Guest writer: Adam Harley

What to bring, what to leave behind, and how to capture stunning safari shots

Despite being a video professional and loving pro gear, when I’m on vacation, I love shooting photos and videos on my iPhone Pro Max. This might sound like an Apple ad, but the convenience and accessibility are unmatched. If you’ve learned basic photography principles and understand the iPhone’s strengths and weaknesses, you can create phenomenal content.

Honestly, lugging around a pro camera on holiday often feels like a chore. When friends and family ask me for advice, I typically recommend the iPhone and try to talk them out of buying or bringing a DSLR, point-and-shoot, or mirrorless camera just for a trip.

iPhone vs DSLR/Mirrorless: What’s Right for Safari?

When we decided our next holiday would be a safari in Kenya, I wrestled with what gear to bring. I really wanted to travel light with just my iPhone—but I eventually realised that would be a big mistake. And I was right.

The iPhone’s longest lens is only 5x (120mm equivalent), which just isn’t enough reach. On safari, you never know how close or far the animals will be from your vehicle, and I didn’t want to risk missing a shot because I couldn’t get close enough. While the iPhone delivers great quality, its 12MP sensor and limited zoom aren’t ideal for cropping in post without sacrificing detail.

I decided the most important factor was the ability to get my subjects in sharp focus—because any shot that’s out of focus is unusable. Secondly, when shooting wildlife, being able to freeze motion is just as critical as exposure and composition. Since the iPhone doesn’t allow full control over shutter speed and has inconsistent focus behavior, I knew it wasn’t the right tool for the job.

I considered using older DSLRs I owned (Canon 7D, Canon 5Diii, Sony A7s), but after testing them out at the zoo, I had a hard time with fast moving targets in low light with a long lens. I decided to invest in a more modern camera with faster, smarter autofocus.

Canon R5 vs Canon R6 Mark II

I chose to stick with the Canon ecosystem so I could use my existing lenses, and narrowed it down to the Canon R5 and Canon R6 Mark II.

Even though the R5 offers nearly double the megapixels (45MP vs. 24MP), I ultimately went with the Canon R6 Mark II—and I have zero regrets. The R6ii performs better in low light, and even after shooting 1,500+ frames a day for nearly two weeks, I never felt limited by the 24MP resolution.

What Gear to Bring (and What to Leave at Home)

Camera Support

I assumed I’d rely on a monopod throughout the trip and use a tripod for dusk/dawn shots with slower shutter speeds. I was wrong.

• Leave the tripod and monopod at home. Manipulating a monopod inside a Land Cruiser was more annoying than helpful—it got in the way and slowed me down. My surprise MVP? A neck pillow in a Ziplock bag. It made an excellent impromptu camera support on the window or rail.

• Pro tip: Shooting from the window gives you a better angle at the animals’ eye level than shooting down from the pop-top roof. Just be prepared to contort your body a bit to get the shot.

My Peak Design travel tripod, though lightweight and well-built, wasn’t stable enough for my heavy camera setup (R6ii with battery grip, 100–400mm + 1.6x extender). It was bouncy, hard to adjust, and didn’t deliver the sharp images I wanted. In hindsight, it wasn’t worth the weight or hassle.

Lenses

My most-used lens was the Canon 100–400mm EF IS II with a 1.6x extender—it was fantastic for safari. However, if I was buying a lens specifically for the mirrorless platform I would have gone with the Canon RF 100-500mm (with etender)

I also brought a 70–200mm f/2.8 and a 24–70mm f/2.8, thinking I’d want to shoot wider or more open in low light. I was wrong again.

• The grassy plains are so vast, I rarely wanted to shoot wider than 100mm.
• Any time I switched to the 24–70mm, I regretted it.
• For animals that were too close, my iPhone was perfect.
• The 70–200mm didn’t get me close enough in most low-light situations. I’d only recommend bringing it as a backup if something happens to your longer lens.

Best Camera Settings for Safari

If you want simple, reliable settings that’ll help you capture great safari shots:

• Mode: Shutter Priority (Tv or S mode)
• Shutter Speed: 1/2500s (to freeze movement) (This setting will need to be tweaked in low light conditions)
• ISO: Auto
• Focus Mode: AI Servo (Continuous Focus)
• Subject Detection: Enable Eye + Animal Detection
• Picture Style: Faithful (for natural color grading later)
• File Type: RAW (for max editing flexibility)

Final Thoughts

If you’re just headed on vacation, your phone is probably enough. But if you’re going on a once-in-a-lifetime safari, don’t rely on it alone. Invest in a proper camera with fast autofocus and a long lens. And don’t overpack—bring only the gear that will truly improve your shots and leave the rest behind.

Happy shooting!