Your anticipated trip to Namibia is almost underway, clothes are packed, shoes and hat are ready, a sleeping bag for cold nights, the rental car is booked, the flight tickets are paid for... But is your cell phone enough for capturing the journey or should you invest in a large piece of equipment?
This question often takes longer to answer than you would like, since there is so much information to think about. What prices or photographic techniques are the best?
Therefore, here are a few tips and share what you could put in your bag.
If you have the budget for it, why not carry two bodies? One full-frame and one APSC camera.
A great lense to use on safari is the telephoto 150-450 mm (4.5-5.6), sufficient for most situations and animals near and far.
Then the fast standard lens 24-70mm (2.8). This is ideal for landscapes, encounters in villages or photos around the evening campfire.
Another great option is the focal length 70-200mm (2.8). It is indispensable when speed is more important than focal length, or when you want to use an open aperture to make close-up subjects stand out more from the background.
Always remember for snapshots and to share pictures and films spontaneously to take along your robust cell phone.
A small torch is handy so that the autofocus can focus in a dark hut. You can also use it to illuminate a face or to add accents in a poorly lit room.
Here are recommendation for Namibia first-time photographers* and safari beginners:
- A sturdy camera with a focal length of 16-50mm for APSC or 24-70mm for full frame.
- A good telephoto with a focal length of at least 300mm for APSC or 450 for full frame.
- Spare batteries and enough memory cards.
- An inverter is important if you are camping to charge everything.
- A simple bag to tie or to use Velcro, to pull over the setup on the camera strap as dust protection on a hike (plastic bag also works, but is usually noisy and colourful). If necessary, everything is quickly ready for use again.
What will you take with you on your next photo safari in Namibia?