An SLR/Digital camera combined seems handy for a photo safari. What brand is best?

Answer 1

If you want to take a big camera, read the other answers as these people know more about those than I do.
But also take a point and shoot compact digital.
Buy a decent quality that uses the same memory card as your big camera, if you can get it.
I would say go for a Canon in both, as the compact Canons are good quality, easy to use and use the same 'language' in all options and symbols as their big cameras.

The point of having a point and shoot camera as well as a big one (specially if you travel with a spouse or friend) is that the one is ready in a second and gets you pretty pictures while the other will get you top pictures but takes a longer time before you get your first picture. So one person takes a couple of fast snapshots while the other is getting the lenses sorted and so on.

Using the same kind of memory card makes that you can use the same card, if one of you runs out of memory space while the other still has empty space or spare cards.
You can get a Canon compact camera for the price of one decent dinner, so why not indulge.

Answer 2

ask the question a better way?

do you want a film SLR and a Digi SLR?

if so this is how it works:

nikon : good can use all nikon lens on both (even the older "manual" ones

Canon: same story as above but cant use old "manual" mount lens

most everyone will say go nikon or canon or wot they themselves have. i like both, however for safari u will want to use a long lens (wildlife), try this minolta (have to buy used now and good deals out there) for the film body,
then get a Sony A100 digital SLR, why this one, if you want good safari shots you need long lens this can means blurred shots, the Sony is the only DSLR to incorporate imagestabliser in the camera body,

Digi the way to go i would think unless you can be bothered handling two or more bodies and films, use a tri/monopod,

Answer 3

This is an impossible question to answer as to which is 'best'. Do you mean in terms of reliability, customer service, colour balance, accessories, value for money?

All leading manufacturers of digital SLR's sell viable working cameras. If it doubt, buy either Canon or Nikon, nothing to choose between either.

Answer 4

Nikon and Cannok are both good. sever prosumer camers have been released within the past year. Cannon Rebel and Nikon D40, D80 and D200. Look for a camera review site. you can see all the specs and their opinion