Good wildlife camera equipment on safari can make the difference between pictures you will be proud to show your friends and family when you get back and ones where it’s difficult to figure out exactly what you were photographing because it’s only a fuzzy black dot surrounded by green vegetation.

I take wildlife photographs for a living and I have had to quickly figure out what the best cameras and lenses are to get the job done effectively.

Digital or Film – Which is better for a safari?

Wild animals are very unpredictable. That’s one aspect of safari photography that makes it so exciting because you never know what you are going to get but this also means that the number of pictures you need to take to get a keeper increases.

And if you use film that can become very expensive whereas with a digital wildlife camera you can take as many as you want and then just delete the ones where the lion has ducked behind a bush, the cheetah has blurred because the autofocus locked onto a twig in front of it and the exposure of the hippo was way off because of the reflected sunlight in the water.

You can also make consistent use of bracketing to get the perfect exposures without worrying about cost or running out of film which can be a problem in certain remote areas of Africa where safaris take place.

So more is better in this case but what about quality? The fact is that digital quality is fast catching up to film unless you fall into the professional category and are going to be selling your safari pictures or entering them into competitions. In that case it might be better to stick to film because the trained eye will be able to spot the difference but in most other cases digital quality is more than adequate.

Digital also gives you valuable feedback while you are still on safari so that you can try and improve on that elephant picture with the ear cut off the next day. You also have a lot more control over the final product because you can use software like photoshop to enhance and fine tune your pictures.

Digital slr or Compact Wildlife camera

A safari is the dream trip of a lifetime and it’s a great opportunity to get some fantastic wildlife pictures but it’s not necessary to buy the latest and greatest digital slr and lenses to get them unless you are planning to take nature pictures for a living or are a serious photography enthusiast and are going to make regular use of the camera and lenses after the safari anyway.

The cost of a digital slr wildlife camera is high compared to a compact but that is only half the story. The lenses that you need to purchase for decent wildlife photography often cost more than the camera itself making it a very expensive business indeed.

And a bulky camera body and multiple interchangeable lenses do add to the weight of your luggage and the inconvenience of carrying everything around with you.

Digital compact cameras on the other hand are not extremely expensive and the results that you can obtain from them are almost on a par with a digital slr camera and you don’t have to worry about any additional lenses if the compact you buy has a decent zoom covering the range from 80mm to about 300mm. There are a few of them on the market that do have lenses like this and the range of the zooms increase every year.

And compact cameras live up to their name by being relatively small and light and one lens means no additional weight or carrying and no time wasted changing to another lens to suit the situation.

The Best slr digital Wildlife camera for Nature photography

If you have decided to go with a digital slr then by all accounts the best one to purchase for wildlife photography at the moment is the Canon EOS 20D due to the blinding speed of its shutter release (near instantaneous) and its continuous shooting speed of 5 frames per second to a maximum burst depth of twenty three frames. It also powers up in next to no time at all.

This wildlife camera is as fast as you will ever need to freeze wildlife action and get the picture in the can before the animal moves off into the undergrowth.

There are other slr cameras that are nearly as good like the Nikon D70 and the Pentax ist D so take a look at them too before making a decision.

The Best Compact digital Wildlife camera for Nature photography

Canon comes up trumps again in the compact camera category with the Canon Powershot S2 IS. The factor that makes this camera ideal for safari wildlife photography is its huge 12X optical zoom lens (36 – 432mm equivalent) with a built in image stabiliser which cuts down on blur when using such a massive zoom lens.

A 5 megapixal sensor is more than enough to produce stunning safari images and as long as you can live with a slight shutter release lag and power up delay this compact wildlife camera is perfect for a safari trip.

Nikon D5000 12.3 Megapixel Digital SLR Camera Kit 1

For many photography enthusiasts, owning a digital SLR camera is an important first step. There are a number of different makes and models of SLR cameras out there – they come in a variety of speeds and megapixels and all have a range of camera accessories. Learn about how DSLR cameras work and what to look for before you make your purchase.

What is a DSLR camera?

SLR stands for single lens reflex since you are looking at the actual image through the single lens. The image passes through the camera lens to a mirror that then reflects the light upward to a pentaprism or pentamirror before being reflected again through the viewfinder, where you can see what’s actually in the frame. When the shutter button is pressed, the first mirror flips up so that the light passes through the shutter, thereby capturing the image.

SLR cameras allow for more accurate composition and colour balance since what you see through the viewfinder will be what you get in the final picture. Traditional SLR cameras used film but today’s digital SLR cameras allow for digital capture so that you can review your images instantly.

How to choose a DSLR camera that’s right for you

There are plenty of variations between the different types, makes and models of DSLR cameras. Choosing the best DSLR camera for your needs depends on how you intend to use the machine – and the amount you’re willing to spend. Here are some points to keep in mind:

Cost – Your budget will determine the type of SLR camera you purchase. Remember that in addition to buying the camera body, it’ll be worthwhile to invest in a couple of camera lenses as well. A good telephoto zoom lens, for example , is great for getting up close to your subject matter, while a wide angle lens increases the angle of your view so you can get more in the shot. You might also look into buying camera accessories, including filters, a camera bag or even an extra battery to make the most of your investment.

Megapixels – most of today’s DSLR cameras start at about 8 MP and can go up to 24 MP or more. Having more megapixels means you get better resolution, which is great for large prints or for enlarging smaller parts of your image. Keep in mind that having more megapixels isn’t the only way to get quality pictures. For example , in low lighting, too high a megapixel count could mean your photos end up with a bit of “noise” as your camera sensor might not capture the correct colour tone for every pixel, creating a bit of speckling in the image. Meanwhile, professionals may want a high megapixel count for large prints, such as billboards, or if they are significantly enlarging a small area of the final image. When deciding on how many megapixels you’ll need, think about what you’ll be using the photos for and whether you’re looking for images to publish online, make personal prints or sell in a professional publication.

Speed – DSLR cameras are much quicker than the typical digital camera. You’ll notice reduced shutter lag (the delay between pushing the button and actually capturing the image) with your DSLR. If you’ll be shooting lots of action shots then you’ll likely want a faster model.

Choosing the right digital SLR camera means doing your homework and finding out more information about the different options that are available, so you can be sure you’ll get the results you want. Ask friends and families or look for an online forum and gain some valuable insights and tips from the experts.

Digital Photography 101 with TigerTV Host Logan!

Are you looking for a tablet that is aimed towards business use? The Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet was made with business professionals in mind and comes with lots of features that help you keep productive on the go. Although it has a great multimedia and entertainment options, the Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet also has added security and lots of connectivity options that gives it the functionality of a netbook in a much more portable device.

The Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet allows you to view, edit and create Microsoft Office files with Documents to Go. Unlike other tablets like the iPad, sharing these files is made extremely easy because the ThinkPad Tablet has two USB 2.0 and micro-USB ports, a full-size SD card slot and a mini-HDMI output for conducting presentations using your tablet. You also have Bluetooth, WiFi and 3G connectivity so it is the perfect companion for a business trip. If you need to take a photo or make a video call, the ThinkPad Tablet has front and rear-facing 720p HD cameras.

Like all Lenovo products, the ThinkPad Tablet is built to last. It has a 10.1-inch screen that is made from Corning Gorilla Glass. You can use the included stylus as much as you like without worrying that you’ll ever do damage to the screen. With MyScript Notes, an app that comes preloaded on the tablet, you can handwrite notes, annotate, draw and insert pictures from the web into documents. For when you want to kick back and relax with your tablet, Kindle for Android comes preloaded also which gives you access to more than 950,000 digital books. You’ll also find NetFlix, where you can instantly watch HD movies and TV shows on the go. For a tablet that has it all, for business and pleasure, pick up the 32GB Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet right here at the lowest price.