you want a load of sub-par stock photos of elephants and hippos? Taking good wildlife shots requires a shit ton of money and even more time. Personally I'd be looking at landscape and just holiday shots. Life's too short for reproducing standard pics IMO.
Really? Do you want a load of sub-par stock photos of elephants and hippos? Taking good wildlife shots requires a shit ton of money and even more time. Personally I’d be looking at landscape and just holiday shots. Life’s too short for reproducing standard pics IMO.
I think I'd agree with this. I've lugged heavy dslr equipment around a safari in India and tbh, the photos that provoke fond memories are all the incidental shots captured at short to medium focal lengths. That's part of the reason I ditched the dslr and went to mirrorless. I briefly had a Leica M9, before moving to an Olympus pen E-P5 which can be had for around £200 second hand nowadays. The Olympus lenses are cheap, light and great quality. Hold their value well too.
Really? Do you want a load of sub-par stock photos of elephants and hippos? Taking good wildlife shots requires a shit ton of money and even more time. Personally I’d be looking at landscape and just holiday shots. Life’s too short for reproducing standard pics IMO.
I generally agree, but then you could get stock landscape pics too. Or photos of someone elses family. The missing bit would be your memories associated with the picture and an element of satisfaction in taking it.
I guess that boils down to whether the OP wants a camera to record memories of the holiday or to use the holiday as an opportunity to practice their photography.
I'm never a fan of going places, and not looking at what's around because you're concentrating too much on the photo. Also - most of the time you can buy a better postcard than you can take
Spontaneous shots are the ones you print out. But i can still do those with the SLR. I used to, after all.
Dunno really. Thanks all. Need to think - but do have 9 months!
molgrips
Really? Do you want a load of sub-par stock photos of elephants and hippos? Taking good wildlife shots requires a shit ton of money and even more time. Personally I’d be looking at landscape and just holiday shots. Life’s too short for reproducing standard pics IMO.
I'm pleased you put "imo" at the end of that.
For some people (it doesn't sound like the OP is in this camp), part of the enjoyment of taking a photograph is actually the act of taking the photograph itself.
On the basis of your comment, why follow it up by saying you would take landscape shots?
The best landscape shots require intimate knowledge of the surroundings, the freedom to search out particular vantage points and generally be out at unsociable times of the day (first thing in the morning, as the sun sets, just as a storm rolls in or clears off).
Life's too short for all that faff surely? You might as well just look at the lanscape shots a pro has taken.
Or just cancel the safari, put a tent in the garden and watch a David Attenborough DVD. After all, the BBC will have taken months to research animal behaviour, learn the best locations to see animals and have pro videography equipment.
You could smash out a couple of weeks safari experience in an evening and see all sorts you'd never get to see otherwise, plus you'd save a packet. 😉
In all seriousness, most of the pictures I took from the trip to the national park mentioned above trigger some kind of memory or emotion about that day. Yes, they probably aren't close to pro level images, but to me that's not relevant.
I do enjoy taking a photo, the composition of a decent shot. Half the family's walls are covered with my landscapes....but I also appreciate with the equipment I have (or potentially have the access to), I won't take something of the wildlife that'll win prizes.
Probably. 🙂
Use what you have, you obviously know how to handle your kit so just take the pics that suit the lenses you have. Put the animals in the landscapes rather than try to get close ups.
A 30d is quite a chunk camera and really quite outdated in terms of AF performance, resolution and certainly dynamic range.
You can get really capable and compact mirrorless cameras now for not much money, the a6000 or a6300 are incredibly capable for the money, for instance and you can use all your old lenses on them with either AF, or MF for manual lenses/ non-compatible lenses.
Many compacts like the Lumix series or RX100 series will also be much better than the 30d and provide zoom range and very good AF.
DPReview is a great resource for comparing old and new bodies and lenses and for different price ranges, along with youtube etc.
Another option is to buy a more modern entry-level canon body (2000d, 800d) if you want something familiar. They will blow the 30d out of the water without requiring much investment or reskilling, but still fall short of most other brands.
Also might be worth thinking of video capabilities a nice 4K movie on a big screen would be stunning, I took lots of short videos this year as it allows you to show more of your surroundings.
I also appreciate with the equipment I have (or potentially have the access to), I won’t take something of the wildlife that’ll win prizes.
Eh, 90% of that is luck.
Probably won't win prizes but might wind up with something that'll look nice on your wall.
I own both digital SLR and a Sony a6000 mirrorless. The latter is a lot lighter and very good but battery life is awful and lenses are damn expensive for them. My suggestion would be look on camerjungle .co.uk who are the second hand side of jessops. They are doing good deals at the moment. They give a 12 month garuntee I would update your camera to a more updated slr .Use your lenses and then if you wanted to when you get back you could stick it on eBay and get back at least what you have paid for it. With a holiday like that I Would choose slr every time as once you start adding lenses to a mirror less you would like to have then you don’t have much of a weight saving. And if you go for a compact with a large zoom range then the sensor is a lot smaller to give the extra range you will most likely be disappointed. When it’s a once in a lifetime holiday I take the slr. And give the mirror less to the wife so best of both worlds.
I’d be looking for the best fixed lens compact you can take. You won’t be matching pro level wild life shots with anything in your price range. Nor will you want to carry it. But a nice Fuji x100 and some time spent taking more atmospheric shots would add to your trip.
quite impressed with the EF-M route. Can get a second hand M6, with lens, for £300. Coupled with an adapter (~£80), I'd be able to use all my longer lenses when needed, yet will have something small enough to throw in my pocket 90% of the time.
Bit more research work needed I think, but it could be the way forward...
Yup, just kind of do both. You will be ferried around by jeep during the day, so may as well lug a big camera around then. Rest of the time, something much smaller and discreet - possibly just your phone. And whilst your existing DSLR seems fine, look at a used Canon from the last 5 years - take your old one as a back up.
I’d buy a 2nd hand newer body that fits your lenses and sell it on after the holiday.
Alternatively buy then sell a compact if you find you don’t use it.
“Better” photos nothing gathering dust in a drawer. Some expense, or possibly a profit ?
I'd go with the dSLR too (assuming you know how to use it manually). You will get much more control over it that with a compact and the fact you have additional lenses will give you greater flexibility.
Just don't do as I did and forget that I'd manually set WB to indoor temperature and spend the first two or three days of my honeymoon taking pictures outdoors with some horrible colour casts.
Here's one I took later after I had realised
One tip from me - take several memory cards and swap them over each day (irrespective of how full they are) so memory card one (for example) would be used on days 1, 4, 7, 10, memory card two used on days 2, 5, 8, 11 etc - that way if you lose one or one becomes corrupted then you won't lose a whole big section of your trip. Enjoy - it is an amazing experience 🙂
Hope you’re off setting your carbon footprint 👣 !
Love it that most on this site try to be soooo correct, yet it’s okay to go on safari which comes along with a whole host of bad news.
Enjoy 😊
Late entry but its worth looking at the type of safari.
Private safaris on private grounds (or with special permission) can take you off road to get closer so the need for longer lenses goes down, but most parks don't allow that and if you're stuck on the trail then the need for bigger glass increases.
The size of the animals often means that you can get away with a 70-300 (ish) zoom, but 150-600 puts you in the same range of magnification as your binoculars plus a bit.
(assuming 50mm = x1 then x8 or x10 is equivalent to 400 or 500mm (ish))
Disregard the people who talk about composition. Unless its asleep, wildlife composition is something that happens with planning and experience (unlikely when you're not driving), instinctively (if you can convince yourself it really was) or by accident and cropping in lightroom (if you're a realist).
ISO range is very important, and auto iso is your friend if travelling in and out of tree cover as iso can go through a big range very quickly.
Non SLRs are smaller and may be a good fit for you, but bear in mind that you're paying a lot to see the wildlife, and realising later that you spent a lot of that time looking at a small crap TV picture instead of the real world is weird. Even with a good evf, why bother? (Luddite here 🙂
An SLR can be used like a spotting scope for watching as well as photographing.
Whatever you decide, get it early and practice.
Find a good general purpose default setting.
(I default to shutter priority, wide open and auto iso. 1/500 ish for big game and 1/2000 ish for small animals and birds). Then adjust from there if you have time and remember.
Think about power, extra batteries and maybe (if available) some micro usb battery chargers for your brand from amazon/ebay. generally smaller than the oem ones and save weight. Take a multi usb charger and lots of small cables to use for as many devices as possible rather than big plugs and extension cords etc.
I know taking shots is all about the composition, and the equipment is incidental. But….we’re talking 14 years!
Equipment isn't incidental if it prevents you concentrating on the composition though.
I find most of the settings on my DSLR are instinctive, my hands are adjusting shutter speed and or aperture without much conscious effort and without me needing to look.
I've never found that with a mirrorless ... I haven't exactly persisted though as 14 or 50 years of muscle memory or whatever is hard to shake.