Camera Question - Animal Kingdom Lodge

[Amy]

DH and I will be staying at AKL for the first time ever in Nov - a trip for our anniversary WITHOUT the kids! We're getting a savannah view room. How close are the animals?

I'm wondering if I should get my old slr camera out of retirement since I have some good zoom lenses for it, but I really hate to lug all that equipment around. I got a digital (Canon A70) that's got a 3x zoom, and so far I love it. I also have a "point & shoot" that has a zoom up to 100 or 105. Will my digital and point & shoot be good enough? I want to get some good animal shots. Thanks!

 

[nicdanh]

We had Savanna view in March and we had alot of animals really close. They actually came as close as they possibly could.

Enjoy!

 

[goin2disneyagain]

You will do fine with a point and shoot when the animals come close. An SLR would do even better, I am like you though, I didn't want to lug mine around so I took my point and shoot. My pictures came out fine.

 

[MickeyMac]

I use a Canon digital Elph with a 3x optical zoom, and when I was on Arusha rock or when the animals were close, I was happy as a pig in mud. There were loads of times, however, when I wished I had something with a more powerful zoom, especially with some of the more skittish animals, like the zebras. A photographer friend of mine has recommended a Panasonic with a 12x zoom, stabilization, etc, and I'm dying to see it in RL as I'd love to get one for my husband for our anniversary.

 

[SuperDuperBounce]

Take it! I wish I'd taken mine. Depending on what floor you are on, you might be taking pictures of their backs from the fifth floor while the person on the second floor has a nice shot. An SLR with a zoom lense will give you many more options. Most the shots from Arusha rock will have the hotel in the background. You'll have more opportunity for a vegitation background with a zoom.

 

[KathyTX]

I really enjoyed using my digital at AKL. I got some great shots from our room (fifth floor) using the zoom. Mine has a 10X zoom, and was really glad that I had that much flexibility!

I know I wouldn't have been as happy with less zoomability.

 

[snyderla]

I took my Canon with a 105 zoom and got some wonderful shots! They were very close. I now have a 160 zoom, so the next time should be even better! I don't know what you're looking for, but I wouldn't lug around a bunch of extra equipment.

Lori