The Best Cameras for Travel: Which Type Should You Buy?
It has been said that one of the best parts of traveling is the memories that you make and the enjoyment of reflecting on past experiences. Outside of sharing those memories, there is no better way to remember your travels than pictures or videos, right? If you want to improve how you capture your travel memories, but are not sure where to start, this is the post for you. Read more to learn about the best cameras for travel for any budget!
The Best Cameras for Travel
The Best Point and Shoot Cameras for Travel
The point and shoot camera is also regularly known as a compact camera. Perfect for those who want functionality, but also great auto features to reduce the learning curve. These are great for those who are just starting to expand out of the “phone camera world”.
Nikon Coolpix A900
The Nikon A900 camera is small enough to fit into most pockets, but it comes complete with a lot of great features. Some of those features include:
- Image Sensor Quality: 20MP for great quality shots
- Video Quality: 4K Video
- Zoom Quality: 35x NIKKOR VR Zoom Lens
- Viewfinder Type: Features a 3 inch LCD screen
- Built in Flash?: Yes
- Connectivity: Pair with compatible devices via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and NFC via the SnapBridge App
- Dimensions: 4.45 x 2.62 x 1.56 inches and 10.6 ounces
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Panasonic Lumix ZS70
Another affordable compact camera with high-quality features is the Panasonic Lumix ZS70. Features include:
- Image Sensor Quality: 20.3MP high-sensitivity MOS
- Video Quality: 4K Video
- Zoom Quality: 30x Optical Zoom
- Viewfinder Type: Get both a eye viewfinder and a 3 inch LCD viewfinder that can be tilted 180º for selfies
- Built in Flash?: Yes
- Connectivity: Built in Wi-Fi for easy sharing with your devices
- Dimensions: 1.62 x 4.4 x 2.64 inches and 11.4 ounces
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Canon PowerShot G7 Mark II
The Canon PowerShot point and shoot cameras are known for not only their photo capabilities, but also their strong video quality. In fact, they are well-known as the “Vlogging Camera” of choice for many YouTubers. This was actually one of my first forays into a premium camera, and I’ve captured great shots with it. Features include:
- Image Sensor Quality: 20.1 MP 1” CMOS sensor
- Video Quality: 4K Ultra HD Video
- Zoom Quality: Optical Zoom of 4.2x
- Viewfinder Type: 3.0 inch touch LCD monitor that tilts up 180º so that you can easily do selfies
- Built in Flash?: Yes
- Connectivity: Connect to compatible devices via Wi-Fi and NFC
- Dimensions: 1.65 x 2.4 x 4.15 inches and 1 pound
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The Best Mirrorless Cameras for Travel
Now you may be asking – what is a mirrorless camera? Well, it is very similar to the larger DSLR cameras, but like the name suggests, it does not include a mirror inside. As a result, the cameras have all the functionality as DSLRs, but are smaller in build. One downside is that there is no real optical viewfinder, even eye viewfinders are digital in these cameras.
Note that functionality of these cameras depends on the type of lens you buy. In reviewing the mirrorless cameras, I’ll point out capabilities of the kit lens that comes with the camera in question.
Canon EOS M200
The Canon EOS M200 is known for its slim design, affordable price, and high quality features. With this camera, you can expect the following features:
- Image Sensor Quality: 24.1 MP APS-C CMOS Sensor
- Video Quality: 4K Ultra HD Video (you can shoot vertically as well!)
- Kit Lens Details: The kit lens features a standard zoom of 15-45mm, with an aperture of f/3.5-6.3
- Viewfinder Type: 3.0 inch touch LCD monitor that tilts up 180º as well as down 45º so that you can easily do selfies and take better pictures in bright settings
- Built in Flash?: Yes (pop-up)
- Connectivity: Connect to compatible devices via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and NFC
- Dimensions: 1.4 x 4.3 x 2.6 inches and 1.19 pounds
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Sony a6000
The Sony a6000 is widely recognized as one of the top mirrorless cameras on the market. It is quite affordable, has great features, and since it is so popular, there are so many different types of lenses to choose from. In addition, it’s about half the size of typical DSLR cameras. Features of this camera include:
- Image Sensor Quality: 24.3 MP APS-C CMOS Sensor
- Video Quality: FullHD 1080P
- Kit Lens Details: The kit lens features a power zoom of 16-50mm, with an aperture of f/3.5-5.6
- Viewfinder Type: 3.0 inch touch LCD monitor that tilts up 90º as well as down 45º so that it takes great pictures, no matter the light quality. You also get an OLED eye viewfinder as well.
- Built in Flash?: Yes (pop-up)
- Connectivity: Connect to compatible devices via Wi-Fi and NFC
- Dimensions: 4.72 x 1.77 x 2.64 inches and 12.2 ounces
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For more information on the best lenses for the Sony a6000, click here.
Sony Alpha a7
As a full-frame mirrorless camera, the Sony Alpha a7 is a step up from the a6000. (Hence the increased price). It is noted for its updated sensor design and known for its speed and strong low-light capabilities. Features include:
- Image Sensor Quality: 24.2 MP Full-Frame CMOS sensor
- Video Quality: Ultra 4K HD video
- Kit Lens Details: The kit lens features a power zoom of 28-70mm, with an aperture of f/3.5-5.6
- Viewfinder Type: 3.0 inch touch LCD monitor that tilts up 107º as well as down 41º so that it takes great pictures, no matter the light quality. You also get an Tru-Finder OLED eye viewfinder as well
- Built in Flash?: Yes (pop-up)
- Connectivity: Connect to compatible devices via Wi-Fi and NFC to share images and even remotely control the shutter
- Dimensions: 5 x 2.36 x 3.78 inches and 1.32 pounds
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The Best DSLR Cameras for Travel
DSLR stands for Digital Single Lens Reflex, and it has a digital sensor and a mirror inside the camera body. The main advantage of this camera over the mirrorless type is that it has a standard viewfinder which can help you capture better images. In addition, the prices are often lower as the technology has been around longer. However, as mentioned above, DSLRs tend to be bulkier and heavier, making them less ideal for travel.
Canon EOS Rebel T7
Per Canon, the EOS Rebel T7 is meant for the user looking to move past mobile photography. It’s tagged as a “sleek” entry-level DSLR. This camera features:
- Image Sensor Quality: 24.1 MP APS-C CMOS sensor
- Video Quality: Full HD 1080P
- Kit Lens Details: The kit lens features a power zoom of 18-55mm, with an aperture of f/3.5-5.6
- Viewfinder Type: 3.0 inch touch LCD monitor and standard eye viewfinder
- Built in Flash?: No
- Connectivity: Connect to compatible devices via Wi-Fi and NFC to share images
- Dimensions: 3.1 x 5.1 x 4 inches and 3 pounds
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Nikon D3500
The Nikon D3500 is billed “as easy to use as a point and shoot camera”. It’s relatively compact and comes with a lot of great features, like those listed below:
- Image Sensor Quality: 24.2 MP DX-format CMOS sensor
- Video Quality: Full HD 1080P
- Kit Lens Details: The kit lens features a power zoom of 18-55mm, with an aperture of f/3.5-5.6
- Viewfinder Type: 3.0 inch touch LCD monitor and standard eye viewfinder
- Built in Flash?: Yes
- Connectivity: Connect to compatible devices via Wi-Fi and NFC to share images
- Dimensions: 4.9 x 2.7 x 3.8 inches and 13 ounces
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Pentax K-70
The Pentax K-70 is built as an all-weather DSLR, and meant for shooting great outdoor and landscape shots. It’s weather resistance means that it is quite durable and that’s something that sets it apart from others in this list. Features include:
- Image Sensor Quality: 24.24 MP APS-C CMOS sensor
- Video Quality: Full HD 1080P as well as 4K for Interval shots
- Kit Lens Details: The kit lens features a power zoom of 18-55mm, with an aperture of f/3.5-5.6
- Viewfinder Type: 3.0 inch touch LCD monitor and standard eye viewfinder
- Built in Flash?: Yes
- Connectivity: Connect to compatible devices via Wi-Fi and NFC to share images
- Dimensions: 2.9 x 4.9 x 3.7 inches and 2 lbs
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The Best Action Cameras for Travel
Action cameras are tiny little cameras that are used to capture motion shots. This style of camera has really been made popular by the GoPro, which we’ll cover more below. If you take active vacations either on land or in the water, an action camera is something that you should certainly have on your list.
COOAU 4K 20MP
A nice budget option, the COOAU 4K features pretty much all the features you’d want in any action camera. The only downside is that you do have to use the provided casing to make it waterproof. Key features include:
- Image Quality: 20MP
- Video Quality: 4K UHD / 30fps
- Connectivity: Connect to compatible devices via Wi-Fi to share images
- Feature Set: This camera has many settings, such as Time lapse Videos, Smart EIS image stabilization, and upgraded waterproof depth
- Dimensions: 2.28 x 0.98 x 1.57 inches and 1.1 lbs
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GoPro Hero7
The GoPro is what has made action cameras famous. Due to the camera’s popularity, there are many affordable options that you can use to attach your camera to any part of your body for unique capture. And I should mention that it is PERFECT for underwater shots. Key features include:
- Image Quality: 12MP
- Video Quality: 4K UHD / 30fps
- Connectivity: Connect to compatible devices via Wi-Fi to share images
- Feature Set: Features include a Touch screen, Voice control (no need for remote), video stabilization, vertical shooting capability, photo timer, and ability to shoot in burst mode.
- Dimensions: 2.4 x 1.3 x 1.8 inches and 4.2 ounces
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GoPro Hero 9
The newest addition to the GoPro family, the Hero9 has added many new features to take things up a notch. Upgrades include more power, more stability, and more clarity. Additional features include:
- Image Quality: 20MP
- Video Quality: 5K UHD / 30fps + 4K UHD / 60fps
- Connectivity: Connect to compatible devices via Wi-Fi to share images
- Feature Set: Features include a Touch screen, Voice control (no need for remote), video stabilization, vertical shooting capability, photo timer, and ability to shoot in burst mode. In addition, you can now shoot in RAW, have scheduled capture, and capture pictures before you even shoot with the HindSight feature
- Dimensions: 9.08 x 5.42 x 3.25 inches and 11.2 ounces
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The Best Camera Phone Accessories for Travel
Not quite ready for a phone upgrade? I will mention that there are a few options for upgrading your phone so that it is a better travel camera. Check out the accessories below:
Camera Phone Lens Kit
This lens kit by VKAKA provides 9 different lens add-ons for your phone:
- 2x Zoom Lens
- 198º Fisheye Lens
- 15x Macro Lens
- 20x Macro Lens
- 0.63x Wide Angle Lens
- 0.36x Super Wide Angle Lens
- Circular Polarized Lens
- Starburst Lens
- Kaleidoscope Lens
All the lenses clip onto your phone for easy use and removal.
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SmartPhone Gimbal Stabilizer
Take better video with your smartphone by using this Gimbal by Hohem. As a bonus, it also offers a base so that you can use it as a small tripod as well. This one is compatible with most smartphones and will help you take movie-quality video.
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How to Choose a Camera for Travel
When choosing which camera you should buy for travel, there are three key factors that you should take into consideration.
Size
When it comes to travel, I think that size is the most important factor to consider. If you are out and about all day, there are few things as annoying as carrying around your camera and camera gear everywhere that you go. Look for the smallest size and weight in a camera that still meets all your personal photography requirements.
Type of Photography / Videography
What kind of pictures will you take most on your trip? Are you more focused on portraits of your travel crew? Or taking pictures of beautiful landscapes? Make sure the camera you buy has the capabilities to take the shots you desire. And this can either be built into the camera itself, or through the lens you use with your camera.
Cost
Cost is a key consideration in any purchase, of course. I do caution against always going after the cheapest option for your camera, however. Remember, a camera is an investment that will last you for years to come. Buy what you can afford, but also buy something that you will not have to replace in the near term.
In Summary | The Best Cameras for Travel
I hope you’ve found this post on how to use the best cameras for travel helpful! If you still need help deciding, here are the best cameras for each category:
- Best Point and Shoot Camera for Travel: Canon PowerShot G7 Mark II
- Best Mirrorless Camera for Travel: Sony a6000
- Best DSLR Camera for Travel: Nikon 3500
- Best Action Camera: GoPro Hero7
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Last update on 2026-01-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
