Camera advice

[Backyardsniper]

Heading to Zim next June with the wife and we are thinking of getting a camera for the trip. Neither of us arr photographers by any means but she won't be hunting but does want to take some good quality pictures while we are there. Not looking for anything too fancy, just maybe a step up from the old cell phone camera. So if there are any camera guys out there I would appreciate any advice. Camera will be used for mostly basic pictures, probably don't need any high speed motion photography business, just looking for a good basic camera to take some quality pics to share on here and put in the old scrap book.

 

[375er]

PM me.

 

[Joker12]

One of the Canon "G" series can't be beat. Simple, great image quality, you can do as much or as little as you want and quite compact. I've been using a G7 for years. Rick Taylor

 

[Tucketed]

I picked up a Lumix DC-ZS70 for my Africa trip in a few weeks. It fits in a cargo pocket, has a 30x zoom Leica lens. I didn’t want to take my old cannon and heavy lenses. It wasn’t my first pick but many cameras are currently on back order. Been trying it out around home and seems to work fine. Does photos and video. I wanted something with a good zoom. It’s just under $400.

 

[Inline6]

I brought a nice setup, we used it literally a hand full of times. It's to big and bulky to carry it all day for when the need might pop up. We took 99% of our pictures with our cell phones. If I were to bring any other camera other than my cell, it would be one that could fit in my pocket.

That's the only advice I know to give, especially if you or your wife are not passionate about it. If she is not going to be hunting, you may have better luck.

Food for thought

 

[jpr9954]

I might look at one of the Olympus PEN's. I have the PEN EM-2. It can fit in a cargo pocket, can use interchangeable lens, and is 16mp. I think you could get a good used one with a zoom lens for $150 +/-. It is somewhat programmable. You can get both JPG and RAW modes with it. The latter mode is really good if you want to touch up the photo (or have someone do it). I picked up my Olympus as a backup to my Olympus DSLR.

 

[Red Leg]

I usually take a good quality camera with me, but it stays in the cruiser while hunting. I take some fabulous photos with it, but they tend to be from around camp. If you have a recent cell phone, the quality of the photos is pretty remarkable, and can be easily enlarged. Since your spouse is not a hunter, she might well enjoy playing the role of photographer with a real camera.

The more important thing is to do something with the photos when you get back. Otherwise they will sit in the cloud forever, eventually to be forgotten. I build custom photo-journals using Shutterfly https://www.shutterfly.com/ . When done it is both a daily journal of our experiences and the best of the photography. I have no expectation of a grandchild being interested in a ratty old mount. However, they may well be very interested in a collection of books that chart some of his or her grandparents' adventures.

Of course Nancy and I really enjoy going back through them as well.

 

[Ryan]

I'm in the same camp as @Inline6. I brought a Nikon with a couple lenses on my first and third trip and ended up using my phone along with a photo editting app for probably 95% of my photos. A little editting goes a long way. Anymore a phone camera beats out what I did even 10-15 years ago with a digital camera for what you are after. I bet almost all the pictures posted here came from a phone. The big catch is zoom photography. If you need to get close to something hand held win. I have a friend who just got a decent Lumix and he says it's leaps and bounds beyond his old Lumix.

 

[JimP]

I bought a Cannon Power Shot SX50 HS for my first safari, it went everywhere with me in my backpack for the photos.

This last trip it stayed in the vehicle as we were usually not close to it and I didn't want the extra weight so I just took all my photos with my cell phone. The only time that I even pulled the Cannon out was while we were at the lodge.

 

[Mike B.]

Point and shoot cameras will work fine for most people. Once you start needing distance, getting into the digital zoom of your camera, that is when you will start degrading the picture quality. This includes point and shoot cameras. Cell phones are great for taking photos of anything you kill, but if it's still alive, I would much rather have a dslr or mirrorless than anything else because it gives me the most flexibility. Yes it is more of a hassle to haul around but I'm not taking it when hunting, it's only for photo safari stuff. My cell phone is fine for hunting pictures.

 

[Nyati]

Canon SX720HS, or similar, with 40x optical zoom, and fits in a pocket, or on your belt.

 

[PARA45]

I've taken a Sony Cyber Shot camera on my two trips to Africa. This camera is easy to use, self focus, and it's 18 MP. This camera will not break the bank and takes great pictures. Here is a picture of what they look like, that is not my camera.

 

[BeeMaa]

Depends on what you are looking for. If it's just shots of hunting animals and some wildlife along the way, your phone will be fine. For zooming in on animals at distance to take quality pictures, you will need something much better. Lots of good suggestions above for that.

We have a 95/5 rule. Do you take the equipment that's bulky and needed 5% of the time...or live with the possible crappy shots for the 5% and carry a lighter item that does great the other 95%?

We are firmly in the pack light and go camp, so it's just cell phones for us. If my wife (or myself) were not hunting, it would be a different story and she would carry a bigger camera instead of a rifle. We've settled on the fact that we are hunters, not photographers. As such we will invest in guns and gear over cameras and lenses. Pack less and enjoy more.

 

[Nevada Mike]

I have a top end Nikon digital system for taking photos, but when hunting or fishing I carry my iPhone and/or my little Olympus Stylist point and shoot. The iPhone can produce great photos and videos if you take a little time.

I just can't focus on more than one thing at a time and hunting always wins out.

 

[wesheltonj]

I just read an article that DSLR are on their way out. In their place, Mirrorless. Nikon and Canon have both stated no new DSLR cameras. I have a fortune ties up in Nikon lens, thankfully there’s an adapter. I would suggest, Mirrorless would be the way to go. Nikon, money no object Leica.

For a point and shoot, the waterproof Nikon is hard to beat.

 

[Clodo Ferreira]

I have, and still use at my entire satisfaction, an OLYMPUS TG-1 I bought in 2012...Now, the serie is at the TG-6 level...!
To me, this camera has all is needed for a really tough and optically excelent point and shoot one for all demanding outdoor activities.
Best!

CF

 

[Nhoro]

I video hunting for a living. My advice is get as much optical zoom as you can. Birds and animals are often far away. Canon sx70 or G7 or the nikon/minolta/Panasonic equivalent. You can also go down a bit in price and get the smaller superzoom cameras but try and get something in the 40x to 60 x optical zoom. Video is also a nice addition.