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08-07-2019, 05:15 AM   #136
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QuoteOriginally posted by aslyfox Quote
nope

not enough experience

I've only been to Africa twice and to the same country
Nah, no need to be a regular safari goer to participate there. They're a friendly bunch with lots of great advice to share - much like here, really. I should get more active there again but the Game Warden starts demanding trip reports as soon as you mention you've been somewhere

08-09-2019, 02:19 AM - 3 Likes   #137
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for any one who doesn't want to search the forums for photos from our trip, I have started to put them on Flickr.

here is a direct link to the initial album:

photos from 2019 Tanzania Safari | Flickr

I have begun putting photos in more select albums as well

Last edited by aslyfox; 08-17-2019 at 11:38 AM.
08-17-2019, 11:27 AM - 1 Like   #138
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another thought

clothing


think layers:

I took:

long underwear - silk/wool combo

[ parts of Tanzania are high above sea level - Serena Ngorongoro Crater Lodge [ 2,326 meters/7,633 feet ] in comparison with Topeka Kansas [ 274.32 meters/900 feet ]

rain jacket with large pockets

https://www.froggtoggs.com/java-hellbender-fly-wading-jacket/

- very good for " wind breakers " for when the vehicle is traveling fast to get to the right areas

the type of shirts used by doctors/nurses, very comfortable, pull over, large pockets

[ large pockets give you room for lenses, filters, caps, batteries etc ]

convertible pants with the ability to unzip the legs so they become shorts - best designs have zippers on the ankles to make it easier to get over shoe/boots

light weight fishing shirts with long sleeves like these

Columbia | Girl?s PFG Tamiami Long Sleeve Vented Sun Shading Wicking Fishing Shirt

hats with ties and large brim just in case your organized safari company does not supply any

I like Tilley's

https://www.tilley.com/?

well broken in shoes/hiking boots - boots high enough to protect the ankles recommended - you don't want a twisted ankle

net laundry bag for the obvious reasons and you can put your shoes/boots in them at night and you don't have to worry about anything crawling into the shoes/boots

Last edited by aslyfox; 08-17-2019 at 12:22 PM.
09-05-2019, 01:35 PM   #139
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QuoteOriginally posted by aslyfox Quote
News from the Serengeti

Despite the complete failure of the 150-450 yesterday

( it has come apart ). . .
now for the rest of the story, as Paul Harvey would say



update on the repair of my D FA 150-450mm: by a local repair shop Phototronic

it is done, and at a cost of less than $300

he runs a one man shop opened only in the afternoon M-F and he is not, by his own admission, the world fastest

he advises you to keep calling him to check on the progress of the repair

he does Vintage to Digital Camera Repairs with free estimates

If you want to try him out, please call him first

119 NE US Highway 24
Topeka KS 66608

785 233 0231

A Big Thank You to pres589 for letting me know about him

Read more at: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/189-repairs-warranty-service/348367-dfa-...#ixzz5ygUx76mj

__________________________

repairs done

disassembled to access separation, retapped stripped housing , retro-fit housing , general inspection


Last edited by aslyfox; 09-07-2019 at 11:07 AM.
09-07-2019, 09:30 AM   #140
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QuoteOriginally posted by aslyfox Quote
now for the rest of the story, as Paul Harvey would say



update on the repair of my D FA 150-450mm: by a local repair shop Phototronic

it is done, and at a cost of less than $300

he runs a one man shop opened only in the afternoon M-F and he is not, by his own admission, the world fastest

he advises you to keep calling him to check on the progress of the repair

he does Vintage to Digital Camera Repairs with free estimates

If you want to try him out, please call him first

119 NE US Highway 24
Topeka KS 66608

785 233 0231

A Big Thank You to pres589 for letting me know about him

Read more at: DFA 150-450mm needs repair - PentaxForums.com
Good to hear that your 150-450 is all patched up and well again

Also nice to see that there are good repair shops out there. A bit far away for me, though. Even with free estimates the shipping would kill it
12-02-2019, 05:43 AM   #141
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My advice is to shoot from a lower position than the animal so as to look up at it.
A second piece of advice would be to use a remote control near a dangerous animal. This requires setting up the camera and leaving it with enough distance for your remote to activate the camera shutter and also requires prediction of the animals path.
12-02-2019, 08:25 AM   #142
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Based on my two experiences, you pretty much have to take your chances as they present themselves.

Setting out remotes as suggested is more a professional technique than the opportunity presented to most tourists

12-10-2019, 10:53 AM - 1 Like   #143
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Pretty early into my safari experience in Kruger National Park, I swapped out my brand new third-party AF lens for a heavy old manual Pentax-A 70-200. First, the AF was hunting all over the place because wildlife moves, the vehicle moves, and vegetation gets in the way. Second, the manual Pentax lens is a joy to use (very smooth handling), and I wanted to actually enjoy myself if I was spending most of my day shooting. So first piece of advice, strongly consider manual focus. Second piece of advice, if you have a body with a quieter shutter, opt for that. It's crazy how loud a shutter can sound when you're in that kind of open wilderness, and the German family in our truck was visibly annoyed by my K-50's clanking.
12-18-2019, 08:29 PM   #144
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QuoteOriginally posted by aslyfox Quote
now for the rest of the story, as Paul Harvey would say



update on the repair of my D FA 150-450mm: by a local repair shop Phototronic

it is done, and at a cost of less than $300

he runs a one man shop opened only in the afternoon M-F and he is not, by his own admission, the world fastest

he advises you to keep calling him to check on the progress of the repair

he does Vintage to Digital Camera Repairs with free estimates

If you want to try him out, please call him first

119 NE US Highway 24
Topeka KS 66608

785 233 0231

A Big Thank You to pres589 for letting me know about him

Read more at: DFA 150-450mm needs repair - PentaxForums.com

__________________________

repairs done

disassembled to access separation, retapped stripped housing , retro-fit housing , general inspection
I'm starting to prepare for a similar trip in 2020, and I also have the D FA 150-450 lens. Can you tell me anything about how it may have gotten broken? Is there something that might have prevented the damage that might be useful to me? Thanks for this thread, I found it most helpful.

--
Mark
12-18-2019, 09:00 PM   #145
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QuoteOriginally posted by MarkInKC Quote
I'm starting to prepare for a similar trip in 2020, and I also have the D FA 150-450 lens. Can you tell me anything about how it may have gotten broken? Is there something that might have prevented the damage that might be useful to me? Thanks for this thread, I found it most helpful.

--
Mark
glad the thread was helpful, that is one of the reason for it.

I would keep the 150-450mm retracted as much as possible during the safari so you don't stress it any more than necessary

this is all I know about what happened:

QuoteOriginally posted by aslyfox Quote
just contacted my local repair guy

he believes that screws were stripped and that caused the problem

he believes he can fix that with retapping and over size screws

bent mental rod was detached, he will either straighten it or try to find replacement

then he needs to check the " mechanics " focusing etc

if all goes well

he believes it will cost me less than $400.

wish me luck
DFA 150-450mm needs repair - PentaxForums.com

there are quite a few members with expertise ( more than my 2 trips ) on safaris to Africa

I suggest you start a thread of your own with your details and ask for comments and help.

Last edited by aslyfox; 12-18-2019 at 09:05 PM.
12-18-2019, 10:54 PM   #146
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This is an awesome thread. My friend and her sister are headed to Africa later in 2020 and we've been meeting to practice photography with her new lens. I'll be sharing this thread and so she can plan her trip with all the awesome advice.
12-19-2019, 05:18 AM   #147
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thank you

_______________________

the number 1 thing to think about, imho, is Murphy's law and Finnigan's corollary

" anything that can go wrong, will go wrong " and " Murphy was an optimist "

plan, plan, plan,

research

1 don't have photography as your primary goal, just in case there is a problem

plan on enjoying your trip even if you cannot take photos

2 if possible have redundancy built in

If I hadn't taken the PLM, I would have ended up with a 100mm as my telephoto when my 150-450mm went down for the count

I would have, at a minimum a back up camera, just in case

Last edited by aslyfox; 12-19-2019 at 09:02 AM.
12-19-2019, 05:32 AM   #148
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QuoteOriginally posted by aslyfox Quote
I would have, at a minimum a back up camera, just in case
One of those "super zoom" compacts can be a good backup - lightweight and not too expensive. Not nearly the same image quality as a large sensor camera, but still a lot better than nothing at all.
12-19-2019, 05:40 AM - 1 Like   #149
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check out the cost of buying an older Pentax DSLR as a backup

[ shameless plug, I just listed a K 3 and other stuff for sale - https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/24-photographic-equipment-sale/399923-sa...l#post4865015] ]

or for those living in the US, you could consider renting

Lensrental allowed me to take a rental lens overseas with no problem

Information on Businesses that offer cameras and lenses for rent - Page 2 - PentaxForums.com

Last edited by aslyfox; 12-19-2019 at 11:38 AM.
12-19-2019, 09:10 AM   #150
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On trips like this I always have two bodies. Buying a second hand one makes sense, after the trip you can sell it without loosing too much money.
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