I recently caught up with a couple of the guys from MINOX at the CLA Game Fair 2011 that was held at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire. We spoke a little about their range of binoculars, especially the ones that are ideal for taking on safari like the excellent Minox BL 8×33 Binoculars and their compact BD 7×28 IF binoculars. After a short while I noticed a small green box on their stand and enquired about what it was and what it did:

MINOX DTC 500 Trail Camera

They told me that it was their new trail or game camera. Which for the benefit of those who don’t know is a camera that you leave at a location to take photos or video of what ever passes by that activates the motion sensor on the camera.

This is something that I have been wanting to take with me into the bush for a long time, but have as yet just never got around to getting one for myself and so jumped at the opportunity to get one to review.

Unfortunately for me, I would not be going back to Africa until next year, but did organise for a brilliant wildlife photographer and good friend of mine to take one with him, so that he could try it out.

Main Features & Specifications

• Up to 8 megapixel resolution
• Internal 2,5″ colour monitor
• Colour Pictures during the day – Black & White at night
• Records date, time, temperature and moon phases
• High speed release
• Powerful Infrared (IR) flash with a range of up to 15 meters
• Low power usage
• Up to 9 picture series and videos up to 60 seconds
• Password protection
• Power: 8 x 1,5 Volt AA batteries – battery life of over 6 months
• Dimensions: 153 x 114 x 66 mm

Main Uses

The main intended use of this Minox camera is to capture images and video clips of animals in the wild or for analysing animal movements around the clock.

For Safaris? Whilst this camera won’t be ideal for all types of safaris, I can imagine that for those who will be camping in a wild area or if you will be staying at a lodge that will accommodate your request to leave the camera at an ideal spot on the reserve (and most should) then I can see this as being a fantastic piece of kit to take with.

Compact Size

This Minox DTC 500 and most other trail cameras are not quite as small as a compact camera, this is because they need to have a protective waterproof casing around the camera as well as include the motion detection sensor and the Infra Red LED’s for night shots. So the fact that it still only measures 15.3×11.4×6.6cm is pretty impressive and is almost half the size many other makes.

This relatively small size means that it won’t take up too much space in your suitcase and the fact that the camera comes encased in a tough waterproof exterior means that I would probably also just put it in with my main luggage, rather than having to carry it on board as part of your hand luggage.

Image Quality & Resolution

On the right are example photos taken at day and at night with the MINOX DTC 500 camera.

The MINOX DTC 500 has a maximum 8 megapixel resolution, which when compared to most “standard” digital cameras that you find these days is a little low, but is about the same as it’s main competitors.

The image resolution can also be adjusted to shoot at lower resolutions to save space if you are planning on leaving the camera out in the field for long periods of time. Remember that this camera has a battery life of over 6 months!

The camera will also document the date, time, temperature and moon phase of each shot, in this way you will know exactly which animal was where, when and for how long!

Continuous Shooting Mode

Another great feature is the continuous shooting function that when selected will enable this Minox trail camera to shoot from one to 9 sequential shots in rapid sequence every time the shutter release is actuated – be that manual, time lapse or via the motion sensor.

Most people will probably just set the camera to “shoot” with the motion sensor, but rather cleverly there is also a nice time lapse mode that will record the next movement at a programmed interval. This can be set to 5s, 10s, 20s, 30s, 1min, 5min, 10min, 30min, or 60min. In this way you can make sure that the camera does not take too many photos of the same event if you don’t want it to.

More Sample Photos

Video

As well as photographs, you can record video with the DTC 500. Once the camera is activated either by the motion sensor or the time lapse setting, it will record video of between 10 and 60 seconds depending on what settings you use.

Below is a video I put together using footage taken with the Minox DTC 500

Night Time Shooting

This trail camera has a infrared flash that will allow the camera to take black & white photos with a range of up to 15 meters in unfavorable light, twilight or at night.

Storage

Both photos and video are stored on a SD card. The slot that you insert the card into is located inside the protective body.

The Body

The camera and sensors are protected by a tough and weatherproof plastic body that is not only water and dust proof, but will protect the unit from cold and heat.

This tough body case actually helped us as during the testing of the camera in Zimbabwe – One elephant took a keen interest in this little “green box” and actually came and nudged it with it’s forehead and trunk. Luckily it did not use all of it’s power as that would damage almost any protective case. But the case was tough enough to prevent the camera from being damaged by this inquisitive ele. You can see footage of the actual elephant that did this in the video footage above.

A feature that I really like is the integrated 2.5″ LCD display that is located and protected on the inside of the body. This is great because it means that you can leave the camera at a remote location, go back the next day and check your results without having to carry a computer with you.

The USB port and included cables will allow you to view/transfer your images to a computer or other device. There is also a port that enables you to view images on your TV and one which you can insert a external 6V DC power supply (not included).

On the inside left of the body is the battery compartment that takes 8 x 1,5 Volt AA batteries and what is really impressive is that according to Minox, the camera has a battery life of over 6 months! I am not sure if this includes the batteries that come with camera or if you need to use some more powerful NiMH or Lithium batteries.

One thing to mention is that the battery compartment does not have a door or any other way of keeping the batteries in place, and so they can sometimes come loose when you are adjusting the camera. Just a little thing, but this can be a little annoying.

Why use a Trail Camera?

I think that the biggest lure for me is getting the opportunity to see why comes by once humans have left an area… you just never know what you are going to capture!

We were lucky enough to get footage of some animals that you almost never see in the wild due to their nocturnal and or shy behaviour. This included a Porcupine, African Civet, and Honey Badgers.

On top of this we got some really close up footage of Spotted Hyenas, Elephants and Warthogs that would be very difficult to get otherwise.

As well as this it is a great way of being able to document exactly what animals are active in a particular area.

For another example I recently read an article where a team from the BBC filmed a “lost” population of tigers living in Bhutan mountains. The researchers used trail cameras very similar to the Minox DTC 500 (they actually used the Bushnell Trophy Cam). You can see a short video of this amazing discovery below that will also give you an ide of the quality that you can expect both during the day and night:

Mounting the Camera

On the back of the camera there are two slots that are used to pass the included mounting strap through. Because this tough nylon strap is about 1 meter long, you can then use it to attach the camera securely to anything from a fence post to a fairly large tree trunk.

As well as this, there is also a standard 14″ thread for mounting the unit to a tripod.

Also Included

The Minox DTC 500 comes with an instruction booklet, a tough nylon mounting strap as well as USB and TV cables, a set of 8 AA batteries, a 1GB micro SD card and an adapter that converts the micro SD card to the standard SD card size to enable you to easily use it with this camera and on your computer.

Conclusion

A really excellent device that takes good quality photos and video. Overall I would highly recommend this Minox DTC 500 Camera to anyone who is looking to capture footage that would not be possible to do if you were present.

Possible Future Improvements
After testing this camera below are a few of our recommendations to Minox on how they could possibly improve on what is already a great camera:

• Mounting – Mounting it on something like a tree is easy, but to then aim the camera is a little trick – it would be great if they had some sort of ball head or a way of rotating the camera once it is fastened.
• Knowing exactly where the camera will take a photo is trick as their is no view finder – perhaps they could use something like a laser sighter?
• Sound – it would be great if it also recorded sound with the video!

Cost & Where to Buy

The Minox DTC 500 costs about $349 in the US or about &pound350 in the UK: (Order-No. 60674)

UK Residents:

• Trail Cameras on Amazon.co.uk

US Residents:

• Trail Cameras on Amazon.com

Lightweight & Compact Safari Equipment

I get many people writing in to ask me “what should I take on safari” – of course there is no absolute list as all adventures are slightly different and different people have different wants/needs. But because I am currently busy planning for a trip to Zimbabwe, where I hope to spend a lot of time on safari, photographing as well as just enjoying the wonderful wildlife that the country has to offer, I thought that with my experience, what I take with me may be of interest to others as well and at least give you a starting point.

I have already written an article with an essential packing list & what to take on safari, and another one that covers what clothes to take on safari, so I won’t go over the basics again, but rather go into specifics on the actual equipment that I take on safari:

On this trip I will be going with my wife as well as our new daughter who will be just over 4 months old when we leave, so I have to make sure that what safari equipment (Cameras, Binoculars etc) I take are as compact and lightweight as possible as I will also need plenty of space, free hands and available weight to carry baby clothes, prams etc!

Best Safari Binoculars

For me the most important piece of kit is my binoculars, as they take viewing wildlife to a whole new level and I highly recommend that anyone who goes on safari invests in a decent pair. Through working on this website (see my section on Safari Binocular Reviews) and from working on my Best Binocular reviews website, I test and review many binoculars every year. The cheapest binoculars are rubbish, little more than toys and I urge you to stay well clear. That does not mean you have to spend a fortune as most good quality pairs are sufficient and far better than not having any at all.

Like all my other equipment, the most important feature I am looking for is a pair to take on safari is one that is light and compact. The very compact pairs have the disadvantage of not being as suitable as larger versions in low light conditions, so for me the ultimate pair would be a mid-sized binocular where you combine decent light gathering ability with a fairly compact binocular.

Of all the binoculars I reviewed last year and taking all things into consideration (including cost) the best for safaris were the Minox BL 8×33 Binoculars and if price is not really a factor, the Kowa Genesis XD 10×33 Binoculars.

If you are looking for a cheaper pair and want to keep size down to a minimum, favourites of mine are the range of Steiner Wildlife and Safari compacts. I often use them when out walking in the bush, especially when I am carrying other equipment like my camera as they can fold up small enough to fit into your shirt or jacket pocket. Take a look at the Steiner 10.5×28 Wildlife Pro Binoculars or the cheaper Steiner Safari Pro 10×26 Binoculars.

Would it not be for the fact that I am going to combine this trip with a little work and take a pair of binoculars that I have not used before to test and review, I would definitely take one of those pairs above.

Best Camera For Safaris

For this trip, I am looking to get myself a new camera – For me it is important to get the best possible wildlife photographs, not only for my enjoyment, but also for this website and so it is vital that I don’t sacrifice quality for gear that is too lightweight and compact.

I have already written an article as to why I feel that for me, a Superzoom Bridge Camera is the best camera to take on safari, rather than an SLR with a powerful telephoto lens (Digital SLR vs Compact SuperZoom Cameras) – The main reasons being cost as well as weight and size.

Panasonic FZ100 The obvious choice?
I have been using the range of Panasonic FZ cameras years now and I am a real fan of them, indeed some of my favourite Zimbabwe safari photos were taken with the now very old Panasonic FZ18 (see my gallery of Bird & Wildlife Photographs taken in Kariba, Zimbabwe)

I especially like the way that you can so easily attach a Telephoto Conversion Lens to the Panasonic’s to further increase the focal length, which is especially useful for bird photography.

So looking at my list of the best Superzoom Bridge Cameras 2012 and the fact that I thought it was excellent when reviewed it a while back, I was very tempted to go with the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100.

Newcomer: Fujifilm FinePix HS20EXR
Brand new for 2011 is the Fujifilm FinePix HS20EXR that in many of the specifications is very similar to the Panasonic FZ100, except in some key areas like having a more powerful 30x zoom (compared to 24x on the Panasonic) and a EXR CMOS sensor that records images with a very high resolution (16 Megapixels compared to 14M on the Panasonic).

What I also love is that at the end of the lens there is a 58mm thread, meaning that I can also attach a Telephoto Conversion Lenses (more on that later). So even though it is a little bulkier and heavier than the Panasonic, it is still far smaller and lighter than the equivalent SLR set-up.

So because of this, the camera I have decided to buy and take the Fuji FinePix HS20EX with me, which to be honest I am very excited about.

Telephoto Conversion Lens

Whilst I will admit, that the Fujiflim with its 30x (720mm – 35mm camera equivalent), will be more than enough for most situations on safari, but I also have a real passion for birds and love bird photography. Because of their small size and the fact that most are very timid, the bigger the zoom, the better the chance you have of getting close enough to take great photos. To do this I add a Teleconverter lens to my camera as for me the added size and weight that this entails is well worth it. Up until now I have always used the Olympus 1.7x Tele Conversion Lens (TCON-17) attached to my Panasonic – but have recently purchased a 2.2x teleconversion lens made by the Japanese company Raynox that I am extremely happy with. For more take a look at my Raynox DCR-2025PRO Super Telephoto Conversion Lens Review.

Best Compact Tripod For Safari and Travel

Because this FinePix HS20EX camera has a powerful 30x Zoom (35mm camera equivalent: 24-720mm) and the fact that I will also be attaching the Raynox 2.2x teleconverter lens to it, I feel that even with it’s very impressive image stabiliser, to get the best photos and video, without any blurring or image shake, a tripod is necessary.

As I write in my page on the Best Tripods for Travel & Safari, they need to be small and light enough to easily carry with you, but strong enough to take your camera with as little or better still no flexing or movement.

A while back after reviewing the Vanguard Alta Pro 263AT Tripod for my Binocular Reviews website, I liked it so much that I decided to buy it. But unfortunately as much as I would love to take it with me, I feel that it is just too it is just too big and heavy for this trip.

Another option that I considered, also from Vanguard is their excellent PH-242 Pan Head Window Mount, but as well as vehicle and houseboat safaris, I am also planning on doing a lot of walking in the bush and even though you can attach the mount to objects like tree branches, you cannot always guarantee that there will be one exactly where you need it.

Ultra Compact Tripod?
So I contacted Vanguard asking if they could help me with some lightweight equipment for the trip and they very kindly sent me some kit to try out and review, including the Nivelo 204BK Aluminium tripod. You can read my full review of the Nivelo 204BK Aluminium tripod here, but to sum up I was really impressed:

With a folded height of only 30cm and weighing just 600g it is certainly extremely lightweight and compact, so no problem packing it away with my luggage. It extends to over a meter which is good and I love the “twist-n-lock” legs that allow you to extend and lock them in seconds – a very important consideration a few seconds can mean the difference between capturing a picture of a skittish bird or not.

It has a load capacity of 2kg (4.4lbs) and considering it is so lightweight this is very impressive and easily holds my Superzoom Bridge camera. Admittedly when fully extended there is a little movement and flexing, which is to be expected, but as a base for safari photography and as a travel tripod it is steady enough and far better than none at all.

The problem I have with it is the added instability I get once I attach a Teleconverter lens to my camera and this is mainly due to the extra length added to the camera by the telephoto lens. I feel that if I was just taking photos, it would be acceptable, but I also shoot a lot of video with my camera and so I need a tripod that is a little more stable, which is a shame because I really love just how light and small it is.

So all in all an excellent lightweight travel tripod, ideal for super zoom bridge cameras and the new Mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras, but if you are planning on using a DSLR camera or indeed a Bridge Camera with a telephoto lens attached and want to take steady video footage, I would recommend getting a slightly beefier tripod.

Compact Travel Tripod
Slightly larger and less compact than the ultra compact tripods a compact travel tripod can also carry a little more weight and is more stable, making shooting video on a superzoom bridge camera like the Fujifilm FinePix HS20EX or Panasonic FZ100 with a teleconverter lens possible. Here again you have some excellent choices from Vanguard and many in their Alta+ look ideal and I especially like the look of the Vanguard Alta+ 225CT that weighs just over 800g, has a folded hight of less than 35cm and yet it can carry a load of 3kg or for added stability the Alta+ 284CT, weighing 1.37kg’s with its folded height of 50cm, that should still easily fit into my suitcase and can carry a weight of 6kg.

Latest Update: I know I said that the Vanguard Alta Pro 263AT Tripod was too big and heavy to take with me, but because I felt that the Nivelo 204BK was just not steady enough for my camera with the teleconverter attached, I have decided that I will now be taking it with me. I would have preferred to take a more lightweight carbon version – but my budget just won’t stretch that far.

Cost & Where to Buy
UK Residents: Vanguard Alta+ Tripods on Amazon.co.uk

US Residents: Vanguard Alta+ Tripods on Amazon.com

Tripod Head

I have decided that because I am not going to take an ultra-lightweight tripod with me, instead opting for a more sturdy full-sized tripod, I may as well also take what is now one of my favourite pieces of kit as well. The Vanguard GH-100 Pistol Grip Ball Head.

Because the handle that is attached to a ball head is so intuitive it makes moving the camera into position very quick and accurate – even more so than a standard ball head. Panoramic shots are really easy and panning for video is also possible.

I can’t begin to tell you how many shots I have missed in the past (especially of birds) because I was fiddling, trying to get my camera into the correct position on the tripod – with this I hope to rectify much of that – so for me even though it is a little bulky and heavy for travel, I have decided to take it on safari with me this year.

Read the full Vanguard GH-100 Pistol Grip Ball Head Review.

Night Vision Binoculars

There was a time not so long ago that the only people that had half decent night vision equipment were the military, police and other law enforcement professionals. This was mainly down to their high cost and whilst I wouldn’t describe a good quality night vision binocular as being cheap, their prices have come down a lot over the past few years and it is now a real option for you to take your own night vision binoculars on safari.

Why Night Vision?
So much of what goes on in the African bush goes on after dark. Most predators hunt at night and many other animals are far active during this time when it is much cooler.

In the past most people would use a spotlight at night, this had the major disadvantage of disturbing the animals natural behaviour. A night vision device is a far better and more ethical option and I now almost never go on safari without one.

For more on how they work and why I highly recommend taking a night vision binocular or monocular on safari read my article on Night Vision for Safaris and Wildlife Observation

Night Vision Monoculars or Binoculars?
On this latest trip I will be taking the excellent Luna Optics LN-PB3 Night Vision Binoculars with me. In the past I have often opted for a night vision monocular as opposed to a binocular, just to save weight and space in my bag.

However after reviewing the Luna Optics LN-PB3, I was so impressed with the quality of the view through it, especially after adding the optional LN-ELIR-1 laser illuminator, that I just can’t resist taking it with me. Besides because it’s body is made from aluminium it is pretty lightweight. It is also one of the smaller full size night vision binoculars out there. (it is about the size of a standard full-size binocular).

For more details – take a look at my full review of the Luna Optics LN-PB3 Night Vision Binoculars

Cost & Where to Buy
UK Residents: Luna Optics Night Vision on Amazon.co.uk

US Residents: Luna Optics Night Vision on Amazon.com

Travel / Camera Bag

Obviously I don’t want to have to put my expensive equipment in with my luggage on the plane with the cargo, so I always carry it on board with me as hand luggage. To do this, with as little hassle and as much comfort as possible a good Travel / Camera bad is essential.

Over the years I have used many and in my experience a bag that has been specifically designed to carry photographic equipment works the best. This year I will be taking the one of the Skyborne Series of bags from Vanguard as they have kindly sent me one to review – Read my Vanguard Skyborne 51 Laptop and Camera Backpack Review

As I mention in my review, I think that this Skyborne Camera Backpack is one of the best that I have ever used. The only thing that I would say about the Skyborne 51, is that I am a little worried that it may just be a little to big to take on as hand luggage, it will probably just depend on the person at the desk on the day. To be safer, it may be better to take one of their smaller bags like the Skyborne 48 that can carry one Pro DSLR with attached lens (up to 70-200mm f/2.8), 3-4 extra lenses, a flash unit and accessories (memory cards, cables, battery and charger) plus a laptop up to 14″or even the Skyborne 45, which can still carry one Pro DSLR with attached lens (up to 70-200mm f/2.8), 1~2 extra lenses, a flash unit and accessories (memory cards, cables, battery and charger) plus a 12″ laptop.

Whichever one you choose, one of the best bits is the quick access opening, that enables you to quickly grab your camera without disturbing all your other gear.

Cost & Where to Buy
UK Residents: Vanguard Skyborne Bags on Amazon.co.uk

US Residents: Vanguard Skyborne Bags on Amazon.com

Also worth Considering

Below are a few new pieces of equipment I have reviewed since first writing this article and what I am planning to take with me on my next trip:

MINOX DTC 500 Trail Camera Review We took this excellent remote Minox digital camera with us to Mana Pools National Park in Zimbabwe where we would leave it overnight and got proof of what ever passed by. What we got back was some incredible video and still photos of elephants, honey badgers, hyenas, a porcupine, African civet, warthogs, bats and many more animals that you very rarely see in the wild and we managed to capture them on film!

This article forms part of my full review of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100 Review and focuses on the camera’s ability to shoot 1920 x 1080 60i (NTSC) / 50i (PAL) Full-HD Movies in AVCHD Format.

One of the biggest draws to choosing a superzoom camera like the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100 when going on safari is the ability they have to take video as well as still images. This is not only convenient but also cheaper as you only have to buy one piece of equipment and this also helps to save the all important space in your suitcase. But just how good is the quality of video that they produce and can they match a dedicated hand held video camera?

Example Movies made with the FZ100

Below are a few example videos taken with the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100, the first one of the female Blackbird, Blue Tit and House Sparrow enjoying themselves in a bird bath was made by Panasonic themselves with the FZ100 and has been optimized (reduced in size) for viewing on the web.

The next video of the two models was taken at the Panasonic press conference held in Stockholm, Sweden where the public was first given the opportunity to play with a pre-production model of the FZ100 megazoom camera.

Once you press play, be sure to change the setting from 360p to 1080p HD on the video player to get the best quality. You must also remember that to upload these videos to You-tube and play on the web, their quality would have to have been reduced, but I think that you will still agree it is still pretty impressive.

Using the FZ100 with high macro zoom

The video below is a good example of the fact that you can also use the Macro function in movie mode. With the DMC-FZ100, you can get as close as 1 cm to your subject. When the focus switch on the lens barrel is set to AF-Macro, or when the iA (Intelligent Auto) Mode is selected, the Macro Mode will be activated automatically. This is ideal for taking dynamic, intricate close-ups of flowers and insects, or for rendering artwork and handicrafts in spectacular detail and rich expression.

Again, once you press play, be sure to change the setting from 360p to 1080p HD on the video player to get the best quality.

Price and where to buy:

I often use Amazon as a guide to price as they usually have what I want and usually available at the lowest price:

Further Reading:

• Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100 Review
• Best Superzoom Cameras 2010

If you buy a Nikon EDG binocular or spotting scope, Nikon will send you a FREE D3000 camera kit with 18-55VR Nikkor lens worth $549.95.

Ideal Camera & Binoculars for Safaris
This promotion is even better if you are planning on going on safari as now you can get some of the best safari binoculars available (or spotting scope), with a free Digital SLR camera that also makes an ideal a safari camera, but hurry, the offer ends on October 31st 2010.

Where can I get this offer?
The Take it to the EDG Promotion from Nikon is only available to consumers within the 50 United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands by Nikon Inc., Melville, New York. Purchases made in or delivered to other countries are ineligible. There are two major binocular online retailers in the US who are also authorised dealers of Nikon EDG Binoculars and Fieldscopes who are participating in the promotion:

Nikon EDG on Binoculars.com

Nikon EDG on Eagle Optics

Nikon EDG Binoculars
Truly some of the finest binoculars available, Nikon EDG Binoculars use Nikon’s own ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass lenses that deliver superior sharpness and color correction for unmatched detail resolution with Dielectric coated prisms meaning that Nikon’s coatings deliver brighter views. The optics are fully multicoated meaning that there are multiple layers of anti-reflective compounds on every glass surface for bright, vivid sight pictures.

The design of the binocular has open bridge style which is ergonomic making sure the binoculars balance perfectly in the hand for extended use. A quick, central focusing knob has been paired with pop-up diopter adjustments for unparalleled speed and convenience. The Horn-shaped detachable eyecups are ergonomically contoured to block out peripheral light for a clear field of view on top of this you get a long eye relief with ratcheting eyecup adjustments that allow for a perfect view, with or without eyeglasses.

All EDG Binoculars are O-ring sealed making them 100% Waterproof and fogproof as they are dry nitrogen filled to handle the toughest conditions on the planet.

The Nikon D3000 Digital Camera
The Nikon D3000 is Nikon’s entry-level digital SLR camera designed for anyone who wants to take quality digital photographs without worrying too much about settings. It features a 10.2 megapixel sensor, EXPEED processing system, 3-inch LCD screen, 3 fps continuous shooting and 11-point autofocus system.

You can select from a choice of subject parameters and the camera will do the rest, and the instant response time means you never miss a moment. The 11-point autofocus system ensures everyone is in focus, and the bright viewfinder means you get what you want, when you want it.

More Information
Best Binoculars for Safari Holidays
Digital SLR vs Compact SuperZoom Cameras for Safaris

Whilst there is no question that a Digital SLR camera is overall a better camera than the “point and shoot” super-zoom cameras that come with attached telephoto lenses, but unless you are either a professional photographer or you main intention for going on Safari is for photography, I suggest that the best cameras for safari holidays are digital super-zoom cameras.

I go into detail on this page: Best Digital Camera for Safari and Travel, as to why I say a super-zoom camera is ideal as a safari and wildlife camera but the main reasons are:

• Digital SLR’s are very bulky and heavy compared to Super-Zooms, not great for travelling with.
• The large Telephoto lens that you need for a DSLR camera is bulky, heavy and expensive.
• Good Digital SLR camera’s are much more expensive than Super-zooms, making it much more painful if you camera was to get either broken, lost or stolen whilst travelling.

Which Super-Zoom camera for Safari & Travelling?

So for the average user, a Super-Zoom Camera with a good zoom makes an ideal camera to take on Safari, there has recently been an explosion of this type of camera on the market, so but which ones are the best for taking on safari and travelling with? To make it on the list of the best super-zoom cameras for travelling that I would recommend, they must meet some minimum requirements:

All the camera’s below have:

• A zoom of at least 12x which is equivalent to 432mm
• Have at least 8.0 million pixels (8 mega pixels)
• Weigh no more than 600g including batteries
• Cost no more than £400 / $600 US
• Must have built in Image stabilisation to help with shooting without a tripod
• Built in flash included – For dinner time photos
• Must be able to also take films: Great for adding to youtube etc

Best Safari Camera Overall: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18

First my favourite camera for safari, the 8 mega-pixel Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18, I personally have one of these and I could not recommend it more, they come with fantastic Leica lenses and have an impressive 18x zoom which is equivalent to a 504mm telephoto lens. The Panasonic Lumix also included a Lithium-Ion rechargeable battery with a re-charger, so no more having to buy batteries. Most safari lodges that you travel to will have electricity, so recharging will not be a problem. If it is you can always buy either an extra battery or an adaptor allowing your camera to be charged in a vehicle. Movies can be shot at The prices of the Lumix is really reasonable considering the power and features that you get.  You can shoot film in 640 x 480 @ 30 fps or  320 x 240 @ 30 fps. The one down side is you can’t zoom in or out once you have started filming which is a little annoying. At 407g the Panasonic is also the lightest camera on this page. To view a few sample photos from this camera, check out my Photographs of the Gambia all taken with the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18.

UK: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 on Amazon.co.uk

USA: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 on Amazon.com

Biggest Zoom: Casio Exilim EX-FH20

At 20x (520mm), the Casio Exilim EX-FH20 has the largest zoom of all the best cameras for safaris, ideal for getting in even closer than all the others on this page. It can also shoot at a very respectable 15 frames per second helping you make sure that you don’t miss that action shot. The Casio Exilim FH20 also has a maximum resolution of 3456 x 2592 and an effective 9.1 mega pixels which is excellent,which only the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H50 can match.

UK: Casio Exilim FH20 on Amazon.co.uk

USA: Casio Exilim FH20 on Amazon.com

Best Image Resolution: Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H50

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H50 and the Casio Exilim FH20 have a maximum resolution of 3456 x 2592 and an effective 9.1 mega pixels which is excellent. The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H50 has a good 15x Zoom (465 mm), but at 547g is the heaviest of the cameras featured on this page.

UK: Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H50 on Amazon.co.uk

USA: Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H50 on Amazon.com