5 Best Safari Cameras to Take on a Trip to Africa

best safari cameras

September 30, 2020 • Product, Tips & Lists • Views: 70829

While you are preparing for the most exceptional experience in your life, make sure to purchase everything that you’ll need before going on your vacation. This means that you should already be on the hunt for the best safari cameras and bundles on the market. While you may not be a professional photographer, you will still need some amazing equipment to help you capture Africa’s beauty and grandeur. It would be such a pity if you don’t return home with some of the best photographs you’ve ever taken – able to keep the memories and even share them with family and friends.

Even though our eyes are the best photo camera in the world, you should still consider buying a good gadget for your safari. Luckily, we have put together a list of the best safari cameras to take on an African trip.

1. What to Look for When Choosing the Best Camera for a Safari 

First of all, keep it simple. The last thing you want to do on a safari is to constantly be battling against your camera settings. Instead of taking some quick photos of a fierce lion hunting a gnu antelope, you don’t want to waste this opportunity by having to adjust your settings three different times – only to find out that you’re now too late to capture the moment. You need a camera that is easy to use and carry around. Don’t go for a huge “telescope” if you can’t use it properly. Leave those for the pros.

Second, be careful with the zoom you choose. The long ones are fine, but they are tricky when it comes to light sensitivity. Don’t go for the maximum zoom if your camera has at least 8 megapixels of definition. Just settle with enlarging the part of the image you want when you get back home. In low-light situations, keeping the zoom at a fair level (let’s say 2x-4x) will help with camera vibration and body shake. Vibration and focus are a great challenge, particularly in the evening and early morning. Both of these issues can be easily diminished by not extending the lens to maximum enlargement.

Last but not least, you need a huge memory card so that you can set the camera to “support” your exposures. On a safari trip, you will probably use faster shutter speeds to be able to catch the animals on the move, and this means that you will take more photos than you normally do. In conclusion, the memory requirement of the card will be tripled, so take this into consideration.

2. Top 5 Camera Choices for Safari trip

2.1. Best Safari Camera for Beginners – Canon Digital SLR Camera Body EOS 2000D

Our list of top cameras to take on a safari trip begins with this DSLR, which is a great camera for those who are not experts in photography. Canon EOS 2000D will help you capture the wildlife in your frame. It presents 3fps continuous shooting for moving objects, plus full HD video recording at 1030/30p. It also has a 9 cross-type point AF system so you can easily follow the action. Beginners have the choice of a broad variety of tools, but for a safari, one of the most important aspects is the lens, since it is impossible to get very close to the animals because some can be really far away, or shouldn’t be approached. As a result, you won’t be able to fill the frame because of the short zoom lenses. For these situations, you need a lens of 300mm or longer. You also require a perfect zoom choice for a safari, to use it for distant subjects and closeups, and this camera has all of these. It features a DIGIC 4+ image processor that reduces noise and offers sensitive levels from ISO 400-6400. It is pretty light, easy to use and essential for your first safari in Africa.

You can buy it on Amazon.com for around $400 to $450. The pack available includes everything you need to master the art of photography.

Best Safari Camera for Beginners

2.2. Best Compact Ultra Zoom Digital Camera for SafariPanasonic Lumix FZ80 4K Digital Camera

Normal compacts aren’t enough when you need to zoom far-away subjects to make them appear large in the frame. Superzoom cameras, also known as “bridge cameras,” are a match for bird spotting, safaris and so forth. These models cannot replace a DSLR camera, but they are more affordable than a pro-spec one. These superzooms combine powerful zoom lenses with a technology that makes them a great choice. We believe that the best compact ultra-zoom digital camera for safari is the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ80.  Its 20-1200 mm lens extends to 600mm in an instant. This way, the image quality can be maintained, even in low-light conditions. This feature allows for more light to enter the camera, which is a big advantage during the evening. But be careful to avoid using those less desirable higher ISO sensitivities. Additionally, this camera offers 4K video capabilities and images with a 30 fps burst.

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ80 can be purchased on Amazon.com, with a price starting from $279.99. Its lens, zoom capabilities, splash-proof and dustproof body make it the best choice for a compact ultra-zoom digital camera for a safari.

Best Compact Ultra Zoom Digital Camera for Safari

2.3. Best Safari Sports and Action Camera – GoPro Hero 5 Black

 Our list of top cameras to take on a safari trip continues with GoPro Hero 5 Black. We consider this to be the best safari and sports camera out there. It’s the best choice, especially for a safari, due to its ability to shoot indoors, in sunlight, cloudy weather and even at night. With this gadget, you are 100% sure that you will get the best quality out of any action. The Hero 5 Black shoots 4K footage, has a super-wide field of view and also offers super slow-motion modes. Even when you are shooting at 1080p, the footage still looks perfect, and as a photo camera, it offers 12-megapixel still images. The best thing about GoPro Hero 5 Black is that it is so tiny, that it won’t even be noticed unless you strap it to your neck or arm. You can also purchase a waterproof housing for it, in case you have to face a storm during your safari. Also, this action camera is incredibly durable, so if you happen to drop it a few times, you shouldn’t worry. The battery is also easy to swap, so you can do it on the spot.

You can buy the GoPro Hero 5 Black camera on Amazon.com for prices starting from $349. This action camera is the best one you can get for a safari, but if you have a smaller budget, you should really weigh your options.

Best Safari Sports and Action Camera

2.4. Best Point and Shoot Camera for Safari – Canon PowerShot SX70

 The best camera in this category is Canon SX70. This device has a very good auto mode and boasts a 65x zoom. These characteristics help you with wildlife shooting. For example, the “sports” setting is perfect for moving animals. But you can get in trouble when you are trying to photograph animals hidden in the branches or grass, as the autofocus will focus on the background instead of the animal, so beware. The Canon SX70 also has an in-lens image stabilizer. You can take sharp images at 565x zoom, without even using a tripod. Another option is to simply use the burst mode and let it do its thing. This works, of course, if you have a card large enough to hold numerous photos during the same session. Moreover, the maximum zoom works perfectly for bird spotting. The final result is an excellent quality, having more pixels, but without sacrificing sharpness. What about the animals you can’t get close to? You can zoom in on their eyes, mouth and fur even if they are located 200 meters away. And for video, be prepared for stunning 4K and 4K time-lapse movie.

You can buy Canon SX70 on Amazon.com with prices starting from $549. This point-and-shoot camera is among the best choices for your safari in Africa.

Best Point and Shoot Camera for Safari

2.5. Best Camcorder for Safari – Sony FDR-AX43

 Among our top cameras to take on a safari trip, we have also included a camcorder, and for this category, we have chosen the Sony 4K HD FDR-AX43. This high-definition device records directly to a hard disk inside the camera. Its 20x optical zoom allows you to record, but it also enables you to take excellent still photos. The results of editing can be amazing. You can create movies and videos as professional as those you see on HD television. It is exactly like watching your favorite nature programs, except, in reality, it’s your very own movie. Recording with a Sony camera adds an unforgettable atmosphere to your images. You can clearly hear the sound of the wind, the birds and also commentaries from your guide. The screen captures from the video can also be quite a blessing. Of course, they are not as good as photos taken with DSLRs, but their quality is still more than sufficient. The best part is that the camcorder does everything for you. You just have to point and shoot. One feature that makes this camera stand out is the eye-level viewfinder. The action can be followed much easier than using the fold-out screen. Also, the viewfinder can reduce camera shake.

Offered at only $748, you can purchase the Sony HD 4K camcorder from Amazon.com. Prepare for an exceptional time on your safari and keep your memories close to you, wherever you are, with a simple click to play back.

These are our top cameras to take on a safari trip to help you transform your vacation into an unforgettable experience. Remember, these are just a few suggestions. Before purchasing any item from above, you should make a comparison. You are the only one who knows your needs and budget for a cam. You don’t have to look up the cheapest cams online, but neither do you have to spend thousands of dollars on equipment you don’t even know how to use. Keep it simple and purchase a camera that really feels like it belongs to you. If you can, always take some test photos, to be sure of the quality of the camera. Enjoy your safari!

 3. Top 3 Camera Bundles for an African Safari Trip

 A camera bundle represents a starter kit that consists of the camera body, interchangeable-lens camera, storage cards, tripods, objectives and other various accessories. The bundle brings all of these together to create the starter pack for beginners in SLR Photography. Usually, be the body of the camera can be sold by itself, especially when it is quite expensive. In addition, retailers usually have promotions for a package that combines the SLR camera body with a few less-expensive accessories.

Now, you may ask yourself “why would I prefer such a pack?” The answer is simple. Purchasing a camera in a bundle is a good idea for your first SLR. Until you learn everything about cameras after some photography lessons or a few trips out in the real world, you need something that you can work with until and if you decide to move onto something more complex. There is no need to panic and storm into every shop in the mall looking for the best or most expensive camera because bundles will often do the job. All you have to do is compare prices and rethink your budget, while the items are a click away. We’re here to offer you some suggestions, so let’s take a look at some of the best camera bundles for an African safari.

3.1. Safari Camera Bundle: Canon EOS Rebel T7 Bundle

This is one of the best deals on Amazon.com. By purchasing this DSLR bundle, you can experience savings starting off at $450+. It’s a perfect purcahse for an entry-level DSLR. This kit includes the Canon EOS Rebel T7 DSLR Camera, Canon EF-S 18-55mm IS II Lens, 2.2x Telephoto Lens, 0.43x Wideangle Lens,Sandisk 32GB SDHC Class 10 Memory Cards,
USB Card Reader, Commander Remote Control, Camera Backpack, Professional Camera Tripod, AC/DC Car Charger, Digital Camera Flash, Commander 3pc Filter Kit, Commander Lens Hood, Extra Battery, Canon Original Battery & Charger, Canon Body Cap, Canon Front and Rear Lens Caps, and the Canon Eyecup. What more could you wish for your first bundle?

3.2. Safari Camera Bundle: Canon PowerShot SX540 HS Digital Camera Bundle

If you decide to buy this digital camera bundle, you can get it starting at $280 on Amazon.com. The kit consists of the body of a super-zoom camera with a 50x zoom range. Also, one of the smallest super-zooms so it will fit just fine in the special bag included in the bundle. In this kit, you will also find everything you need from memory cards to quality tripods, and you will even get a deluxe camera case to keep your precious device.
Top 3 Camera Bundles for an African Safari Trip

3.3. Safari Camera Bundle: Nikon D3500 Bundle

This camera bundle costs only $719.95, helping you save hundreds of dollars on accessories. The Nikon D3500 is one of the best products from the Nikon DSLR line. It offers good performance, providing you with excellent image quality and well-thought-out ease-of-use. In this bundle, you will get the DSLR camera body, objectives, a set of Ultraviolet Protection lenses, memory cards, a cleaning kit and a big bag to fit all these accessories and much more. It’s really an offer you can’t refuse.
Top 3 Camera Bundles for an African Safari Trip

4. Maintaining Your Camera While on Safari

When you make an investment, you want it to last as long as possible, so it’s vital that you take care of your items. That goes as general advice for your camera, but particularly when you’re in a special environment like a safari, you have to be extra careful with camera maintenance.

  • First of all, you need to have a good, sturdy camera bag that will protect your equipment from dust and, if necessary, rain. Safari photography is generally done in the summer, and dust can become a real issue. So, when you’re not using it, put it away.
  • Bring your lens cleaning kit and your sensor cleaning kit. As mentioned, chances are it’s going to be dusty. Thee dust particles get everywhere and not only do they ruin your pictures, but they can also ruin your equipment. You don’t want your lenses to be scratched.
  • Clean your camera carefully at the end of every day. When you come back to your accommodations, take the time to clean your equipment. Don’t allow the dirt and sand to settle. Make sure to use your special kit and not random rags or things, or you might damage your camera.
  • Don’t leave the camera out of your sight while you’re out on safari. Keep it close and always have an eye on it. Ideally, you will have it in hand at all times and put it in its protective bag as soon as you are done. Remember not to leave your camera bag out in the sun; find a shaded place to store it.

And in conclusion, remember how important it is to choose among the best safari cameras and bundles well in advance. You’ll not only want to make sure that your products arrive before your trip, but that you will have plenty of time to practice using your camera. Take it outside at different times of the day, and try your hand at making adjustments. As already mentioned, you won’t want any of the amazing moments in Africa to pass you by due to a technicality.

5. Some useful resources for planning your lifetime vacation:

Check Triperiod for complete list of things you will need to have a lifetime experience. Triperiod is your one place destination to everything, African safari.

*Link to Amazon  website. Please see disclosure around our affiliate relationship.

Comments

comments

Tags: ,

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *