Best Safari camera for beginners
What is the best Safari camera for beginners ? Going out on a safari is one of the most adventurous and magical things you can do in your life.
You don’t want to miss anything. This is why you need the best safari cameras.
It might not be necessary, but having the best safari camera is essential for your trip.
Taking the perfect picture at the perfect moment is one of the best challenges you can do on any trip. With a camera, you can be sure you will share the experience with friends and family.
We need to remember wildlife experience in high-quality. Take great pictures and videos, so you feel like you are back there when you look at them.
If this is your first time going on this kind of trip and you don’t want to forget anything, you are in the right place. We bring you today the best safari cameras for beginners.
Travelers are always looking to buy the best camera to have their adventures in high quality.
Do you want to know what qualities to look for before buying a safari camera and the best cameras in the market?
Keep reading this article to know the best safari cameras for beginners.
If you need a camera bag you might consider reading about the best safari camera bag.
Top 10 best safari cameras for beginners
Some people might wonder why they need a camera for a safari when they have their smartphone.
But suppose you want to take quality pictures of every animal or landscape.
In that case, you’ll need a camera that doesn’t have delays in taking photos and has zoom capabilities.
1. Canon G7X Mark III

- Weight: 294g
- Megapixel: 20.1
- Video: 4K
- Adjustable Lenses: No
This camera is light and fits in your pocket.
This is one of the reasons why it’s one of the best cameras for people who have blogs or document their lives.
It’s the third release of this model. That’s why they put a three at the end of the name. The version before this one, Mark II, is also a great option to consider if you are on a tight budget.
The difference between Mark III and Mark II is minimal. It changes in the price and weight.
Mark III is lighter than Mark II, and that’s why it is a great option to travel.
2. Olympus TG-5

- Weight: 250g
- Megapixel: 12
- Video: 4K
- Adjustable Lenses: No
- 3″ LCD Screen
- Charged using USB
This might be one of the worst cameras on this list; it has a 12 megapixels lens. But it has incredible durability that makes us overlook the lack of quality a little.
It might not be the perfect camera for other activities, but it’s one of the best choices for taking on safari.
Some people get worried about taking an expensive camera on a safari when traveling. It’s a wild trip, and you can break the camera by accident.
This is why Olympus TG-5 is on the list of best safari cameras for beginners; it’s a camera labeled as damage-proof.
What includes damage proof? Well, it can stand many different conditions.
- Waterproof up to 15m
- Drop-proof up to 2.1 meters
- Freezeproof up to -10c
- Crush-Proof up to 100kg
If you’re interested in durability, this is the best safari camera. You can buy the dedicated waterproof case to allow the camera to be waterproof up to 45m.
3. Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV

- Weight: 620g
- Megapixel: 20
- Video: 4K
- Adjustable Lenses: Yes
- Wi-Fi and Bluetooth built-in
This camera has an old-style metal look that it’s very popular. It’s a flexible camera that allows you to film in 4K and shoot in 20 MP.
When you compare it with the other camera in this list, it’s a disadvantage that it doesn’t have a mic input.
If you’re looking to film high-quality videos, this camera might not be for you.
Then, why is it on this list? Because of its stand-out feature: the selfie screen.
The selfie screen flips down below the camera and allows you to take a perfect in-frame.
4. Canon M50

- Weight: 387g
- Megapixel: 24.1
- Video: 4K
- Adjustable Lenses: Yes
- 10 FPS continuous shooting
- Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capabilities
Canon is one of the most known brand cameras in the market and the favorite of amateur photographers.
This is because Canon keeps upgrading itself over the years.
You can shoot videos in 4K and add an external microphone with this camera. It’s perfect if you want to record videos on your trip.
It’s one of the best safari cameras for beginners. It is compact, mirrorless, and allows you to change lenses.
5. Sony A7 III

- Weight: 387g
- Megapixel: 24.2
- Video: 4K
- Adjustable Lenses: Yes
- 10FPS
- Animal eye autofocus
The Sony A7 III is the most luxurious camera on the market. It’s perfect for those who want to switch between 4K photos and high-resolution images.
The Sony A7 III has 5-axis image stabilization. This is one of the reasons this camera is on the list of best safari cameras.
It’s ideal for the irregular land you will face while out on safari.
Are you interested in this camera? We recommend you buy it and take your time to know it before your trip because it has many options.
6. Canon EOS 4000D

- Weight: 436g
- Megapixel: 18
- Video: HD
- Adjustable Lenses: Yes
- Optical viewfinder with 9 point autofocus
This camera is one of the most affordable and best safari cameras on the market.
It comes with built-in Wi-Fi. This means you can transfer images from the camera to your phone or other devices on the go.
The 22.3 x14.9mm camera sensor allows you to take high-quality pictures.
With this camera, you can take 500 shots before running out of battery.
So if you consider buying this camera for your trip, you’ll need to buy extra batteries.
7. Nikon D3500

- Weight: 420g
- Megapixel: 24.78
- Video: HD
- Adjustable Lenses: Yes
- 5FPS continuous shooting
- Built-in Bluetooth
- Great battery life
The designers had beginners in mind when they designed this camera.
The camera has a guide mode that tells you, on the screen:
- How to shoot in different situations
- What settings to change to have the best result in tour pictures.
It’s a small and lightweight camera. It is perfect for those who don’t want to carry big cameras but want quality in their pictures.
8. Nikon D5600

- Weight: 415g
- Megapixel: 24.2
- Video: HD
- Adjustable Lenses: Yes
- Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
- Allows external microphone or flash
The Nikon D5600 is the new version of the Nikon D3500. It has so many features that your safari photos will look professional.
Nikon has put an incredible effort into making this camera the best camera it can be.
It has a 23.5×15.6 sensor that shoots at 5FPS. The 24-megapixel resolution and HD LCD screen allow you to review your shots on the go.
The Nikon D5600 has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth built-in. It has a battery that lasts 970 shots before charging.
The only letdown of this camera is that you can only record in Full HD 1080P; it doesn’t have a 4K recording.
9. GoPro HERO8

- Weight: 120g
- Megapixel: 12
- Video: 4K
- Adjustable Lenses: No
- Charges from micro USB
- Voice activation/Controls
GoPro Hero 8 is one of the favorite cameras of the sports world. It has been improving its model since its first release in 2004.
It’s the favorite among athletes because it’s lightweight and durable. It can shoot videos in 4K, and it’s waterproof for up to 10m.
What makes this camera one of the best safari cameras is the many accessories you can buy for it. It has selfie sticks, suction cup attachments, surfboard straps.
There is an accessory that allows you to Strap your GoPro to anything, and it’s great to use on a trip.
10. DJI Osmo Pocket

- Weight: 116g
- Megapixel: 12
- Video: 4K
- Adjustable Lenses: No
- Charges by USB
- Gimble based
DJI is a company that used to create only drones. In 2018 the company expanded into the camera video market and released the DJI Osmo Pocket.
DJI Osmo Pocket is one of the best safari cameras in the market. It’s built onto a gimble, so you’ll have complete stabilization when recording.
It’s an excellent choice to take it to your safari. You can take clear pictures or film animals despite the uneven terrain.
It’s an affordable camera and has many attractive characteristics. It films in 4K at 60FPS, shots stills at 12mps, take panoramics, slow-motion, and motion lapse video.
What to consider before buying a safari camera for beginners?
You can find excellent cameras in the market at a great price. But, for a safari, beginners can’t use all cameras.
It would be best if you considered that you’d be far away from the animals and on uneven ground.
The camera you choose needs to have unique characteristics like auto-focus or lightweight.
We have a list of the factors you should consider when buying a camera for a safari if you are a beginner:
Weight or Portability
Most cameras nowadays are light, according to their descriptions. But you need to consider the accessories and lens attachment.
If you are not used to the camera’s weight, it will be hard to maintain balance when shooting. The result will be poor pictures, or you might miss incredible moments.
If you have a camera at home, weigh it and test if you can hold it for more than five minutes without your whole body aching.
Frames per second
It’s essential to look for a camera with high frames per second to have the best chance of getting a great shot.
Frames per second are the rate at which the camera takes photographs.
It’s better to have high frames per second because you and the animals will be in constant motion on a safari.
The optimal FPS for cameras on safari is between 4 FPS and 10 FPS. Most cameras have an average of 6 FPS.
If you have a 4FPS camera, you’ll be able to take 40 photos during that time on continuous shots, which means four frames per second x 10 seconds.
Sensor
The sensor in a camera determines the amount of light that enters the camera.
The camera uses light to create an image and help the camera to receive information. The more light enters the camera, the more detailed the image is.
A better sensor can produce better photos in low light and help you give the image a better depth of field.
Lack of light is something that you’re most likely to experiment on a safari.
Autofocus
Autofocus is a feature that you can find in most cameras nowadays. This is ideal for photography beginners.
A camera’s autofocus uses a combination of parts to focus on an area to take the picture. It will adjust the camera lens to achieve the best possible image.
Experts in the photography business prefer to adjust the focus on their own. That’s a great way to achieve more aesthetic pictures.
But if you are in a place like a safari is no time to prepare the camera for the shot.
Having a camera with autofocus can help you take great pictures.
Lenses
Some cameras have interchangeable lenses. Different lenses create different effects and give you, as a photographer, more flexibility.
We recommend investing in lenses to improve your photos. if you have the budget, of course
Different lenses are beneficial in a safari trip. Longer lenses can give you a clear shot of something that it’s too far in the distance.
Dust and Water resistance
Usually, there is a considerable amount of dust on a safari. Of course, it depends on where your destination is.
For example, If your destination is in Africa, you’ll need a camera that can withstand lots of dust.
The same goes for waterproof cameras. There is usually a lot of humidity, rain, and water around safaris.