I'm going on safari later in the year and will no doubt be taking 100's of photos with my trusted D70s (maybe a D7000, if I can justify it to my other half).
Which ever I end up with, am I best taking photos in RAW format? I keep reading conflicting articles as to whether to go with RAW or JPEG.
Also, is a D7000 a logical step up from a D70s for someone on a modest budge? Thanks.
Okay, multiple issues/questions and multiple answers (I hope).
1. Jpeg vs. RAW. I always shoot RAW. Always. That said...here is when shooting jpeg makes sense:
--you have storage issues (as in you're shooting thousands of photos and only have 1-2 SD cards. Or you don't have an i-cloud or storage drive to dump photos on).
--you can't afford to swap/replace cards b/c it's dusty or wet and you can't safely open your camera to swap a CF/SD card out.
--you are going to shoot a ton of shots and have no intention or ability to do any post-processing (maybe you don't have software, maybe you're in a hurry, maybe you shoot continuously and your work process doesn't allow for much editing...b/c RAW files benefit from sharpening).
--you will be shooting a lot of pictures in sequence or of movement so you want smaller file sizes to reduce buffer overload issues (in which case you wouldn't even shoot at the highest quality Jpeg).
Any of those are valid reasons for preferring jpeg over RAW. Forget all the pros and cons, the only two factors you should use to evaluate are:
--how you prefer to shoot/work (do you have decent editing software?)
--the setting you'll be in. For instance, if you want the option to play with WB after the shot, you'll want RAW. But if every day/setting is going to be pretty constant, than you may not need to adjust WB in post-production.
2. D70s. I had a D70. Great camera, very reliable, very sturdy. But that body sucks in low light and high contrast. And you'll have some high contrast settings. D7000 has much better dynamic range and low-light performance. Plus it has two card slots so that's a plus. Here's the biggest negative I can offer: it shoots SD cards (and your D70s is a CF card camera). So you may want to look at options that shoot CF cards (if you think you're going to bring the D70s along too). In an ideal world, you'd go all photojournalist on us and wear two camera bodies...one with the biggest, humongest zoom you can rent and the other with a mid-range fast glass lens that you can use to shoot movement or in shadow or even people in the lorry you're with.
A couple of tips:
--invest in a tactical vest. Some people swear by backpacks, others by slings, I prefer a holster myself. But you're probably going to be in a vehicle most of the time (rather than on foot). So a backpack or sling is very cumbersome or unworkable. A tac-vest though is just the ticket though, especially if you only have one body but multiple lens.
--if you can rent a 400mm zoom, I'd go for it.
--as I mentioned, in an ideal world you'd be wearing 2 bodies, one with a 400mm zoom and the other with a fast mid-range zoom or a 50mm prime so you can shoot portraits, people inside the range rover, or animals who get within walking distance.
--definitely a polarizing filter.
--get yourself one of those clamps that you can attach a camera to. Screw the camera in to the top of the it, than clamp it on to vehicle door or side view mirror and you've got a tripod. This is a lightweight version of what I have:
http://dx.com/p/hgybest-clamp-mount...-cameras-flashlight-black-285676#.Ut5w0Xn0B0s
Have a blast!
