How to Choose a Travel Camera
Travel Photography
After 7 years as a professional travel photographer & blogger, I keep getting asked what’s the best travel camera. There are so many to choose from! Here’s what I would pick, and why.
If you’re into photography, traveling the world with a good camera can help you bring back images that will stand the test of time — memories to share with family and friends for years to come.
Amazing travel photos are some of my most treasured souvenirs!
But what’s the best travel camera for capturing these special moments on your journey? There’s no easy answer to this question. Different people will have different requirements and budgets.
My goal with this digital camera buyers guide is to help you narrow down the overwhelming choices that are out there — and pick the perfect travel camera for your next trip.
Norway’s Lofoten Islands
Travel Camera Features
- Size & Weight: Gone are the days when a bigger camera means a better camera. If you want to travel with your camera, you’ll want something small & lightweight.
- Manual Settings: Photography professionals want the ability to fully control the settings of their camera so they can dial in the perfect shot in all kinds of different situations.
- Megapixels: Many people assume that more megapixels is better. This isn’t always true. However more megapixels will give you higher detail, and allow you to “crop” your image without reducing quality.
- Fast Lens: Lens aperture is measured in f/numbers, like f/1.4, f/2.8, f/4, etc. The lower the number, the better it will perform in low-light situations.
- Zoom Range: A zoom lens lets you get closer to the action, especially for wildlife or people. But the bigger the zoom the bulkier a camera gets. How much zoom you want is a personal preference.
- HD/4K Video: Most quality travel cameras will shoot video in HD 1080p. Some even have 4K capabilities — which honestly most people won’t need unless you’re doing professional work.
- WiFi/Bluetooth Enabled: Some cameras have their own wifi network, allowing you to upload your photos instantly to your computer or smartphone.
- Interchangeable Lenses: High-end mirrorless and DSLR cameras have interchangeable lenses, allowing you to pick the perfect lens for different situations.
Ridge Hiking in Hawaii
What Do You Want To Capture?
When choosing the best travel camera for your needs, you must define what those needs are. Different cameras have strengths and weaknesses depending on what you’re using them for.
Are you looking for portability? Weatherproofing & ruggedness? Professional high-end image quality? Something reasonably priced? Are you going to be shooting more landscapes, wildlife, adventure activities, or people?
You often can’t have it all when it comes to travel cameras.
Keep reading below to learn the pros & cons for each type of camera, and which types of travel photography they work best for.
Point & Shoot Cameras
Point & shoot cameras have come a long way. As technology has improved, companies have managed to pack these pocket-sized cameras with tons of features. Some shoot 4k video and have manual settings, just like the more expensive ones in this list.
The big difference is the camera sensor is a bit smaller, and they don’t have interchangeable lenses.
In my opinion, a mid-range to high-end point & shoot is the best option for 75% of amature travel photographers. They combine the perfect mix of portability, power, and budget-friendliness.
Sony RX100 Series ($700 – $1000)
Sony RX100 V
The Sony RX100 V is my favorite point & shoot travel camera. It’s what I’d call a “professional” point & shoot. While it fits in my pocket, it has many of the same features as my larger primary mirrorless camera.
It’s a bit pricey at $1000, but you can also pick up older models like the RX100 III ($700) and RX100 IV ($850) for less.
Check Price For Sony RX100 V Here
Canon PowerShot G7 X ($650)
Canon G7X II
The Canon G7 X is another fantastic point & shoot that’s great for travel photography. A bit less expensive than the Sony, it has fewer high-end features, but shoots great video with better on-board audio than the Sony. It’s a favorite for many YouTubers and Vloggers.
Check Price For Canon G7X Here
Best Action Travel Cameras
Action Cameras
Action cameras have really transformed the travel photography & video world over the years. These tiny, waterproof, indestructible cameras can go anywhere & record anything!
If you plan on hiking, mountain biking, surfing, kayaking, snorkeling, scuba diving, or even swimming under waterfalls during your travels, an action camera can create epic video & photos that you can share with others.
GoPro Hero 6
GoPro Hero 6
GoPro Hero Session
GoPro Session
Best Mirrorless Travel Cameras
Mirrorless Cameras
Larger than a point & shoot, but smaller than a DSLR, mirrorless digital cameras are all the rage right now. Even professional photographers are starting to switch over due to their small size and ability to produce high-quality images.
I use a mirrorless camera as my main travel camera. They offer more features than a point & shoot, like the ability to use interchangeable lenses, and a larger sensor with better low-light capability and detail.
Sony A7 Series
Sony A7ii
Fujifilm X‑T2
Fujifilm X‑T2
Sony A6500
Sony A6500
DSLR Cameras
Digital SLR Cameras (DSLR) wouldn’t be my first choice for a travel camera. I’ve included a few here, because some people still prefer the larger body.
However personally I think most people would be better off with a mirrorless camera these days. Especially if you are trying to keep your travel gear weight to a minimum.
Nikon D3400
Nikon D3400
Canon 80D
Canon 80D
Using Your Smartphone
Can you use your smartphone for travel photography? Of course you can! You’ll sacrifice a bit of quality due to the super small camera sensor in phones, but if you’re only publishing to the web, most people won’t notice.
Some smartphones can even shoot in RAW format these days. I travel with an iPhone 7+, but the Galaxy S8 and Google Pixel 2 also take amazing photos & video. Smartphones are also great backup cameras too.
What About Camera Lenses?
You honestly don’t need a million different camera lenses. When I first started, I only used a single general-purpose lens while I was learning travel photography.
If you have money to burn, then get two: a wide angle zoom and a telephoto zoom.
These two lenses will allow you to capture a mix of landscapes, portraits, and wildlife from a distance. However lugging around multiple lenses and changing them back & forth can be annoying if you’re new to photography.
To keep things easy, I’d recommend only one lens at first. Something with a decent focal range, around 18mm – 70mm.
When looking at a lens aperture, the lower the number, the better it will be in low light. F2.8 or F4 should cover you for most situations. If you want to shoot star photography, go with F2.8 or lower.
Drones for Travel Photography
Drones For Travel Photography
Drones are incredible tools for capturing images & video in a totally different perspective. But this probably isn’t the most important travel camera for the average person.
Many places have restrictions on flying personal drones, for example US National Parks, and even entire countries. So you need to do your research to avoid heavy fines or confiscation.
If you REALLY want a drone, I’d recommend the DJI Spark for beginners. It’s tiny, pretty affordable, and very easy to use.
If you eventually want to make money from your drone photography, and have a larger budget, than you’ll completely fall in love with the more professional DJI Mavic Pro. You can see my review video here.
What Travel Cameras Do I Use?
I actually travel with 4-5 different cameras on my adventures around the world. This is a bit overkill for most people.
However travel photography is how I make my living, so I invest in gear to help me accomplish my job. When I first started 7 years ago, all I used was a Canon 7D and a GoPro Hero.
The camera backpack I use is called a LowePro Whistler 350. It’s got room for a 15″ laptop, jacket, and incredibly fits all 5 travel cameras, lenses & some accessories if I need it to.
Travel Photography Tips
I want to let you in on a little travel photography secret. Even if you have a top-of-the-line $10,000 camera, your photos aren’t going to be spectacular if you don’t know how to use it.
And I don’t mean pressing the shutter — I mean:
- Learning how to shoot in manual mode
- How to expose images properly
- Adjusting your white balance
- Framing shots for maximum impact
- Paying attention to light
- Post-processing your images with software
You don’t become a good photographer because you have a nice camera, your photography improves over time through practice, patience, and skills you learn from others.
So sure, invest in a new travel camera if you think you need it, but remember to invest money & time into learning new photography skills if you really want to create those jealousy-inducing images for your Instagram feed!
Here are some of my favorite beginner travel photography tips.
Who Wants to Win a GoPro?
Free GoPro Session Giveaway!
If you don’t have an GoPro action camera yet, but want one, here’s your chance to win a GoPro to use on your next travel adventure!
I’m giving one lucky reader their very own GoPro Hero Session 5 (along with some accessories).
I love my GoPro, and travel with it everywhere. It’s great for capturing water sports, hiking trips, epic selfies, and hands-free video from my travel adventures around the world.
I’ve been traveling with a GoPro of some kind for the last 7 years!
Here’s an article I wrote about my favorite GoPro accessories for travel, along with examples of how you can use it to capture amazing footage.
OFFICIAL RULES
ELIGIBILITY: Ages 18+
Promotion is open and offered to residents of any country. However the winner will be responsible for their own country’s customs fees.
CHOOSING A WINNER:
A winner will be selected at random from the list of entries, and notified by email. If the winner does not respond within one week, an alternate winner will be chosen at random.
PRIZE:
The winner will receive (1) GoPro Hero Session, (1) GoPro Backpack, and (1) GoPro Selfie Stick. Prize value worth $450. Prizes are shipped to winner’s chosen address. Local customs fees are not included in the prize.
How To Enter Contest
Enter your name and email address below and follow the instructions.
You’ll have the option to earn extra contest entries (and more chances to win!) by completing certain tasks.
Good luck, and I look forward to congratulating the winner! ★
Have any questions about travel cameras? What about other suggestions? Drop me a message in the comments below!
Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers.
This is a post from The Expert Vagabond adventure blog.
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