POTN Great African Photo Safari IV 2011 - limited places available!

condyk wrote in post #11965128
I still need to decide on my long lens and that depends on whether I take one or two bodies ... but rumors of new Nikon long zoom, and the new Sigma 50-500 OS looks attractive too, are making me think more single body and a do it all wildlife lens. Travel light. But then you do suffer a bit of IQ loss with these lenses. Ho hum ...

Isn't that a huge risk, with the uncertainty of weather, etc., I'd definitely want to have a spare body. Alas, I only have one. But if you've got two, you'd be nuts not to bring both.

Agree with the sentiment. The weather is pretty consistent just cold mornings and warm days and dry. I only have the one body at the moment. Have been so busy this last few years barely had time to shoot so just got the D300s: sold the D700 (which was awesome and sorry to see it go!) Likelihood is I'll buy a backup, even if only a SH D3100 or similar, and then sell again when I get back.

Most of my spare cash will be going into opening a coffee shop and I'll have a cup of our Guatemala/Rwanda blend here waiting for your visit!

Beautiful Spring day over here in Blighty Jakie. Ya can't do nowt but smile

Here's a very comprehensive outline of birding opportunities in Kruger, with overview and camp by camp. Wasn't sure whether to post it or not. When you see how brilliant it could be y'all are sure to want that 600mm 2.8

Click for birdies

I'll definitely save a PDF of it to take along.

Tom and DD, cheers for the latest payment lads. Received safe and sound.

B&H delivered the new 400L5.6 today. All lens are ready

Little work to do on getting the CF tripod and window mount/sandbag and that should be it.

Working on repairing a recent shoulder injury, and the physiotherapist thinks it should be good before the trip. Strange rotator cuff injury, full motion and no big loss in strength, but a lot of stiffness and pain. Working it out.

Not long to go now.

Hope it turns out well soon for you! On the other hand, we can help you lift that pretty new lens

That's the fourth person I know with a shoulder injury!! Hopefully the dry weather over there will help a little. The 400mm is a great choice if you have a two body set up. It's one of the lenses I wish Nikon had an equivalent in.

In terms of window mount I personally don't like sandbags, too heavy and troublesome to use and it's a fuss sorting the sand (or beans) for it. A Canadian company called Pod do a range of very light, small and effective beanbags. The Pod Red is great with the 400mm, or you can get a larger version if you prefer. I use it and so does Tommy. It screws to the lens foot (or camera body) so very quick and easy in use. See here: click Personal preference, but proven over many game drives.

I've got a Pod as well (the green one I think). It is good.

I'm also mostly sorted. I've just received my 750GB 2.5" HDD (hoping I'll be able to use someone else's computer to transfer the pictures to it..)

I might buy a few more CF cards, but that's all...

I hope your shoulder get better in time. If not, I'll let you use my P&S

phirefly wrote in post #12486241
Hope it turns out well soon for you! On the other hand, we can help you lift that pretty new lens

Thanks! I was actually trying to get one of the several 500L4 that were showing up in Sell, but kept missing being the first to respond. Just as well considering the weight.

condyk wrote in post #12487291
That's the fourth person I know with a shoulder injury!! Hopefully the dry weather over there will help a little. The 400mm is a great choice if you have a two body set up. It's one of the lenses I wish Nikon had an equivalent in.

In terms of window mount I personally don't like sandbags, too heavy and troublesome to use and it's a fuss sorting the sand (or beans) for it. A Canadian company called Pod do a range of very light, small and effective beanbags. The Pod Red is great with the 400mm, or you can get a larger version if you prefer. I use it and so does Tommy. It screws to the lens foot (or camera body) so very quick and easy in use. See here: click Personal preference, but proven over many game drives.

Strange injury, I actually do not know what I did. I have several guesses, but not sure.
I'll check out the POD, thanks!

DDA wrote in post #12487586
I've got a Pod as well (the green one I think). It is good.

I'm also mostly sorted. I've just received my 750GB 2.5" HDD (hoping I'll be able to use someone else's computer to transfer the pictures to it..)

I might buy a few more CF cards, but that's all...

I hope your shoulder get better in time. If not, I'll let you use my P&S

My plans still include my laptop, Windows OS, which you are more than welcome to use.
P&S means Pain & Suffering right now, so don't need more

Actually I have not lost movement or strength with this, which is strange. Very stiff and lots of pain until I get "warmed up" and moving, then it is just constantly there. Normally the rotator cuff injuries exhibit loss of motion and strength.

Did a bit of a workout with the 400 mounted on my 1D last night. Had to try it out. Weight was not bad at all! Good lens! Still need to put in on the tripod and target shoot to test the quality, but from the preliminary tests, this one is pretty good! Miss the IS though, gotten use to it on the 70-200 and 300.

I was going to sell the 300 and had it listed. But after the repair (really annoyed I did not catch the IS issue when I bought it on here) and tuning at Canon, this is one sharp lens. I've taken it off the Sell list for now.

The Pod looks like a neat little item. Ordered the Green and Red with a Cube.

I can definately recommend both the 400 and the Pod. I have not made up my mind yet if I will take my 400 or my 100-400.

Only 55 days to go now. Can't wait. This month has sucked bad for me so I just want to get away on this trip and enjoy Kruger.

£1500/$2500 usd is seriously all it costs to do something like this? i cant believe i never noticed the price in the threads before. i've noticed the thread every year and read a couple of posts and wished i could go but just daydreamed about it assuming these things cost 5-10x that. its a shame i actually had the time and money the past couple of years and just never realized. sadly now thats not the case, with time being the issue now that i got a second child on the way.

The Outlaw wrote in post #12488150
£1500/$2500 usd is seriously all it costs to do something like this? i cant believe i never noticed the price in the threads before. i've noticed the thread every year and read a couple of posts and wished i could go but just daydreamed about it assuming these things cost 5-10x that. its a shame i actually had the time and money the past couple of years and just never realized. sadly now thats not the case, with time being the issue now that i got a second child on the way.

This $ does not include travel to South Africa, so your flights would be over-and-above. Probably doubling or more the base price.

Dave has done a terrific job of organizing and splitting common costs (vehicles, gas, food, expendables) that help lower the overall total.

But you are right, this is a absolutely terrific price for the trip. Plus you get to meet others with a common interests.

55 days seems like forever right now

I think I have my photo equipment in order, but I'm still missing some minor parts. For example the bean bag, I just don't know if the pod bag is too small for a Canon 500mm. I like the bean bag in the link below, but it might be too big
http://www.birdsasart.​com/blubb.htm

I don't think I will bring my laptop, it is too big and slow. But I think I will buy me an extra Hyperdrive image bank. I already got a 120Gb disk
http://www.hypershop.c​om …-COLORSPACE-UDMA-s/64.htm

Nalle wrote in post #12502736
I think I have my photo equipment in order, but I'm still missing some minor parts. For example the bean bag, I just don't know if the pod bag is too small for a Canon 500mm. I like the bean bag in the link below, but it might be too big
http://www.birdsasart.​com/blubb.htm

I don't think I will bring my laptop, it is too big and slow. But I think I will buy me an extra Hyperdrive image bank. I already got a 120Gb disk
http://www.hypershop.c​om …-COLORSPACE-UDMA-s/64.htm

That bean bag is interesting, definitely "purpose built". I see it has a zipper so you can empty it out to transport.

That Colourspace looks interesting too. I guess if you're buying a second you're happy with the first.