Camera Equipment

What are your suggestions on what would be the best camera equipment a guide / tracker could invest in? Please be specific to what tyoe of guiding you are giving your suggestions on.

Canon or Nikon lenses - That is the Question? In terms of Lenses the Canon big, long stabilized glass are better such as the (100-400/4.5-5.6 IS, 300/2.8 IS or 600/4 IS) and unique pieces like the 35-350mm but,... Nikons wide angle and macro lenses tend to be better though. Thought then needs to be given to the type camera work you would like to be doing. In my opinion a lense in the order of a 70-200mm/2.8 IS or similar would be best for the low light, fast moving conditions most guides find themselves in.

Yes the 70-200/2,8 is a great lense and cannon is a great product but with that lense a guide will be very restricted on the only 200mm. I do think that the Canon 100-400/4.5-5.6 IS is a great all rounder lense and there are ways and means to get around the fast moving subjects by hiking up your ISO levels. Ok the image taken on a high ISO cant be enlarged to 2m x2m because it will come out a little grainy but will be suffice for an A1 size.

What about the reputation that the 100-400 has for being a bit of a dust pump?

Dust pump, that is a bit harsh havn't heard of that yet. I have had mine for 6 months now and not a problem yet.

I have begun using a small, digital camera that lies in my bag and goes everywhere with me. Pictures are good and it is robust What is your opinion on this?

I too have a small digital camera, Canon Power Shot A430 which i have carried with me for the last four years. It has been with me on all my hours walking and driving both in the bush and the concrete jungle. For me personally it is perfect being compact; lightweight; versitile and extremely robust. I enjoy the macro funtion for use on detail of both plants and insects for identification purposes. Like many guides,I must admit that at times i do wish for a larger more complex camera to capture the spectacular events or situations that unfold in front of our eyes on a daily basis. I think that it becomes a question of what suits the guide; his/her particular daily operation; the intended purpose for the photographs and of course your pocket.

Check out the new 50d guys, it is awesome!!! I have heard that there isn't much difference between the 30d and 50d, subsiquently i have used the 30 d and there is a big differece. One feature i like alot is the 3 layers of reflective coating on the screen so you don't have to scrunch yourself up to view images in the field. Enjoy.