lmkb

I am going to Botswana next month and would like to take a camera with a great zoom but probably don't want to mess with interchangeable lenses due to weight restrictions. I also need a camera that is not too heavy because I have small hands and Parkinson's. I have received several suggestions but would like some opinions and advice. Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000, SONY RX10 III, Sony Cyber-shot Dsc-rx10 Iv, and Canon Powershot G3 X have all been recommended. What do you think?

reindeer Loc: London U.K.

These are all excellent cameras. I would recommend Sony DSC RX10 1V because of the IQ. More expensive than the others but worth it.

Harry0 Loc: Gardena, Cal

Will yyou have a guide, like a photo tour kind of thing? If so, ask him. Many prefer that their charges have lenses with similar ranges. That way everybody gets good shots- at safe ranges.

reindeer Loc: London U.K.

Sony DSC rx 10 IV has an excellent zoom up to 600 mm.

insman1132 Loc: Southwest Florida

While all of the camera's mentioned are outstanding in their own right, if this is a once-in-a-lifetime trip you might want to consider a camera with a longer optical reach such as 60x. Chances are that you are going to be a long way away from some of the subjects you'd like to capture.

a6k Loc: Detroit & Sanibel

For a long reach, nothing competes with the Nikon P900 but the IQ is at the limit of what can be done with a "1/2.3 inch" sensor. The "one inch" sensor in the RX10 m3 or m4 is twice as big and 4x the area but the equivalent focal length is 600 vs 2000. That said, my trip to Africa (not Botswana) would not have required the longer reach. The RX10 m4 is much better for fast, accurate focusing but otherwise is pretty much the same. I sold my m3 and got the m4 and would do it again. The P900 weighs a bit less than the Sony but has a slower lens. If you are going to shoot in low light, even the Sony is pretty limited but greatly surpasses the P900.

A crop sensor camera like an a6500 with a 100-400 lens is bigger, heavier and will give you significantly better IQ and at the cost of versatility and ergonomics. I love my a6500 but it is more demanding and more limited. The long end is still 600 equivalent like the RX10.

If you want some other comments on the ergonomics of the RX10 that are good for wildlife, PM me. Btw, the 4K video and the fast frames per second are great for wildlife.

I've included a shot taken with the RX10 m4 not because it's very good (it is not) but because it could have been taken in Africa. It was a very fleeting moment and the bobcat was across a drainage ditch and very tense because he had been fighting with another one (that's why he looks wet). This kind of thing is made for the RX10m4 with its phase-detect focusing and very large, bright EVF. I would add that the RX10's have totally silent shutter available and for wildlife I would not be without that. Also, I almost always use spot focus except for BFF's. The RX10m4 has a little trick that allows me to instantly use wide-focus and faster FPS for BFFs and then return to spot focus and slow FPS. This shot would be a disaster with wide focus because of the surrounding vegetation.

whwiden

If you are on the Chobe river, your boat captain will get you very close to birds and animals. On the jeep tours in Chobe, you will often be close to animals but at times may crave a longer reach. For most purposes, a 400mm equivalent lens will be sufficient there. But for many bird shots, you may wish for more. You might consider a small sensor superzoom like the Nikon B700 for these situations. And the larger sensor panasonic fz1000 otherwise. This 2 camera set up will cost less than the newest sony, and gives you an important back up camera. If you get a true very long super zoom you should practice with it before making the trip. Even with stabilization there is technique to getting a good long shot. In lieu of a 1 inch sensor, I would give thought to an aps-c camera, which should yield better image quality. Something like a Nikon D5600 with a 70-300vr lens. Long super zoom as back up and special situation camera.

Dr.Nikon Loc: Honolulu Hawaii

As mentioned before .. a guided tour?? Well our driver and two gun beaters took us within 10 yards of some and 50 yards to others .. most animals are just out there everywhere and the driver drives there ..especially if it is a game preserve .. the elephants ..well we got as close as 50 yards and then a bull elephant chased our open Land Rover for what seemed a lifetime .. I thought I was a gonner ..anyway ... most of your shots .., at least in my case could be handled by a good bridge camera ...

It all depends on the guided tour ..unguided tour ..a photo Safari tour .. or strictly a tourist tour ...so you should check to see ..an unguided and a strictly photo Safari tour ..you would want the most you handle ..

Enjoy your trip and be sure to post ...

alf85 Loc: Northumberland, UK.

Canon SX-50.
Regards, Alfie.

Deanie1113

I second whwiden's idea of taking two cameras. You will feel better knowing you have a back-up. For my big trip, I took a little Canon sx60, with it's amazing reach and just fine IQ for those daytime shots from far away, and my Nikon D5500 with an 18-140 for landscapes and people pics. Both are super-lightweight and take excellent pics!

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

A long zoom will need stable hands or a tripod. I was on a recent photography tour to South Africa and everyone with one exception was using a Canon 100-400mm. We were not that far away from the wildlife. Maybe Botswana is different...

wteffey Loc: Ocala, FL USA

I would recommend a weather sealed camera such as the Panasonic FZ300. My trip was either very dusty or very wet, no in between. When I returned home it took me a week to get everything as clean as I could, but some equipment still has internal dust.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

The Sony III and IV both have the 24-600mm lens. Either would do the job.
But, if you are on a budget, I would suggest the Sony HX90V, has a 24-750 mm Zeiss T* lens, and has a pop up view finder. Great camera for your trip.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1137175-REG/sony_dschx90v_b_cyber_shot_dsc_hx90v_digital_camera.html

Booker

Both my wife and I own and use the Sony RX10III and couldn't be happier with them (the RX10IV wasn't out yet). The 24-600 really does the job. The lighter Weight of the camera and good quality cause us to leave our big DSLR's at home most of the time.

Booker

P.S. We also own big 150-600 telephotos which also tend to stay at home.