Film suggestions for South Africa...

[xtolsniffer]

Hi all,
I'm taking the family on a safari holiday to South Africa this August, Kruger then down to the Eastern Cape and was looking for film suggestions. I'm not interested in award-winning wildlife photos, I'll leave that to the digi-boys and their long lenses, but I am interested in people, family, landscape and a bit of macro. On previous trips I've used Fuji Sensia 200 which did a decent all-round job, but this time I'm leaning towards Portra 400 as I'll be hand-holding all the time. I'll probably take the Nikon F4 or possibly F100 and a wide angle, mid-range zoom and probably a 200mm (the 400 mm might get vetoed by the family). My only concern is that the landscape down there at that time of year can be a bit brown and washed out, and Portra won't have much zing. Any other suggestions? I'm not fussed by either E6 or C-41, it's speed and colour palette that concern me more - if it's E6 we'll enjoy the slide show when we get back, if it's C-41 and prints, they'll go straight into an album

 

[Jim Taylor]

I used Ektar 100 to good effect in Kruger in August 2013. Seemed to put some of the punch back into the colours. Planning to use the same again this Easter!

 

[xtolsniffer]

I was thinking of taking some Ektar but I was a bit concerned it might be a bit slow for hand-holding with the 200 mm.

 

[MartinP]

200mm f4, thinking of sunny 16 rules with Ektar, that might give you 1000th or shorter, wide open on a sunny safari . . .

 

[davedm]

My vote is for Provia 100 / Velvia 100 for safari except for evenings. For family use mix of Provia and Portra 400 for and Portra would be handy for evening safari shots. For macro, you might need more speed so Portra will be a good choice or for more saturation use Ektar/provia. For landscapes use Provia, Velvia 100/50 or Ektar. If possible carry second small body (FM/FG/FE) with macro lens so that you can load one with negative and another with slide film. This way you also get a back up body if either goes kaput. If planning to shoot lot of touristy photos you might go with some consumer negative films like Kodak gold.

Try to take 400mm, 200 might be limiting somewhat especially for birds and small animals. It would suck big time to go all the way there, spot a lion(ess) and not have a decent photo. Especially your family members would like to show their/your friends what they saw in Africa. Just saying.

 

[Athiril]

A polarising filter can really punch up the colours in many objects, just turn it till everything looks 'darkest' in the view finder. Obviously losing a stop of exposure, but in bright conditions should be a non issue. A light weight carbon traveler tripod with ball is great I find personally too.

 

[outwest]

On trips over several years there I took many thousands of shots using Kodachrome 64, Velvia, and Velvia 100 with up to a 300mm lens and always with an 81A warming filter which added some punch. If you are driving yourself in Kruger turn the car off when you shoot and use a small beanbag over the partially up window. If it is bright enough, a polarizer could help also but in the early morning and late afternoon you might be running low on shutter speed with one. Careful on the people pics - some take offense or expect money. Definitely take 2 bodies. Going digital did away with the hassle of juggling 40 or 50 rolls of film and with APS-C gave me lenses out to 640mm. I consider 300mm the minimum for a wide variety of animal shots and I keep a 28-300 on my Nikon to cover those bases and a 100-400 on my Canon. If you will be in an open safari vehicle a monopod setting on your seat between your legs makes a good platform and the seat absorbs vibrations. If you are doing Addo Elephant in the Eastern Cape you will need a wide angle as the elephants brush past your car. And if you are in that area you should do Mountain Zebra for great landscapes. Tell us more about exactly where you are going.