The Best Compact Digital Cameras for Travel, Safari and Wildlife Photography

Even though I am a keen photographer, it is not often that I take my digital camera with me when I take guests out on safari as I prefer not to have the distraction and rather concentrate on making the experience as enjoyable and safe as possible for those who have paid for the privilege. I do however have plenty of other opportunities to go out on my own and photograph some of the incredible scenery and wildlife that Africa has to offer. I have owned and used a large variety of digital cameras that I have chosen for myself specifically for travel and for wildlife photography some have been average and some excellent. With this "best digital camera reviews" page, I hope to pass on some advice and tips to help you get the best compact digital camera for travel, safaris and wildlife photography.

Skip the story, just take me to the best digital cameras for safari and travel.

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So what is the best digital camera?

That is almost like asking how long is a piece of string, but if we put some constraints on the question, we can start to narrow down the choices to find the best safari camera.

First decide what we will mostly be using the camera for, for safaris we need:

• A good Travel Camera (both air travel and whilst on safari)
• A great Wildlife Photography Camera

And then add them together to get the best digital camera for travel and wildlife photography.

Best Digital Cameras for Travel

So what makes a great travel digital still camera? For me the most important features are:

The camera should be fairly Compact

Size really matters when it comes to a great travel camera, the camera should be easy to place in your hand luggage on the airplane and then once you are actually on safari, it has to be easy to carry with you.

It is for this reason that unless you are a professional photographer, where just about all your luggage will be photography equipment I would highly recommend something like a compact digital camera or a bridge camera for traveling.

I have used a digital SLR camera with the extra telephoto and wide angle lenses in the past and whilst it there is no doubt the are optically superior to compact and bridge cameras, you must remember that unless photography is your job, lugging around all that heavy and bulky equipment on holiday is no fun at all!

What I also must stress is that the qulaity of images produced by compact and bridge cameras is improving all the time and most are easily good enough for most people other than professional photographers going on safari. So unless you plan on having your photos printed in a glossy magazine, the quality you get from a bridge camera will be easily good enough to have printed or displayed on an online gallery.

Don't become a Target

Another good thing to remember is that if you plan to travel around populated areas like towns or cities in any country in the world as a tourist you are immediately a target for thieves, don't make yourself the prime target with a huge camera case and camera round your neck. It is nice to be able to easily slip your camera into a bag and out of sight sometimes.

Safari Camera

Whist on safari, you most probably will be traveling on a 4x4 and the size of your camera is not that important as long as it is easily available, but if you plan on going on a walking safari, again a small easy to carry camera is highly recommended.

Therefore for me the most important feature of a traveler digital camera is that it must be fairly compact.

Best Cameras for Wildlife Photography

When photographing wildlife the most important features to look out for are:

Get in close to the subject

Big Zoom required!
I think the principals for African wildlife photography are the same as that for photographing polar bears in the arctic, you need to get as close to the animal that you wish to photograph as possible.

Now part of that is my job as a safari guide, to get you as close to the action that is both safe and comfortable for you and more importantly for the animal, so that we as humans do not disturb it's natural behavior.

The rest comes down to your camera and it's zoom and for me, within reason, the bigger the zoom, the better! In the past this meant huge telescopic lenses, but now there is a large variety of compact superzoom digital cameras also sometimes caleed superzoom bridge cameras to choose from with maximum zooms from 24x (600mm) to a massive 42x (1000mm).

So for me the most important feature on the best wildlife camera is to have a big zoom.

Digital Camera Battery types and Battery life

Battery life and what type of batteries the camera takes is also an important consideration to take into account, remember if you are traveling to remote locations there may not be any electricity to charge your batteries, therefore buying a spare battery or two is a must. You could also consider getting a camera that uses standard AA batteries, but also remember that some remote locations in Africa wont have a shop that sells batteries and it is for that reason I have always either used rechargeable type batteries and also made sure I have plenty of fully charged spares.

Best Camera for Travel and Wildlife Photography

So now we have narrowed down what are the most important features we are looking for in our ultimate travel and wildlife digital camera (best safari camera):

• The camera must be fairly compact - easy to conceal and carry as hand luggage
• The camera must have a large zoom - get in close to that wildlife, including the birds!
• Not too expensive - so that if it gets lost, stolen or broken during travel, it can never be replaced.

 

Best Safari Cameras 2012

Below are my recommendations for the best digital camera for travel and wild life photography taking into account the three key features of large zoom and compact size and price.

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Fujifilm FinePix HS30EXR

Announced: Jan 5, 2012
The successor to the very popular HS20 is the Fujifilm FinePix HS30EXR with it's 30x optical zoom (35mm camera equivalent 720mm), much higher 16 MP image resolution, faster auto focus and movie recording in full 1080p HD.

Unlike many superzoom cameras, the FinePix HS30 is a full-on bridge camera and like the HS20 form 2011, it comes with a propper zoom ring as you find on a DSLR camera. It also has full manual controls and an abundance of buttons and dials and from the user's point of view almost exactly like a DSLR camera.

It can also record full HD 1080p high speed video at 30 frames per second and it has an excellent articulated screen, 11 fps continuous shooting at full resolution is also possible in burst mode ensuring you mis none of the action.

Because the lens has a 58mm thread on the lens you can also add a teleconverter lens like the Raynox DCR-2025PRO 2x2 Teleconverter to the camera to extend it's reach even more.

For more information and to read why I think this is definitly one of the best digital superzoom camera to take on safari, read my review on the Fujifilm FinePix HS30EXR Review >>

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Sony Cyber-shot HX200V

Announced: Feb 28, 2012
The Sony Cyber-shot HX200V Superzoom camera was announced on the 28th February 2012 and looks to be an ideal camera to take on safari.

It comes with a high quality Zeiss 30x optical zoom lens and is crammed with desirable features like a 3.0-inch tilting LCD and an EXMOR R CMOS sensor and carries an 18 megapixel EXMOR R sensor coupled to a BIONZ image processor. It sports a manual focus ring for those who would choose to do so, as well as a 3.0-inch 921k-dot tilting LCD and is GPS-enabled.

The ability to capture full 1080 HD video at an impressive 60 frames per second is excellent an means you can capture high quality stills as well as video whilst on safari.

For more information including prices and where to buy: Sony Cyber-shot HX200V Superzoom Bridge Camera >>

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Best Safari Cameras 2011

If you are looking to save a little money, it is well worth it to go with last years model. Remember that whilst the technology improves all the time, it does not mean that last year's cameras were bad.

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Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100 is the top of the line Lumix camera and has an impressive 14.1 Megapixels and an incredible 24x optically stabilised zoom lens (25-600mm, 35mm equivalent). If that is not enough there are options to add a 1.7x teleconverter to it as well to give you the zooming ability equivalent to 1020mm!

As well as taking great still photos, the Panasonic FZ100 camera also can shoot movies in full HD.

For more information and to read why I think this is the best digital superzoom camera to take on safari, read my review on the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100 >>

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Fujifilm FinePix HS20EXR

The successor to the very popular FinePix HS10 from Fujifilm, comes very powerful Fujifilm FinePix HS20EXR with it's 30x optical zoom (35mm camera equivalent 720mm), much higher 16 MP image resolution, faster auto focus and movie recording in full 1080p HD.

The FinePix HS20 is a full-on bridge camera and comes with a propper zoom ring as you find on a DSLR as well as full manual controls and an abundance of buttons and dials. From the user's point of view almost exactly like a DSLR camera

Because it has a 58mm thread on the lens you can also o add a teleconverter lens to the camer to extend it's reach even more.

For more information and to read why I think this is definitly one of the best digital superzoom camera to take on safari, read my review on the Fujifilm FinePix HS20EXR Review >>

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Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ45 (FZ40)

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ45 (FZ40 in the US) was announced by Panasonic at the same time as the top of the range DMC-FZ100 (see above). It is the successor to the FZ38 (FZ35) (see below) and features the same 25-600mm equiv. lens as the FZ100, but with a 14.1MP CCD sensor and simpler 230K dot 3.0 inch fixed LCD (as opposed to the FZ100's CMOS sensor and high-res screen). The FZ40 also offers AVCHD Lite 720p HD video recording, manual shooting modes and 'Sonic Speed' auto-focus system that Panasonic says offers the industry's fastest focus times. Like other FZ cameras you have the option of adding a 1.7x teleconverter to it as well to give you the zooming ability equivalent to 1020mm!

For more information, read my review on the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ45 (40) >>

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Canon PowerShot SX30 IS

The stand out feature of the Canon PowerShot SX30 IS is it's lens. With a 35x optical zoom, it's the 35mm equivalent of a 24-840mm lens, which is huge and the largest of and superzoom bridge camera currently on the market.

This megazoom is backed up with plenty of great features including a 1/2.3 " CCD sensor with an effective 14.1million pixels that can produce images with a maximum resolution of 4320 x 3240 pixels.

Like the Panasonic FZ100 this camera also features a vari-angle LCD display which I like.

For more information, read my review on the Canon PowerShot SX30 IS >>

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PowerShot SX30 IS vs Panasonic FZ100

Panasonic and in particular their FZ series of cameras are some of my favorite cameras to take on safari, so I thought it would be useful to compare some of the main stats and features of their latest superzoom bridge camera, the Panasonic FZ100 with the latest Canon, the PowerShot SX30 IS:

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100	Canon PowerShot SX30 IS
Street price: $375 • £329	$369 • £349
Zoom tele (T): 600mm (24x) Wide-angle: 25mm Aperture range: F2.8 - F5.4 Continuous Drive: 11fps & 60fps Min shutter: 60sec Max shutter: 1/2000sec ISO rating: Auto, Hi Auto (1600-6400), 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, Intelligent ISO	840mm (35x) 24mm F2.7 - F5.8 0.6 fps 15sec 1/3200sec Auto, 80 ,100, 200, 400, 800, 1600
Max Res: 4320 x 3240 Effective pixels: 14.1 million Censor Type: CMOS Sensor size: 1/2.33 " (6.13 x 4.60 mm, 0.28 cm²)	4320 x 3240 14.1 million CCD 1/2.3 " (6.16 x 4.62 mm, 0.28 cm²)
Metering: Intelligent Multiple, Center, Spot Exposure compensation: -2 to +2 EV in 1/3 EV Steps	Evaluative, Center, Spot -2 to +2 EV in 1/3 EV steps
LCD Size: 3" LCD Dots: 460,000 Built-in Flash: Yes, Pop-up Flash range: 9.5m External flash: Yes, Hot-shoe	2.7" 230,000 Yes, Pop-up 6.8m Yes, Hot-shoe
Max Movie: 1920 x 1080 (FSH: 17Mbps / FH:13Mbps)	1280 x 720 (HD 30 fps)
Dimensions: 124x82x95mm Weight (+ batteries): 540g (19 oz) Battery: Lithium-Ion rechargeable	123 x 92 x 108mm 601g (21.2 oz) Lithium-Ion NB-7L rechargeable
Add Telephoto Lens: Yes, easily	Yes, but not so easy

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MINOX DTC 500 Trail Camera Review For something a little different - 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! Take a look at my full review that includes samples of the footage that we managed to obtain.

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Older Cameras

Below are some cameras that I have used and reviewed in the past, I keep them on this page as a reminder as to just how far modern superzoom bridge cameras have come:

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38 (FZ35)

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38 is the successor to the very popular FZ28 and has increased resolution: 12.1 Megapixels

Like the FZ28, it still has an awesome super-zoom with an 18x optically stabilised lens (27-486mm, 35mm equivalent) and if that is not enough there are options to add a 1.7x teleconverter to it.

As well as taking great still photos, the Panasonic FZ38 camera also can shoot high definition movies.

For more information read my review on the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38 >>

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Canon PowerShot SX20 IS

In many ways the latest superzoom camera from Canon is better than the Panasonic.

It has a bigger 20x (28-560mm equiv.) zoom lens, wider aperture range and an excellent 2.5 inch vari-angle LCD screen that folds away to protect it when not in use.

So make no mistake, this is an excellent camera and is an excellent choice as a safari camera. For me the only down sides compared to the Panasonic Lumix FZ38 (FZ35 ) are that it is slightly bigger and heavier and as far as I know you cannot add a teleconverter lens to it.

For more information read my review on the Canon PowerShot SX20 IS >>

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Panasonic FZ38 (FZ35) vs PowerShot SX20 IS

As you can see by the stats below both cameras are very similar in most areas. The Panasonic is slightly smaller and lighter and yoiu have the option of getting yourself a teleconverter lens. The Canon has a bigger 20x zoom and the excellent flip out and rotate LCD screen. Either camera will make an excellent choice as a safari camera.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38	Canon PowerShot SX20 IS
Recommended price: $399 • £399	$399 • £399
Zoom tele (T): 486mm (18x) Aperture range: F2.8 - F4.4 Continuous Drive: 2.3 fps 5 images ISO rating: Auto, Hi Auto (1600-6400), 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600	560mm (20x) F2.8-5.7 1.0 fps until card is full Auto, 80, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600
Max Res: 4000 x 3000 Effective pixels: 12.1 million	4000 x 3000 12.1 million
Max Movie: 1280 x 720 @ 30 fps	1280 x 720 @ 30fps
Dimensions: 118x76x89mm Weight (+ batteries): 397g (14 oz)	124x88x87mm 560g (19.7 oz)

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Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28 is the successor to the very popular FZ18 and has increased resolution: 10.1 Megapixels

It has an awesome super-zoom with an 18x optically stabilised lens (27-486mm, 35mm equivalent) and if that is not enough there are options to add a 1.7x teleconverter to it.

As well as the zoom for taking great close ups of wildlife, the 27mm wide-angle feature is ideal for your broad African landscapes allowing you to capture a wider view.

The 10.1-megapixel resolution will allow you to greatly enlarge your favorite photos while still keeping outstanding detail. The Panasonic FZ28 is one of the best super-zooms available and perfect for taking on Safari.

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Canon Powershot SX10 IS

Canon's latest super-zoom, taking over from the fantastic PowerShot S5 IS. Unlike the Panasonic, it uses AA batteries to power it.

The massive 20x zoom (28-560mm equivalent), is perfect for getting close into the action.

The Canon Powershot SX10 IS boasts 10 Megapixels with the latest DIGIC 4 processor adds AF tracking, more efficient video compression, and a clever self-timer mode which waits for a new person to appear before starting the countdown. On the down side, there’s no HD or RAW and the continuous shooting is relatively slow compared to the Panasonic. This camera is still highly Recommended as the best camera for safaris, but compare closely with Panasonic’s FZ28 (see below) before making your choice.

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The Canon Powershot SX10 IS and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28.

As you can see by the stats below both cameras are very similar in most regards. When choosing my personal replacement camera recently I eventually went for the Panasonic and only because it is lighter and smaller than the Cannon and the fact that it comes with a rechargeable battery as apposed to using AA batteries. But I think whichever you choose for your next safari holiday you won't be disappointed.

	Canon Powershot SX10 IS	Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28
Zoom tele (T)	560 mm (20 x)	486 mm (18 x)
Dimensions	128 x 88 x 87 mm	118 x 75 x 88 mm (4.6 x 3 x 3.5 in)
Image stabilization	Yes	Yes
Format	SLR-like	SLR-like
Price guide	£322	£260
Max resolution	3648 x 2736	3648x 2736
Effective pixels	10.0 million	10.1 million
Battery / Charger	No	Yes
Battery	AA batteries (NiMH recommended)	Lithium-Ion rechargeable
Weight (inc. batteries)	600g	417g
UK Shoppers Buy this camera in the UK:
US Shoppers Buy this camera in the USA:

 

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18

The older version of the ultimate Safari Camera above, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 is still an excellent camera and one that I still currently use (take a look at some photos I recently took with it: Houseboat Safari in Zimbabwe Wildlife Gallery)

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 is an 8.1 Megapixel super-zoom with an 18x optically stabilised lens. The FZ18 may be styled like the pricier FZ50, but is much smaller and lighter and so ideal as a super zoom travel camera. There's full manual control, easy access to settings and impressively for its price, a RAW mode. The 18x range gives you great flexibility from 28mm wide angle to extreme 504mm telephoto and unlike rivals, there's little fringing when zoomed-in. It is still one of the best super-zooms available.

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Canon PowerShot S5 IS

The Canon PowerShot S5 IS is an 8 Megapixel super-zoom camera with a 12x optically-stabilised lens and a 2.5in flip-out screen. The 12x optical zoom has an equivalent range of 36-432mm. Not as impressive as the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 but still pretty good none the less. The two features that are better on this camera than the Panasonic-FZ18 are the flip out screen, which can be hidden to protect it and the video mode, which is of a better quality.

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Further Reading

• For more of the best super-zoom cameras for safaris, wildlife and traveling, including which camera has the largest zoom and the highest image resolution, take a look at this page on the Safari Holiday Blog: Best Cameras for Safari: Super-Zooms
  
  
• Telephoto Lenses for the Panasonic DMC-FZ28 & DMC-FZ18
  If you would like to turn your SuperZoom camera into a "MegaZoom", check out this article on Olympus TCON-17 and Panasonic DMW-LT55 Telephoto Lenses

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Photo Galleries

Example photos taken with the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 For some examples of photos taken with the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18, check out my personal photo Gallery of Photographs of The Gambia.	NEW: Example photos taken with the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 and the Olympus TCON-17 Tele Converter lens.