I've actually now decided not to go to Africa at all this year (unless something dramatically changes). I couldn't swing Amboseli + Mara this year, and I really wanted to do both. So I will plan to do them mid Jan 2025.
artsupreme wrote:
The eVisa requirement has been around for several years. If you are putting together your own safari you can just use a copy of your receipt the camps will give you for the deposit. Otherwise you could even use an itinerary that your TO provides you with. I would also recommend creating a folder to store all your documents in so you can use most of them again when going back next time. The eVisas were taking months back during Covid and now they are issuing them very quickly.
I was expecting to get an eVisa but read about the change to an Electornic Travel Authorization this morning. This eTA is a little different apparently. Not a visa, they have gotten rid of the visa requirement and now have an eTA instead. I don't know how much difference it makes one way or another.
That is good to know about what type of information they will accept. The website is not specific, so being able to use an itinerary that the guide provides will make it easy. In my case, it will be a combination of things that I have set up on my own plus two weeks with a guide where all of the arrangement have been made on his end.
I will indeed create a folder of documents like you suggest. Thanks for all of the info.
artsupreme wrote:
I have been called out several times to check my bags while boarding but I refuse and tell them they are $20K bags. Open it up and show them the gear and if they don't let you on then usually worst case they can put it in the flight attendant cubby.
The regional jets don't have any place to store a full carry-on sized piece of luggage, but I really like your idea of requesting to put it in the flight attendant cubby if the smaller planes have them. My neighbor is a flight attendant and flies on the smaller regional jets all the time and I can ask her about that, although I will be flying on a different airline than who she works for. I could also put all of my delicate photo gear (hopefully) into my photo backpack for the regional flight and put it under the seat, then transfer it to the carry-on roller at the larger airport.
Abuttolph wrote:
I was expecting to get an eVisa but read about the change to an Electornic Travel Authorization this morning. This eTA is a little different apparently. Not a visa, they have gotten rid of the visa requirement and now have an eTA instead. I don't know how much difference it makes one way or another.
That is good to know about what type of information they will accept. The website is not specific, so being able to use an itinerary that the guide provides will make it easy. In my case, it will be a combination of things that I have set up on my own plus two weeks with a guide where all of the arrangement have been made on his end.
I will indeed create a folder of documents like you suggest. Thanks for all of the info....Show more →
The questions are exactly the same as they were on the e-visa so it's not really that much different from a requirements perspective at all. Either way it's a good step.
If you are really worried about baggage limits on flights to Africa, booking a higher cabin can probably alleviate your anxiety. Obviously that's costly, but even getting priority boarding can help.
I'm really trying to find a good solution to back up my memory cards while in camp, preferably one that doesn't involve me lugging my laptop all over the place. I know some people have used the NewQ Filehub with good results, and that is a strong consideration for me. But has anyone tried the ClouZen Tainer that BH is selling? It looks like the perfect setup, but it's new and the lack of reviews is scaring me off. I will probably purchase one of these setups and start trying it out over the spring before my safari. Just curious if anyone has any experience, or even second hand information, on that new ClouZen device?
Cduff406 wrote:
I'm really trying to find a good solution to back up my memory cards while in camp, preferably one that doesn't involve me lugging my laptop all over the place. I know some people have used the NewQ Filehub with good results, and that is a strong consideration for me. But has anyone tried the ClouZen Tainer that BH is selling? It looks like the perfect setup, but it's new and the lack of reviews is scaring me off. I will probably purchase one of these setups and start trying it out over the spring before my safari. Just curious if anyone has any experience, or even second hand information, on that new ClouZen device? ...Show more →
Without researching it, if that device allows you to connect SSD's with quick transfer speeds it sounds like it's a small lightweight solution. At a quick glance it looks like it's only 2TB and depending on how long your safari is and whether you shoot video or not you could easily shoot more than 2TB. If you don't shoot video and you won't exceed 2TB, you'll still want at least two backups so one copy will be on your ClouZen and the other would be copied to an SSD.
It's always scary to format a card on Safari, even after you've already made two copies of your files.
I've never used it, but it looks like you can get it without an SSD and install your own up to 32 TB. It multiple USB ports of various speeds so backup up to an (additional) external SSD looks possible. The B&H page has a link to the User Manual, and AFAICT it doesn't seem to be possible to copy to both the internal and external SSD in one operation.
It definitely looks intriguing (and the price it should), but (for me) it all comes down to the speed and how good the software (i.e. the user interface). An internet search does show a few reviews, but I haven't looked at them.
I haven't done any overseas photography trips yet, but I'm hoping to in the near future. I assumed I would bring my 13" laptop and 1 or more external SSDs like I do for domestic trips. What's the downside of that approach.
Cduff406 wrote:
I'm just trying to avoid the weight and bulk of my Dell. Maybe I should just get a MacBook Air and be done with it!
Yes, get a used MacBook Air here for almost the same price as the backup device you are looking at, and then sell it when you get home for nearly the same price. Or, if you like it then it's a great laptop. Note, my M1 Air fits in the back pouch of my vest. So if you are ever needing an additional 2.5 lbs you can wear it in your vest.
When I travel to an important place where I absolutely don't want to lose images. I follow a robust protocol. Yes, my method requires a small computer, but I need one for business reasons anyway.
I shoot dual cards for in the field redundancy, but once copied to the computer I reuse the backup card. I take enough SD cards to keep one for each day of shooting. I start with a fresh one each day.
I put a copy of the files to the computer drive.
I then store the daily cards in the room or front desk safe.
Assuming I have Internet Access, while I sleep I let my computer sync up to my NAS at home. The NAS is backed up to remote backup server automatically. If you are into photography and do not yet have a NAS I strongly suggest you look into one. Price is reasonable and there are just too many benefits not have one.
Most times I don't shoot a crazy amount of images. 500 would be a very big day for me,, most are closer to 100 when traveling and just a couple of dozen on a normal day out with my Leicas. I don't think I have ever broken 1,000. Not like the thousands a day I see some shooting. This is true even on Safari. How many images of lions and such things does one need in a lifetime?
I do 3 back ups to different hard drives. Each hard drive is either from different manufacturers or different batch dates if the same model of hard drive. When possible, I also keep the SD cards full, but this is less of a requirement for me. In the future, I will adopt a SD card scheme similar to @1bwana1
berimbolo wrote:
I do 3 back ups to different hard drives. Each hard drive is either from different manufacturers or different batch dates if the same model of hard drive. When possible, I also keep the SD cards full, but this is less of a requirement for me. In the future, I will adopt a SD card scheme similar to @1bwana1@
Make sure you look into a NAS. I am looking forward to when a camera can connect to a NAS directly.
1bwana1 wrote:
Make sure you look into a NAS. I am looking forward to when a camera can connect to a NAS directly.
If you run an FTP server on your NAS you could. Remembering of course that NAS is network attached storage so you would connect via the network.
My NAS has a usb port which will see the camera as an external usb device and it is possible to use the NAS administration software to copy directly from USB devices to the NAS storage. Not sure it has the fastest USB port though.
Cduff406 wrote:
I'm just trying to avoid the weight and bulk of my Dell. Maybe I should just get a MacBook Air and be done with it!
FWIW, if your familiar and happy with Microsoft Windows, the Dell XPS 13 is slightly smaller in width and depth, slightly larger in height (thickness), and a bit lighter than the 13" Macbook Air. I have a 4 year old XPS 13 and I'm quite happy with it for portability (I use a desktop with a 32" QHD display when I'm at home).
1bwana1 wrote:
Most times I don't shoot a crazy amount of images. 500 would be a very big day for me,, most are closer to 100 when traveling and just a couple of dozen on a normal day out with my Leicas. I don't think I have ever broken 1,000. Not like the thousands a day I see some shooting. This is true even on Safari. How many images of lions and such things does one need in a lifetime?
Despite switching to mirrorless, with its incredible autofocus, I'm finding it difficult to break my habit from DSLR days where I would shoot lots of extra shots trying to ensure I got a few in perfect focus. I'm nearly finished processing some 6 month old wildlife images from a few days in southern California: Bolsa Chica: 1110 images in 4 hours, San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary: 1027 images in less than 4 hours, Point Fermin: 536 images in 2.25 hours. Given the high percentage of keepers I get now, it really is unnecessary to take so many, but its hard to break the habit.
I always take my MacBook pro with me. But only because I cull and edit pictures while there.
I don‘t have any issues concerning luggage because of private charter flights.
In that many years going to Africa on safaris I never had issues with the SD or CF cards.
Only once a Canon 10D died. I leave the picture on the cameras till I have a second backup at home.
I also did many trips with only one body and a 100-400 and no computer and backup.
The last years its two A1, 400 2.8, 70-200 2.8 II, 24-70 2.8 II, 12-24 2.8 and 1.4x.
Maybe next time I take the 50 1.2 .
It really depends where you go. In South Africa a 100-400 is perfect. You get really close (when you are at the right reserve). For the rest just use the phone. If you are into birds a 200-600 would be it. Only if you have a private safari jeep for yourself you should think of the big lenses like 600 f4…
In east africa you sometimes need more reach. Depending if you are on a private concession or a national park.
Given the high percentage of keepers I get now, it really is unnecessary to take so many, but its hard to break the habit.