Dari Rakyat Untuk Indonesia

Political participation through creative action..

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The streets are covered in red and white banners, lively (and often heated) exchange of rhetoric and memes grace social media feeds, and the mass media is constantly updated with news of Joko Widodo, Prabowo Subianto, and their coalitions. More and more people are voicing their opinions of the candidates, because in a little more than a week Indonesians will go to the ballot box to elect the country’s next president.

Among the many independent campaigns that have surfaced, inspired individuals have produced artworks to support their preferred candidate, including the website – Dari Rakyat Untuk Indonesia [From the People for Indonesia] . The site has found a niche where they, along with the website’s many contributors, share their enthusiasm for Jokowi by channeling their creativity. The site encourage supporters to create and share art relating to Jokowi, resulting in vibrant and positive participation of professional and amateur artists.

Dari Rakyat Untuk Indonesia was created by visual artists Lala Bohang and Anggun Priambodo as well as the help of programmer Ritchie Ned Hansel, who were aware that many of their peers would create art to support the candidate. The two mentions that they chose art as a medium to express their opinions because there is a lot of room to explore, and because “art makes a campaign less forced and preachy.”

When asked why they created the site, the two explains that “We first wanted to simply create artwork for Jokowi, but then realized that there were many like us, so a ‘place’ was needed – like a bowl that can hold and accommodate the works supporting the cause.” After finalizing their concept, Lala and Anggun then sent out an open invitation to their friends as well as the public to contribute.

Although the response was sluggish at first, Dari Rakyat Untuk Indonesia was soon flooded with submissions. Scrolling through their blog-formatted website you will find everything from illustrations, photography, music videos, digital imaging to commercials in support of Jokowi. Ruang Rupa residents The Secret Agents (Indra Ameng & Keke Tumbuan) and Oomleo submitted artworks in their signature styles. Hari Prasetio’s “Kisah Blusukan” series makes the site, where the artist illustrates Jokowi doing different activities in different parts of Indonesia. Hari’s illustrative style is reminiscent of Herge’s Tintin, adding a nostalgic warmth to images of Jokowi playing football in Papua, and riding a horse in a setting that seems to be Bromo mountain, East Java.

Kamera Ria Safari, which consists mainly of Anggun Priambodo and Tumpal Tampubolon (of the recent Rocket Rain film), created a series of videos under the title of “Jangan Takut Indonesia” (Don’t Be Afraid, Indonesia). Each video addresses a particular theme related to the elections through funny and awkward situations in a zoo, such as “Jangan Mau Di Spikin” (Don’t be Sweet Talked) and “Di Hadapan Tai Matjan” (In the Presence of Tiger Droppings). Most of the art posted on the website carry a message of optimism, and highlight Jokowi’s relatability to the common person.

One of Dari Rakyat Untuk Indonesia’s contributors, Eric Wirjanata of Deathrockstar, created a series of Jokowi portraits donning different costumes – from The Flash’s red bodysuit, Kamen Rider’s armor, to Obi Wan-like Jedi garb. Eric explains that he was inspired by the Jokowi Gerak Cepat (Move Fast) campaign, so after he created a portrait of the PDIP candidate he dressed him as various superheroes known for their speed (Flash, Quicksilver), but as time moved on he decided to try different themes and costumes for the PDIP candidate including an Indonesian favorite, Unyil, and now there are 13 in the series.

Regarding the elections, Eric Wirjanata mentioned that the 2014 Presidential Elections has created an interesting atmosphere, where many who were apolitical are now eager to participate in the public discourse. The Dari Rakyat Untuk Indonesia-creators acknowledges this phenomenon, saying that because of Jokowi, “the phrase ‘gagal golput’ [failing to abstain] has become a very popular message, especially since society has become more and more apathetic after [Indonesia’s] reformation” and Lala Bohang added “including myself, who didn’t use my right to vote 5 years ago – there are many like me.”

As elections are often associated with heated arguments and smear campaigns, Dari Rakyat Untuk Indonesia are part of a group of efforts with a positive take – inviting and inspiring the youth to participate in the public discussion . Regardless of who wins the race, we hope there will be more campaigns of this nature in the future.

Click the following hyperlink to visit and contribute to Dari Rakyat Untuk Indonesia (submission is open until July 9th), and do not forget to use your right to vote on July 9th, 2014 (7:00 – 13:00).

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Home » Wildlife Photography » Gear » Cameras » Best Wildlife Photography Cameras for an African Safari

Best Cameras for an African Safari

Written by Antonio Cala.

  • Affiliate Disclosure

Table of Contents

Capturing great wildlife photos requires the right equipment, and choosing the right camera for an African safari can be a daunting task. With so many camera options available, it can be overwhelming to decide which one is the best for wildlife photography.

I’ve been to over 50 safaris in Africa until this point, and I’ve met many professional wildlife photographers, each of them using their own set of camera bodies and lenses to shoot wildlife.

Even though everyone has their own preferences, there are several  factors to consider , including image quality, lens options, autofocus capabilities, and durability that are important for a safari. The camera should be able to capture  high-quality images  with  fast autofocus  and have a rugged, weather-sealed body to withstand the harsh conditions of the African wilderness. Additionally, the camera should have a long battery life and be able to shoot at high speeds to capture fast-moving animals.

That’s just the start. In this article we’ll dive into the details of what makes a camera a great option for an African safari.

For a complete analysis, make sure to check out the  ultimate guide to wildlife photography cameras. 

Key Takeaways

  • Choosing the right camera for an African safari requires considering factors such as image quality, autofocus, and durability.
  • Cameras with fast autofocus, rugged bodies, and long battery life are ideal for wildlife photography on an African safari.
  • There are several cameras that are well-suited for wildlife photography on an African safari, offering excellent image quality and fast autofocus.

Quick Recommendations

Feel free to check out this list of our favorite cameras to take on a safari in Africa, or continue scrolling to see our full list with in-depth reviews.

Canonr EOS R3

Absolute Best

Canon EOS R3 Review

Sony Alpha 7R III

Sony Alpha 7R III Review

Nikon P1000

Nikon COOLPIX P1000 Review

Our Pick For

The Absolute Best Camera for an African Safari

  • Skill Level : Professional
  • Body Type : Mirrorless
  • Sensor : Full frame
  • Weight : Approx. 822 g (1015g with card and battery)
  • Price Range : $$$
  • Effective Megapixels : 24.1
  • Autofocus Points : 1053
  • Buffer : 540 JPEG or 140 RAW files at 30 fps
  • ISO Sensitivity : ISO range of 100-102400
  • Image Stabilization : Yes
  • Burst Mode : 30 fps with electronic shutter and up to 12 fps with mechanical shutter
  • 4K Video : Can record at a top resolution of 6K at up to 60 fps.
  • Wifi : Not specified in the search results
  • Silent Mode : Not specified in the search results
  • Weatherproof : Dust and water resistance.
  • Battery Life : Approximately 860 shots.

The  Canon EOS R3 is a top-tier professional mirrorless camera renowned for its exceptional capabilities in wildlife photography. Its advanced and accurate autofocus system and impressive low-light performance make it our preferred choice for an African safari. 

The camera’s remarkable autofocus system, high ISO performance, and rapid continuous shooting capabilities make it ideal for capturing fast-moving wildlife in various lighting conditions. The camera’s 24.1 effective megapixels and impressive image detail further enhance its suitability for wildlife photography.

  • Extraordinarily capable autofocus system, ideal for tracking wildlife subjects with precision.
  • Ground-breaking eye control focus, providing intuitive and accurate focus control.
  • Rapid continuous shooting up to 195fps with fixed AE/AF, enabling photographers to capture fast-paced wildlife action.
  • The Canon EOS R3 comes with a premium price tag, which may be a significant investment for some photographers.
  • Utilizing the camera’s advanced features may require a dedicated effort to familiarize oneself with the menu system and controls, potentially posing a learning curve for some users.

The  Canon EOS R3 ‘s combination of cutting-edge technology, exceptional autofocus performance, high ISO performance, and high-speed shooting capabilities makes it the best choice for  wildlife photographers planning a safari trip to Africa.

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Best Mid-Range Camera for a Safari

  • Skill Level : Intermediate
  • Weight : 1.45 lbs (660 grams)
  • Price Range : $$
  • Effective Megapixels : 42.4 megapixels
  • Autofocus Points : 399
  • Buffer : Capable of continuous shooting at up to 10 frames per second with full AF/AE tracking
  • ISO Sensitivity : Standard ISO 100-32000 range (expandable to ISO 50-102400)
  • Image Stabilization : 5-axis image stabilization system
  • Burst Mode : Continuous shooting at up to 10 frames per second with full AF/AE tracking
  • 4K Video : Supports 4K video recording
  • Wifi : Built-in Wi-Fi for connectivity
  • Silent Mode : Yes
  • Weatherproof : No
  • Battery Life : Approximately 530 shots

The  Sony Alpha 7R III  camera is our preferred choice for an African safari if you cannot afford the price tag of the Canon R3. 

This camera offers a great performance, with its 10 frames per second continuous shooting capability,  its famous autofocus system (especially handy for animals in motion) and its impressive ISO range for the price. 

  • High-resolution 42.4MP sensor for detailed images.
  • Good performance with 10 frames per second continuous shooting.
  • Solid autofocus system suitable for wildlife photography.
  • Autofocus not as advanced as newer models like the A7 IV, particularly for fast-moving subjects like birds in flight.
  • Price may be a consideration compared to newer models with improved features.

In summary, the  Sony Alpha 7R III  is the best deal for photographers planning a trip to Africa and want a high performing camera with a more reasonable price range than the other top-tier options.

Best Budget Camera for a Safari

Nikon COOLPIX P1000

  • Skill Level:  Beginner
  • Body Type:  SLR-like (bridge)
  • Sensor:  1/2.3″ BSI-CMOS sensor
  • Weight:  Approximately 3.12 lbs (1415 g)
  • Price Range:  $$
  • Effective Megapixels:  16.0 megapixels
  • Autofocus Points:  Contrast Detect AF
  • Buffer:  Continuous drive at 7.0 fps
  • ISO Sensitivity:  Auto, 100-6400
  • Image Stabilization:  Optical, 5-stop CIPA rating
  • Burst Mode:  Continuous drive at 7.0 fps
  • 4K Video:  Yes, UHD 4K/30p and 1080/60p
  • Wifi:  Built-In, 802.11b/g/n + Bluetooth 4.1 LE
  • Silent Mode: Yes
  • Weatherproof:  No
  • Battery Life:  Approximately 250 shots (CIPA)

The  Nikon COOLPIX P1000  stands out as the ultimate budget camera option for safaris, offering unparalleled zoom capabilities and advanced features tailored for capturing far away subjects. With its 3000mm super telephoto lens, this camera allows photographers to zoom in on wildlife from great distances, providing frame-filling images that were previously unattainable with traditional lenses.

  • Extreme Zoom:  Features a 3000mm equivalent NIKKOR ED glass lens, the most powerful ever used on a COOLPIX camera, enabling close-up shots of birds from afar.
  • Image Stabilization:  Utilizes Dual Detect Optical Vibration Reduction to stabilize both horizontal and vertical movements, crucial for sharp images at extreme zoom ranges.
  • 4K Ultra HD Video:  Capable of recording high-quality 4K UHD video with stereo sound, adding a dynamic dimension to bird videography.
  • RAW (NRW) Format:  Allows photographers to capture images in RAW format for enhanced post-processing flexibility and image quality.
  • Bird Watching Scene Mode:  Offers a dedicated mode optimized for capturing bird images, adjusting exposure and focus settings for optimal results.
  • Small Sensor:  The camera utilizes a small sensor, which may result in limitations in depth of field and image quality compared to larger sensor cameras.
  • Handling at Extreme Zoom:  Camera movements are amplified at extreme zoom ranges, necessitating stable shooting techniques or the use of tripods for optimal results.
  • Limited Low-Light Performance:  At longer focal lengths, photographers may need to increase sensitivity in low-light conditions, potentially impacting image quality.

In conclusion, the  Nikon COOLPIX P1000  emerges as the top choice for people on a budget planning a safari trip in Africa.

Comparison Table

Key factors to consider, sensor size and image quality.

The size of the camera’s sensor plays a significant role in image quality. A larger sensor can capture more light, resulting in sharper and more detailed photos.  Full-frame cameras  are the most popular choice for wildlife photography, but they can be quite expensive. APS-C cameras are a more affordable option and still offer excellent image quality.

Durability and Weather Sealing

African safaris can be harsh environments, so it’s essential to choose a camera that can withstand the elements. Look for cameras with robust build quality and  weather sealing  to protect against dust, moisture, and extreme temperatures. Many cameras are designed specifically for wildlife photography and come with features like reinforced bodies and sealed buttons.

Battery Life and Power Options

Battery life is another crucial factor to consider when selecting a camera for safari photography. A camera with a  long battery life  will allow you to capture more photos without worrying about running out of power. It’s also essential to consider the availability of power sources on safari. Many wildlife reserves and lodges have limited access to electricity, so it’s a good idea to bring extra batteries or a portable power bank.

Essential Camera Features

Autofocus and speed.

One of the most important features for wildlife photography is a fast and accurate autofocus system. This is particularly important when photographing animals in motion, as you need to be able to quickly and accurately track your subject. Look for cameras with advanced autofocus systems that offer features such as face detection and  subject tracking .

ISO Performance and Low Light Capability

Another important feature for wildlife photography is the camera’s ISO performance and low light capability. This is especially important when photographing animals in low light conditions, such as early morning or late evening. Look for cameras with high ISO capabilities and good low light performance to ensure that you can capture sharp and detailed images in any lighting conditions.

Lens Compatibility and Reach

The lens you choose is just as important as the camera itself when it comes to wildlife photography. Look for cameras that are compatible with a range of high-quality lenses, particularly telephoto lenses, which will allow you to get up close and personal with your subjects without disturbing them. A lens with a long reach will also enable you to capture animals from a distance, which is important for safety reasons as well as for getting unique shots.

Best Wildlife Photography Cameras for an African Safari

While there are many cameras out there that are suitable for an African safari, the  Canon EOS R3 ,  Sony Alpha 7R III , and  Nikon Coolpix P1000  stand out as our top choices.

The  Canon EOS R3  is the absolute best choice for an African Safari due to its full-frame sensor, fast autofocus, and impressive image stabilization. It also has a versatile zoom range of 24-105 millimeters, making it great for capturing both landscapes and wildlife. Additionally, its optical image stabilization corrects up to 5 stops of shake, making it easier to capture sharp images even in low light conditions.

The  Sony Alpha 7R III  is a great mid-range option, with a 42.4-megapixel full-frame sensor, fast autofocus, and excellent low-light performance. It also has a wide range of customizable settings, making it a great choice for more experienced photographers.

For those on a budget, the  Nikon Coolpix P1000  is the best option. It has a 125x optical zoom lens, making it ideal for capturing distant wildlife. It also has a fast autofocus system and 4K video capabilities, making it a great all-around camera for wildlife photography.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s a good entry-level camera for wildlife photography on a safari.

For an entry-level camera, the  Canon EOS Rebel T7  is a great option. It has a 24.1-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor, which can capture high-quality images. The camera also has a fast autofocus system that can track moving subjects, making it ideal for wildlife photography. Additionally, it is  lightweight  and  easy to use , making it a  great choice for beginners .

Any recommendations for affordable cameras suitable for a safari adventure?

For an  affordable option , the  Nikon COOLPIX B500  is a great choice. It has a 16-megapixel CMOS sensor and a 40x optical zoom lens that can capture clear and detailed images of wildlife from a distance. The camera also has a variety of shooting modes, including a sports mode that can freeze fast-moving subjects.

What are the best compact cameras for capturing safari moments?

The  Sony Cyber-shot RX100 VII  is a great compact camera for capturing safari moments. It has a 20.1-megapixel 1-inch Exmor RS CMOS sensor and a 24-200mm f/2.8-4.5 lens that can capture high-quality images in various lighting conditions. The camera also has a fast autofocus system and can shoot at up to 20 frames per second, making it perfect for capturing fast-moving wildlife.

Which bridge cameras perform well for safari photography?

The  Canon PowerShot SX70 HS  is a great bridge camera for safari photography. It has a 20.3-megapixel CMOS sensor and a 65x optical zoom lens that can capture detailed images of wildlife from a distance. The camera also has a fast autofocus system and can shoot at up to 10 frames per second, making it ideal for capturing action shots.

Can you suggest a superzoom camera that’s great for safari wildlife shots?

The  Panasonic Lumix FZ80  is a great superzoom camera for safari wildlife shots. It has an 18.1-megapixel MOS sensor and a 60x optical zoom lens that can capture clear and detailed images of wildlife from a distance. The camera also has a fast autofocus system and can shoot at up to 10 frames per second, making it ideal for capturing action shots.

What mirrorless cameras are recommended for an African safari experience?

The  Sony Alpha a7 III  is a great mirrorless camera for an African safari experience. It has a 24.2-megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor and a fast autofocus system that can track moving subjects, making it ideal for wildlife photography. The camera also has a variety of shooting modes and can shoot at up to 10 frames per second, making it perfect for capturing action shots.

Other Wildlife Camera Reviews

If you would like to read more about camera options for wildlife photography, make sure you check out our Master Guide to Wildlife Photography Cameras .

For even more specific options, you can check out our other reviews below:

Camera Type  

DSLR Cameras  

Mirrorless Cameras  

Compact Cameras  

Skill Level

Cameras for Beginners  

Intermediate-Level Cameras  

Pro Cameras

Cameras Under $1,000  

Cameras Under $2,000

Sony Cameras  

Canon Cameras  

Nikon Cameras

Planned activitiy  

Cameras for Bird Photography

Cameras for Shooting Wildlife at Night

Travel-friendly Cameras

Cameras for Safaris

Other Online Resources

During your research, you might want to consider checking out articles or videos from various publications that provide insights into camera options for a safari in Africa.

Below are a few resources that caught my interest.

WILDLIFE Photography GEAR For SAFARI In Africa – Mark Dumbleton

What is a suitable camera for African safari and wildlife photography? – Reddit.com

About the Author

Born and raised in Southern Spain, Antonio quit his job in 2013 to travel the world full-time with his wife Amanda for 10 years straight.

Their passion for adventure and wildlife encounters took them to visit 150+ countries and experience countless of wildlife experiences. They cycled 25,000km + from California to Patagonia, sailed over 10,000NM around the Caribbean & Sea of Cortez, rode their motorbikes 30,000 kms+ across West Africa (Spain to South Africa) and visited Antarctica, among many other adventure expeditions.  

Today Antonio runs Adventure Fix with Amanda, where they share their knowledge about the places they’ve visited and the ones still remaining on their list.

Antonio Cala

Co-Founder of Adventure Fix

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Africa Wanderlust

best camera for safari

The Best Safari Camera Recommendations

An African safari is one of those experiences that you will want to replay in your mind. Whether you want to capture a leopard devouring its prey on a high tree branch, or a baby elephant happily roaming amongst the giant parents, you need the best camera for safari and wildlife. While it is quite straightforward to capture landscape views even on the phone, your camera has to have more advanced features for the optimum safari experience. 

A man using one of the best camera for safari for an image

You might not know where to begin your research before purchasing an advanced safari camera. Don’t worry, that’s what we are here for. 

The Types of Camera Suitable for Wildlife Photography

Depending on the type of safari you will embark, and – obviously – your budget, there are different options to choose from. Here, your main goal should be to capture photos that will retain the quality on a large screen without any pixelations. So, here are five different types of safari cameras to consider.

DSLR Camera

General description.

A digital SLR camera is perhaps the heaviest option among the five, yet it comes with rewarding photos. SLR stands for Single Lens Reflex , which is a mirror integrated inside the camera lens. Unlike some other types of digital cameras, you can look through the viewfinder and see your target view with your own eyes. 

kamera ria safari

A digital SLR has two main parts – the main camera body, and a set of interchangeable lenses. While some brands require you to purchase the two parts separately, other brands sell a camera kit that includes both.

The biggest charm of a digital SLR comes from the high shutter speeds of up to 10 frames per second. It becomes a huge advantage when you want to capture things that are moving fast, such as birds, or predators chasing their prey.

Digital SLR cameras exhibit excellent performance in low light, which makes them ideal for early morning and evening safaris.

The set of interchangeable lenses provide flexibility for different landscapes, providing a range of focus. 

As we mentioned earlier, DSLR cameras are quite heavy, so it can get uncomfortable if you need to move around regularly.

Not only is the camera body expensive, but buying separate lenses can also be costly. 

Having so many lens options can be overwhelming.

Price Range

The camera body prices range from 500 to 900 USD. The lenses have the same price range, but the price increases with the zoom factor. A 300 mm lens starts from 500 USD, while a 400 mm lens can cost up to 800 USD. Overall, you need to make peace with spending between 1000-1800 USD for an entire kit of DSLR.

Start saving your ideas

Canon, Sony, Nikon

Canon EOS Rebel T7 DSLR Camera Bundle

  • This Camera Bundle Kit comes complete with all manufacturer supplied accessories and includes:
  • The EOS Rebel T7 DSLR Camera from Canon has a 24.1MP APS-C CMOS Sensor and DIGIC 4+ Image Processor. It has a 3.0" 920k-Dot LCD...
  • Canon 18-55mm II Lens - a standard zoom compatible with Canon APS-C format cameras. It features a focal length range of 18-55mm...
  • 2 x SanDisk 32GB SDHC Memory Cards + Deluxe Padded Camera Case + Flash Light + 3pc Filter Kit + Extra Battery Pack + AC/DC Car &...
  • 0.43x Auxiliary Wideangle Lens - it conveniently mounts to the front of your fixed or zoom lens, and allows you to capture a wider...

Last update on 2024-09-12 at 01:57 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Point And Shoot Cameras

Unlike a DSLR, these cameras are so small that they can fit into your pocket. They are also much more affordable. The question is, do they have a compromised quality?

The zoom power of a point and shoot camera is one of the most important criteria that you should evaluate. Your goal is to have as much optical zoom as possible to maintain the photo quality. The cheapest cameras will have 6X optical zoom, while most mid-range cameras will offer between 10-12 X. There are a few models with 20 X optical zoom. One common mistake many people make is to judge the performance by the digital zoom, which causes pixelation when you enlarge the photos. So, a high digital zoom power does not mean good photo quality.

This article will give you a better idea about the difference between digital zoom and optical zoom.

kamera ria safari

A point-and-shoot camera is ideal for landscape photography. If you are at a hide or deck that overlooks a big field, you can take decent photos of the overall field while possibly capturing great details of the big animals.

They are small, portable, and very easy to use.

They are affordable

The lack of telephoto zoom feature and the low optical zoom can make it difficult for you to capture animals in the distance.

These cameras usually come with a delayed shutter, so you have to hold still for a few seconds after you take the photo. Otherwise, the end result will be blurry.

They perform poorly in low light because of the delayed shutter.

A pocket-size digital camera can cost anything from 100 to 500 USD depending on the zoom power.

Sony DSCHX80/B High Zoom Point & Shoot Camera

  • 30x Optical/60x Clear Image Zoom ZEISS Vario-Sonnar T* Lens, 18.2MP Exmor R CMOS Sensor for superb low light images, Built-in...
  • Versatile video w/ high-quality XAVC S, AVCHD & MP4 formats, Simple connectivity to smartphones via Wi-Fi w/NFC, 5-axis image...
  • Selfie-ready 3" Extra Fine LCD multi-angle display, P/A/S/M modes, customizable settings and Memory Recall mode, Enhance features...
  • Focus Range Wide: 1.97" (5 cm) - Infinity Telephoto: 8.20' (2.5 m) - Infinity.Adjustable Angle Up by approx. 180 degrees. F-number...
  • In-The-Box: Rechargeable Battery Pack NP-BX1; AC AdaptorAC-UUD12; Micro USB cable; Wrist Strap; Instruction Manual

300*252

Mirrorless Cameras

We can describe mirrorless cameras as the love child of DSLR and pocket cameras. Just like DSLRs, they consist of a camera body and an interchangeable lens. The difference from DSLR is the pocket-size camera body, which makes it less heavy. Yet, the body has enough space for the attachment of a large lens. They are often called mirrorless digital 4/3 cameras to refer to the size ratio between the lens and the body.

Mirrorless camera as an option for a best camera for safari

Compared to the point and shoot cameras, mirrorless cameras provide much higher quality thanks to their improved sensors and higher resolution.

The rapid shutter makes it super-easy to capture fast-moving animals.

They are smaller than DSLRs

The lens is fragile and more vulnerable to damage.

They are just as expensive as DSLRs. Although many mirrorless camera kits contain lenses, they will have low zoom power, meaning that you would pay extra to buy a better lens.

If you are not worried about getting a decent lens, you might purchase a general kit for as cheap as 500 USD. However, you might end up spending up to 1200 USD if the default lens in the kit does not satisfy you.

Sony, Canon eos, Nikon, Olympus. I personally have the Canon EOS R.

Canon EOS RP Full-frame Mirrorless Camera w/Interchangeable Lens

  • Compact, Lightweight and High-Quality RF Lens with a Versatile Zoom Range of 24-105 millimeter
  • Optical Image Stabilization at up to 5 stops of shake correction
  • Maximum Magnification of 0.4x and Minimum Focusing Distance of 0.66 feet in Auto Focus.
  • Maximum Magnification of 0.5x and Minimum Focusing Distance of 0.43 ft. when using Center Focus Macro.
  • Use the EOS Utility Webcam Beta Software (Mac and Windows) to turn your Canon camera into a high-quality webcam, or do the same...

Super-Zoom Digital Cameras

The biggest challenge in wildlife photography is to take sharp close-up photos of animals without getting close to them. A lot of digital cameras have a drawback of limited optical zoom. However; a recent type of camera called a superzoom digital camera overcomes this issue perfectly. Their strength comes from their exceptional optical zoom power from 30X to even 50X. With such an enhanced zoom-in technology, your camera can capture every detail of animals in far distances.

kamera ria safari

They have outstanding zoom power.

The simple design, settings, and interface make them user-friendly.

Their built-in flash brings a better quality to night shots.

They are not as small as pocket cameras, but they are still portable. You can easily carry them in your handbag.

They are surprisingly affordable. We would even say they have the best value/cost ratio of the types of safari cameras.

They have a delayed shutter lag, which might make it challenging to take photos of fast-moving objects.

You can find a super-zoom camera for as cheap as 300-400 USD. It comes with a lens that is not interchangeable, so you don’t have to pay extra for a lens.

Nikon COOLPIX P1000 16MP 125x Super-Zoom Digital Camera

  • 3000 millimeter optical zoom-the most powerful zoom lens; Ever put on a Nikon Coolpix camera
  • 4k ultra hd video with HDMI out, stereo sound and an accessory hot shoe
  • Rock steady dual detect image stabilization and great low light capability. Vibration reduction: Lens shift VR (still pictures) /...
  • Raw (NRW), time lapse and super lapse shooting plus great creative modes
  • Full manual controls along with easy auto shooting

Essential Camera Accessories 

So you have the perfect camera for safari, but that’s not the end of the story. You still need the correct gear that will make your use of the camera a pleasant experience. Here are some essential items:

An external hard drive for storing photos

A special towel to clean the dirt and the dust off your camera

A filter is necessary to optimize the color contrast. They also protect the lens.

If you are struggling to take sharp photos because of shaky hands, stable support like a tripod could help you a lot.

Using a best camera for safari to take a landscape photo

Night shots are always challenging, even with the best camera. Bringing a spotlight with you will increase the lighting of your frame.

For power, you should bring spare batteries and adapters. Also, you should make sure that your adapter has an inverter cable for charging in the car. It is especially necessary if your campsite does not have electricity.

A waterproof ziplock or camera bag can come in handy during boat safaris, where you might get splashed.

Altura Photo Professional Cleaning Kit for DSLR Cameras Bundle

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Tips For Buying A Safari Camera

Regardless of the type of camera that you decide to buy, there are some simple tricks that you need to consider.

If you are buying a professional digital camera for the first time, you need a substantial amount of practice to become an expert in it. That’s why you should buy your camera well in-advance so that you have enough time to practice.

It may be difficult to afford, but it would be amazing if you were able to bring multiple cameras with you on a trip. Then, you can take out a different camera for a different occasion, whether you are in a moving vehicle or trying to photograph something on the horizon.

Conclusion: Safari Camera

They say the human mind is the best camera in the world, but that may not be the case in a safari. If you want to immortalize your encounters with animals, you need a camera with high resolution, optic zoom power, and minimum shutter delay. We hope that our recommendations will help you make the right choice.

FAQ about the Best Safari Camera

You can take decent photos with your smartphone during the day, which you can instantly send to your friends or upload elsewhere. However, they may not perform as good in low light. The shutter speed is usually slow, so image stabilization will be a challenge.

It offers excellent image quality even under low light, but it is a bit heavy to carry around.

It works well with close to moderate animal encounters and landscape photos.

You can not only take superb images but also video footage with a GoPro. It gives you more flexibility if you are constantly on the move, as you don’t have to look through the lens all the time.

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Best Camera & Lens for Safari in Africa (All Budgets)

By Author Jurga

Posted on Last updated: August 7, 2024

Best Camera & Lens for Safari in Africa (All Budgets)

Are you planning a trip to Africa and wondering what’s the best camera for safari or what lens to get for safari photography? In this post, you can read some suggestions for camera equipment to take on safari in Africa .

We cover some of the best cameras and lenses for safari photography. In addition, you can find some general tips for safari photography. Find out!

There are so many cameras and lenses that you can use for safari photography; it’s impossible to cover them all. In this post, I am sharing some general tips that you should know when choosing a camera and lenses for your safari trip.

At the bottom of the post, you can also find my personal recommendations for the best cameras, lenses, and also tripods for wildlife photography. Find out!

TIP: If you are looking for more general practical information about taking pictures, please check our guide with the best travel photography tips .

Best cameras for safari and lenses for wildlife photography

Best camera and lens for safari

We visited Africa several times and have been on numerous safaris. Watching other tourists taking pictures of the animals is often more entertaining than the safari ride itself.

People use every imaginable type of camera on safari. You see smartphones, tablets, but also 10kg half a meter long lenses which are impossible to hold still and are therefore pretty much useless on safari rides…

If you are a professional photographer going to Africa in order to photograph animals, then this post is not for you. If you don’t care about the pictures and only go on safari for the experience – then this article is not for you either.

This post is for hobby photographers who are going on safari and hoping to take at least a couple of decent quality pictures to bring home as a memory of this amazing experience.

Before I continue with what kind of camera equipment you best take on safari in Africa, there are a couple of things you should know. Read on!

What to know about taking pictures of animals on safari

  • You cannot take good safari pictures with a smartphone, a tablet or a pocket camera. You can take ok pictures with the newest smartphones, but it’s incomparable with the quality you get with a DSLR camera.
  • The chances of you getting a National Geographic – like close-up high-quality image of a hunting leopard in action are close to zero.
  • You can  take good quality pictures of safari animals even if you are not a pro. But you’ll need good equipment and it helps if you can learn a few basic photography techniques. As a minimum, you need one of the two, so if you don’t know much about photography, you definitely need a good camera and a decent lens.

If you don’t own a good camera yet, a trip to Africa is the perfect excuse to get one. Come on, you are going to spend thousands of dollars to go on a once-in-a-lifetime safari trip to Africa and take a pocket camera with you? Really? You’ll regret it the first day, take my word for it.

And no, your latest iPhone won’t do the job either. You may use it to photograph landscapes or a herd of zebras in a distance, but it will be completely useless for photographing moving animals (and they do move, they always do).

TIP: If you don’t feel like getting a DSLR camera for safari and having to change lenses, take a look at some of the best point-and-shoot cameras available at the moment. Technology doesn’t stand still and there are some really good cameras with amazing zoom possibilities that might be perfect for your needs. We ourselves just bought Nikon Coolpix P1000 and I’m quite impressed with this camera, the zoom, and image stabilization. For the price and the ease of use, I’m not sure I’ll ever want to take my DSLR & lenses on many trips anymore. For a more lightweight and budget-friendly alternative with a great zoom, take a look at Panasonic Lumix FZ80D – this camera will be more than good enough for vacation photos!

Jumping springbok antelope in Africa

Tips for choosing the best camera and lens for safari

I’m not going to go into too much detail about all kinds of different camera brands and models as there are so many of them available with new ones coming out all the time. You can find a few suggestions based on your budget below, but this is what you definitely should know about the best camera for a safari in Africa.

  • You need a digital SRL camera or a very good, newest point-and-shoot to take on safari in Africa. What you need, basically, is a camera that focuses fast and takes a picture the moment you press the shutter and not a second later.
  • You need a good telephoto zoom lens with a reach of at least 200mm to photograph safari animals. There will be moments you wish you had a 500mm with you, but in my view, it’s just not worth the price and the weight to carry a lens like that if you are not a professional photographer. Unless you get one of the point-and-shoot cameras that sometimes have a zoom that goes to 2000-3000mm – more about it below.
  • You need a wider lens for photographing landscapes , which are often just as interesting as the animals. I use 24-70mm f2.8 as my main lens when we travel, also in Africa. If you like really wide landscape pictures, you may want an even wider lens, like 16-35mm  (my new favorite). If you have a regular DSRL camera without the full-frame sensor, you’ll probably need a lens of at least 18-55mm for regular landscape shots and one of 10-18mm for wide-angle photography.
  •  You may want to take a second (cheaper) camera for photographing landscapes so that you don’t have to change lenses all the time when you are on safari. Or simply use your smartphone for that.
  • Consider taking a tripod to photograph animals in low-light conditions (morning or evening) at the waterholes. More about it further below.
  • Take enough batteries and memory cards when traveling to Africa – at least twice as much as for a regular trip. Charging batteries might not always be possible (certainly if you are camping) and you won’t find many places selling batteries or memory cards in the middle of the Kruger National Park or the Kalahari desert.

Best camera equipment for safari in Africa

What camera to pack for safari

As I said before, this post is not for professional photographers, but rather for regular tourists. Also for photography enthusiasts traveling to Africa and hoping to get a few decent shots of safari animals.

Below you’ll find a few suggestions on what camera and lenses to take on safari .

I’m going to focus on Canon cameras and lenses as this is what I use and know best.

Best-buy cameras for safari in Africa

If you are looking for a decent camera for your trips, but don’t want to spend a fortune on it, you should consider the cheapest DSLR cameras available.

At Canon, it would be the Canon EOS Rebel series . Often you can get a kit (camera + lenses + accessories) for around 500-600 USD. If you don’t know much about photography and just want good pictures without too much effort this camera is just right for you.

Why not just buy a point-and-shoot camera? As already said, you do need fast autofocus and a good lens in order to get decent pictures of safari animals. This DSLR camera will take care of that. But as I’m updating this article, I have to say that there are now also very good point-and-shoot cameras that could do the job just as well. In this price range, we recommend something like Nikon Coolpix P900 .

Mid-price range safari camera

If you are looking for more possibilities and even better pictures and don’t mind spending a bit more money, Canon EOS REBEL SL3 and similar series might be a good option for you. This kind of camera is great for photography enthusiasts looking for a good price-quality camera to improve their photography skills.

Higher-price/ semi-pro quality camera

Probably the best price/quality DSLR cameras for those who are serious about travel photography are Canon EOS 6DII and similar series. If you want great quality pictures and use your camera on a very regular basis, then these cameras won’t disappoint you. However, we now have an even better recommendation at a lower price – see below.

The perfect camera for safari and general travel photography

TIP – our newest recommendation: In the mid-price range, but with an amazing lens included, so actually cheaper than most other cameras, you can also get a point-and-shoot camera Nikon Coolpix P1000 . This is the camera we recently bought and I really don’t think anything else compares to it in terms of possibilities/ flexibility/ price/ quality.

This all-in-one camera has an insane optical zoom of up to 3000mm, but you can also shoot wide landscapes with it. If you don’t want to change lenses but still want good picture quality and the best zoom range on the market, you really can’t go wrong with it.

In all honesty, I think it can compete with one of the latest models of the semi-pro Canon EOS 5D that I own (and that costs about 3-4 times more, not even to mention the lenses). It may not have all the possibilities of a professional camera, but for 99% of people looking for the best camera for safari (and travel in general), it will give you all you could ever wish for. At the moment of the latest update to this article, this is my personal favorite camera and I can highly recommend it to anyone!

Reflections of two giraffes at Okaukejo waterhole at sunset

Best lenses for safari

Consider investing in one or two really good lenses if you are somewhat serious about photography.

Standard EFS lenses from Canon are ok with the cheapest DSLR cameras and will do the job for occasional travel photography, but if you can afford it, get the best lens you can and rather save on the camera.

I started out with the cheapest DSLR some 10 years ago, but immediately bought two very good lenses ( Canon 24-70 f2.8 and Canon 70-200 f4 IS USM ). I’ve switched 4 cameras by now, but these two lenses still do the perfect job and are my most used lenses. I couldn’t have used the cheaper EFS lenses on the cameras I owned later…

It’s a big investment in the beginning, but the quality is worth it. On top of that, the good lenses keep their value and you can usually resell them at a good price later if you decide that photography is not for you.

As already mentioned, you need a good telephoto lens with a reach of at least 200mm in order to photograph safari animals. Preferably 300mm or even more if you can justify the cost and the weight. I use the Canon L series lenses, but there are plenty of cheaper alternatives from Canon, but also from Sigma or Tamron .

Just make sure they fit the camera you have as these brands have the same range of lenses for many different brands, including Canon and Nikon.

Close-up of a lioness in South Africa

Best budget lens for safari

You can buy a good beginner’s lens for wildlife photography for $100-200. Canon has a 75-300mm f/4-5.6 or you can get a similar lens from Tamron – AF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 .

Mid-range safari lens

There is a lot of choice of good telephoto lenses for safari in the mid-range budget. Some good examples are Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM  or  Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L USM .

You can even choose a 2-in-1 solution – a lens that is wide enough for landscapes, but also has a telephoto zoom for animals. Here are a couple of good examples:  Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS or  Tamron 28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 .

Best quality lenses for safari photography

The best lenses for wildlife photography will quickly cost you over $1000. As I said, it’s an investment and these lenses will do a great job for many years. However, if you only need a camera and tele lenses for this one safari trip to Africa, then it’s a really expensive choice.

Probably one of the best safari lenses from Canon is the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM . I personally find it a bit too heavy and too expensive to justify this purchase, but I still have to meet a photographer who doesn’t love this lens. I use a bit cheaper and lighter version –  Canon EF 70-200mm f/4 L IS USM .

A good alternative with a bit more reach is  Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM . I have to admit that I had one of these, but didn’t love it. Maybe it was just one bad lens, because the reviews are really great.

Best tripods for safari trip

If you only have the smallest DSLR and don’t want to spend too much money, remember that any tripod is better than none . As long as it can hold the camera without falling over, of course. Otherwise, you better don’t use any. You can get a tripod for under $50 and it will probably do the job.

If you have a heavier camera and/or lens, the cheapest tripod is not going to be good enough. I use and recommend Manfrotto tripods , depending on the camera/ lens weight and your needs.

For travelers, I recommend Manfrotto carbon tripods since they weigh much less and are therefore more suitable when traveling. They are not cheap, but worth every cent. I had two different tripods before I got this one 6 years ago, and none of the previous ones lasted even two years. Manfrotto is in constant use and it’s still as good as new.

For traveling, I bought Manfrotto 494RC2 ball head since it’s so small and takes less space in my luggage. I now actually use this ball head at home too.

So, this is our guide to the best safari cameras and lenses. I hope that it helps you decide what camera and lens to pack for your trip to Africa and get some really good pictures on safari.

For the best safari experience, make sure to also check our top tips for your first safari experience in Africa. Click the link below to read more!

READ ALSO: Africa Safari Tips

If you found this post helpful, don’t forget to bookmark it and share it with your friends. Are you on Pinterest? Pin this image!

What camera to pack for safari in Africa. Complete guide to the best camera gear for wildlife photography.

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Wednesday 7th of August 2024

I really like your write up it is easy to understand for beginners. I do not own any physical camera and have only been using my phone since the beginning. I will be heading to Tanzania and Kenya in October/November and now considering to purchase a camera, something easy for beginner, lightweight, with reasonable resolution and fast capture of motion. Would Nikon Coolpix P1000 fit all these criteria? You mentioned that no additional lens are required for this model? Is it suitable for other travel like cityscapes?

Hi Ee Lin, the Nikon Coolpix isn't exactly very lightweight or small, but it is all-in-one. The zoom is insane. However, on the wide angle, it's a bit limited, so it's not always ideal for cityscapes. The fast capture of motion is not easy to achieve with most point-and-shoot cameras unless you have plenty of light and can also keep your camera very steady. Honestly, it's very difficult to find a good camera that will cover all circumstances and not everyone can justify the cost and the weight. If you are looking for a more lightweight solution for all trips that covers a good range from very wide to telezoom, take a look at the Panasonic Lumix FZ80D. It's a great price/quality beginner camera and I think it should be more than plenty for what you are looking for. There are some good reviews on Amazon by people who took it on safari - check it out.

Friday 19th of July 2024

Very helpful, thank you. I'm heading to Kenya in September and struggling with the weight restrictions on in country flights. Carry on limited to 15 lbs. (7 kg). The organizer says that's it and no chance to purchase extra weight. I can't get my gear under that even with taking one camera body and 3 lenses (one is a 3 lb telephoto. One blogger recommended stuffing lense in safari vest and carrying the camera with the big lens but I'm not sure that is reliable. Thank you

Monday 22nd of July 2024

Hi Craig, I really don't know what to say except that these weight restrictions on small planes are strict for a reason. I guess one lens wouldn't make much difference but if everyone on the plane is allowed 7kg but brings twice as much, is it still safe... No idea. Do you want to risk that they take it away from you? I guess it wouldn't get that far, but is it worth the stress? Why don't you just pick one telelens you think you will use the most and enjoy the trip without having to stress about it on every flight, change lenses all the time, and try to get that perfect shot... Unless photography is the main reason why you are making this trip, I would reevaluate your priorities and just enjoy the amazing scenery and wildlife while still taking great photos and getting more creative with the gear that you have. Good luck with your decision and have a great trip!

Wednesday 5th of June 2024

very helpful article. Thank you so much. Heading out for safari July 2024. Do you think the price differential between Nikon Coolpix 950 and 1000 is worth it?

Thursday 6th of June 2024

Hi Susan, unless you think you really need a 3000mm range of Coolpix 1000, the 950 (with 2000mm) is also a great camera. It's also lighter so easier to carry and hold steady while taking pictures. 2000mm is already a very impressive zoom. To give you an idea, most photos I took on safari were taken with lenses that go up to 200mm, max 320mm. So for most situations and majority of people 950 will be more than enough.

Sunday 17th of March 2024

Hello Jurga, great article. I have several adventurous trips planned including going on a safari in South Africa in June. I want to upgrade my camera equipment, including with lenses that would be good for shooting wildlife and amazing vistas across the globe the next several years. I am willing to spend time learning more about photography to produce wonderful photographs. I have a Canon EOS 60 D, which I am willing to replace if there is a better option given my plans and interests. My aim is to be a serious amateur photographer rather than at the professional level. What cameras and lenses would you recommend in the mid low and high price categories?

Kind regards

Monday 18th of March 2024

Hi Lauren, if you want to stay with Canon and don't mind upgrading your entire set, then you may want to look into their new mirrorless cameras. So much depends on your budget. EOS R8 is quite affordable and would be a great improvement from 60D. If you have any old EF lenses that you want to use with this camera, then you'll need to get a lens adapter. If you are planning on getting completely new lenses, then you'll need Canon RF lenses. I recently upgraded to a similar camera from Canon, got the adapter, and it works fine with my old lenses. However, one of my most used lenses was so old and glitchy that I also bought a new one that I consider a rather good choice for most situations. I went with this 24-105/f4 lens and I'm quite happy with it. I had 24-70 f2.8 in the past, but I just couldn't justify the price and the extra weight anymore. I also have a wide angle lens (17-35) that I use in some situations and also a 70-200 lens which I consider a must for any wildlife photography. I also have a Nikon Coolpix with an even bigger zoom - the quality may not be the same, but it's easy since there is just one lens that covers a very wide range. But there is no way I'm taking all of these at the same time on any trip, so it's always a struggle which lenses/cameras to take with me depending on the trip. Anyway, it really depends on what type of camera you are looking for (all-in-one or with interchangeable lenses) and your budget. But if you want to stay with Canon and are looking for very good quality at a decent price, then you really can't go wrong with the EOS R8 and one or two mid-price not too heavy lenses (e.g. 24-105 f4 and 70-200 f4). If you don't mind the extra weight, you can find some very good lenses that go up to 400mm or even 500mm. But I would only consider these if you are very serious about wildlife photography. Hope this helps.

Wednesday 28th of February 2024

Hi! I currently have the Nikon Coolpix L840 which has 38x zoom. I'm SO tempted to upgrade to the coolpix p950 or p1000. However, it does seem like they're much bigger than my L840. Do you think 38x zoom is enough for safari? I'll be doing a 2 month overland trip and getting great photos is a priority for me - but also will be carrying everything around for 2 months so weight is a consideration. I have photographed wildlife in Yellowstone before, they were super far away and I remember being impressed by the zoom capability (this was almost 10 years ago when I first got it), but it doesnt feel as impressive compared to what I can do with just my phone (currently have Galaxy s24 Ultra). FYI, I'm definitely a hobby photographer, and very much rely on a good camera to get good photos!

Hi Dakota, if you are happy with your camera, I'm sure it will be fine. It sounds like it should be plenty for most situations - 38x optical zoom is a lot. The problem is always to keep the camera steady if you zoom in further, so more zoom doesn't automatically mean better pictures. That being said, obviously, there will be some difference in image quality between an old camera and newer models. Whether that's a reason enough to upgrade your camera, only you can decide. Also, having a good smartphone, you will probably be taking many pictures with it as well. It will be ok for general landscape shots and maybe even animals if they are not too far away. Just keep in mind that most of the time, pictures look very different on a big screen vs on your phone, even more so for zoomed-in images taken in less than optimal light conditions. Good luck with the decision and have a great trip!

The Boutique Adventurer: Luxury Adventure Travel Blog focussed on Emerging Destinations for those over 35

7 Best Camera for Safari Options & Safari Phone Photography Guide

By: Author Amanda OBrien

Posted on Last updated: 16/02/2024

As a keen photographer and lover of an African safari, I am often asked for advice on what is the best camera for safari and can you get a decent photo on safari with a phone.

A good camera for safari will require some investment and can be well worth it if you develop a passion for wildlife photography.

However, if you are new to safari and not sure if you want to make that level of investment there are many ways to produce stunning safari photos on your phone – plus some low-cost ways to take your safari phone photo image quality to the next level.

Lion cub caught by one of the best camera for safari options

In the past, I had been of the belief that the only way to get great photos on safari was to invest in a camera with best zoom options.

The reason for this is that in the past the cameras on most phones have been pretty dreadful when it comes to zooming – a critical requirement for capturing animals and wildlife in places like the Serengeti National Park Tanzania or the Masai Mara Kenya .

However, a recent visit to the stunning Thanda Safari Lodge South Africa and a lesson with their resident photographer Christian Sperka completely opened my ideas to how great phone photography can now be on a safari holiday.

NB: I am writing this post for those that are new to safari photography – you experts tend to already have many views regarding the best camera for photography and the best safari camera.

Personally, I don’t think there is any such thing as the best camera for pictures – it is always about your goals and requirements and that will change the answer to this question.

warthog in profile

Best Camera for Safari Options

Why is camera type so particularly important for safari photography.

There are several options for the types of cameras that can be used to take safari pictures. As you might expect, as you move up in the price you move up in quality.

Moving up in quality normally allows for greater and better quality zooms. The level of control of the shot also increases with quality.

There are a few reasons that these factors are particularly important when it comes to an African photo safari:

  • The animals are often quite a distance from the vehicle and in many instances, it will not be possible to get closer. Therefore, to take a good clear photo of the animal a strong zoom is critical.

2. Animals can move very quickly. Having a camera where you can adjust the shutter speed or move the camera to a fast burst mode means you can take shots faster and thus be more likely to capture the moving animal in focus resulting in clear pictures of Africa.

close up of a female lion's fac

3. A day on safari normally involves major and multiple changes in light. Also, the general light may be quite good but animals, unfortunately, may often be in shaded areas.

To get a nice clear shot it is critical to be able to adjust your camera settings to take the light into account.

The good news is safari is one of the few times where it is not necessary to worry as much about the weight of the camera equipment and the amount of gear related to the camera eg different lenses, tripods etc.

The reason for this is you will generally be on a vehicle most of the time (a walking safari is obviously a bit different) so have space to place extra camera equipment.

However, you do need to get your camera equipment on the plane with you.

Before you head out on safari read this great post on all the different Collective Nouns for Animals from the fantastic Wildlife Diaries blog.

What are the different types of Cameras that I could use for Safari Photos?

The most basic option is the good old point and shoot camera . These are lower-cost options and tend to be quite light.

Many point and shoot cameras come with different preset options such as for evening or sports (which is a good setting for animals as it is for fast movement) that can allow adjustments for the light.

A basic point and shoot camera can work very well for wide-angle shots on safari – showing the general landscape/skyline, sunset or sunrise shots – as well as of course capturing the experience of safari eg shots of those on the vehicle, the drivers, sundowners etc.

Giraffe walking across a dirt road in africa

The biggest weakness of point and shoot cameras is their lack of zoom. They don’t have the best lens for safari.

The average point and shoot camera do have a 10x zoom which sounds like a lot but alas is not when it comes to capturing animals.

The next level up is the bridge camera – this is basically halfway between a point and shoot and a DSLR camera. So the zoom on a bridge camera is better than a point and shoot as its ability to react to fast action – but it is still not to the quality of the DSLR camera. This is the in-between option with prices that reflect that.

Generally, the best zoom camera option for a safari is a Digital SLR camera . This is the type of camera that professionals tend to use but it does not mean it is out of scope for the average photographer or new photographer.

Indeed, I have had my digital SLR camera for years. The camera body itself is not that expensive. Where the cost can come in is getting the best lens.

Lions playing with each other in the grass

Most digital SLR cameras come with a wide lens on purchase. In order to zoom it is necessary to buy another lens.

A digital SLR body with a strong zoom lens held firmly will produce the clearest and best safari shots. Of course, to achieve this there is a considerable cost involved. This is the best zoom in camera option.

Mirrorless cameras are not too far away from a DSLR. However, there are fewer options for mirrorless cameras when it comes to lenses and they are still not quite as fast as a DSLR which is often critical with safari photography.

A Go Pro or 360 cameras can work really well in capturing the safari experience of a game drive. However, my personal experience with these types of camera on safari has not been great.

A Go Pro of 360 camera will cover a wide range but the animals themselves become quite tiny and inconsequential. Yes, they are great for capturing a mood and feel but my personal opinion is they are not best suited to safari.

I haven’t mentioned drones as they are not allowed in many private game reserves or national parks as they can scare the animals.

sunset in africa with trees in silhouette

Best Small Camera for Safari (Point and Shoot)

1. the sony cyber-shot rx100.

The Sony Cyber-Shot RX 100 is a fantastic option for those new to photography who are looking to get a decent shot without having to learn how to become professional photographers. The Sony Cyber-Shot RX 100 camera will make most of the decisions for you to determine the best shot and it has an excellent zoom range – great for safari. It is a sturdy camera with effective image stabilization – also good to capture those fast-moving animals.

Sony RX 100

This is a very innovative camera that has jumped to the head of the queue in this category. It has a very large sensor for this type of camera and this is critical to clear images – very important with animal shots. This Sony camera is also particularly good in low light and has very fast autofocus – great for sunrise and sunset on safari and for catching those animals on the move. Unlike most cameras in this price range, the Sony RX100 shoots in raw. This is great if you’re keen to get going in the world of photography but otherwise, this feature won’t be of much use as it really comes to life in the editing process. Of the two point and shoot camera options, the Sony RX100 is the one to get if you are quite sure you will continue to pursue your interest in photography.

⇒ Read More Reviews on DPReview ⇒ Check the Price on the Sony RX

Best Bridge Cameras for Safari

2. canon powershot sx70.

powershot-sx60-hs-digital-camera-black-3q-d

The big benefit of this Canon camera is a 65X zoom – fantastic for safari shots. It also offers full manual control and allows shooting in Raw. Plus the Canon Powershot XS70 has inbuilt wifi.

The only downside is its size – this Canon camera it is nearly as big as a DSLR. And it doesn’t perform quite as well in weak light – but is fantastic in a good light. This is perfect for the high-end amateur photographer.

⇒ Read More Reviews on DPReview ⇒ Check the Price on the Canon Powershot SX70

3. Panasonic Lumix DMC FZ1000

Panasonic camera

The Panasonic Lumix DMC FZ1000 is a fantastic overall bridge camera. Its big advantage is 4K video capture. If you are into video then the Panasonic Lumix is the bridge camera for you.

⇒ Read More Reviews on DPReview ⇒ Check the Price on the Panasonic DMC FZ1000

Best Mirrorless Camera for Safari

4. sony alpha a6000.

sony alpha a6000

This is a particularly good buy as Sony has brought in subsequent models – bringing the price down on this fantastic camera. The Sony Alpha A6000 is packed full of features and will give you some great clear shots. It is also a nice small-sized camera.

And the Sony Alpha has a very fast autofocus for this type of camera, enabling animals in action to be more likely to be captured in focus.

⇒ Read More Reviews on DPReview ⇒ Check the Price on the Sony Alpha A6000

5. Canon EOS M50

canon eos m50

The Canon EOS M50 takes great clear shots and is very easy to use – it is perfect as an introductory mirrorless camera. This Canon camera has 4K video capture so fantastic for those more interested in taking video.

Its lens range is not quite as good as others at this level so if it is animal close-ups you are after this might not be the best option for you.

⇒ Read More Reviews on DPReview ⇒ Check the Price on the Canon EOS M50

Best DSLR Cameras for Safari

When it comes to the best camera for wildlife and safari it has to be a DSLR. And when it comes to DSLR cameras the question you will often hear between photographers is Nikon or Canon ?

These two camera brands have tended to own the top of this market for some time. Personally, I have always been a Nikon person and love my Nikon DSLR.

Do carefully research both brands before you buy them. Once you purchase you are then quite committed to buying complementary lenses and gear linked to that brand – and you can’t use a Nikon lens on a Canon body and vice versa.

These are the two best entry-level DSLRs from each brand:

6. Nikon D3500

nikon d3500

From a value point of view, I think this is the best superzoom camera for safari. The price is quite reasonable given what it offers and it is then easy to add say a Tamron lens (see the next section) and get some outstanding shots without breaking the bank.

⇒ Read More Reviews on DPReview  ⇒ Check the Price on the Nikon D3500

7. Canon Rebel T7i

canon rebel camera t7i

This is the best Canon camera if you are looking for solid quality but don’t want to spend a fortune in my opinion.

⇒ Read More Reviews on DPReview  ⇒ Check the Price on the Canon Rebel T7i

Best Lens Options for DSLR for Safari

large camera lens on a beanbag in a safari vehicle

Generally for safari the longer the camera lens the better – this is where you see the classic shots of photographers with very long super zoom camera lenses. However, these lenses are expensive and very heavy.

I probably use my longer camera lens 2-3 times a year on trips – but I am super happy when I have it. And I have had the same zoom camera lens for many years.

So the good news is that these camera lenses do last – but as I mentioned above you are tied into the brand of your body camera.

Essentially, there are two options when it comes to a zoom lens. Spend a bit less and go with one of the lesser-known brands – a good option for the amateur.

Or invest in the Nikon or zoom lens for Canon equivalent – not cheap but will last a long time.

Here are two brands I have personally used at the lens lengths here for safari and I have been very happy with the results.

Tamron 150-600 Lens

tamron lens 150 - 600m

From a value point of view, this is probably the best superzoom lens for safari. This is also a great lens for Canon camera option as well as other camera brands.

⇒ Read More Reviews on DPReview  ⇒ Check the Price on the Tamron 150-600 Lens

nikon 200-500m lens

⇒ Read More Reviews on DPReview  ⇒ Check the Price on the Nikon 200-500m Lens

Another less expensive option is to hire a lens to take on safari – or even hire a camera (although it is generally best to be quite familiar with your camera before a safari trip so that you don’t have to try to figure out how to use your camera whilst the elusive leopard disappears).

I’m not aware of anyone who does this on a global level but if you do please email me and let me know. In the meantime, the best thing to do is type into Google something like “Hire a camera lens or camera name of my city”.

This is what popped up when I put it in for London – Lenses for Hire – and Lens Pimp – good name!

Best Camera Accessories to take on an African Photo Safari

There are 4 key camera accessories that I always take on a Safari:

tripod

A tripod will serve you well on safari. Its key benefit is giving you a base for your camera that is completely stable – allowing for a much greater chance of getting your shot in a clean crisp focus.

There is no need for anything fancy when it comes to tripods – B&H has a couple of great low-cost options.

⇒ Check out a Range of Tripods 

2. Lens Filter

lens filter

Don’t leave home without a Lens Filter. Not only are these good for UV rays they also protect the lens of your camera. I have dropped my camera or accidentally whacked it against a hard surface many times.

A Lens filter is much cheaper to replace than a lens. And it tends to then be the only thing that gets damaged and protects the camera.

⇒ Check out a Range of Lens Filters

Beanbag with camera lens

These little beanbags are brilliant to use on vehicles. Stick the camera bean bag anywhere – on the edge of the vehicle, on the table, on the hood of the car and you instantly get a stable base for much clearer shots.

Empty the camera bean bag out before you go and just add sand when you get there – the same thing on the way home.

⇒ Check out Beanbags here

4. Camera Bag

camera bag

Once you’ve spent the money on your new camera it is critical that you protect it from damage. This is most important when you are in transit.

I have made the mistake of packing my camera in my check-in luggage before and paid the price with a slightly bent lens. I recommend buying a camera bag and always bringing your camera on the plane with you.

⇒ Check out Camera Bags here

Using Your Phone to Take Photos on Safari

So, it used to be that the options above were the only way to take good clear photos on safari. However, advances in camera phones plus new accessories are now giving phones a genuine place in the safari vehicle.

Using my phone for anything bar atmosphere shots on safari was new to me so I sat down with what is possibly the only resident wildlife photographer at a lodge in Africa – Christian Sperka at the wonderful Thanda Safari – to tell me how to achieve this.

Thanda Safari – Private Game Reserve

The stunning Thanda Safari is in the Zululand region of South Africa. Thanda is known for its understated luxury and celebration of the local Zulu culture. Of course, it also has the big 5.

And amazing food, fantastic service, a spa, brilliant guides – and basically everything you could ever want for a wonderful and memorable safari experience. The Thanda Safari reserve has a quite unique mix of topology – from oceans to inland to the coastline.

This provides a great range of backdrops for photos – and it also means Thanda Safari South Africa is a birdwatcher’s paradise.

entrance to thanda safari lodge

⇒ For more about the lovely Thanda check out my post on A Luxury Travel Blog .

Thanda Private Game Reserve has two very unique offers. Firstly, it has its own resident wildlife photographer – Christian Sperka.

Secondly, all guests to Thanda Zululand are offered a free 90-minute photography lesson with Christian. I cannot recommend this highly enough.

I thought I knew a lot about photography but Christian showed me quite a few new and neat tricks that I now use off safari as well as on. Christian is also an excellent teacher.

He uses clear and regular language (no detailed camera talk) and is outstanding at explanations. He has been at Thanda Game Reserve for 6 years and has taught over 1200 people during that time.

⇒ Learn more about wonderful South African Animals in this informative post .

safari vehicle with coffee bar in the back

Christian’s Key Safari Phone Photography Tips:

  • Phones are great for wide-angle shots. You can absolutely use your phone to capture great shots of the lodges, the drives, sundowners, sunrise/sunset etc.

2. Private game reserves are excellent for those who only have a phone for photography. The reason for this is that on private game reserves guides are able to go off-road and get much closer to the animals than at say Kruger National Park South Africa. The closer you can get to the animals generally the better the shot

3. The iPhone 7 represented a major improvement in phone camera quality. This was then taken to the next level with the iPhone 8 plus and the X and now the 13. The Iphone 8 plus and the Iphone X come with two lenses which allows for greater zoom capability without losing photo quality. The Iphone 13 now has three lenses.

4. There are now some fantastic zoom “Clips” that you can add to your phone that will massively improve the zoom and quality of your phone photography. These little telephoto zoom lenses literally clip on to your phone and are considerably cheaper than any traditional camera lenses.

⇒ Zoom clip options for Smart Phones

5. Christian also introduced me to what has now become my most frequently used app – Camera + Legacy . This brilliant app is an editor and gives some fantastic options – I particularly like Clarity for outside shots.

Camera + Legacy app will massively improve the appearance of your safari photos

thanda green mamba vehicle next to a tree

5. Movement is a key part of safari photography. Rather than moving your phone camera – which won’t get good shots – hold the camera firm and push down on the take a picture button. This should then result in a “burst” of photos. It is then possible to edit the burst and just keep the best ones.

6. Panorama shots can work well on safari – and you don’t need to use the full range. It is possible to take 90 degree rather than 180-degree photos – just stop the shot at the point you want. And don’t forget you can also just tap the arrow and do the panorama shot from the other direction – for some reason this had never occurred to me.

7. And don’t forget your beanbag – these work as well for phone cameras!

Safari Photo Lessons with Christian

If you can, book your lesson with Christian even before you arrive at Thanda Private Game Reserve South Africa. He is not always at Thanda but can generally arrange to be there if given sufficient notice.

I also recommend that you do your photography lesson on the first day so that you will constantly be using what you have learned.

If this sounds like just what you are after Christian also offers further photography lessons as well as the opportunity to go out on a private game drive with him in the Green Mamba.

Not only will you get to make a major improvement to your photography skills (and nab some amazing safari photos) you will also be able to drink Nespresso coffee in the middle of Zululand thanks to Christian’s portable machine.

Christian and a guide by the green mamba vehicle with food and drinks

The Green Mamba has been designed for photographers. There is extra legroom to allow movement for the optimal shot.

There are even mats on the floor as it can be necessary to get down on your knees to balance the camera for the clearest eye line to the animal.

There is also a martini bar for the ultimate sundowner – and make sure you try Christian’s signature drink the Chocaroola – hot chocolate, Amurala, espresso, and some warm frothy milk.

⇒ Book your Thanda Safari & a Photography Lesson with Christian

Who Paid for What in this Post

Thanda was kind enough to host my stay with them. This means they covered the cost of my accommodation, my game drives, and all meals and drinks. Thank you, Thanda! But as always, my opinions are my own.

I paid for my flights to and from South Africa and internally. This post contains affiliate links. This means that if you click on some of them and make a purchase I will receive a small commission. This does not increase the price that you will pay. I just wanted to make sure that you knew this!

READ NEXT: THE ULTIMATE SAFARI PACKING LIST

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Looking for the best camera for safari? An African Photo Safari can be intimidating - here is my complete guide to the best camera options as well as how to get the most out of the camera on your phone when on Safari #safariphotos #safariphotography #safariphotographytips #safaricamera #safariphotosouthafrica #safariphotobigcats #safariafrican #safaritravel

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Amanda O’Brien is the creator and editor of The Boutique Adventurer. She has visited 80 countries and is a member of the British Guild of Travel Writers as well as the IFTWTA. She is passionate about wine had has just completed Level 3 of the WSET. Born in Australia, she lives in London.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Jesmin Black

Wednesday 4th of November 2020

This is very helpful article. Specially the "Christian’s Key Safari Phone Photography Tips" one was great.

Tanbir Kaur

Tuesday 29th of September 2020

These are some great tips! I need to get a new camera. I hope I can go on a safari one day.

The Boutique Adventurer

thanks! It is an amazing experience that I highly recommend

Adam Fogleman

Wednesday 12th of August 2020

Some good info. Though I think this needs to be updated. Mirrorless cameras have come a long way as has their lens lineups. The Sony A6000 is outdated and not the best representation of mirrorless cameras.

Thursday 13th of August 2020

Thanks for the feedback Adam - I will check out the latest in Mirrorless cameras and do an update.

Wednesday 20th of May 2020

Super compilation and good list for future reference. Bookmarked.

Joanne King

Friday 24th of April 2020

Retested my version with this lens and saw the improvement in the corners and sides!!!Read all of your blog last evening and found lots of useful info. Thanks and keep it up.

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Finding the Universe

Travel tales, photography and a dash of humor

Jess on safari with camera

The Best Safari Camera, Lenses and Photography Accessories – Plus How to Choose

Last updated: August 10, 2024 . Written by Laurence Norah - 65 Comments

Probably the biggest decision you’ll have to make before going on safari is what camera equipment to take with you. This is a big decision, and it’s important to get it right before you go.

When you are on safari, you’re going to see people taking photos on everything from their smartphones through to super high end professional equipment with gigantic lenses.

Choosing a camera is a personal decision where you have to weigh various factors including budget, ease of use, size, and the type of pictures you want to get.

I’ve been a professional photographer for many years, and I also teach photography online . I’ve also been lucky enough to spend time on safari photographing animals in a number of countries around the world.

Based on my experiences, I’ve learnt a lot about what sort of camera works best for safari, and what to consider when choosing a camera for a safari.

In this post, I’m going to tell you everything you need to know about how to choose a camera setup that’s right for you and your safari. I’m also going to recommend some cameras and lenses across a range of budgets and styles.

I recommend reading this post along with my guide to getting great photos on safari , so you’re fully prepared for your trip.

Table of Contents:

What to Look for In a Camera for Safari

Before I recommend specific cameras and lenses, I wanted to share the things that are important to look for when choosing a camera for safari. This information will help you to make a fully informed decision, rather than just picking something off a list.

We’re going to assume you are looking for a new camera for your trip, but for those who already own a camera, this can help you decide whether or not your current camera equipment will be able to give you the photos you want on your trip.

Before you even start to think about what kind of camera you want and the features it has, you are going to have to decide on your budget. This will make a big impact on the camera you end up getting, and it’s important to set a realistic budget from the outset so you can then find something suitable that meets your budget.

Obviously, budget will vary for everyone. Don’t forget that your budget should not just include the camera itself. If you are buying a camera where you can change the lens, then you will want to include a lens in the purchase, and these can be just as expensive as the camera body.

Additionally, you will likely need accessories like a camera bag, camera strap, memory card, and spare batteries as well.

In general, the following price estimates in USD should give you an idea of what you can get for your money:

  • $200 – $800 – an entry level camera which will help you capture great memories of your trip
  • $800 – $2500 – a mid-range camera that will be capable of getting great photos in the majority of situations
  • $2500+ – moving up into high end territory now, as you start to spend over this amount you are looking at more professional oriented cameras which will capture amazing images in a wide range of lighting conditions if you put the time into learning how to use them properly.

As you can see, there’s a wide range of price points, and you can easily spend a great deal of money on camera equipment. However, you can also spend less and still get great results.

Elephant eating Kenya

Type of Camera for Safari

Once you have set a budget, you have to decide on the sort of camera you want to actually take with you on safari.

You have four main options for choosing a camera for safari. These are a smartphone, a compact camera, a bridge camera , or an interchangeable lens camera (DSLR or mirrorless).

Each of these options has advantages and disadvantages, and I’ll quickly go over each option now.

  • Smartphone . A smartphone is a good option if you really don’t want to carry any extra equipment and are happy to just get some images to remember your trip. They are generally easy to use and the latest models include some level of optical zoom. However, you will struggle to get great shots of any wildlife further away than several yards, and images taken when there is less light will likely be quite grainy.
  • Compact camera . A compact camera is a good compromise between a smartphone and a bigger setup. They are very portable and lightweight, but models are still available with good optical zooms. They are also easy to use, hence are often also called point-and-shoot cameras. However, some models do include more manual modes and advanced features for those who want more control. The main downsides are reduced image quality compared to a larger setup, and they don’t perform so well in low light.
  • Bridge camera . One of the more popular options for safari is a bridge camera , also sometimes known as a superzoom camera. Bridge cameras are larger than compact cameras and they tend to have big zoom lenses that can capture far away subjects. Like with compact cameras, you can’t change the lens like on mirrorless or DSLR. They tend to offer a good balance between image quality, zoom, weight, usability, and affordability.
  • Mirrorless / DSLR Camera . If you want the best results in terms of image quality, then a mirrorless or DSLR camera is the option to go for. These have larger sensors so can capture more light than other camera types, meaning you get better results in lower light conditions. These cameras also let you change the lens, so you can pick a lens or lenses which suit your budget and needs. They also have far more manual controls than the other options in the list, so you have more control over how your images look. The downside is that they are larger and heavier, take more time to truly master, and are usually more expensive.

In terms of which type of camera body to choose, there is no correct answer from the above.

Your decision will depend on your budget, how big a camera you want to carry, and how much time you want to spend learning how to use it. Below are different images from a number of different cameras to show you what is possible.

A quick note when it comes to DSLR cameras. These are pretty much end of life for most manufacturers now, as they have moved on to mirrorless cameras. Mirrorless cameras offer the same image quality as a DSLR in a smaller body.

These days I would recommend a mirrorless camera over a DSLR as they offer much improved features and usability in a lighter format. The choice of camera bodies and lenses is also sufficient that there is no reason to purchase a DSLR over a mirrorless.

kamera ria safari

Sensor Size for a Safari Camera

The sensor is one of the most important components inside your camera. The sensor is the digital equivalent of a piece of film. It is what records the light and saves it as a digital file.

Unlike a roll of film, which came in a fixed size for most cameras, a digital sensor can be as big or small as the camera manufacturer wants. Smaller sensors are found in smaller cameras like smartphones and compact cameras, whilst bigger sensors are found in mirrorless (and DSLR) cameras.

The size of the sensor affects a few things. First, it affects the actual size of the camera and lens. A larger sensor needs a bigger camera body to house it, and a bigger lens to capture the light. A smaller sensor will fit into a smaller camera body.

Larger sensors are also capable of capturing more light, in much the same way that if you leave a large bucket out in a rainstorm it will catch more water than a small bucket over the same period of time.

This means a larger sensor will normally perform better when there is less light available, and it will produce less noisy images. You can also use faster shutter speeds.

Larger sensors are however more expensive to produce and as a result tend to be found in higher-end and more expensive cameras.

Common sensor sizes you’ll come across are listed below in order of size from smaller to larger. However, you should be aware that there are a lot of variations, especially in the ultra-competitive smartphone market.

  • 1/2.5″ – 5.76mm x 4.29mm (25mm²). Found in smartphones, as well as some compact cameras and bridge cameras. The sensor sizes around this point vary a little but this is around the average.
  • 1-inch sensor – 13.2 x 8.8mm (116mm²) found in high-end compact cameras and high-end bridge cameras. The 1″ name is a marketing term which has nothing to do with the size of the sensor.
  • Micro Four thirds – 17.3mm x 13mm (225mm²) found in “micro four-thirds” cameras from Olympus and Panasonic.
  • APS-C Canon –  22.4mm x 14.8mm (329mm²) found in most consumer-oriented Canon DSLR and mirrorless cameras
  • APS-C Nikon, Sony, Pentax – 23.6mm x 15.7mm (370mm²) found in most consumer oriented DSLR and mirrorless cameras from other manufacturers like Nikon, Sony, Pentax, Fuji etc. Nikon calls these DX sensors.
  • Full Frame –  36mm x 24mm (864mm²). Found in high end professional DSLR and Mirrorless cameras from Sony, Canon, Nikon etc. So called because it is roughly the same size as a piece of 35mm film.

The important thing to compare is the surface area in square millimeters. This shows the comparative size of each sensor. A full frame sensor for example has more than double the surface area of an APS-C sensor, and over 30x the surface area of a smartphone or compact camera sensor.

That leads to big differences in real world performance.

Generally, the larger the sensor, the better photos you will be able to get. This will be most obvious in lower light situations.

Ideally, for the best photos, you would want an APS-C or full frame sensor for safari as this will gather the most amount of light and be useful in more situations.

However, the trade-off is that these cameras tend to be more expensive and larger in size. So I’d recommend getting the largest sensor that fits with your budget and preferred camera size.

Laurence with cameras on safari

Focal Length / Optical Zoom for Safari

A really important specification to think about when picking a camera or lens for safari is the focal length of the lens. This is also often referred to as the “zoom”. The focal length is particularly important if you want to photograph birds, smaller animals and more distant wildlife.

A bigger zoom lens will let you get clearer images of more distant as well as smaller wildlife like birds or small animals.

When it comes to zoom, you will often see the terms optical zoom and digital zoom. The key specification is optical zoom.

Digital zoom is effectively the same as cropping an image after you have taken it, so has no real use as you could do this yourself with an editing application.

Optical zoom involves moving the optical elements in the camera to actually magnify the image.

When it comes to choosing a zoom amount for safari, if you’re picking a camera which has a built-in lens like a compact camera or a bridge camera, then you would want at least a 10x optical zoom. But ideally I’d recommend a 16x optical zoom or larger.

If you’re in the market for one of these cameras, remember that the optical zoom number is just a marketing number. It refers to the underlying focal length, which is the more accurate way of comparing magnification across lenses. Let me quickly cover that for clarity as it can be confusing.

All lenses have what is known as a focal length, which is measured in millimetres (mm). If the mm number is small, say 20mm, then it’s a wide-angle lens, so will get a lot of the scene in the frame. If the number is bigger than 50mm, then it’s a telephoto lens, meaning it magnifies the image.

Here are a couple of examples of the same scene at two different focal lengths so you can see the difference. These are uncropped images.

kamera ria safari

As you can see from the images above, the 400mm focal length obviously lets you get much closer to the subject. You could crop down the top shot to a similar result, but it would be much less sharp and more grainy as a result.

When a camera has a zoom lens, it means that you can change the focal length, to make the image appear bigger (zooming in) and smaller (zooming out). The optical zoom number refers to the difference between the smallest and largest focal length number.

For example, if you have a camera like the Sony RX10 IV , this has a 24mm – 600mm equivalent focal length. 600 divided by 24 is 24, so this camera has a 24x optical zoom.

If you had a DSLR or mirrorless camera with a 150mm – 600mm lens, this is technically just a 4x optical zoom because 600 divided by 150 is 4x. However, both the Sony and the DSLR camera would give the same result in terms of framing when zoomed all the way in.

The difference is that the Sony would also let you take wide angle shots. However, if you compare a 4x number with a 16x number, the Sony sounds much more impressive! This is why it’s important to understand the underlying numbers, so you can get past the marketing.

In general, for wildlife photography on safari you want a camera with a lens which will let you zoom between 70mm and 400mm. This range will work well for most wildlife photography scenarios, and especially on safari as you normally can’t get out of the vehicle or leave the road, so are restricted by how close you can get to the animals.

Now there are also ultra-telephoto or superzoom lenses out there that start at 400mm and can go up to 1200mm. These lenses are going to be too large and too expensive for most people, but may be of interest to ardent wildlife photographers with big budgets, particularly those interested in bird photography.

Although your main focus is likely going to be photographing animals and birds while on safari, chances are that you are also going to want a camera that you can use to take photos of landscapes, buildings, food, people, etc. as well.

So you may want a camera that can also take wide angle shots (around 20mm). That might be a versatile zoom lens on your existing camera, a separate wide-angle lens, or you might consider using a different camera such as your smartphone for wide angle shots.

Aperture for Safari

As well as focal length, every lens has a specification known as an aperture. The aperture is the hole inside the lens which the light passes through. It’s a bit like the pupil in your eye.

Like the pupil in your eye, the aperture can get bigger and smaller to let more or less light through.

Every lens has an aperture, and the main specification to look out for is how big this aperture will go. Aperture is measured in f/stops, with a smaller number meaning the hole is bigger.

For example, an f/2.8 aperture lens features a bigger hole than an f/5.6 aperture lens.

Generally, the larger the aperture the more desirable. A larger aperture hole lets more light through, meaning you can use a higher shutter speed or a lower ISO, both of which can be of benefit.

You may notice when looking at cameras or lenses that the aperture is shown as a range, for example f/3.5 – 5.6. What this means is that the maximum aperture changes as you change the focal length. At the widest angle, the maximum aperture will be f/3.5. At full zoom, it will be f/5.6.

This is particularly common on compact cameras and bridge cameras with very big zoom lenses, as well as less expensive lenses. This means that the more you zoom in, the less light will be hitting the sensor and so you’ll need to use a faster shutter speed or higher ISO value to compensate.

The more expensive high-end standalone lenses for DSLR and mirrorless cameras may feature a fixed aperture throughout the focal length. These also tend to be the biggest and heaviest lenses.

For safari, the larger the aperture (and smaller the f/stop number) the better, although of course you will have to budget this against weight and cost. In an ideal world, you’d want a lens with a maximum aperture of f/2.8 or f/4 for safari, but this isn’t always practical when cost and weight are taking into account.

Ease of Use and Learning Curve

Cameras are not created equally when it comes to ease of use. A smartphone camera for example tends to be very easy to use, in that you press a button and it takes a photo. They also come with a lot of clever technology, known as computational photography, which tries to get the best results for every image you take. This is also likely a device you are very familiar with and use regularly.

However, other types of cameras are going to have a steeper learning curve, especially mirrorless and DSLR cameras. Of course, mirrorless or DSLR camera will also have an automatic mode which works in the same way as a compact camera or smartphone, in that you can press a button and take a photo, although they are normally missing the computational photography element.

This is why smartphone camera images can look better than shots from a mirrorless or DSLR, especially when taken by a novice user.

The good news is that you can get amazing results with a high-end camera if you take the time to learn what all the buttons and dials actually do, as then you’ll be able to make the camera do what you want it to do. But this does require an investment of time and practice.

The decision you have to make is how much time you want to spend learning how to use your camera. If you really would prefer a more point and shoot experience, then a smartphone, compact camera or bridge camera is probably the best option. You will of course still get better results if you learn its various features, but it should still get good results with its out of the box settings.

On the other hand, if you would like to spend some time really learning how your camera works, then a DSLR or mirrorless camera is a good option. This will have a wide range of shooting modes, including fully manual options, giving you total control over the end result.

If you are planning to get a new camera and want some help in using it and improving your photography there are a lot of books, workshops, and classes out there. For instance, I run an online travel photography course that is designed to help anyone improve their photography.

Megapixel count

Every camera sensor has a megapixel count, usually in the range of 12MP through to 50MP+.

The higher the number, the more pixels the camera sensor will record when saving your image. A megapixel just means 1 million pixels, and would refer to an image 1000 pixels wide and 1000 pixels high. 1000 times 1000 is a million, hence megapixel.

More megapixels means the final image will be bigger in terms of image width and height. The advantage of this is that it can let you crop your images more without losing detail.

The disadvantage is that image files are bigger, and higher megapixel images can be slightly grainier.

I would not worry too much about megapixel count unless you plan to do a lot of photography of smaller subjects like birds from a further away distance or plan to print a lot of your images at a larger size. In these cases a high megapixel count (30MP+) will let you crop the shot more and still get a good result.

Otherwise, for smartphones anything over 12MP is good, and for other cameras anything over 20MP will be enough for safari. You can also get away with a lower megapixel count if the camera has a very big zoom, as this negates the need for cropping after the shot.

Image stabilization

When you are taking photos and holding the camera in your hand, any movement in your hand can translate into motion blur in your images. This will result in images that aren’t sharp.

This impacts images taken with slower shutter speeds, such as when you are shooting in low light. It’s also more apparent when using longer zooms, which can exaggerate hand movements. This is similar to the effect you get when looking through binoculars or a telescope – even small movements translate to the image being blurry to look at.

Cameras with image stabilization can compensate for this up to a point, meaning your images will be sharper. Image stabilization can be built in to either the camera body or the lens (or both), and I’d suggest picking both a camera body and lens with image stabilization for the best results.

Just be aware that image stabilization can only do so much, it’s not a fix all for image sharpness! So be sure to try to stabilize your camera as well as you can before taking photos, and use an appropriate shutter speed for the focal length you are shooting at.

Weather sealing

A safari can be a very dusty place, and cameras tend not to like dust too much. If you are going to a tropical part of the world or visiting a country during its wet season, you are also likely to encounter rain and moisture. Some cameras on the market, particularly the more expensive models, offer weather sealing.

A weather sealed camera normally has various features to prevent ingress of moisture into the camera, such as rubber protection on the lens mounts and memory card slots. This helps prevent water getting into the camera in a rain shower, but also helps to prevent dust getting into the camera.

Dust inside the camera can have a variety of negative effects, from creating unseemly spots on your images if it lands on the sensor, through to causing it to not work at all.

If you have a camera which offers some level of weather sealing, this can protect against both water and dust, meaning you have one less thing to worry about. Ideally, you will want a camera with weather sealing for safari photography, although this is not a feature which is available on all cameras.

Beeeater Uganda

Autofocus system

Taking photos of moving wildlife can be challenging, especially when it comes to getting and keeping focus. Getting a camera which has a good autofocus system is key.

Modern autofocus systems can automatically identify and track things like animals and their eyes, so all you have to worry about is keeping the subject in the frame.

When looking at a camera for safari photography, check to see what features the autofocus system has. You are specifically looking to see how fast it can focus (faster is better), and if it offers any kind of subject detection or eye tracking. This will make getting sharp photos a lot easier.

Baby lions running

Burst speed

The burst speed of a camera refers to how many photos it can take in a second. A high-end camera will be able to take between 12 and 30 images per second. A mid-range camera will be able to do around 4 – 12 images per second.

A higher burst speed means you’ll be more likely to capture specific moments, especially of faster action like a bird in flight or an animal running.

In addition, because burst speed is directly related to the overall technical capabilities of the camera, a camera with a higher burst speed will be better specified than a camera with a low burst speed.

For safari, a camera that can shoot at least five frames per second is a good idea, but higher is always better.

Leopard lying down

A factor you might also want to consider when choosing a camera for safari is the weight of the system. Whilst a lot of safari’s take place in a vehicle, where weight may be less of an issue, there are situations where you weight will be an issue.

For example, there are some locations where you can do guided ranger walks, which will require you to carry your gear. Similarly, if you are doing a tracking experience, such as gorilla trekking or chimpanzee trekking , that will also often require you to carry your gear.

In addition, if you are planning on using planes to get around when at your destination, you should be aware that domestic flights to safari parks tend to operate on fairly small planes which can have strict weight limits. So you will want to be sure that your gear meets these requirements.

Generally, a smartphone, compact camera or bridge camera will be fairly lightweight. Larger mirrorless and DSLR camera systems, especially those with full-frame sensors and large telephoto lenses, can weigh a lot more.

The Best Camera for Safari

I’ve now covered the main features to look for in a camera for safari. I’m now going to provide a list of some of my recommended cameras for safari. This list is not exhaustive as there is obviously a lot of choice out there.

Combining this list with the information on what to look for in a safari camera should give you a good starting point. For those cameras which allow you to change lenses, I also have some recommended safari lenses in the following section.

These cameras are ordered approximately by price, from low to high, but you will of course want to check prices yourself as they do vary. Prices start from around $400 and go to over $3,000 for high end models.

Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ80D / FZ82D

If you want a great value camera for safari that is easy to use and has a good zoom, the Lumix DC-FZ80 bridge camera from Panasonic is an excellent option to consider.

kamera ria safari

Launched in 2024 as a minor update to the 2017 FZ80, this is the lowest priced option in our list of cameras for safari, but you still get a lot of camera for your money.

First, there’s an image-stabilized 20-1200mm (60x) lens with around five stops of stabilization. That’s paired with an 18.1 megapixel 1/2.3″ sensor which also supports 4K video.

The screen on the back is fixed, but it is touch enabled. The camera is WiFi enabled, and is a lightweight 640g (22.58oz). The main downside is there’s no weather sealing, although that isn’t a surprise at this price point. Battery life is also not spectacular.

However, you do get a great zoom and this is a solid budget safari camera option with a zoom that will let you capture even further away subjects.

Key Specifications : 20-1200mm (60x) focal length, f/2.8-5.9 aperture, 10 images / second, 18.1 megapixel 1/2.3″ sensor Weight : 640g / 22.58oz Battery life : 300 shots Price : Check latest price on Amazon here , B&H here , and Adorama here

Panasonic Lumix ZS70  / (TZ90 in UK)

If you want a compact camera for safari at a budget price point, check out this Panasonic Lumix model. You get a 30x optical zoom lens (24mm – 720mm), a 20.3MP 1/2.3″ sensor, image stabilization, full manual controls and even RAW support.

There’s also an electronic viewfinder, a definite bonus in a compact camera at this price point. This can make composing images in bright sunlight easier.  Speed wise it can shoot at up to 10 frames per second.

kamera ria safari

A newer model was released in 2019 – the ZS80. This adds Bluetooth and a higher resolution EVF but not much else.

We’re not sure that is a sufficient upgrade to justify the price difference, but it’s up to you. If you find them at the same price, then you might as well get the ZS80, otherwise the ZS70 remains our pick while it’s still available.

Key Specifications : 24-720mm (30x) focal length, f/3.3-6.4 aperture, 10 images / second, 20.3 megapixel 1/2.3″ sensor Weight : 322g / 11.36oz Battery life : 380 shots Price on Amazon here ,  B&H here  and  Adorama here

Canon Powershot SX740

Canon have been making a wide range of cameras for decades, and you’re going to find a few of their cameras in this list. This would be our recommended Canon option if you’re looking for a great value compact camera with a good zoom for safari.

kamera ria safari

For your money you get a 1/2.3″ 20.3MP sensor and a 40x optical zoom (24-960mm) As with other  compact cameras with a long zoom, it comes with the tradeoff that the maximum aperture only goes to f3.3, and at maximum zoom, is all the way down at f/6.9. Battery life is also not great at 265 shots and there’s no viewfinder.

Still, it’s one of the best value compact zoom cameras out there especially at this price point, and the price is excellent for what you get. Just don’t expect miracles in terms of image quality or low light performance, especially when zoomed all the way in.

Key Specifications : 24-960mm (40x) focal length, f/3.3-6.9 aperture, 10 1images / second, 20.3 megapixel 1/2.3″ sensor Weight : 299g / 10.55oz Battery life : 265 shots Price on Amazon here ,  B&H here  and  Adorama here

Panasonic Lumix ZS200 (TZ200 in UK)

If image quality and low-light performance are more important to you than zoom, check out Panasonic’s Lumix ZS200.

kamera ria safari

This compact camera comes with a 20.1 megapixel 1-inch sensor, making it around four times larger than standard 1/2.3″ compact camera sensors.

You also get a 15x (24-360mm) lens with a variable f/3.3 – f/6.4 aperture and image stabilization. This is actually a pretty reasonable zoom for most safari situations, with the exception of small distant birdlife.

It also has full manual controls, a touchscreen interface, electronic viewfinder, and RAW shooting.

It’s definitely a slightly more expensive option when it comes to compact cameras for safari, but that optical zoom is a definite bonus especially in the 1-inch sensor category.

Key Specifications: 24-360mm (15x) focal length, f/3.3-6.4 aperture, 10 images / second, 20.1 megapixel 1-inch sensor Weight: 340g / 11.99oz Battery life : 370 shots Price on Amazon here ,  B&H here  and  Adorama here .

Canon Powershot SX70 HS

Canon’s bridge camera offering is another capable option. It features an impressive 21-1365mm (65x optical) zoom lens, which has a variable f/3.4-6.5 maximum aperture. It’s also one of the lightest bridge cameras on the market, if weight is a consideration.

kamera ria safari

The lens is optically stabilized, providing up to five stops of stability. The 1/2.3″ sensor offers 20 megapixels, which is enough for most users, especially considering the impressive zoom means you shouldn’t need to crop very much.

It has full manual controls as well as RAW support, and you get both Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity as well as 4K video support.

There are some drawbacks. Image quality at the zoom and wide angles is a little soft, and there’s no touch screen or weather sealing.  The screen does flip out and tilt though.

My parents have an earlier model of this camera (they provided the tiger photo earlier in the post) and they have been very happy with the results from safaris in destinations around the world.

Key Specifications : 21-1365mm (65x) focal length, f/3.4-6.5 aperture, 10 images / second, 20 megapixel 1/2.3″ sensor Weight : 610 g / 21.5 oz Battery life : 325 shots Price : Check latest price on  Amazon here ,  B&H here , and  Adorama here

Canon EOS R50 

The Canon ROS is one of Canon’s more affordable mirrorless cameras, however despite being available at a more reasonable price point, there is a lot about this camera that makes it great for safari.

kamera ria safari

First, it’s one of the smallest mirrorless cameras on the market, making it a more lightweight and portable options compared to more expensive models. It also offers great performance for an excellent price.

Specs include a 24.2MP APS-C sized sensor, WiFi, up to 440 shot battery capacity, 4K video support, movable touchscreen and compatibility with all of Canon’s lenses.

There’s no image stabilization, but there are a great many lenses available which do feature this technology. It’s also not weather sealed.

Another option at a lower price point is the entry-level mirrorless Canon EOS R100 . I’d personally opt for the R50 as the R100 loses the touchscreen, which can be very helpful for navigating and selecting a focus point. The R50 also has a wider ISO range and much faster burst shooting capability.

More crucially though, the R100 has a much less advanced autofocus system, which crucially doesn’t have animal tracking autofocus and eye recognition. This can be a very helpful feature when trying to get sharp photos on safari. The R50 is only a little bit more expensive and well worth the upgrade in my opinion.

Key Specifications: 15 images / second, 24.2 megapixel APS-C sensor Weight: 375g / 13.2oz Battery life: 440 shots (LCD), 310 (EVF) Price on Amazon here , B&H here and Adorama here .

Nikon Coolpix P950

The Nikon Coolpix P950, released in 2020, has a lot going for it. First, you get an impressive 24-2000mm lens, which is an 83x optical zoom. That should be more than enough for any kind of safari photo, and in particular for those of you looking for a camera for bird photography.

The maximum aperture starts at a wide f/2.8, and narrows down to f/6.5 when zoomed in. Given the length of the lens, this is to be expected.

kamera ria safari

The lens is stabilized, and the stabilization offers an impressive 5.5 stops of improvement. Sensor wise, you’re looking at a 1/2.3″ 16MP sensor, which offers a good balance between size and low light performance.

Image quality is good although softens as you zoom further in. This is quite common on compact and bridge cameras with big zooms. There is a reason high end mirrorless and DSLR lenses cost thousands of dollars after all! However, I think most users will be happy with the performance.

The megapixel count isn’t particularly high, but you are unlikely to need to crop much given you have an incredible zoom.

The P950 has support for RAW photography as well as manual modes that let you set shutter speed, ISO, and aperture. There’s also 4K video support as well as WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity options.

There are a few downsides. Battery life is quite low at 290 shots, and the huge lens means this camera is quite heavy for a bridge camera, weighing just over 1 kg (2.2 lb). There’s also no touchscreen, or weather sealing.

Key Specifications : 24-2000mm (83x) focal length, f/2.8-6.5 aperture, 7 images / second, 16 megapixel 1/2.3″ sensor Weight : 1005 g / 35.4 oz Battery life : 290 shots Price : Check latest price on  Amazon here ,  B&H here , and  Adorama here

The Z50 is Nikon’s more entry level mirrorless camera, which features a 20.9MP APS-C sized sensor, which Nikon calls DX sized.

kamera ria safari

Despite being entry-level, you still get a lot for your money. There’s 11fps burst shooting, 4K video support, a tilting touchscreen display and an OLED viewfinder.  You also get Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity, with battery life rated to around 300 shots.

This is a great lightweight mirrorless camera at a good price, however do be aware when comparing this and other mirrorless cameras to other cameras on our round up that you will have to buy a lens as well. It is also compatible with most of Nikon’s lenses via an adaptor, which gives you a huge choice.

It even has some weather-sealing, although the pop-up flash means it isn’t considered as weather-sealed as some of its more expensive siblings.

Key Specifications : 11 images / second, 20.9 megapixel APS-C sensor Weight : 450g / 15.87 oz Battery life : 320 shots Price on Amazon here ,  B&H here , and  Adorama here

Panasonic Lumix FZ1000 II

If you like the idea of a bridge camera but would prefer improved image quality and low light performance over a huge zoom, check out the FZ1000 II from Panasonic.

kamera ria safari

Released in 2019, this camera features a 20.1 Megapixel 1 inch sensor. This means you get better low light performance than bridge cameras with smaller sensors, as well as higher image quality.

Unfortunately, a larger sensor comes with some tradeoffs, namely the zoom. The FZ1000II features a 25-400mm lens, equivalent to a 16x optical zoom. This is definitely on the low end for a bridge camera, but if you’re not too worried about shooting very distant subjects, 400mm is still on par in terms of magnification with DSLR or mirrorless zoom lenses.

When I go on safari, I find a 400mm lens works fine 99% of the time. The only exception really is for small birds, where a longer lens is nearly always helpful.

The other nice thing about this lens is that it features a wide f/2.8 aperture. This drops to f/4 when zoomed in, which is still very respectable. A wider aperture lets more light in, meaning you can shoot at higher shutter speeds and lower ISO values. The lens is also image stabilized, offering 3-5 stops of stabilization.

The display tilts and swivels out from the camera and is touch enabled. You also get WiFi and Bluetooth support, as well as a relatively good battery life of 440 shots. Video wise, you get 4K video support. Despite having a larger sensor, the camera is not too heavy at 810 g (1.79 lbs).

There’s no dust or water protection, which is a shame in a camera at this price point, and probably the main downside. Otherwise though, if you are happy with the zoom range, this is a solid option.

Key Specifications : 25-400mm (16x) focal length, f/2.8-4 aperture, 10 images / second, 20.1 megapixel 1″ sensor Weight : 810 g / 28.5 oz Battery life : 440 shots Price : Check latest price on  Amazon here ,  B&H here , and  Adorama here

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra / iPhone 14 Pro Max

I appreciate it’s a little jarring to go from cameras to smartphones, but I know that many of you might not want to take anything other than a smartphone on safari. For many shots, a smartphone will work just fine, especially in those scenarios where the animals are very near.

kamera ria safari

If you are going to take a smartphone for your safari camera, then you might as well pick the best option. The two contenders I recommend are either the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra or the iPhone 14 Pro Max. I’ve put these together because at this point, most people have likely settled on Android or iPhone.

Specs wise they are not dissimilar when it comes to the camera technology. The most important feature, and the reason I chose these two phones for safari photography, is that they both have a relatively good optical zoom (by smartphone standards at least). That means you’ll still be able to shoot wildlife that is a little further away and get good results.

The Samsung S23 Ultra actually has four cameras, each with its own sensor. Most importantly, there’s a 10x (230mm equivalent) optical zoom on a 10 megapixel 1/3.52″ sensor. It’s quite a small sensor even by smartphone standards, but that 10x zoom could definitely come in handy.

The iPhone 14 Pro Max has three cameras. The longest reach it has is from a 2x (77mm equivalent) optical zoom on a 1/3.4″ sensor.

Both phones offer a range of photography focused features, from image stabilization through to powerful computational technology to improve how your images look. If you really want a smartphone for your safari, one of these two options would be our pick.

Price on Amazon for Samsung here , Apple on Apple store here .

Sony RX100 VII

If you like the idea of a compact camera but don’t want to sacrifice too much image quality, consider the RX100 VII. Released in August 2019, in our opinion this is one of the best compact cameras for safari that money can buy, and we travel with an earlier version ourselves.

kamera ria safari

The RX100 VII has an 8x optical zoom, equivalent to a 24mm – 200mm lens. That’s about the absolute minimum focal length we’d recommend for a safari. It also has a 20.1 megapixel 1-inch sized sensor like the Panasonic ZS200, which is the closest alternative.

The main differences are that the ZS200 has more zoom at the expense of a narrower aperture. The RX100 has a faster burst rate at 20 frames per second, and it also has a much-improved focus system which can lock on and track subjects very quickly. As you might imagine, that can come in very handy for safari photography.

Sony have used the learning acquired from the focus technology in their high-end professional cameras and it definitely shows.

Image quality in the Sony is also a little better than the Panasonic.

The RX100 also has image stabilisation, a tilting screen and an impressive electronic viewfinder. This is a great all-round compact camera, although it is quite expensive. If the price is too high, the ZS200 offers a great deal at a much more reasonable price.

Key Specifications: 24-200mm (x) focal length, f/2.8-4.5 aperture, 20 images / second, 20.1 megapixel /1″ sensor Weight: 302g / 10.65oz Battery life: 240 shots Price on Amazon here ,  B&H here  and  Adorama here

Sony have been making excellent consumer oriented mirrorless cameras for a long time. The A6600 is the current top of their A6xxx range.

kamera ria safari

The A6600 has a lot of technology packed into its relatively diminutive body. There’s a 24.2 megapixel APS-C sized sensor which can shoot at 11 frames per second. It has Sony’s impressive real-time subject tracking which can recognise and track human and animals’ eyes very quickly.

You also get in body image stabilization, a flip up touch screen, WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity, an impressive 810 shot battery life and weather sealing. All in all, this is a feature packed camera that would be a great option for safari photography when paired with a good telephoto lens.

Key Specifications : 11 images / second, 24.2 megapixel APS-C sensor Weight : 503g / 17.74oz Battery life : 810 shots Price on Amazon here ,  B&H here  and  Adorama here

Canon EOS R7

This mirrorless camera for Canon was launched in 2022, and it is packed with features that make it an excellent choice for a safari camera. In fact, a lot of the technology in this camera, especially around autofocus, is borrowed from Canon’s high-end EOS R3, a camera which retails in excess of $6,000 USD.

kamera ria safari

At the heart of this camera is a 32.5MP APS-C sized sensor. That is fully image stabilized, and it supports shooting at 15 frames per second (mechanical) and a staggering 30 frames per second (electronic).

Perhaps the most impressive feature though is the autofocus. This can identify and track a range of subjects, including animals and birds. I have used this system extensively and it is amazing how well it can lock onto even a fast moving subject to enable you to get sharp shots every time.

You also get a touch-enabled flip screen, weather sealing, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, and compatibility with a massive selection of Canon lenses. Battery life is reasonable at 660 shots, and the weight without a lens is also good at 612g/ 21.58oz.

If you are looking for an APS-C sensor camera for safari photography, this would be at the top of my list.

Key Specifications : 30 images / second, 32.5 megapixel APS-C sensor Weight : 612g / 21.58oz Battery life : 660 shots Price on Amazon here , B&H here  and  Adorama here

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 IV

If you love the idea of a bridge camera but don’t want to sacrifice image quality, speed and weather sealing, look no further than the stunning Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 IV. Sony has been leading the way with high performance camera sensors for a number of years, and the RX10 IV is the current pinnacle of their bridge camera offerings.

This is probably the best bridge camera for safari, although as with every decision, there are of course some compromises. The main one being price. This is definitely a premium offering. However, you do get a lot for your money.

kamera ria safari

To start with, this is a 1″ sensor camera, with 20.1 megapixels of resolution. That is paired with a 24-600mm (25x optical) lens, which we think will be enough for most safari needs.

The lens starts out at a very wide f/2.4, meaning lots of light can reach the sensor. At 600mm the lens stops down to f/4. This is still very impressive, when you consider that a  600mm f/4 lens for a mirrorless camera will set you back five figures! The lens is also stabilized, offering around 4.5 stops of improvement.

You also get one of the fastest autofocus systems in the world, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and 4K video, superb image quality, a touch-enabled screen, a weather sealed body, and a truly impressive 24 frames per second shooting speed. Naturally there are full manual controls and RAW support.

With all that tech onboard, combined with the relatively large sensor and wider aperture zoom lens, this camera does weigh quite a bit. In fact, at 1095g (2.4lbs) it’s heavier than some larger cameras. However, if quality and performance are your key goals, and you just want an all-in-one camera that will just work, then this camera still offers excellent value for money.

If the price is a bit much, then consider the earlier model  RX10 III , which offers similar features at a lower price point. You will lose the touchscreen, and the autofocus and shooting speeds are a little slower.

Key Specifications : 24-600mm (24x) focal length, f2.4/4 aperture, 24 images / second, 20.1megapixel 1″ sensor Weight : 1095 g / 38.6 oz Battery life : 400 shots Price : Check latest price on  Amazon here ,  B&H here , and  Adorama here

Sony Alpha 7c II

If you like the look of the Sony A6xxx line but want something with a full frame sensor, consider the Sony Alpha 7C II.

kamera ria safari

Somehow, Sony has managed to fit a full frame sensor into a body that is almost identical in size and weight to the A6600, making it one of the smallest full frame mirrorless cameras on the market today.

They haven’t cut corners in terms of features either. You get a 33MP sensor, 10fps shooting, in body image stabilization, 4K video, WiFi, Bluetooth, vari-angle touchscreen and weather proofing. It also has excellent animal and people tracking with Sony’s eye-tracking autofocus system.

It even manages 540 shots on a charge. A fantastic option if you want something with a full frame sensor but in a relatively compact size.

The only downside is that it can feel a bit small and fiddly in the hands. However, that is a minor niggle for what is otherwise a standout option.

Key Specifications : 10 images / second, 33 megapixel full frame sensor Weight : 514g / 18.1oz Battery life : 540 shots Price on Amazon here , B&H here , and Adorama here

Canon EOS R6 Mark II

In late 2022, Canon launched the R6 Mark II to replace the already excellent R6. This features improved battery life, a slightly larger sensor, and a much faster burst shooting speed compared to the original R6.

kamera ria safari

Overall the R6 Mark II is an incredibly capable camera, and even outperforms the more expensive R5 in some areas.

It has a 24.2MP full frame sensor, autofocus that can track people, animals, and vehicles, up to a staggering 40 frames per second burst shooting, Wi-Fi & Bluetooth, 4K video, as well as a flip-out touchscreen. It’s also dust and drip-proof.

The fantastic autofocus system is brilliant on safari, as is the high burst shooting rate.

There’s a lens adaptor which will let you use all EF and EF-S Canon lenses with the camera, which opens the door to a massive choice.

The main downside is that on paper the megapixel count does feel a bit miserly when stacked up against the competition. Honestly though, we don’t think it’s that big of a deal, and it does mean that high ISO and low light performance is fantastic.

You can see our full  Canon EOS R5 review here , which covers a lot of the features of the R6, to see if it might be the camera for you.

Key Specifications: 40 images / second , 24.1 megapixel full frame sensor Weight: 670g / 23.63oz Battery life: 760 shots Price on Amazon here ,  B&H here  and  Adorama here .

Sony Alpha a7 IV

Sony effectively started the mirrorless camera revolution, and the Sony a7 IV, as the name suggests, is the fourth iteration in their excellent a7 range.

kamera ria safari

It comes with a full frame 33MP full frame sensor, flip out LCD display, a high refresh rate EVF, WiFi, 10fps burst shooting and a fast autofocus system that includes Sony’s excellent animal and people eye tracking.

It also has good battery life at 580 shots per full charge, and includes weather sealing, meaning it’s an excellent all-round camera and a solid option for safari. The burst rate is a bit slower than the Canon R6, but you do get a higher resolution sensor as a trade-off, as well as extended battery life.

Key Specifications : 10 images / second, 33 megapixel full frame sensor Weight : 659g / 23.25oz Battery life : 580 shots Price on Amazon here , B&H here  and  Adorama here .

Nikon Z7 II

The Nikon Z7 II is the second iteration of the Z7 model, which is towards the upper end of Nikon’s mirrorless camera range. You get a lot for your money. There’s a 45.7MP full frame sensor, weather sealeding, tilting touch screen and it has WiFi and Bluetooth. Battery life is also good enough at 420 shots.

kamera ria safari

The main downside is reviews suggest the autofocus system, whilst good, isn’t quite up to the performance of the Sony and Canon options. A burst speed of 10 frames a second is also at the lower end in this price bracket, similar to the Sony A7 IV.

However, Nikon users will likely appreciate the familiar interface and the fact that it’s compatible with the whole range of Nikon lenses with an adaptor.

Key Specifications : 10 images / second, 45.7 megapixel full frame sensor Weight : 705g / 24.87oz Battery life : 420 shots Price on Amazon here , B&H here  and  Adorama here .

Canon EOS R5

I will admit to being a little bit biased as this is the camera I actually use on a day-to-day basis, and that I have shot my most recent safaris on. I wrote a full review of the R5 here .

kamera ria safari

In summary though, I think this is a phenomenal camera. Let’s look at the specs. You get a 45 megapixel full frame sensor, with built-in image stabilization. It can shoot up to 20 frames a second. The autofocus system for tracking animals and people is truly incredible. It’s also remarkably versatile as an all-round camera, able to do everything from landscapes to wildlife.

There’s WiFi, bluetooth, a flip out touchscreen, and loads of customization options so you can set it up to work for you. It also supports 8K video, if you want to shoot video. You also get access to Canon’s massive range of lenses, including the older EF and EF-S lenses via an adaptor.

The only real downside is that it’s expensive, and the battery life at 320 shots means spare batteries are an essential purchase. Other than that though, this was my pick for my favourite camera for safari.

Key Specifications : 20 images / second, 45 megapixel full frame sensor Weight : 738g / 26.03oz Battery life : 320 shots Price on Amazon here , B&H here and Adorama here

Safari Camera Recommendations Summary

If you are finding the above list of recommended cameras and their specifications a bit overwhelming but have a general idea of your budget and what kind of camera you want, here are some personal recommendations of the best camera for safari across budgets and types of cameras:

  • Best Safari Camera Under $500 : Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ80 / FZ82
  • Best Safari Camera under $1000: Nikon Z50 or Canon EOS R50
  • Best Safari Camera under $5000: Canon EOS R5
  • Best Smartphone for Safari : Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
  • Best Compact Camera for Safari : Sony RX100 VII
  • Best Bridge Camera for Safari : Sony DSC-RX10 IV
  • Best Mirrorless Camera for Safar i: Canon EOS R5

Hopefully if you are having a hard time deciding, the above list will give you a good place to start your search for a specific camera.

But if you have any questions, just ask me in the comments section at the end of the article and I am happy to try to provide advice on which camera (and lens) might be best for you given your budget and what you want to do with it.

The Best Lenses for Safari

If you decide to buy a mirrorless (or DSLR) camera, then you are going to also need to buy a lens to go with it. Whilst some cameras may come with a lens, in most cases this won’t be ideal for safari as it won’t have sufficient reach.

There are a great many lenses on the market, and they are not generally compatible with different camera systems due to different mounting systems. If you want more background on lenses and what to look for in general, see my guide to the best lenses for travel photography , which breaks down all the terminology in detail.

I’m not going to be able to cover every lens out there, but I will provide a quick rundown of what I think are some of the best options on the market across a variety of camera systems and price points. This should give you some ideas for what to look for.

I’m going to primarily focus on longer focal lengths for wildlife photography, but do also consider bringing a wide-angle lens for the landscape opportunities as well. Ideally, for wildlife photography you want around a 400mm lens if your budget will allow for it.

I will also be recommending zoom lenses, meaning you can change the focal length, as this gives a lot more compositional control compared to a fixed focal length lens. There is a small loss in image quality and maximum aperture as a result, but this is very much worth the trade-off in my opinion for most users.

kamera ria safari

70-300mm lenses for safari

Sony, Nikon, and Canon all have at least one 70-300 lens available, which tends to be a fairly reasonably priced offering.

Most of these lenses have a variable aperture of f/4-5.6 and offer a good compromise between size, weight, image quality and affordability.

For example, see this Canon 70-300 , this Nikon 70-300 and this Sony 70-300 . This popular focal length is also available from third party manufacturers, such as with this Tamron for the Sony mount. If you are looking for a more budget safari lens, one of these is likely going to be a good pick.

300mm would be the absolute minimum I’d recommend for a lens for safari. However, I appreciate not everyone wants to spend a huge amount on camera equipment, and one of these lenses is a good way to get a reasonable reach in a relatively lightweight package.

100-400mm lenses for safari

The 100-400mm range is one of the most popular for safari photographers. 100mm lets you get quite a lot of the scene in shot, whilst 400mm will let you zoom in quite close on most subjects. Most of these lenses come with a variable aperture of around f/4.5 – f/5.6.

There’s a wide range of choice at the 100-400mm range across a number of systems. At the higher end you have the weather-sealed, heavier options like this Canon 100-400 , this Sony 100-400 and this Nikon 100-400 .

If you are willing to sacrifice your maximum aperture, you can save a bit of money with something like this Canon 100-400 f/5.6-8 for RF mount cameras, or this Sigma 100-400 f/5-6.3 .

Generally, I’d advise trying to get the widest aperture you can afford as it will make a big difference in low light situations. However, I did want to make it clear that there are options out there across a range of budgets.

Other telephoto lens options for safari.

There are of course other options that are worth considering. If you want more reach, consider the Canon 100-500 f/4.5 – 7.1 for RF mount , or the excellent Sony 200-600 f/5.6-6.3 .

If you want more reach but don’t want to spend as much, you can save money by using third party lenses from the likes of Sigma and Tamron for example. Image quality and autofocus speeds might be marginally impacted, but the price difference can be significant.

For example, check out this Tamron 150-600 f/5 – 6.3 , which is available in a range of mounts for different camera systems. You get an excellent focal range, image stabilization and weather sealing at what is a very reasonable price. Sigma also do a range of 150-600mm lenses for different mounts.

Lens and Camera Rental for Safari

A high-end camera and lens can be a very expensive investment, which might not make a lot of sense for one-off usage. You obviously want to get great photos on your trip, but buying an expensive telephoto zoom lens or high specification full frame body that you only plan to use once might not make sense.

In this case, consider renting your camera equipment. A company like Lens Rentals will allow you to rent a lens and a camera body at a much lower cost than buying it outright. They also give you the option to purchase the gear rather than return it, so if you love the experience then you can invest having tested the gear out.

This is definitely worth looking into if you want high end gear but don’t want to invest into an expensive setup for long term use. You can browse what they have available here .

If you go with Lens Rentals, you can save 15% on any rental with the code “LAURENCE15”. Just enter it at checkout to redeem.

Accessories for Safari

Now that you have your camera and lens figured out, I wanted to share some tips for what camera and photography accessories you may want to bring on safari.

Memory Cards

You are going to be taking a lot of photos when on safari. Memory cards are not very expensive these days, and it is worth having a backup memory card as well as plenty of memory.

I recommend at least a 64GB memory card. If you are travelling with a laptop then you can back up your photos as you go. If you prefer to travel light, then you will want to pack many more memory cards so you don’t run out of space on your trip.

Spare Batteries

It is definitely worth bringing at least one spare battery for your camera, and ideally two. These are easy to keep on you or in your photography bag and come in handy when you are out all day.

You don’t want to be half way through a busy day and run out of battery, and then potentially miss some great shots. Modern mirrorless cameras in particular can eat through batteries quickly, so a spare or two is definitely a must in my opinion.

USB Battery Charger / Power Pack

As well as spare batteries, you might consider bringing a USB power pack and USB powered camera battery charger . This will allow you to charge your camera batteries while on the go from the battery pack (or a USB outlet in your vehicle).

Some locations you stay at on safari may also have limited power outlet availability, especially in the more remote areas or if you are staying in tented camps. In these scenarios, they often have USB power outlets from solar panels, but might not have higher voltage outlets.

In these situations, a USB battery charger for your camera batteries will be invaluable. I travel with both a USB battery pack and a USB powered battery charger for my Canon camera batteries, and it has come in handy many times.

Monopod / Tripod

A common question is whether or not you should take a tripod on safari. I would say that in general, for wildlife photography from a vehicle, a tripod is not going to be very useful. There likely won’t be enough room to set it up unless you have a vehicle specifically set up for it.

Another option is a monopod, which is certainly something to consider, depending on your vehicle configuration. If you are also likely to be doing foot-based safaris and have big lenses, then a monopod is definitely something to consider.

For example, I used a monopod when shooting chimpanzees in Uganda, a trip which required a hike through the jungle. A monopod allows for very quick movement of your camera, often necessary in wildlife photography, whilst still taking most of the weight off your shoulders.

A good option if you want to pack a tripod for your safari trip but are maybe also thinking you may want a monopod is to bring a travel tripod that can convert to a monopod such as the recent VEO 3 range from Vanguard .

I’ve been an ambassador for Vanguard for many years now. If you see something on their store that works for your equipment, you can save money using our exclusive Vanguard discount code. This will give you 20% off everything in the  Vanguard store.

Just use the code  FindingTheUniverse for your discount! This code works in the Vanguard USA, UK, Australia, Spain, and Germany stores.

Photography Bean Bag

For vehicle-based photography, the most useful accessory in my opinion is a photography bean bag rather than a tripod or monopod. I used these every day we did vehicle safaris on our recent trip.

Photography bean bags can be placed on the roof of the vehicle for use when looking out a pop-up top, or over a window or window sill for in-vehicle use.

Photography bean bags are normally made out of a durable canvas (or similar material), and have a zipped opening so you can add or remove the contents. These can be polystyrene beads, or you can simply fill them with something environmentally friendly like dried kidney beans when you arrive in a destination.

I used a photography bean bag extensively on my safari trips, and they are really an invaluable item. We have a guide to some of the best options photography bean bags here , but recommend checking out either the Kinesis SafariSack 4.2 or LensCoat LensSack Pro Jr as a starting point.

Photography bean bags for safari

Appropriate Clothing

Whilst this isn’t camera specific, having the right clothing for your safari can improve your overall experience. If you are comfortable and prepared for the weather, you are also likely to get better photos.

Personally, I prefer clothes with lots of pockets where I can store things like spare batteries, lens wipes and lens caps. Most safaris tend to be hot, so you also want lightweight clothing.

A vest is a popular option for photographers such as those by ScotteVest , and I own a couple of these vests. They are great for travel days and airports as well.

But my preference on safari are the safari focused shirts from the brand Craghoppers . These have a range of features for travel, including being quick-drying and sun proof.

They are really lightweight, and are available in safari appropriate colors (light greens and beige are good, blue and black are bad if going to teste fly infested areas). Some models, like the NosiLife line, even come with built-in insect repellent.

The main thing I love about them though is that they have lots of pockets and so it’s easy for me to quickly access a spare camera battery without having to root around in my bag. You can get them from the official Craghoppers store here as well as on REI in the US here and on  Amazon here .

For more packing tips, see our  detailed guide to what to pack for safari .

Comfortable Camera Strap

A safari trip is going to involve you carrying and using your camera a lot. You are likely going to be bumping along on dirt roads, sticking your head out of the safari vehicle, and hiking along in forests during your trip. So you want to make sure you have both a secure and comfortable camera strap.

It is likely that your camera came with a manufacturer branded strap such as one from Canon or Nikon. This strap may be fine for some people. For others, especially if you have a heavy camera setup, it may not provide enough support or comfort.

I personally use Peak Design straps, as I find them much more comfortable than a standard camera strap. We put together a full review of the Peak Design camera strap system here .

You can purchase them from Peak Design here , as well as on Amazon or B&H Photo .

A Good Camera Bag

A safari can be a dusty and bumpy experience, two things that can cause damage to cameras and lenses. To protect your gear in between shoots, I highly recommend getting a good camera bag.

Camera bags are specially designed to provide padding and protection for your gear, and many of them also come with rain covers. This means that you have somewhere safe, protected and padded to put your gear.

Personally, I use Vanguard photography bags and I’ve been an ambassador for Vanguard for many years now. If you see something on their store that works for your equipment, you can save money using our exclusive Vanguard discount code. This will give you 20% off everything in the  Vanguard store.

There are of course a range of other camera bags available, you can see the options on Amazon here and B&H Photo here .

Camera Cleaning Kit

No matter how well you protect your camera and lens, it is inevitable that it is going to get some dust or dirt on it. To help keep it clean, I recommend picking up a camera cleaning kit. These are normally fairly inexpensive and some come with carrying cases which are handy for travel.

They can come with a range of different items. My recommendation is to get one which includes a blower and a lens cloth like this , which will make it easier to remove the dust.

Further Reading

That’s it for my guide to the best safari camera. If you found this useful, you might enjoy some of my other photography content. Here are some articles to get you started.

  • I have a detailed guide full of safari photography tips to help you get great photos whatever your camera is. We also have a detailed guide to what to pack for safari
  • I have a guide to my favourite  photo editing applications , as well as the best  alternatives to Lightroom
  • Once you’ve taken all your photos you don’t want to lose them! Read our guide to backing up your photos for an idea of how to keep them all safe.
  • Wildlife photography can often result in noisy images. See my guide to the best noise reduction software for some ideas on how to get the best out of your photos even when they might be a bit noisy
  • We have a guide to  how to use a compact camera ,  how to use a DSLR camera , and  how to use a mirrorless camera . We also have a guide to  how a DSLR works
  • Knowing how to compose a great photo is a key photography skill. See our guide to  composition in photography  for lots of tips on this subject
  • We have a guide to what  depth of field  is and when you would want to use it.
  • We are big fans of getting the most out of your digital photo files, and do to that you will need to shoot in RAW. See our guide to  RAW in photography  to understand what RAW is, and why you should switch to RAW as soon as you can if your camera supports it.
  • You’re going to need something to run your photo editing software on. See our guide to the best  laptops for photo editing  for some tips on what to look for.
  • If you’re looking for more advice on specific tips for different scenarios, we also have you covered. See our guide to  Northern Lights photography ,  long exposure photography ,  fireworks photography ,  tips for taking photos of stars , and  cold weather photography .
  • If you would like to make a living from your photography, see our guide to how to make money from photography
  • Color accuracy is important for photography – see our guide to  monitor calibration  to ensure your screen is set up correctly.
  • If you’re looking for a great gift for a photography loving friend or family member (or yourself!), take a look at our  photography gift guide ,
  • If you’re in the market for a new camera, we have a detailed guide to the  best travel cameras , as well as specific guides for the  best cameras for hiking and backpacking , the  best compact camera ,  best bridge camera ,  best mirrorless camera  and  best DSLR camera . We also have a guide to the  best camera lenses .
  • If you want a camera or lens, but the prices are a bit high, see our guide to  where to buy used cameras and camera gear  for some budget savings options.
  • We have a guide to  why you need a tripod , a guide to  choosing a travel tripod , and a round-up of our  favourite travel tripods

Looking to Improve Your Photography?

If you found this post helpful, and you want to improve your photography overall, you might want to check out my  online travel photography course .

Since launching the course in 2016, I’ve already helped over 2,000 students learn how to take better photos. The course covers pretty much everything you need to know, from the basics of how a camera works, through to composition, light, and photo editing.

It also covers more advanced topics, including astrophotography, long exposure photography, flash photography, and HDR photography.

You get feedback from me as you progress, access to webinars, interviews and videos, as well as exclusive membership of a Facebook group where you can get feedback on your work and take part in regular challenges.

It’s available for an amazing one-off price for lifetime access, and I think you should check it out. Which you can do by  clicking here .

And that’s it! I’d love to hear about your thoughts on wildlife photography on safari, and am happy to answer any questions you have. Just pop them in the comments below and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.

A detailed guide to the best cameras for safari, with what to look for as well a guide to lenses and accessories for safari photography

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21st July 2024 at 2:16 pm

Great article, but a little bit suprised/shocked that you do not spcifically mention the OM Systems OM-1 and OM-1 mk2 in your article. Hard to beat in price (that one depends on your budget), weather/dust sealing (which is to me a real “have to” for safaris), portability and performance (for this type of camera, size/weight) and litterally unique in the computational features it has). I am not saying that it is the best camera and for sure the autofocus of Nikons or Canons twice as expensive is better. But still, I think it is worth to be on this list. Now start shooting at me 😉

Laurence Norah says

21st July 2024 at 2:34 pm

I actually don’t disagree with you at all, I think the micro four thirds cameras are excellent (I shot with a series of Lumix GX cameras for a while) and the value is definitely there, as is the considerable weight saving! The autofocus is not quite there, which I think is pretty important for safari, but it is certainly usable. So I will definitely consider revising this list to include them. Mostly I didn’t include them because there are so many great options out there and I would prefer to provide readers with suggestions on what to look for and then a smaller list so as not to be overwhelming with choice!

Thanks for stopping by and your comment, it is appreciated 🙂

21st July 2024 at 5:05 pm

Thanks L, I agree. Weight, price, weathersealing, fast lenses, all is there. Subject tracing is excellent and the Procapture mode lets you shoot at 120pics per second. Autofocus is great, allthough the bigger cams have still a (slight) advantage, under certain conditions. Thanks for considering putting it on the (very long, indeed) list. Thanks for the great article and the fast response.

Nicole says

4th July 2024 at 2:06 am

Hi Laurence, Thanks for the information above in this post. We are going to Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania (trekking to see the gorillas and chimpanzees along with other safari’s) and we’re looking for a camera to take. We read your review / recommendation on the SonyRX10IV but it is no longer available in Australia. Can you recommend a camera which would be equivalent to this one?

Thank you in advance for any suggestions.

4th July 2024 at 7:49 pm

Yes, unfortuantely it seems that Sony is focusing primarily on their mirrorless cameras at the moment, as are many other manufacturers, and compact / bridge cameras are definitely not being produced in the same quantities, if they are produced at all, leading to stock shortages.

So the next best camera of that style is going to be the Panasonic FZ1000 II. It’s not quite as capable as the Sony, but it will still give good results in a similar sized package. Let me know if that’s available where you are!

7th July 2024 at 10:41 am

Thanks Laurence. We managed to order the Sony online. We appreciate your advice.

7th July 2024 at 1:55 pm

Great, glad to hear you were able to find one! Enjoy your trip 🙂

Rebecca says

25th June 2024 at 1:15 pm

Hello Laurence, I would like to start by saying thank you for the article I found it quite informative even for a beginner. My husband and I are going on our bucket list safari next year. This means we have a lot of time to learn how to use the camera, which we will need as we are absolute beginners. We will be asking a lot of a camera. Firstly it needs to be light as we have a maximum of 15kg luggage for a 3 week trip. Secondly we need the camera to be able to handle varying climates, as we will be trekking gorillas and chimpanzees in the rain forest in Uganda, as well as going on dusty game drives in Kenya. Lastly we will also be doing a balloon safari so need to take photos from up in the balloon. We were thinking of the Canon R50 but are unsure as it’s not weather protected. We would like to keep the budget including lenses and spare batteries to under $2000 AUD. What would your suggestion be?

25th June 2024 at 5:54 pm

Hi Rebecca!

Glad to be able to help. So the EOS R50 is definitely an option that is worth considering. It’s pretty light (around 0.4kg), although you do have to consider the weight of any lens which will add between 0.5kg – 1.5kg depending on which lens you go for. You are correct in that it is not weather sealed, but an inexpensive camera rain cover could help with that. The main challenge I think is going to be finding the camera as well as suitable lenses within budget. Lenses tend to cost as much as a camera body, if not much more.

The other option I’d probably suggest considering is going to be something like the Sony RX10 IV. That is weather sealed, has good autofocus and weighs around 1kg. It does have a smaller sensor than the Canon of course, and there’s less flexibility when it comes to lenses as you can’t change them. However it is a great performer and you might find it meets all your needs.

Let me know if you have any follow up questions I’m happy to help!

8th June 2024 at 12:26 pm

Hi Laurence, firstly, thank you for the fantastically comprehensive guide – by far the best I’ve found! Ditto your packing guide. I’m an amateur / hobbyist going on safari in Tanzania in 4-5 weeks’ time, and looking to upgrade ASAP from my old Nikon D5500 to a mid-range, full frame, mirrorless hybrid camera. Right now I’m stuck between the Canon R6II (+RF 100-500mm lens), Sony A7IV, and Sony A7CII (with a Sony, I’d plan to buy the Tamron 50-400mm F4.5-6.3 Di III VXD lens for safari, or potentially a used Sony FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS, which seems to be a similar price). I’ve read and watched a LOT of reviews, and it seems that the Canon is probably the best all-rounder for sports and wildlife in many ways. However, the cost of the RF 100-500mm lens and lack of third party lens support for future lens purchases would make it the more expensive purchase by some way, and puts me off slightly. I’m also very attracted by the compact size and weight plus the great autofocus of the A7CII, and the lens options available if you buy into the Sony ecosystem. For those reasons, I’m currently leaning slightly more towards Sony…but that said, I’m worried about the slower burst rate / fps and slower shutter speed on the Sonys vs. the Canon. Do you think that the faster speed of the Canon would be better suited to shooting wildlife on safari? Is it worth spending the extra money on the Canon + lens? Would the slower speed of the Sonys be a handicap? For additional context, post-safari I’ll mainly be using my camera for landscapes, some wildlife (photo + video), plus dogs and horses (photo + video). I’d be grateful for any advice that could help me to finally take the plunge and go for either Canon or Sony…….thanks in advance!

8th June 2024 at 1:28 pm

It’s my pleasure, I’m glad you found it useful. So to be honest, you are going to get fantastic results with either camera system. There are some small differences as you’ve noted, such as the lower burst speed, but even that is not a massive deal. 10 frames a second is still a lot of frames per second, and unless you happened to be shooting the final 100 metres at the Olympics where you absolutely need every single moment captured, then I think the difference isn’t going to be really noticeable on safari. I shoot with an R5 which tops out at 12 fps in manual shutter and 20 frames per second in electronic and that is definitely more than enough!

In terms of third party lenses for the RF mount, this is definitely a short coming. The good news is that there are some lenses availalble and it seems that Canon is slowly letting more third party lenses through the door. So I think in time this will definitely improve. I’d also add that because you can use EF lenses with the EF to RF adaptor (I actually only use EF lenses at the moment because they work just as well in my experience), you do end up with a huge choice of lenses anyway.

The main thing is to pick a camera system that you are going to be happy with in terms of cost, weight and performance. I don’t think you need to worry too much about image quality with either system, they will both do a great job. I’d say the same thing with the shutter speed / burst rate note, I don’t think that’s going to be a big difference. I personally prefer Canon, but I’ve been shooting Canon for thirty years at this point so I’m just very used to their system. Sony also make great cameras and I don’t think you’ll be disappointed with whatever system you choose 🙂

Have an amazing safari and let me know if you have any more questions, I’m happy to help!

9th June 2024 at 9:42 pm

Hi Laurence,

Thank you so much for the super quick and detailed reply! I really appreciate it.

It’s good to know that I don’t need to be hung up on the burst speed of the Sonys, particularly in terms of potentially taking one on safari. And thank you for the reminder that you can use EF lenses on Canon cameras, too. I’m going to do some more lens research before making a final decision.

It’s definitely a tricky decision, but what a great dilemma to have. And it’s reassuring to know that I can’t really go wrong either way. I’m so excited to get practising before our trip! 🙂

Thanks again!

Hannah Stearns says

15th May 2024 at 11:03 pm

Hi I am going on safari in South Africa next month. I went to my local camera store today and was recommended the Canon EOS R100 with the 18-45mm lens and the 55-210mm lens. I am a beginner and have only really worked with point and shoot cameras. I would like to stay under about $750. I would like something more compact but if this is a great camera I would be willing to just bring a larger bag. Please let me know your thoughts! Thank you!

16th May 2024 at 4:06 pm

This is a great question. So whilst I do think the R100 is a great camera, there are a couple of things about it that would make me recommend its slightly more expensive sibling, the Canon EOS R50 instead as a safari camera, were you to go down the Canon mirrorless route.

The main thing is the autofocus system. The R100 uses a less advanced autofocus system compared to the R50. The R100 can track and lock onto people’s eyes, but crucially does not support recognising and tracking the eyes of animals or birds. When shooting an animal or bird, you nearly always want the eye to be what you focus on, and you don’t always have time to pick a focus point in the moment as things can happen quickly. Canon’s animal eye recognition is amazing (I have it in my camera), and it can make a big difference to whether or not you get a great shot or not.

The R50 also supports a wider ISO (better for shooting when there is less light available) and a higher burst rate (good for capturing fast action events).

Finally, the R50 also has a movable touchscreen. This can make selecting a focal point a lot easier if necessary, and makes interacting with the camera menus a lot easier. The R100 has a fixed non touchscreen, which helps keep the cost down but is a major downgrade.

The R50 is also available as a bundle with the two lensess you mentioned, and is only an ounce or so heavier than the R100, so the size isn’t really a differentiatior. The price is a bit higher and I appreciate at current pricing it’s $100 over your budget, but I honestly think if you are thinking of the R100, then the R50 in your scenario is going to make a lot more sense.

I hope this helps, let me know if you have any more questions, I’m happy to help! Otherwise, have an amazing safari!

19th May 2024 at 3:22 pm

Thank you for this very thoughtful reply and for linking the product! My husband is hesitant to have a camera with different lenses and the bulk of that. Is there a point and shoot camera that you recommend that would have similar quality of photos and zoom? We discussed increasing our budget closer to $800-900. Thank you so much!

19th May 2024 at 4:35 pm

It’s my pleasure! So there will unfortunately be a slight step down in quality when going to a smaller camera, just because this necessitates a smaller sensor which won’t be quite as good. That said, you can still get great results. If you want to keep a good zoom then I’d suggest looking at a bridge camera or a high end point and shoot camera.

The bridge camera would be a bit larger than a point and shoot, but will give you better results and normally a better zoom. So I would say probably the Panasonic Lumix FZ1000 II . A bridge camera basically “bridges” between a point and shoot and an SLR, offering a good balance of zoom, image quality and size. The lenses aren’t interchangeable but you will get good results.

If you would really prefer a compact camera then the best option at your budget is going to be the Panasonic ZS200 . This has a slightly larger sensor than most compact cameras and still has a good enough zoom for most situations. The only problem is going to be finding one, most manufacturers have stopped making compact cameras so finding them is becoming a bit challenging these days unfortunately.

Hopefully this helps with your decision!

25th May 2024 at 2:19 pm

Yes that is very helpful. I have had so much trouble finding stock in a point and shoot so I have settled on a bridge camera. I have one more comparison to ask you your opinion on— if you don’t mind! My local camera store recommended the Nikon P950. I think I’ve narrowed it down to that or the Panasonic Lumix FZ1000 II that you recommended. Which would you pick between these two? I’m hung up on the amount of zoom the Nikon has but again not sure if that is worth it for the size difference. Thank you so much again for all your help!

25th May 2024 at 2:52 pm

So those are both good options. Obviously the zoom on the Nikon is very impressive, however to achieve that zoom there are some trade offs compared to the Panasonic. The sensor on the Nikon is smaller, and it weighs a bit more. The weight is a personal preference thing, but the sensor size will make a difference to image quality when there is less light available. This is often the case when on safari as you are often shooting around dusk and dawn (when the animals are more active), and there is less light available. In these situations the Panasonic will have a slight edge.

Honestly, shooting above the 400mm equivalent of the FZ1000 is rare when on safari, unless you are particularly interested in bird photography. When you start to shoot very distant subjects, other factors come into play that affect image quality, such as dust in the air and heat haze. So you might be able to zoom in a lot with the Nikon on a distant subject, but the image won’t necessarily be great.

So personally I’d pick the FZ1000 II, but I think you will be honestly happy with either option. The bigger zoom on the Nikon can be nice to have in a pinch if you must get a shot to prove you saw something! Also just to note the Nikon doesn’t have a touch screen. Not a deal breaker but just worth noting.

Hope this helps, have a great trip!

Virginia Bechtold says

31st December 2023 at 1:59 am

Hi! Thank you for amazingly detailed offering of information! Not sure if my previous comment/question posted.

Going to Kenya on safari in a few weeks. Looking for a dummy proof camera for my 77 year old mother and I to take high quality photos of wildlife and scenery in all light situations with not a lot of effort/programming. Would like to spend under $1K.

From my notes, it seems like the following are good bets? Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300 Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ80 Panasonic Lumix ZS200 Canon Powershot SX70 HS Panasonic FZ1000 II Panasonic Lumix FZ 2500 (Gathered from this safari list and the best travel camera list)

Still need some help deciding, thanks in advance for your guidance! I hate making decisions!!! Virginia

Thank you in advance for the guidance!!! Virginia

31st December 2023 at 10:21 pm

Hi Virgina!

It’s lovely to hear from you. So I would say, from your list and based on your requirements, that the Panasonic FZ1000 II would probably be the best option. It has a 1-inch sensor and a wide aperture, which means it will performer better in low light than many of the other options. So I think that’s probably the one I would go for. If you put it in Auto mode it should be fine for the majority of situations I would say.

I hope this helps, have an amazing time on safari and let me know if you have any more questions!

Alessia Sacchi says

27th October 2023 at 9:20 pm

Hello Laurence, Your posts are just fantastic. I love how you write, crystal clear, easy wording. Please keep writing, we have so much to learn from you. I would really appreciate some advice from you in regards to my next safari in Zambia. I have had a Sony Nex 5R since 2013 which I love, the main issue is the lack of the view finder. I am fond of wildlife photography and under certain circumstances I am struggling to use the LCD. I have two lenses: sony 10-105 and sony 55-210. I am looking at the sony 100-400 combined with a full frame. What would you suggest me? I am leaving in 3 weeks time and I am also a bit concerned I might not have enough time to learn howo use the new setup. however I am concerned the 55-210 won’t be enough. what do you think? thank you so much !Alessia

27th October 2023 at 9:59 pm

Hi Alessia!

It’s my pleasure and I am glad you found my content useful. So the NEX 5R is definitely getting a bit older now. You will definitely notice a massive improvement in areas like autofocus speed and low light performance if you switch up to a newer Sony full frame. In terms of focal length, for safari 210mm is going to be on the edge of what is useful. With a crop sensor like you have at the moment it’s ok, but if you step up to full frame I’d say the 100-400 would be a great choice.

In terms of the learning curve, there will be a bit of a change but if you stay in the Sony system it should be easier as the menus etc will be familiar. The main system you will want to master will be the autofocus system – knowing how to set it up to track eyes, and how to override it in the rare cases it gets it wrong. It’s also handy having an understanding of how to adjust shutter speed, ISO and aperture quickly, as you can go from stationary animals (where a lower shutter speed is ok) to fast moving animals (where you want a fast shutter speed) in quite a short time period.

I think a safari tends to be a once in a lifetime, or at least, a not very often experience, and having a camera that can do it justice is a worthwhile investment 🙂 If you are able to spend a good amount of time in the coming weeks trying to get practice with local wildlife (even a domestic cat or birds outside), then this should help.

Let me know if you have any more questions, and have an amazing time on safari!

Joao Nabais says

27th June 2023 at 4:55 pm

Do you have any examples with a lens of 70-300mm? I’m thinking on getting the eos 250d with EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6, but would like to see some zoomed photos of animals with a similar setup.

27th June 2023 at 5:29 pm

I don’t have that specific setup to share photos from, but the good news is that you should be able to find those sorts of images on flickr, using their camera search feature.

For example, this page of search results show photos taken with an EOS 250D, with the additional filter of “300”.

Lots of images come up that should meet your requirements, including this one and this one .

Hope this helps!

Barry Ritter says

12th June 2023 at 3:30 pm

Excellent article! There are four points that I’d like to add:

– Weight. The article did not mention weight but it can become a factor when spending a long day in the field. An advantage of a mirrorless is that it weighs less than a traditional DSLR but it will require a larger budget. Mirrorless can offer (in the right hands) a sharper focused image, but often other than close-ups, most people viewing your images will not notice the difference. – For many travelers, this is a trip of a lifetime, and rather than purchasing an expensive gear set-up you can rent all or some of the equipment for this trip. It will save money and avoid the investment if you don’t have a long-term need for the equipment. With improvements in post-processing in the last year or two, many “flaws” in your images can be resolved and you can still end up with once-in-a-lifetime images. – Lastly and most important, don’t get lost in the technical stuff around taking pictures. You will miss much of the adventure of a safari.

14th June 2023 at 2:51 pm

These are great tips! I will definitely incorporate some of these suggestions into the article 🙂 I did already cover lens / camera rental as I think that can be a great option, and I touched on weight briefly when covering the different types of camera but that could be expanded on.

I also thoroughly agree with the final point. You don’t want to end up watching your safari experience through a screen or viewfinder. Definitely get the photos you want, but I don’t think that should be the main focus.

Thanks again for your input!

Amy G. says

2nd June 2023 at 4:22 am

Hi Laurence, This article has been amazingly helpful. We are heading this summer to the KAZA region for a 10-day safari, 3 days of which will be on a river boat. We have an additional 6 days in and around Cape Town. I was looking at the Sony RX10 IV as a great camera for this trip, but noticed that the Lumix FZ 2500 has most of the same features for half the price here: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/compare/Panasonic_DMC-FZ2500_vs_Sony_DSC-RX10+IV/BHitems/1280827-REG_1361560-REG Do you know why there is such a price differential? Is the Sony worth it, or should I go for the Lumix? (no time to wait for new models) Thank you!

2nd June 2023 at 4:53 pm

So there are some differences between the two, but probably not enough to justify the price difference. Autofocus might be a bit faster on the Sony and you can focus closer, plus there’s a bit more zoom. However, as is often the case with photography gear, there is a law of dimishing returns. Spending twice as much doesn’t normally yield gear that is twice as good! So I would say the Panasonic would be a great option as well 🙂

Have an amazing safari!

Lauren B says

21st May 2023 at 6:20 am

This article is the most helpful I’ve seen! Thank you. But I’m still a bit lost and hoping you can steer me in the right direction…

I currently have a 13-year-old cannon rebel (t1i) with a 18-55 and 70-300 lens. I’m an amateur/hobby photographer, took photography classes through high school/college and for the past 10+ years (aside from a few trips) my camera has mostly lived in a closet.

I’m going on a safari next month and have been back and forth on the sonyrx10 bridge camera (probably a used one to save a bit of money), or if I should replace my cannon body for a newer model (maybe the t8i) and use the lenses I have already or if I do that will I still need a longer zoom lens? Or if I should go in a completely different direction that I haven’t thought about yet?

I follow a number of wildlife photographers and my goal is to take a couple of great photos that I can print in large-format for my home and be able to hang my own art rather than having to spend the money on someone else’s, so quality is very important.

That said, I know that after this trip this camera will spend most of its future life in a closet (I thought about renting but because it’s a 14-day trip, it’s more economical to buy, plus then I’ll have it for the future), so I don’t want to go too crazy in my spending. And we will be flying on those tiny planes, so weight is an issue.

Extremely interested in your opinion.

Thanks! Lauren

21st May 2023 at 4:46 pm

Hey Lauren,

My pleasure. So this is a good question. I’d say that the Sony is going to be easier to use and give you more zoom. In terms of image quality, between that and say a t8i there’s probably not going to be a lot in it. The RX10 will have better autofocus and faster burst performance, so it’s going to give you better safari results. To get a major step up in quality / performance whilst staying with Canon you’d need to be looking at one of their newer mirrorless cameras like the EOS R10 or the R7. However that might be outside your budget. Those would work with your existing lenses (with the RF adaptor), but honestly, I think you will likely find the RX10 to be a better all round solution as you wouldn’t need a new zoom lens as well.

I hope this helps, let me know if you have any more questions!

Lauren says

21st May 2023 at 5:01 pm

Thanks so much! This has been most helpful.

21st May 2023 at 5:31 pm

It’s my pleasure! Have an amazing time on safari 🙂

Michael says

4th May 2023 at 2:54 am

Thanks for the great informative article. I am going to Kenya on safari during the summer and am struggling between acquiring a Canon R6 Mark II or a Canon R7. I had been using a Rebel T2i for over 10 years but it no longer works. I have both EF as well as EF-S lenses. Specifically, I have an EF 100mm-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L. While I like the reach of the R7 (and the price), I am not sure where to compromise most (I have considered getting a speed booster if I get the R7 to mock a full frame when doing landscapes, etc. and maybe get the best of both worlds (but am not sure if that is really effective or just a bit of a gimmick)). The low light capabilities and the better auto-focus/tracking on the R6 Mark II are very attractive in theory, however I do not know how much better they are than the R7 (and how much better they would be for the specific purpose of this safari). Mostly, I am concerned that the lower megapixel count on the R6 Mark II will be problematic and limiting (or maybe this is just a red herring and 24 MP is more than sufficient). If I had one camera to bring on safari in Kenya (and use as my primary thereafter for whatever life throws my way), which of the two would you recommend? Thanks.

4th May 2023 at 6:22 pm

Hi Michael,

My pleasure. So personally I would go with the R6 Mark II. The larger sensor is going to make much more of a difference in the difficult low light situations you often find yourself facing when on safari (dawn and dusk being the best time for wildlife viewing). The megapixel difference of 24.2 vs 32.5 is honestly negligible. 24.2 MP works out to a 6000×4000 pixel image, whilst 32.5 is 6960 x 4640. So you are only looking at 960 extra pixels in width and 640 in height. It’s not going to make a huge difference, and the larger sensor on the R6 Mark II will make much more of a difference in my opinion. The ISO performance on the R6 is also better.

Either camera will of course be a massive upgrade from the T2i, especially when it comes to things like the autofocus and shooting speed, and the image stabilization will be handy as well. One thing I would say is that you should expect to factor in a bit of learning time, whatever camera you go for. I upgraded from a 6D to the R5 and whilst a lot remains the same, there was still quite a learning curve moving to the Canon mirrorless system. I love it, but it took me a little while to get comfortable, especially with the autofocus system.

Happy to answer any more questions you might have and have an amazing time in Kenya!

Melissa says

9th March 2023 at 4:58 am

Hi! I’m struggling to decide what camera to get. I was originally thinking the Sony Rx10 iv however, I saw the Sony 200-600mm lens and thought that on like the Sony A6600 body might be more what I’m looking for. I’ve always had bridge cameras, but Im wondering if it’s worth the jump to the mirror less to learn. I am typically in a vehicle when I see wildlife I want to photograph and I want my pictures to look very clear when I am at a distance. I was thinking I could use my iPhone as just a more landscape kind of camera. Thoughts? I did see that there’s rumors of another ASP-C camera coming out soon. I also noticed that the Sony a7 iii is on sale that has the larger sensor. Thanks so much for your great article!

10th March 2023 at 9:49 am

Hey Melissa!

So this is a tricky question to answer because a lot of the decision will come down to what you are willing to carry. The RX10 IV is going to be a much more compact setup compared to even a smaller mirrorless body like the A6600 and the 200-600. That said, the sensor in the a6600 is a lot bigger, and the resolving power of the lens will be greater. So you will get better results, especially in lower light situations (very common on safari when you are often shooting in early morning and early evening when the light is fading).

The A7 III is also of course another option. If it was me, I would probably go for the A7 III as I personally feel that the image quality and low light capabilities of a full frame sensor are more important than weight, but that’s a personal choice.

If you have the opportunity to visit a store and try out one of these cameras with the 200-600 lens you can get a feel for the weight and how it feels.

In terms of using the iPhone as a landscape camera, that will definitely be an option. You could also use it for when the animals come closer, which can definitely happen on safari. But it should be fine in those situations for sure, and save you switching lenses around (not normally a great idea in the dusty environment of a safari).

You are correct that there are rumours around a new APS-C Sony camera, likely around to be released around summer. So if you are not in a rush that is something you might want to wait for, if only because even if you don’t get it it will likely push prices of the older cameras down. But I would definitely suggest whatever you get to make sure you leave some time to learn how to use it before you go on safari, you don’t want to miss a shot because you are learning on the go if that makes sense.

Let me know if you have any more questions, I’m happy to help!

Janez Zavrl says

6th February 2023 at 4:50 pm

Dear Laurence, I’m planning a Safari trip in September. I read your article and tips. I’m really impressed. I have one question. I own Olympus E-30 with 2 lenses 3/4 12-60mm 1:2,8-4 and 50-200mm 1:2,8-3,5. Since the camera has Image Stabilisation, do you think, this is a sound system or should I consider investing for example in Nikon Coolpix P1000 which has very nice reviews? Thanks, Janez

9th February 2023 at 8:28 am

This is a good question. So the E-30 is definitely an older camera now, although there is a lot to be said for familiarity when it comes to photography, so if you are used to the camera and how it works then you might get better results than if you invested in a new system that you are not as familiar with. That said, the P1000 will give you a lot more versatility, especially when it comes to being able to zoom in on further away wildlife compared to your existing system. My recommendation would be to take your existing setup and try to photograph some wildlife around your home. Try and photograph things like birds or even pets. See how well the camera performs in terms of tracking the autofocus, and check the results are how you would expect. If you find you regularly miss shots due to slow focus or not having enough zoom, then an upgrade might be a good idea.

I hope this helps! Let me know if I can offer any more advice, I am happy to help. Otherwise, have an amazing safari!

9th February 2023 at 5:37 pm

Thanks for the advice Laurance. I think it’s a fair comment. In a way, I’m very satisfied with my current system and I will do more work on how to get the most out of the system. I just read one nice recommendation from a famous s photographer from Slovenia, Arne Hodalič http://www.arnehodalic.com/ . For good photography, you don need the best camera. A good photo is created in our brain, the camera is only an extension of our thoughts, knowledge and experiences.

Rachel Phillips says

29th December 2022 at 3:27 pm

Thank you for such an incredible summary Laurence

I am trying to decide if it’s worth spending money on a new lens for my Sony alpha 7, for a planned safari this summer to have a greater zoom

I use a tamron lens, 17mm-28mm f2.8 for landscapes and a sony 24-240 f4.5-4 (wt 780) for sports and wildlife.

I don’t want anything too heavy, or too expensive.

Would it be worth buying the Sony 70-350 f4.5-6.3 (wt 625) or tamron 50-400 f 5-6.7 ( wt 1150) instead of what I have now. I want a zoom closer to 400mm but will be sacrificing aperture with the lenses I am considering.

I have a tripod to help when lower light , but I won’t be able to use it most of the time

I am also aware that I could have a gap from 28 to 50 or 70 that I might need to fill.

Thanks in advance

29th December 2022 at 3:41 pm

It’s my pleasure! So I would definitely say that you are going to have more flexibility in terms of what you can take photos of if you take a longer lens. So I would definitely recommend ideally 400mm, although more can be helpful.

I would probably suggest considering either the Sigma 150-600 f/5-6.3 or the Tamron 50-400 f/4.5-6.3. I would personally lean more towards the former as it gives you greater reach, which is really the goal of a telephoto lens.

In terms of aperture, this is unfortunately a downside of a longer lens. Even the most expensive prime telephoto lenses tend to top out at f/4. As you will need to be using faster shutter speeds for wildlife in general, the only solution is to use higher ISO settings. The good news it that modern camera sensors are pretty competent even at ISO’s of 3200 and higher, so you can still get great images at those ISO levels. I shot gorillas at ISO 12800 on my Canon R5 and the images turned out very good. And these days, noise reduction software like these products I review can improve most images for a pretty low price.

In terms of the gap, yes, that is something to think about. Personally I shoot with a 16-35 and a 100-400 when on safari, and I don’t really notice the gap. With a high megapixel sensor you can generally crop in if you need to, and 100mm was “wide” enough to be usable.

I hope this helps a bit, but do let me know if you’d like any further help, I’m happy to offer advice of course. Otherwise, have a wonderful safari and an awesome year!

Sally Bignell says

19th November 2022 at 9:05 am

Oh my goodness Laurence, what a brilliant article. Thanks so much. Even I can understand (most of) what you’ve outlined, so I have a question if I may.

I’ve had an ‘all of the gear with no idea’ camera set up previously. Meaty camera, lenses etc and while I was okay using it as a point and shoot, I didn’t do much else with it. But it took amazing photos.

I’m off on safari next year, and I’d like to get a good bridge camera for photographing all the amazing animals I desperately hope to see. Between now and then I intend learning how to use the camera properly, so I’m well prepared when we go away.

Is there much difference between the Panasonic FZ330 and the Sony DSC RX10vi? The monetary difference is vast, so it’d be good to know if the Sony is genuinely worth the extra?

Any help gratefully received, thank you

19th November 2022 at 4:35 pm

Thank you so much, it’s appreciated! I definitely agree that having a camera that suits the way you plan to use it is a great option, which is why a bridge camera is the right camera for many people. That’s especially the case on safari where that long lens can make all the difference.

So the RX10 is definitely a much superior camera compared to the FZ330. The biggest difference that will make the most impact is the size of the sensor. That’s going to give you better image quality and better performance in low light. As safari often involves shooting around dawn and dusk, that can be a big difference. The Sony also has an improved autofocus system, so should let you lock onto targets more accurately.

All that said, I would say that the price difference doesn’t necessarily reflect the quality difference, as it often the case. The price might suggest it is four times better, but it’s probably more like twice as good. Sadly, diminishing returns and a lack of real competition at that level mean that it is just priced highly. It is definitely a great camera, but you will also get good results with the Panasonic in most situations. And if you don’t have both to compare between, I feel you would definitely be happy with something like the FZ330.

I hope this helps some! I would also add that rumors have been swirling about an RX10 V. Nothing has been announced and it’s all quite speculative, but if you are not in a hurry it might be worth holding off for a couple of months to see if they come to anything, as that could either be a better deal, or result in the IV going on sale 🙂

Have a great safari!

19th November 2022 at 4:55 pm

Thanks Laurence. I’m not in a desperate rush, so will hold off for the time being, and wait and see what happens with a possible Mk V leading to a price drop on the VI. Hubby has the FZ330 (only found that out today!) and he took it on our last great adventure. It did a pretty good job, but my similar pics with my old set up were better quality (don’t tell him I said that). So I think it’ll be the Sony for me! Keep up the excellent info blogs, and love the life you’re living! Sally

19th November 2022 at 4:59 pm

It’s my pleasure, and thanks again. If you already have the FZ330 then that’s great as you can compare the images. No bridge camera is going to be quite as good as a high end setup, but the RX 10 definitely comes closer and at a fraction of the cost. A 600mm f/4 lens would set you back five figures!

Feel free to stop by and ask a question any time!

5th May 2023 at 5:42 pm

Hi again Laurence. It’s been 6 months since our last exchange and sadly no Sony Rx10 V has appeared on the scene. I think I’m going to have to bite the bullet and buy a camera, so I can learn how to use it. Question, in your opinion would you purchase a second hand RX10 iv (around £1k), or a new Canon SX70HS (around £570)? This is for an African safari, so early morning / late evening photography of likely far-distant animals and birds

9th May 2023 at 5:23 pm

Yeah, it seems Sony are dragging their feet on this one. So personally I’d probably opt for the second hand RX10. The larger sensor will make a difference as will the more powerful autofocus and wider aperture. So I would go with that if your budget will stretch to it.

Have a great safari and let me know if you have any more questions!

26th September 2022 at 3:44 am

Hey – I’m driving myself crazy trying to decide between the Panasonic Lumix FZ1000 II or the Sony RX10 for safari in Uganda and Kenya. Will the superior construction of the Sony really make it worthwhile to spend 2x what the Lumix costs? What does the weatherproofing really, truly, mean?

26th September 2022 at 9:40 am

So there are quite a few differences between the Sony and the Panasonic other than the weather sealing. The Sony has better optics, so images tend to be sharper corner to corner than the Panasonic. You also get more zoom, 600mm equivalent vs 400mm, although 400mm is good for most scenarios except the more distant subjects and smaller birds. The autofocus system and burst speeds on the Sony are also improved over the Panasonic. The Sony is also a bit heavier.

So overall it is a better camera, although photography gear tends to work in terms of diminishing returns, so I would not say it is twice as good as the price might suggest. Both are good cameras and would work well on safari.

In terms of weatherproofing, Sony (and most manufacturers honestly), tend to be a bit coy about what that really means, and there’s no actual standard that it is measured against. So yes, it will withstand a bit more moisture and dust and it will have some seals in key areas to help protect against and moisture and dust ingression, but really you don’t want to get it particularly wet or dusty. So I wouldn’t see that as the key difference to be honest.

20th September 2022 at 8:26 pm

I am driving myself nuts trying to decide between a Canon R6 and Sony A7 iv. We are going to Uganda, Tanzania, and Victoria Falls, so I wanted a camera that will take great wildlife and landscape pictures. As a novice, I am also afraid these might be too much camera for me, but I want the chance to grow. Maybe the R7? I’m also worried about the battery life of the R6 and lens size in general since our baggage size/weight is limited. Your thoughts?

Thank you! Cara

20th September 2022 at 8:49 pm

I understand your confusion! So the reality is that both the R6 and A7 IV are going to produce amazing photos. Honestly, most cameras at that level are pretty amazing these days. They both have great autofocus systems that will track and lock onto animals eyes, and they also both have good dynamic range for landscapes. The Sony does have a higher megapixel count, 33MP, vs the 20MP of the Canon R6. So that will give you images that are 7008 x 4672, vs the 5472 x 3648 of the Canon. Honestly, again, that’s not a massive difference, just an extra 1500 pixels in width and 1000 in height.

The R7 is also a good camera, with pretty much the same tech as the R6, and the main difference being it is a crop sensor. That will lose you some low light performance, but means you get more zoom from the same lens due to the crop factor.

Weight wise, the R7 is not really that much smaller and lighter than the R6 or A7, especially once you add in the lens. The Sony definitely does have better battery life than either of the Canons.

If I was you I would try to visit a store which as the R6 and the A7 IV and compare them in your hand to see which one you prefer the feel of. On paper I would probably lean towards the A7 IV, improved battery life and a slightly higher resolution can be beneficial. However, in the field I don’t think you would notice any significant image quality difference, and so if one feels better than the other that is definitely important.

You also need to budget for a good lens, and if either the R6 or Sony make that less feasible, then the R7 might be a good option so you can get a good wildlife lens. So just check that whatever lens you want is available in your budget for the camera you choose.

I hope this helps! I’ll be heading back to Uganda soon and can’t wait 🙂 Let me know if you have any more questions, I’m happy to help 🙂

25th September 2022 at 5:23 pm

Thank you so much! I have visited our local camera store twice and am definitely leaning towards the A7. However, I do want to make sure I pick the right – good enough – lens. I was trying to decide between the Sony 70-300 or the Tamron 70-300 you linked to above. Are they both meant for full-frame cameras? Is the Sony worth the extra expense? The camera rep was trying to steer me towards a cropped lens. Am I mistaken thinking that seems like a waste on a camera like the A7?

Thanks for sharing your knowledge! Cara

25th September 2022 at 6:28 pm

My pleasure! So the A7 is a great camera. I’m not sure which model you are thinking of, but honestly they are all pretty awesome for safari photography.

To answer your question, yes, both the Sony and Tamron 70-300 are designed for full frame sensors, so you won’t get any crop when you use them. Sony does allow you to use cropped cameras on their full frame mount, but the end result is that you’ll only end up using a part of the sensor and you’ll end up with a much lower megapixel image. This gives the impression of zooming in, but it’s not really a zoom because you end up losing the megapixels. So no, I’d not really recommend doing that.

In terms of the difference, Sony lenses tend to be more expensive than third party lenses. The Sony has the advantage of a wider aperture when fully zoomed in (5.6 vs 6.3), so will perform marginally better in low light. The Sony also has image stabilization, although as the Sony camera has in body image stabilization, that’s not a big deal. The Sony is also significantly heavier. In terms of image quality, most reviews suggest that image quality is honestly pretty similar.

So yes, I think the Tamron would probably be a solid pick at that focal length!

Let me know if you have any more questions 🙂

Olivia Yao says

18th August 2022 at 7:19 pm

Hi Laurence, thank you so much for putting this informative article together. I am considering buying the Sony A6400 (APS-C) with a Sony SEL 70300G. I use my Iphone when I travel and I’m happy with it, but I felt the need to buy a new camera for our safari trip to be able to capture the experience better. Do you think this is a good choice? I was also looking at Nikon Coolpix 1000 or Sony XR 10 IV (no stock in the Philippines). I hope the Sony I’m considering will produce better photos and easy to use.

Appreciate your comment.

19th August 2022 at 10:17 am

My pleasure! So an iPhone can definitely take good photos, but it will struggle with wildlife unless the wildlife is very close, which is normally not the case. So a good camera with a long lens is a good option.

I would definitely say that the A6400 with the lens you mention would be a good choice. You get a bigger sensor than the Nikon and Sony, which will make it more effective in lower light and for faster action shots where you need a higher shutter speed. The 300mm reach at the long end is equivalent to 450mm, which should be fine for most photography. I primarily shoot and travel with a 100-400mm lens, so I think you will be fine. The Sony RX10 IV has a 600mm equivalent lens, and the difference is not so great. The Nikon has much longer reach but a much smaller sensor, and I think you will get better overall results from the A6400. You also have the option to use other lenses, such as the Sigma 150-600, which would give you even more reach if you wanted!

Have a great safari, and let me know if you have any more questions, I’m happy to help!

20th July 2022 at 9:04 am

Great, comprehensive article. Since you have point and shoot and bridge cameras, you might as well add Micro 4/3s to the mix. Olympus in particular has has excellent weather sealing. They also tend to be smaller and lighter than DSLRs. I recently picked up a Oly M5 mark ii as a second body for $300 used. Combine that with the very capable Panasonic 100-300F5.6 mk ii (another $400 or so) and you have a very good package. Not the same as the Oly 300F4, but by orders of magnitude sharper than a Canon 75-300. With the 2x crop factor, the 300mm lens on the M43 body has an equivalent Field of View as a 600mm lens on a full frame. The R7 is currently my favorite for wildlife though, but also more money with an appropriate lens. By the way your definition of aperture is a little wonky 😉 The f-stop is a factor between the focal length and the “size of the hole” (a.k.a. front element). So a 70-200F2.8 has the same aperture as a 100-400F5.6. Both approximately 71mm front element diameter. Same with the Canon RF100-500F7.1. Still the same aperture. Of course a 200mm F4 has a smaller hole (half the light) than a 200F2.8, but the f-stop is always in relation to the focal length. Cheers

21st July 2022 at 7:39 pm

Thanks for your input, and yes, that is an excellent point. I will definitely revise and update this camera to include some mirrorless options. I have a Pansonic GX8 myself, so I know the strengths of the platform. I’m on a trip right now so it will be a few weeks before I get round to it, but it’s on my to-do list!

Mary Gibson says

28th May 2022 at 5:53 pm

Laurence, thank you SO much for your excellent post! My gosh! I’ve spent a couple of days researching “the best safari cameras” for an upcoming trip…and then I found yours. Comprehensive and clear; can’t ask for more.

We are heading to Rwanda (mountain gorillas, golden monkeys) and Tanzania (basically, everything) mid-August. I’ve been using an FZ2500 for a few years now, and almost always use Manual mode, although I would classify myself as a novice photographer. I edit using Lightroom.

The FZ2500 seems to meet most of your ‘minimums’ (i.e., sensor size, optical zoom, aperture, megapixel, burst speed) but is not weather sealed. I have a LowePro camera bag, with a rain cover. I will look for a cameral cleaning kit, based on your blog.

My research was to help me decide whether the FZ2500 would be adequate for this ‘trip of a lifetime’. My sense is that it should be. Do you have any comments?

29th May 2022 at 9:46 am

Thanks so much for your kind comment! That sounds like a fantastic trip you have planned. I would definitely say that the FZ2500 should be fine for your trip. Weather sealing is nice, but not critical, especially if you have a good camera bag. I’d also add that the benefit of familiarity with a camera cannot be overstated, this means that you can focus more on getting the shot than wondering which button is where. It sounds like you have that, so I think you will be happy.

You might also want to check out a couple of my other posts which might give you some photography related tips, one on gorilla trekking (in Uganda, but the same principles apply), and then safari photography tips in general.

Have a great trip, and let me know if you have any more questions!

4th May 2022 at 2:06 am

Hi Laurence – thanks for posting this information, it’s super helpful. I currently have a Panasonic ZS60. I wondered if I needed to upgrade my camera for my upcoming safari trip. I had considered the FZ300 as my Safari/trip camera, but when I looked at it, it seemed quite similar to what I had (similar sensor, zoom etc.). I would like to be able to print some photos (landscape, animals and family) upon our return to 8×10 or larger. I’ve had DSLRs in the past (and on safari) and found them bulky to carry around. Also I never ended up using them much b/c of the size.

Is moving up in sensor size going to improve printability and crispness of shots much more? I’ve attempted to print with the ZS60 and it’s mixed results.

Aside from this trip, I use my camera whilst travelling, with family (kids play loads of sports and candids). I also like to take landscape pictures.

So is it worth moving up in sensor?

Thanks, Izzy.

5th May 2022 at 10:01 am

So I don’t think you’ll notice a huge difference moving to the FZ300 from the ZS60, if anything the smaller megapixel count will make your prints slightly less sharp.

A larger sensor will however definitely make a difference. There’s a really helpful tool here which lets you load up different cameras and compare performance on a single shot. I’ve preloaded that with the ZS60, FZ300, Sony RX10IV (1 inch sensor) and Lumix FZ1000 (1 inch sensor). If you move around the top example image, especially over text and people’s faces, you’ll see the difference in sharpness and clarity. You can also download the JPEG files for printing for your own comparison.

In summary, I think a larger sensor bridge camera would likely make a difference 🙂 Let me know if I can help any more!

Almeera says

3rd May 2022 at 4:30 am

Hi Laurence, I am considering the FZ300 as my Safari/trip camera, as opposed to the FZ80. Or the FS70. Do you think the sacrifice of megapixels will matter for this purpose? The FZ300 has a faster lens, is weather sealed, and has a stronger flash.

I am a traveler, who typically wants to be able to have my camera in my daypack or handbag, and I have an iPhone 13pro max, as well as a Sony a5100 w/ 16-55mm lens as back ups.

Any advice you provide would be welcome.

3rd May 2022 at 11:15 am

Hi Almeera,

So honestly no, I don’t think the sacrifice of megapixels will make a massive difference. 12 megapixels is still 4000 pixels by 3000 pixels, which is enough for most uses. My first DSLR had a 10MP sensor, and I’ve been more than happy even with fairly large prints from that! The main advantage of more megapixels is that you can obviously crop down more, but with a 600mm lens equivalent you should be able to get most of the shots you want without needing to crop anyway. So I think this would definitely work 🙂

Let me know if you have any more questions, and have a great safari/trip!

19th April 2022 at 3:01 pm

Hi there Laurence and thanks for this great post.

I’m thinking about the Sony Cyber‑Shot RX10 IV which you recommend for those looking for a bridge camera for safari. I have an older Nikon SLR with some heavy lenses but want something lighter for an upcoming trip that will include time in Ethiopia and Kenya.

Just wondering your thoughts on going from a digital SLR to a bridge camera? Any tips for using a bridge camera for safari and wildlife shooting?

19th April 2022 at 4:13 pm

It’s my pleasure, thank you for your kind words.

So there are a few things to just keep in mind coming from a digital SLR to a bridge camera.

First, the sensor size is obviously a lot smaller. Compared to an APS-C sensor it’s about a third the area, and compared to a full frame sensor it’s about a seventh the area. That means that all else being equal, low light performance is going to be a bit reduced. For most safari scenarios this shouldn’t be a big issue as there’s normally plenty of light, but at dusk and dawn you will want to pay close attention to shutter speed and ISO to ensure you get results you are happy with.

If you are used to using longer lenses then you will likely already be used to using higher shutter speeds, but I did want to just point out that at the 600mm equivalent zoom you will want to be using faster shutter speeds to compensate for the long zoom if hand holding. The RX10 does have an Auto ISO feature which offer auto shutter speed adjustment which is linked to focal length when shooting in aperture priority, which can help ensure you get sharp images without having to think about it too much.

I’d recommend shooting in RAW if you don’t already, so you get more latitude over your processing. If you use higher ISO numbers, you might also consider a dedicated noise reduction tool for cleaning those up.

Overall the switch should not be too hard to deal with. The RX10 is a lovely camera and the autofocus in particular is excellent. I would recommend practicing with it on local wildlife so you see how it works, and also to learn how to override it if necessary for those edge cases where it picks the wrong subject.

Let me know if you have any more questions, I’m happy to help. Also, have an amazing trip!

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11 Best Cameras for Safari (with Lens Recommendations) 2024

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The best cameras for safari are all-round Sony, Nikon, and Canon mirrorless ones… The first time I went to Africa, I had a Sony bridge camera . It had a huge zoom range but a tiny sensor. But I wouldn’t recommend that to anyone as a safari camera! It served its purpose in getting me back into wildlife photography .

When DSLR cameras started to become popular, mirrorless was just getting going. Electronic viewfinders (EVFs) often suffered from lag and low resolution. But those problems were solved. The best mirrorless camera offers blackout-free, silent shooting and a real-time WYSIWYG viewfinder. And that makes it much easier to adjust your camera settings in difficult light.

Sony a1

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The basic mirrorless design makes camera bodies and lenses much smaller and lighter . They offer better autofocus systems , frame rates, shutter speeds, and video capabilities. Last year, I traded in all my Nikon camera equipment for two Sony mirrorless a1s. And I’d never go back to a DSLR camera now…

Picture of a little bee-eater

What is the Best Safari Camera to Buy?

Are you gearing up to take a safari photography trip? Here’s a quick roundup of the best cameras for an African safari.

  • Large sensor captures tons of detail
  • High frame rate of 30 fps
  • Eye tracking (human, animal, and bird)
  • Easy customization
  • Silent shooting for quiet situations
  • Incredible 8K/30p Ultra HD video

Nikon Z9

  • Ultra-fast image processor
  • High, 120 fps compressed frame rate
  • No visible rolling shutter
  • Excellent battery life
  • 8K/60p Ultra HD video
  • Unlimited low-resolution recording

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  • Large 45 MP sensor
  • High frame rate of 20 fps
  • In-Body Image Stabilization (IBIS)
  • Body, face, eye, and animal tracking
  • 8K/30p Ultra HD video

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  • A high frame rate of 30 fps
  • Less noise with BSI stacked sensor
  • 8 stops of image stabilization
  • 6K / 60p RAW video
  • 620-shot battery life

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  • High-resolution sensor
  • Automatic bird or animal eye detection
  • Autofocus can track cars, trains, airplanes, and insects
  • Big, bright, clear, and sharp electronic viewfinder
  • 3.2-inch tilt, flip LCD screen

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  • Impressive 20 fps continuous shooting
  • Lightning-fast autofocus
  • Improved ergonomics
  • Great file transferring speeds
  • 5-axis in-body image stabilization to counter camera shake

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  • Excellent image quality
  • Super responsive autofocus
  • 5.5 stops of image stabilization
  • Fully articulating rear screen
  • Powerful video capabilities (4K / 60p, 10-bit video) and live streaming

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  • High-resolution image sensor
  • Rapid 1/8000 s shutter speed
  • Excellent AF system
  • Dual memory card slots
  • Great 4K video at 60 fps

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  • Excellent low-light focusing
  • Lightweight and portable
  • Superb low-light dynamic range

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  • Relatively affordable
  • Excellent in-body image stabilization
  • Compact and ergonomic design
  • Fantastic expandable ISO range
  • Rapid burst speeds

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  • Good resolution and dynamic range
  • Excellent subject tracking
  • A great frame rate and deep buffer
  • Pleasing JPEG colors
  • Up to 7.5 stops of in-body image stablization with supported lenses
  • Weather-sealed body

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11 Best Safari Cameras to Buy (in Detail!)

Now let’s take a more detailed look so you can find the best camera for an African safari.

  • Highest frame rates only for JPEG, HEIF, and lossy compressed RAW files
  • Eye tracking only selected manually
  • Small rear LCD screen

There’s not much to choose between the top full frame mirrorless models. Sony, Canon, and Nikon offer solid options. But the Sony a1 comes out on top—if you can afford it! I have a couple of them. And I’m always amazed by the image quality and how easy they are to use.

The a1’s secret is the lack of trade-offs. It’s hard to find a safari camera with such all-round features. It has a high resolution and frame rate, great autofocus, and a deep buffer. Plus, it has good low-light performance . The a1 somehow manages it all!

Also, it’s very easy to use. The EVF is astonishingly bright and clear. The main buttons and dials are all well-positioned. And there are lots of customization options.

You can save three drive modes. This means it only takes seconds to change from portrait to action settings by turning the main dial.

Battery life is often a problem with mirrorless cameras as they have to power the EVF. But I’ve noticed I can get far more frames than the official CIPA total for each charge. And shooting an 8K video isn’t a problem, either.

I don’t even bother using my battery grips anymore. I don’t need the extra battery life. And the reduced weight makes it easier to shoot handheld for long periods.

But shooting wildlife in portrait format isn’t as easy. And I get blisters on my right hand after a long day in the field!

2. Nikon Z9

  • Only 11 MP files at the highest frame
  • You can only shoot RAW files at 20 fps
  • Tracking can fail with erratic movement
  • IBIS not as good as Canon R3
  • Autofocus isn't as good for video
  • The screen doesn't fully articulate

The Nikon Z9 is the one that got away! I wanted a full frame mirrorless camera. This was before I photographed the polar bear migration in Canada last year.

I had hoped the Z9 would be on sale before I went. I had a lot of Nikon lenses. So it would’ve been handy if I could’ve bought a Z9 and used them with an adaptor.

In the end, the Z9 didn’t come out in time. That meant I had to trade in all my old camera equipment. And I took out a hefty bank loan to afford two Sony a1 camera bodies and all my new lenses!

The Z9 is almost twice the weight and size of the a1 with a lower RAW frame rate. So I’m happy I bought the a1. But the Z9 does have an ultra-bright EVF. And it offers a good combination of the major features. The Nikon Z9 vs Sony a1 comparison shows how close these models are!

Those include sensor resolution, autofocus speed, eye recognition, buffer depth, and low-light capability. It also has 8K / 60p video thrown in for good measure!

On the downside, there’s no easy way to select focus areas while using the EVF. So you must keep clicking on the eight-way controller.

The Z9 also doesn’t have the a1’s ability to save universal custom presets. Instead, you must click through the Shooting Menu and Custom Settings banks. That takes far too long if your sighting only lasts a few seconds!

3. Canon EOS R5

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  • The photo/video switch allows you to easily switch between shooting modes
  • 5-axis In-camera image stabilization
  • Compact and lightweight
  • Unlimited video recording due to built-in fan preventing overheating
  • Reduced video sizes with Cinema RAW Light modes
  • Limited native lens compatibility
  • Continuous AF only covers 80% of the image sensor in video mode
  • Bigger than the original EOS R5
  • Must use an external battery source for the fastest shooting speeds

I can never decide between the Canon EOS R5 and the R3 . The R5 has more megapixels, But the R3 has a higher frame rate and a few other bells and whistles… including Eye Control AF (autofocus).

When in doubt, I favor the model with the larger sensor. And the R5 wins—just barely!

The specifications are like the Z9. It has the same camera sensor size, max RAW frame rate, and the highest video quality.

The eight-stop in-camera body image stabilization (IBIS) helps reduce camera shake with long lenses. The updated Dual Pixel AF II is almost at the level of Sony’s AF systems. That’s due to the use of Deep Learning to track both people and animals.

But the electronic viewfinder is not as impressive as the one on the a1. It has a lower magnification and resolution.

You also don’t get blackout-free shooting. And video recording is limited due to overheating (unless you buy the “C” version). The fastest shutter speed is slower. And battery life is much shorter.

4. Canon EOS R3

  • Relatively expensive
  • Low-resolution for some photographers
  • No 8K video
  • Slowed frame rate with an SD card or low battery

The EOS R3 is a full frame Canon camera that offers 195 fps, Dual Pixel AF, and minimal rolling shutter. It also has endless battery life if you shoot in bursts.

There are also a few other innovative features helpful in wildlife photography. Eye Control AF allows you to direct the focus point by simply looking toward a particular part of the EVF.

And the AF-ON buttons have optical thumbprint readers. These let you move AF points around. Plus, you can scroll around magnified images while using the viewfinder.

The IBIS system provides up to eight stops of built-in image stabilization. It even works with unstabilized EF lenses.

But the price of all those advantages is a smaller sensor. That’s why the R3 doesn’t come higher up this list… even though it’s actually bigger than the one on the 1DX Mark III, Canon’s flagship DSLR camera.

5. Sony a7R V

  • Slow frame rate of only 10 fps
  • Focus stacking can't be done in-camera
  • No in-camera RAW processing
  • May be unbalanced with a big lens
  • Rolling shutter effect with 8K video

The Sony a7R V has only just come out and is a major evolution. The high-resolution sensor is the same, and the readout speed is limited. That means the highest frame rate doesn’t change. And it leads to significant rolling shutter with 8K video. To avoid that, you really have to shoot in 4K or, even better, in the cropped Super 35 mode.

But the a1 has a dedicated AI processor and a Bionz XR processor. This means the autofocus has been dramatically upgraded. It can now identify parts of people’s bodies. This includes their torsos (with “pose estimation”) and their faces and eyes. It can also track airplanes, cars, trains, and even insects!

Another handy new feature is combining animals and birds into one setting. I’m still stuck with separate Human, Animal, and Bird options on my a1. That’s a pain when you forget which mode you’re in… especially since there’s nothing in the EVF to tell you!

That leads me to the new EVF. It has been “borrowed” from the a1. The a1’s EVF is big, bright, clear, and sharp. When I first used it, I actually forgot I was “watching TV” rather than seeing the real world outside!

With a larger 3.2-inch tilt and flip LCD screen with higher resolution, the EVF is a big advantage. I almost always shoot while looking through the EVF, but there’s nothing this new screen can’t do!

Finally, a few more features are helpful for wildlife photography. It has two new CFexpress card slots now. This means the buffer is effectively infinite (unless shooting in uncompressed RAW).

Focus bracketing is also now possible. But the camera can’t put the final image together for you. So you have to do it using Sony’s Imaging Edge software (or a third-party equivalent).

IBIS now offers eight stops of stabilization to deal with camera shake. And the 241 MP Pixel Shift High-Res mode can now take movement into account!

6. Sony a9 II

  • No in-camera RAW image processing
  • Confusing menus
  • Battery performance isn't great
  • No S-Log video
  • Subpar video quality compared to new full-frame cameras

The Sony a9 II is the “sports-oriented” camera in Sony’s line-up. But what’s good for sports photography is also good for wildlife photography!

The full frame sensor doesn’t offer very high resolution. But there are several benefits:

  • A high RAW frame rate to take action shots
  • An enormous ISO range for low-light shooting
  • 14-bit uncompressed RAW files for more image details
  • Oversampled 4K Ultra HD video for more recorded pixels

You also get simple but accurate and rapid autofocus. And there are two dials and a joystick for choosing the AF point. Plus, there is five-axis image stabilization and a touch-enabled LCD. All of that comes in a weather-sealed body.

It’s a shame you only get slots for SD cards. But the Gigabit Ethernet and USB 3.2 ports let you transfer files fast over FTP (File Transfer Protocol). And the new Wi-Fi system works in the 5 GHz band.

Like many Sony models, the customization options are excellent. The a9 II allows you to save up to seven sets of FTP and camera settings. That means, in theory, seven different photographers could use the same camera!

The rear screen and touch interface could do with an upgrade. But the only real problems come when you try to shoot video. There are no picture profiles for Log capture.

And the exposure settings are carried over between stills and video. So you must set up custom memory banks if you want to shoot both.

7. Sony a7 IV

  • More expensive than the Sony a7 III
  • 6 fps with 14-bit lossless compressed or uncompressed RAW files
  • Significant distortion with moving subjects using a silent shutter
  • Occasional issues with rolling shutter
  • Requires a fast memory card

The Sony a7 IV is a full frame mirrorless camera that offers a decent RAW frame rate with a deep buffer. The IBIS system provides 5.5 stops of stabilization. But it’s slightly jerky at times.

It can also shoot 4K video up to 30p (oversampled from 7K). And there are various other options. They include Super 35 / 60p, 10-bit Log, H.265, and S-Cinetone color mode. Plus, it offers breathing compensation when using high-end Sony lenses.

There are extensive customization options available. But the camera gets it right straight out of the box with image quality and autofocus capability. The sensor provides excellent detail, and noise reduction is adequate at lower ISOs.

You can also create 10-bit HEIF files for HDR displays using the Hybrid Log Gamma (HLG) standard. These are designed to capture a wider, more natural range of tones. And you can view them by connecting your camera to an HDR TV with an HDMI cable.

The AF system is powerful and easy to use. And you can turn on Face/Eye Priority for the best results. Tracking is nice and “sticky.” So the camera isn’t fooled by the subject looking away or someone else moving to a closer position.

The latest firmware has improved the Eye AF feature. But it’s still not up to the standard of the a1. And you might even be better off focusing manually!

If the price of the a7 IV is steep, you can always opt for a7 III or the a7C compact version.

8. Nikon Z7 II

  • Disappointing battery life of 420 shots
  • Tilt screen has limited flexibility
  • Limited lens range
  • Slow frame rate of 10 fps in continuous shooting speed

The Nikon Z7 II and Z6 II are like the Canon R5 and R3 in that they offer a trade-off. You can choose a high resolution. Or you can opt for other benefits like frame rate and low-light capabilities. Again, I prefer a larger sensor. So the Z7 II comes out on top.

The extra megapixels allow the camera to produce more detailed images. And you get quality 4K / 60p video (with a 1.08x crop). It has an extra Expeed 6 image processor, XQD, and CFexpress card support. This means a deeper buffer, a higher frame rate, and improved autofocus.

The AF system works down to -3 EV at f/2 (or even lower with Low Light AF). But the camera’s Eye AF does have a habit of front-focusing slightly. And the tracking mode doesn’t always stick to the same point on the subject.

The other problem? Tracking and face and eye detection don’t work together as they do with Sony and Canon models. That means you often must switch between different modes depending on the shot.

The low native ISO of 64 reminds me of my old D850 . It’s useful if you want the highest possible image quality and dynamic range. This is particularly true at sunrise or sunset when the contrast is high.

A complementary benefit is five-axis image stabilization. This should help reduce the effects of camera shake.

The ergonomics and usability are slightly disappointing. The viewfinder resolution is low. And the tilting touchscreen is not a patch on a fully-articulated LCD. You also must buy an external recorder to shoot a 10-bit Log or RAW video.

Unlike the Z9, the Z7 II doesn’t have a built-in integrated grip. You can buy an MB-N11 battery grip as an optional extra. But the battery life is pretty good even without that. And you get USB charging and a separate plug-in charger.

9. Nikon Z6 II

  • Autofocus can be slow
  • Relatively short battery life
  • Lower MP count than main competitors
  • Needs more customizable buttons

The Nikon Z6 II is the low-resolution sister of the Z7 II. The feature set is almost identical to that of the Z7. But the lower-resolution sensor does mean a higher frame rate (with a single AF point).

You can still shoot 4K video using the whole sensor up to 30p. But Ultra HD / 60p comes from an APS-C crop (enabled using the latest firmware).

10. Canon EOS R6

  • Low megapixel count compared to closest competitors
  • Interface is challenging to navigate
  • EVF drains the battery
  • Camera heats up shooting 4K / 60 fps

The Canon EOS R6 is a more affordable version of the R5. It has a reduced feature set but a user-friendly interface. It provides excellent RAW and JPEG images. And they have good dynamic range and low-light performance.

You also get Dual Pixel AF II (with 100% AF coverage) and eight stops of IBIS. And it has a decent frame rate with either the mechanical or electronic shutter.

As with a lot of Canon cameras, the video performance is good. The autofocus works well when shooting video. And the separate banks of settings make it easy to switch between video and stills.

The R6 offers 4K / 60p video in both Ultra HD and DCI (standard for the film industry). And you can save clips in either RaW or H.265 format.

You can also shoot 10-bit 4:2:2 footage. You can use C-Log (for color grading) and HDR PQ (for high-definition TVs). And you can do so without needing an external recorder.

But you get a noticeable rolling shutter in 4K. And overheating is such a problem. So you can’t record for longer than 30 minutes. Trying to take still pictures cuts down that time even more.

There is no support for high-speed cards. But you do get a lot of “standard” Canon features. These include comfortable ergonomics, weather sealing, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and a fully articulated touchscreen.

Unfortunately, that also includes non-optional noise reduction. And that limits sharpness at low ISOs.

11. Olympus OM-D E-M1X

  • Sensor doesn't match up to many close competitors
  • Electronic shutter might lead to rolling shutter effects and banding
  • Large, heavy, hard to handle body
  • Motion artifacts with Cinema 4K at 24p

With such a small Micro Four Thirds sensor, the Olympus OM-D E-M1X is a pretty big camera! But it’s built for speed and ideal for sports and wildlife photography.

You can shoot at 18 or 60 fps with AF / AE (autoexposure) lock. And it has Dual TruePic VIII processors with a 121-point hybrid autofocus system. That provides subject recognition for trains, race cars, and planes or helicopters. Pro Capture mode also lets you save images you take before you even press the shutter!

Overall, the OM-D E-M1X is packed with features. These include the following:

  • Live ND multi-shot mode to show long exposures without filters
  • Five-axis IBIS (up to 7.5 EV) and an accelerometer to deal with camera shake
  • Handy built-in GPS to show where you take your photos
  • Temperature and pressure sensors for extra metadata

You also get IPX1 weather sealing. And there is a fully articulating touchscreen and a built-in battery grip.

The video performance is good. It can capture DCI 4K / 24p and Ultra HD 4K / 30p clips at 237 and 102 Mbps. You can also use OM-Log400 for easier color grading.

Best Lenses for Safari by Brand

Here are our lens recommendations for the Sony, Nikon, Canon, and Olympus lenses we have listed. Mix and match to meet your wants and needs.

Best Sony Lenses for Safari Photography

Sony has been making full frame mirrorless lenses since 2013. And it gives third-party brands access to its E-mount specs. That means there’s a wide range of native options available.

My “go-to” lenses are Sony’s FE 400mm f/2.8 GM and the FE 600mm f/4 GM prime lenses. They both have wide max apertures for good bokeh and excellent low-light capability. I usually go on game drives with those two fitted to my cameras.

Sony FE 400mm F/2.8 GM OSS SEL400F28GM

Sony FE 400mm F/2.8 GM OSS SEL400F28GM

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But there are times when you need a wide-angle lens. An example is photographing elephants from close range. I just came back from Botswana. And I definitely needed my FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II and FE 70-200mm f/2.8 ED GM OSS zoom lenses for the Chobe riverboat rides.

Best Nikon Lenses for Safari Photography

Nikon has fewer mirrorless lenses than Sony. But Nikon’s Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S and the new Nikon Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S match the Sony versions’ max aperture and come with built-in 1.4x teleconverters. They’re also light enough that you don’t need a tripod. (My old 800mm was a real beast. And it was impossible to handhold for more than a few seconds!)

Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-120mm F/4 S

Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-120mm F/4 S

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Nikon’s Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S closely matches my old 80-400mm. And that makes it a good companion for a 600mm or 800mm lens.

But if you’re looking for a shorter focal length with macro-style capability, there’s Nikon’s Z 24-120mm f/4 zoom lens. Or there are various S-line f/1.8 primes from 20 to 35mm.

Best Canon Lenses for Safari Photography

Canon has a huge range of lenses. But they’re playing catch-up with Sony in terms of native mirrorless lenses.

The Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM is a flexible zoom lens. And there are RF-mount versions of its 400, 600, 800, and 1200mm lenses. Canon recently brought out two affordable 600mm and 800mm f/11 lenses. These use diffractive optics .

Canon EF 100-400mm F/4.5-5.6L IS II USM

Canon EF 100-400mm F/4.5-5.6L IS II USM

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Canon’s professional range is the L-series. With the RF mount, you can get several wide-angle zoom lenses in that range. This includes the RF 15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM and the RF 24-70mm f/2.8L IS USM .

USM stands for UltraSonic Motor. And Nano USM lenses are faster, quieter, and smoother than plain USM or Stepping Motor (STM) lenses.

Best Olympus Lenses for Safari Photography

Olympus makes many camera lenses. And you won’t go far wrong with something in their PRO series . These include the following:

  • Olympus 7-14mm f/2.8 PRO versatile wide-angle zoom lens
  • Olympus 12-100mm f/4 IS PRO IS rugged zoom with stabilization
  • Olympus 40-150mm f/2.8 PRO full-featured zoom

Olympus ED 7-14mm f/2.8 PRO

Olympus ED 7-14mm f/2.8 PRO

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But third-party manufacturers also offer compatible lenses. Panasonic has teamed up with Leica to produce various lenses. These include the following Micro Four Thirds lenses:

  • Panasonic Lumix G 8-18mm f/2.8-4 high-performance wide-angle
  • Panasonic Lumix G 50-200mm f/2.8-4 O.I.S high-end telephoto
  • Panasonic Lumix G 100-400mm f/4-6.3 superzoom telephoto lens

Note that the crop factor of Micro Four Thirds cameras is 2.0x. So the focal length has to be doubled to match the equivalent on a full frame camera.

Our Verdict

Whether you prefer full frame, APS-C, or Micro Four Thirds… the best cameras for safari these days are generally mirrorless . If you have the budget, the Sony a1 , Nikon Z9 , and Canon R5 offer unbeatable specs. They have high resolution, fast frame rates, and deep buffers. The AI-assisted autofocus lets you choose a focus point right across the frame. Or you can lock onto your subject’s eye without even being told what to do! That’s something even the best DSLR cameras will never manage.

Further down our list, there are plenty of other options from the big three camera brands . And Olympus has also carved out a nice niche in Micro Four Thirds cameras . And they’re packed with handy features.

FAQs for Safari Cameras and Lenses

Here are some of the more common questions about cameras and lenses for safaris.

What Type of Camera is Best for Safari?

There are the key specs for the best safari camera. They include resolution, frame rate, buffer size, autofocus, and low-light performance. There are often trade-offs, especially between resolution and frame rate. But modern mirrorless cameras such as the Sony a1 have begun to offer everything you need—at a price!

Are Mirrorless Cameras Good for Safari?

Yes. A mirrorless camera offers a higher frame rate and max shutter speed than a DSLR camera. And they have deeper buffers and better autofocus performance. That includes eye detection for animals, birds, and even insects! The camera body and lenses also tend to be smaller and lighter. This is a real benefit given the 15 kg weight limit for many local flights in Africa.

Picture of a chacma baboon

What is the Best Way to Take a Picture on Safari?

Get down to eye level. But that’s a bit difficult if you’re sitting in a jeep! Also, go on game drives at sunrise and sunset for the warmest light at “golden hour.” I use Manual mode with Auto ISO and shoot wide open for camera settings. My shutter is normally 1/1000 s for animals and 1/3200 s for birds… unless I’m planning on a “trick shot” such as a slow pan.

Is a GoPro good for a Safari?

A GoPro camera is excellent for video. But it’s designed for adventure sports rather than wildlife. A GoPro can take still photos. But it doesn’t give you many setting controls. And the fixed lens can only take wide-angle shots. That might work if you get up close and personal with an elephant. But it won’t generally be suitable for small or distant animals and birds.

Is a SmartPhone Good to Have on Safari?

Yes. Many devices, including smartphones, are featuring new technology. So even my iPhone can manage 4K video these days. And it’s often said that the best camera is the one you have with you. So it’s always in my pocket! But you’ll probably want a different main safari camera than a GoPro or smartphone.

Still not sure which safari camera to buy? Check out our posts on the best camera for bird photography or outdoor photography cameras next!

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Beste Kamera für Reisen mit Wildtierfotografie

Best Camera For Safari And Wildlife. best digital camera for wildlife photography.

Gute Fotos von einer Safari mit nach Hause zu nehmen, ist nicht nur vom persönlichen Können, sondern ist auch von der Ausrüstung abhängig. Hier findest du einen Vergleich, der dir als Amateurfotograf hilft, die beste Kamera für Reisen und Wildtierfotografie zu finden.

kamera ria safari

In den letzten Jahren haben wir mehrere Monate im Krüger Nationalpark, Südafrika , und anderen Nationalparks im südlichen Afrika verbracht und konnte ich meine Wildtierfotografie mit verschiedenen Kameras üben und verbessern.

Meine bevorzugte Reisekamera mit GPS ist eine Digitalkamera mit einem Superzoomobjektiv – ideal für den nicht professionellen Fotografen, Wildtier- und Vogelliebhaber – für verblüffend schöne Fotos.

In the Fynbos of the Hottentots Holland Mountains in South Africa we found plenty Cape Sugarbirds enjoying themselves sipping nectar of the protea plants.

Table of Contents - Inhaltsverzeichnis

Beste Kamera für Safari-Urlaub

Die beste Kamera für Safari-Urlaub ist in erster Linie die, mit der du gut umgehen kannst, die einfach zu bedienen und schnell genug ist, um großartige Bilder aufzunehmen.

Selten kannst du dich Wildtieren so nähern, dass du mit einer Kamera ohne Zoom vernünftige Bilder schiessen kannst, und zudem willst du auch die Wildtiere und den natürlichen Verlauf der Dinge so wenig wie möglich stören.

Es ist jedoch sehr frustrierend, wenn du endlich einen Leoparden entdeckst, aber die Reisekamera oder das Handy produziert nur einen winzigen, undefinierbaren Punkt im Bild.

Leopard in Kruger National Park

Eine professionelle Kamera für Wildtierfotografie

Wenn du ein professioneller Fotograf bist, ist die beste Kamera für Wildtierfotografie eine oder mehrere DSLR-Kameras mit einem Satz von Objektiven in verschiedenen Formen und Größen, abhängig von deinem Budget.

Das richtige Objektiv für Safari

Selbst die beste Point-and-Shoot-Kamera kann die Bildqualität einer DSLR-Kamera bei schlechten Lichtverhältnissen nicht übertreffen. Mit den spiegellosen Kameras ist auch das Kameragehäuse nicht mehr so schwer und der Brennweitenbereich ermöglicht erstaunliche Landschaftsaufnahmen.

Als Hobbyfotografin habe ich zunächst mit der Idee geflirtet, in eine professionelle Kamera und Zoomobjektive zu investieren. Die besten Fotos auf einer afrikanischen Safari erzielt man oft nur während schwieriger Lichtverhältnisse bei Morgen- oder Abenddämmerung. Das richtige Objektiv für Wildtierfotografie ist dabei meistens noch teurer als die Kamera.

Camping in Namibia with Kids. Find out What to Do in Namibia, Top 10 Activities with Kids. Camping Maps and Lodges around Windhoek. Things to Know about Namibia Safari Tours with Kids. Do's and Don'ts of Driving in Namibia. Places of Interest in Namibia. Comprehensive Travel Guide for your Family Holiday in Namibia.

Eine gute Kamera für Anfänger auf Safari

Der Hauptvorteil einer Point-and-Shoot-Kamera für Anfänger auf Safari liegt darin, schnell genug zu sein, um Wildtiere in Bewegung und Vögel im Flug fotografieren zu können.

Ich muss zugeben, dass ich es kaum schaffen würde, der Bewegung von Wildtieren mit einer professionellen Kamera zu folgen und das Objektiv respektive die Einstellungen rechtzeitig anzupassen, bevor der ideale Moment für das lange ersehnte Bild schon wieder vorbei ist.

Um öfters Erfolgserlebnisse zu verzeichnen (oder weitere Frustrationen zu vermeiden), habe ich mich deshalb dazu entschlossen, meine Ambitionen der Realität anzupassen und eine gute Kamera für Anfänger auf Safari zu kaufen, die mir als Hobbyfotografin ermöglicht, atemberaubende bewegte Fotos zu machen.

Best Camera For Safari And Wildlife

Beste Kamera für Tierfotografie und Vogelbeobachtung

Ich träumte schon lange davon, einen Eisvogel zu fotografieren, der ins Wasser schießt, um einen Fisch zu fangen, und so begann ich, Berichte über die beste Action-Kamera und Superzoom-Kamera für Vogelbeobachtung zu lesen.

Beste Action-Kamera für Einsteiger

Es dauerte nicht lange und ich stolperte über die beste Kamera für Tierfotografie von Nikon, Canon und Sony, die genau meinen Anforderungen an einfach zu bedienende Digitalkameras entsprechen und nicht so begrenzt wie eine Pocketkamera, aber mit einigen der Vorteile einer DSLR-Kamera ausgerüstet sind.

Objektiv für Wildtierfotografie immer dabei!

So verpasse ich nun auch keine Gelegenheit, weil ich gerade nicht das richtige Objektiv für Safari-Momente montiert habe.

Best Camera For Birding

Welches ist die beste Kamera für Reisen?

Zusätzlich zu den Anforderungen als Qualitätskamera für Tierfotografie sollte die Kamera auch ausgezeichnete Arbeit leisten, wenn ich auf meiner Weltreise fotografiere und Reisetipps in meinem Blog über das Aussteigen und Reisen rund um die Welt illustriere.

Beste Kamera zum Reisen – auch Städtereisen!

Die Ultra-Zoom-Kamera ermöglicht nicht nur Paparazzi-Bilder, schöne Reisefotografie, sondern auch Videos mit Online-Publikation über WiFi und Mobiltelefon-Applikation. Obwohl nicht so handlich wie eine Taschenkamera, finde ich sie deshalb die beste Kamera zum Reisen. Auch Detailaufnahmen und Stimmungsbilder auf Städtereisen gelingen phänomenal mit ihr.

The Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park boasts of wildlife. Herds of antelopes provide food for predators, both to be watched frequently at the waterholes.

Megazoom-Bridge-Kameras im Vergleich

Sony cyber-shot rx10 iv.

Sensor: 1-Zoll-CMOS, 20,1 MP, 20,1 MP Objektiv: 24-600mm, f/2,4-4-4 Monitor: 3-Zoll kippbarer Touchscreen, 1,23m Punkte Sucher: EVF Serienaufnahmen: 24 Bilder pro Sekunde Filme: 4K

Canon PowerShot SX60 HS

Sensor: 1/2,3-Zoll-CMOS, 16,1 MP, 16,1 MP Objektiv: 21-1365mm-Äquivalent, f/3,4-6,5 Monitor: 3-Zoll-Gelenk, 922.000 Punkte Sucher: EVF Maximale Serienbildrate: 6.4fps Filme: 1080p

Panasonic Lumix FZ80 / FZ82

Sensor: 1/2,3-Zoll-CMOS, 18,1 MP, 18,1 MP Objektiv: 20-1200mm, f/2,8-5,9 Monitor: 3-Zoll-Touchscreen, 1.040.000 Punkte Sucher: EVF Maximale Serienbildrate: 10fps Filme: 4K

Nikon Coolpix P900

Sensor: 1/2,3-Zoll-CMOS, 16MP Objektiv: 24-2000mm, f/2,8-6,5 Monitor: 3-Zoll-Gelenk, 921.000 Punkte Sucher: Ja Maximale Serienbildrate: 7fps Filme: 1080p

Vor- und Nachteile:

+ 24-600mm Objektiv + Hervorragende Videoqualität – Begrenzte Touchscreen-Steuerung – Preiswert im Vergleich zur Konkurrenz

+ 65x Zoombereich + Vollständige manuelle Steuerung – Kein Eye-Sensor am Sucher – Touchscreen-Steuerung fehlt

+ Einfach zu bedienen + Effektive Bildstabilisierung – Kein Eye-Sensor für EVF – Schwache Leistung bei hohen ISO-Werten

+ Spitzenreiter im Zoombereich + Integriertes Wi-Fi und NFC – Keine Raw-Aufnahmen – Gross

Klicke auf deine bevorzugte Kamera, um weitere Informationen zu erhalten:

Beste kamera für wildtierfotografie – meine wahl.

Ich bin sicher, dass ich mit jeder der obigen Kameras zufrieden wäre. Ich habe mich jedoch für die Nikon COOLPIX P900 entschieden und bin sehr zufrieden.

Es könnte sich allerdings lohnen, die neuere Version Nikon COOLPIX P1000 zu testen, die teurer ist, aber RAW-Fotos erlaubt und hervorragende Leistung bei schwachen Lichtverhältnissen bietet.

kamera ria safari

Wildtierfotografie-Ausrüstung

Komplettiere deine Wildtierfotografie-Ausrüstung mit folgenden nützlichen Artikeln:

Witterungsschutz

  • Wasserdichter Kamerarucksack
  • Regenschutz für Kamera und Objektiv

Stabiles Stativ

  • Stativ mit Mehrwinkelbeinen

Wildtierfotografie-Tarnung

  • Regenjacke / Cape für Fotografen
  • Winter-Multifunktionsweste für Fotografen
  • Sommer Multifunktionsweste für Fotografen
  • Winterhandschuhe für Fotografen

Die wichtigsten Wildtierfotografie-Tipps

Beachte diese Wildtierfotografie-Tipps auf deiner Safari:

  • Lerne deine Kamera kennen (ja – auch die Gebrauschanweisung lesen!)
  • Informiere dich über das Tierverhalten
  • Verwende die richtigen Einstellungen
  • Kenne die Regeln der Fotografie und scheue nicht davor zurück, trotzdem mit dem “Unmöglichen” zu experimentieren
  • Übe, übe, übe
  • Schütze dich und deine Ausrüstung vor Witterungseinflüssen.
  • Das Licht ist das Wichtigste – arbeite IMMER damit!
  • Nimm die Aufnahme aus verschiedenen Distanzen und Perspektiven
  • Sei unauffällig und vorsichtig, ohne die Tierwelt zu stören
  • Sei geduldig

kamera ria safari

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  3. 10 Best Cameras For Safari To Capture The Perfect Photo

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  4. 9 Best Cameras for Safari in 2024

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COMMENTS

  1. Acara Kamera Ria Jadul (Tahun 1983)

    heheh ini yang mantap lagu pembukaanya ABRI karena sekarang lagu ini udah kaga ada lagi deh alias diganti menjadi Mars TNI , bagi generasi 80-an pasti tahu d...

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    Kamera Ria Safari, which consists mainly of Anggun Priambodo and Tumpal Tampubolon (of the recent Rocket Rain film), created a series of videos under the title of "Jangan Takut Indonesia" (Don't Be Afraid, Indonesia). Each video addresses a particular theme related to the elections through funny and awkward situations in a zoo, such as ...

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    Share your videos with friends, family, and the world

  5. 7 Acara Legendaris TVRI dari Aneka Ria Safari Sampai Si Unyil

    Banyak artis-artis Indonesia yang menjadi terkenal setelah tampil di pentas Aneka Ria Safari ini. Seperti Arie Wibowo, Ratih Purwasih, Meriam Bellina, dan banyak lagi. Setelah belasan tahun menikmati masa jayanya, pada tahun 90-an acara yang selama itu dikoordinasi Eddy Sud ini dibubarkan. 4. Kamera Ria

  6. Aneka Ria Safari

    Aneka Ria Safari. Aneka Ria Safari adalah acara ragam unggulan TVRI pada tahun 1980-an. Idenya lahir dari tangan dingin Eddy Soed, saat bertemu dengan Menteri Penerangan, waktu itu Ali Moertopo. Dasarnya, keprihatinan pada nasib musik Indonesia yang kalah terus dalam bersaing dengan lagu-lagu Barat. Lalu muncul acara Aneka Ria Safari.

  7. Best Cameras for an African Safari

    Conclusion. While there are many cameras out there that are suitable for an African safari, the Canon EOS R3, Sony Alpha 7R III, and Nikon Coolpix P1000 stand out as our top choices. The Canon EOS R3 is the absolute best choice for an African Safari due to its full-frame sensor, fast autofocus, and impressive image stabilization.

  8. The Best Safari Camera Recommendations

    It comes with a lens that is not interchangeable, so you don't have to pay extra for a lens. Nikon COOLPIX P1000 16MP 125x Super-Zoom Digital Camera. 3000 millimeter optical zoom-the most powerful zoom lens; Ever put on a Nikon Coolpix camera. 4k ultra hd video with HDMI out, stereo sound and an accessory hot shoe.

  9. Kamera Ria

    Kamera Ria adalah acara televisi varietas yang pernah tayang di TVRI antara dekade 1960-an hingga sekitar tahun 2018/2019. Acara ini bekerja sama dengan Angkatan Bersenjata Republik Indonesia, yang kemudian bertransformasi menjadi Tentara Nasional Indonesia setelah Dwifungsi berakhir pasca-Reformasi.Acara ini memadukan pelbagai jenis hiburan seperti musik dan komedi, dengan selingan berupa ...

  10. Best Camera & Lens for Safari in Africa (All Budgets)

    There is a lot of choice of good telephoto lenses for safari in the mid-range budget. Some good examples are Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM or Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L USM. You can even choose a 2-in-1 solution - a lens that is wide enough for landscapes, but also has a telephoto zoom for animals.

  11. 7 Best Camera for Safari Options: Safari Phone Photography Guide

    Best Small Camera for Safari (Point and Shoot) 1. The Sony Cyber-Shot RX100. The Sony Cyber-Shot RX 100 is a fantastic option for those new to photography who are looking to get a decent shot without having to learn how to become professional photographers.

  12. The Best Safari Camera, Lenses and Photography Accessories

    Nikon Coolpix P950. The Nikon Coolpix P950, released in 2020, has a lot going for it. First, you get an impressive 24-2000mm lens, which is an 83x optical zoom. That should be more than enough for any kind of safari photo, and in particular for those of you looking for a camera for bird photography.

  13. Deddy Dores & Lilian Angela

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  14. 11 Best Cameras for Safari (with Lens Recommendations) 2024

    Best Nikon Lenses for Safari Photography. Nikon has fewer mirrorless lenses than Sony. But Nikon's Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S and the new Nikon Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S match the Sony versions' max aperture and come with built-in 1.4x teleconverters. They're also light enough that you don't need a tripod.

  15. The 10 Best Safari Cameras and Lenses

    Expensive Bridge Camera. The Sony RX10 IV is a bridge camera. It fills the gap between old-school point-and-shoot cameras and interchangeable lens systems. A bridge camera with a fixed lens offers shooters a versatile zoom lens. It provides the simplicity of point and shoots with superior image quality.

  16. Beste Kamera für Reisen und Safari mit Wildtierfotografie-Tipps

    Beste Kamera für Wildtierfotografie - Meine Wahl. Ich bin sicher, dass ich mit jeder der obigen Kameras zufrieden wäre. Ich habe mich jedoch für die Nikon COOLPIX P900 entschieden und bin sehr zufrieden. Es könnte sich allerdings lohnen, die neuere Version Nikon COOLPIX P1000 zu testen, die teurer ist, aber RAW-Fotos erlaubt und ...

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    Canon G7X Mark III. ⚖️ Weight: 294g. 👾 Megapixels: 20.1. 🎥 Video: 4K plus image stabilisation. 9.5. Check Price. The Canon G7X Mark III is the third release in the G7X series and provides incredible value for money. This camera is excellent for point-and-shoot photography and vlogging. Meanwhile, the size means that it fits ...

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    Krasnaya Polyana, Sochi, Krasnodar Krai. Coordinates: 43°40′43″N40°12′19″E43.67861°N 40.20528°E. For other places with the same name, see Krasnaya Polyana. Krasnaya Polyana. Красная Поляна. Urban-type settlement. General view of the Krasnaya Polyana from the Psekhako Ridge. In the foreground is a mountain Olympic village.

  22. sundaze.co.za

    sundaze.co.za | Raw Footage: Up Close with a Lion on a Guided Safari #lion #wildlife #safari #guidedsafari #nature #explore #SouthAfrica #EasternCape #sunday...

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    Traffic. This HD live webcam takes you to the city Solikamsk in the Russian Perm Krai. The online stream shows you the intersection of the major street Severnaya and Molodezhnaya street, including the local time and weather in Solikamsk. This city is one of the oldest towns in the Krai, with a rich heritage seen in many historical buildings ...