Hi guys. Sabine and Charl from Pangolin Photo Safaris.
Today we stand out in our pool deck of The Pangolin Chobe Hotel. As you can see
behind me our natural pool with a sunken fire pit where we like to sit at
night and have our drinks. We would like to show you today what we have in our bag.
Charl and I usually travel together, so we like to share
our equipment as well, so that's why we would like to give you an overview of
what we take with us, especially if we do trips elsewhere in The Chobe as well as
going to other places on safari in Africa. Okay, so let's start off. First of all
we normally use this normal backpack, where we could fit as much as
possible in - depending on the location - and this fits very easily in any plane.
So let's start off here. Myself and Sabine each have a Canon EOS-1D X Mark II that we are using.
We also have some backup cameras, including a 1 DX 1 and a 5D just for backup.
Depending on location, we always like to bring another camera along, but I found it is
crucial to have extra camera. We also then have the 500mm f4 and a
200-400mm from Canon with a built-in converter. So, between the two of us, we always
play with them - depending on location and where we go. If I take the 500mm,
I will also take a second body with the 100-400mm. I think that this is a
very nice combination. Then we also have the 70-200mm, which we mainly use for portraiture.
The macro lens that I like to use in the rainy season. There are a lot of insects
that we have here in the Chobe. Then a Canon EF 50mm F/1.2L. These two lenses - the 50mm
and 70-200mm - we use for portraiture. So, if you like
portraiture, this is nice. When we go to Namibia and we shoot, for example, the Himba's,
these are the two lenses that we were mainly using for the portraiture. This is an extender
if you would like to use an extender if you needed extra reach.
This is what we have mainly in our bag. Then of course, we have a wide angle
lens. In this case, this is Sigma 14-24mm F2.8, which is very nice for landscape and
astrophotography. With regards to astrophotography, if you ever want to do
that and sometimes you don't plan for it, but it might be just a nice starry night out there.
Then (of course) you will need a tripod, otherwise you won't get any sharp
stars. So if you can manage to get one in your carry-on, then take a tripod with
you for those cases. Or, make sure wherever you travel they have
tripods that you can use. If you want to do astrophotography or star
photography and would like to avoid camera shake through other than holding your camera - you
and pressing the shutter button, this is where it
comes in handy to have a remote control / remote shutter control, which is this
right here. Instead of pressing the button you just slide a little button
and then shutter will go. Also if you want to do long exposures - maybe a star
trail - and you want to keep your shutter open for a long amount of time, you can
just manually slide it and then come back after a certain amount of time and
just slide it back again. We have just ordered two new
remote controls from B&H, which has a built-in intervalometer, which is used to take in a
certain amount of pictures over a certain time, in set intervals. This
remote is not capable of that, so you need to check when you buy, if there's a
built-in intervalometer. Also check some cameras have it built-in in camera.
The Canon EOS-1D X Mark II unfortunately doesn't have it, which is why we have just ordered it for ourselves.
Something just to come back to with regards the cameras.
Always have enough batteries. Here we have a couple of
extra batteries for the 1D X Mark I and II. Luckily they work on both
cameras, so that's why we have them. Of course we have a charger. We have a couple
of rechargeable batteries for flashes when you need it. I personally
don't use too much flashes. I like natural light, but in portraiture
sometimes you need that fill in flash or that side light, then put it on a tripod and
then via remote, you have a little bit of side light.
Besides the cameras, it is really handy to have computers with you.
I have a MacBook Air and Charl has a MacBook Pro
which we take on our travels. Back home we have a bigger workstation, but
for travel - the smaller the better -
to easily fit into our backpack, which is very handy. Obviously the laptops are there to
back-up our images after we come back from a trip. We will download our memory cards.
We have a few CF cards, which are the cards we use for Canon. For the 1D X we also
have a couple of CFast cards, which are very handy because they even faster
and are good for video as well. So make sure you have plenty of memory cards and
also make sure that you have the latest update of your editing software. We use
Adobe Lightroom, so make sure you have it updated before you go on your trip,
otherwise you might struggle when you get there. To our basic workflow
we have a couple of SSD hard drives - something like this - nice and small,
which you can buy for quite cheap today. You can take those with you to back-up your images,
and load them on there. We have a couple of them, so we
try and make a back-up on two separate hard drives just to make sure we have
everything safe. In our cameras, we have two card slots,
and we record to both of them - just to make sure we don't lose any pictures.
Cleaning wise, you also want to take care of your equipment. You never know the
the conditions - especially in Africa. Often you will have lots of dust
when you go out in a game drive, or you might have rain and some splatters on
your camera. So make sure you have some lens cleaning wipes with you.
Pangolin have made these little guys which are very helpful
to get rid of little water droplets or dust on your lens. Plus a little liquid can help.
Sometimes you have stubborn marks on your lens. Spraying that on
before you try and clean it will help you as well.
If you decided to join us - wherever the location might be - and you are not sure what equipment you need,
or what equipment to bring. Please don't hesitate to send us an email
or message. Follow us on Facebook. We can then give you an idea on what
equipment will be suitable for you. You don't necessarily have to go and buy the
most expensive stuff there is, but send us an email and we can talk.
We can then let you know what you need.
All right, we realize this is a lot of equipment, and
if you only one person traveling, then of course that would be too much to take.
We would like to narrow it down and Charl will share what he thinks
is the best to take on an African Safari - if you have very limited space.
For me (of course) space is always an issue. I would probably - if I can -
go with a 500 fix, or a 600 fix, if you have. Plus a zoom lens to bring along
for when you need to be a little bit closer. I would pack a zoom lens, an
extra body and a wide-angle. That (I think) would be for me a perfect combination
for Africa. Second option. If you even have less space. Then just pack a zoom lens.
In this case a 200-400mm with a 1.4 extender. You don't necessarily need such
an expensive lens. These days you get very good alternative
zoom lenses. Sigma. Tamron, who produce a 150-600mm lens.
From Canon you have a 100-400mm, which could sometimes be short, but on
a crop sensor this would work perfect. Nikon offer the nice 200-500mm
zoom lens, so, you don't necessarily need a prime lens.
If you can bring a prime lens, then definitely pack a prime lens with one zoom lens and a wide angle.
That will be my bag.
Please don't forget your laptop. We also offer
post-processing here if you come and visit us in The Chobe. If you bring your own
laptop then we can sit together and edit some images. Please don't forget to subscribe.
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videos in our series. Thank you. We hope to see you soon. Have a good day. Bye....
you