Cameras bring them or stick with phone

[GuggaOn]

I have a hunt booked for may of this year and keep fighting if it be worth getting a stand alone camera. The camera I am thinking is the canon eos r50. I have a iphone 16 pro which has a solid camera but seems to not be great when zoomed in. Some of my concerns with it is its more I have to carry. ill already have the rifle bino pack im not sure I want to add more. and Its so easy to just flip a phone out my pocket. Looking for all advice as I'm new to cameras just not sure it be worth it or if ill use it over there.

 

[mark-hunter]

Bring Camera.

You can never make a photo with mobile phone like you can with a Camera. Moreover, take a camera tripod. This will enable you to make high zoom photos, when you are sitting in a tree blind. Camera must be steady, for high zoom.

African daily routine: Camera goes in a daily backpack, when you are out hunting. When you are sitting in the back of 4WD, camera goes around the neck, "in condition 1", ready to shoot!
I used Cannon G3x.

 

[GuggaOn]

Bring Camera.

You can never make a photo with mobile phone like you can with a Camera. Moreover, take a camera tripod. This will enable you to make high zoom photos, when you are sitting in a tree blind. Camera must be steady, for high zoom.

African daily routine: Camera goes in a daily backpack, when you are out hunting. When you are sitting in the back of 4WD, camera goes around the neck, "in condition 1", ready to shoot!
I used Cannon G3x.

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Thanks for much for the reply and woah those photos are amazing definitely sold me on stand alone my iPhone isn’t getting anywhere close to this. I’m also gonna look at the g3x do some research. How many lenses do you bring and what type?

 

[mark-hunter]

How many lenses do you bring and what type?

Just the one supplied with Camera. Cannon Zoom lense 25x15, (24-600 35mm equiv)
Of course, if you bring better ones, better photos.

Safari is all about memory and experience, not only about horns on the wall. Photography is experience immortalized. A pleasure for next generation and grandchildren to flip through granpas safari album.

I consider my self "serious hunter", not a serious photographer.
But when I was in Etosha national Park, i saw real "serious photographers" with "hubble telescope" type of lenses and equipment, shooting game at waterholes. This is serious.

I only had a G3X Cannon, with 100 USD tripod, one lense, and it was fantastic for me!

Another one, I wanted to make retro, classic photo by g3x.

On my first safari, I realized camera is must have equipment!

 

[gcbailey]

My wife took her Canon camera for our first safari. The camera came in handy for videos and quick photos, but my wife's photos were incredible. I don't know much about camera's and lenses, but her prime lens enabled cropping of animals that were far away and still showed up crystal clear on camera. She also uses lightroom to adjust glare or whatever. Here's a comparison between my wife's Canon photos and my iphone photos. It is readily apparent which is which.

 

[Sabre]

Consider the Canon PowerShot SX740HS. It has 40X optical zoom and the lens collapses into the tiny body. It is a compromise, in that it likely isn't going to be as impressive for photos as a DSLR with a large telephoto lens. However, it would easily fit in a range finder side pouch that could be attached to your bino harness and always have it on you.

They seem to sell out really fast when they are in stock at places. I would imagine it's because they are one of the few cameras with such large amount of optical zoom in such a small package.

I am a bad example because I took one on my last hunt, and I never bothered using it. I got so wrapped up in the hunting that I didn't think much of photography. However, I carried it the entire time and never even noticed it was there.

 

[GuggaOn]

Just the one supplied with Camera. Cannon Zoom lense 25x15, (24-600 35mm equiv)
Of course, if you bring better ones, better photos.

Safari is all about memory and experience, not only about horns on the wall. Photography is experience immortalized. A pleasure for next generation and grandchildren to flip through granpas safari album.

I consider my self "serious hunter", not a serious photographer.
But when I was in Etosha national Park, i saw real "serious photographers" with "hubble telescope" type of lenses and equipment, shooting game at waterholes. This is serious.

I only had a G3X Cannon, with 100 USD tripod, one lense, and it was fantastic for me!

Another one, I wanted to make retro, classic photo by g3x.

On my first safari, I realized camera is must have equipment!

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I could not agree more, my father went on a safari hunt in 2010 and always said he had tons of photos on cd’s from the trip up until September of last year I had only seen a handful of pictures until he found the cd’s and let me tell you I was like a kid on Christmas looking threw those I still look at them often. Definitely a must have and will be bringing one for sure.

 

[GuggaOn]

My wife took her Canon camera for our first safari. The camera came in handy for videos and quick photos, but my wife's photos were incredible. I don't know much about camera's and lenses, but her prime lens enabled cropping of animals that were far away and still showed up crystal clear on camera. She also uses lightroom to adjust glare or whatever. Here's a comparison between my wife's Canon photos and my iphone photos. It is readily apparent which is which.

Definitely night and day difference woah her picture’s turned out incredible.

 

[GuggaOn]

Consider the Canon PowerShot SX740HS. It has 40X optical zoom and the lens collapses into the tiny body. It is a compromise, in that it likely isn't going to be as impressive for photos as a DSLR with a large telephoto lens. However, it would easily fit in a range finder side pouch that could be attached to your bino harness and always have it on you.

They seem to sell out really fast when they are in stock at places. I would imagine it's because they are one of the few cameras with such large amount of optical zoom in such a small package.

I am a bad example because I took one on my last hunt, and I never bothered using it. I got so wrapped up in the hunting that I didn't think much of photography. However, I carried it the entire time and never even noticed it was there.

Was just researching that one definitely on the list of one I’m interested in purchasing 40x zoom and looks to be able to fit in a pocket or how you had it in the pouch of the bino harness. I feel I could do the same thing this is my first hunt and I feel im get so wrapped into it I’m not gonna think to take pictures.

 

[Sabre]

Was just researching that one definitely on the list of one I’m interested in purchasing 40x zoom and looks to be able to fit in a pocket or how you had it in the pouch of the bino harness. I feel I could do the same thing this is my first hunt and I feel im get so wrapped into it I’m not gonna think to take pictures.

I try to remember and I did snap a few photos with my cell phone other than hunting related photos. But I definitely don't tend to make it a priority when on hunting trips. It's more like I think, "oh shoot, I should probably take some photos because my wife will want to see pictures of this."

But I don't have the energy or desire to haul around a DSLR on top of hunting gear on a hunting trip. When going on a sightseeing vacation with my wife, I happily take it with. But when it comes to hunting, I want to focus on hunting.

I have considered selling the SX740 I have because I got it for hunting and then get too wrapped up in hunting to use it. But it's such a nice camera and seems hard to find a lot of times. So, I struggle with the idea of getting rid of it.

I will say that I tested out a lot of cameras before getting it and there was nothing close to it in regards to zoom.

 

[62flint]

I have a hunt booked for may of this year and keep fighting if it be worth getting a stand alone camera. The camera I am thinking is the canon eos r50. I have a iphone 16 pro which has a solid camera but seems to not be great when zoomed in. Some of my concerns with it is its more I have to carry. ill already have the rifle bino pack im not sure I want to add more. and Its so easy to just flip a phone out my pocket. Looking for all advice as I'm new to cameras just not sure it be worth it or if ill use it over there.

My last African trip. I took my phone and a GoPro.
Most of my pictures were taken with my phone.
The phones have improved to the point I am satisfied with the pictures and do not see the need for a separate camera.
Now if I wanted a telephoto lens to talk longer shots Maybe. But I am not a photographer or very picky

 

[Luvthunt]

Canon (your choice) for sure

 

[HankBuck]

Bring Camera.

You can never make a photo with mobile phone like you can with a Camera. Moreover, take a camera tripod. This will enable you to make high zoom photos, when you are sitting in a tree blind. Camera must be steady, for high zoom.

African daily routine: Camera goes in a daily backpack, when you are out hunting. When you are sitting in the back of 4WD, camera goes around the neck, "in condition 1", ready to shoot!
I used Cannon G3x.

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@mark-hunter - your photos just convinced Me to take a camera….we’re planning an elephant hunt for 2026 and after it’s “over” the photos & memories will be all we have left —- so we want the best possible

 

[RLL]

I take my Canon G9x and think it’s worth it every time compared to the iPhone

 

[gcbailey]

Definitely night and day difference woah her picture’s turned out incredible.

Thank you (on her behalf)! She has definitely put in the time and effort to get quality pictures and I enjoyed a free photographer on our trip.

 

[Nyati]

I take two Canon cameras, SX 720 HS, and SX50 HS.

One fits in a pocket, the other in my backpack.