Best Camera for Travel
photo by hocus-focus via iStock
Do you have a bad case of the travel bug? Have you always wanted to do a better job of documenting your travels, but couldn’t fit a big, heavy camera in your backpack?
Well, I've got great news for you! Cameras have never been smaller, and today there are tons of amazing options!
Compact, Mirrorless, and DSLR cameras are all marvelous choices for those who wish to carry a traditional camera. Action cameras are super portable and fantastic for adventure enthusiasts. Even some phones take truly unbelievable photos and videos nowadays.
In this article I’ll give you my top choice for each, and what exactly makes it the best camera for travel!
Best Compact Camera for Travel
The Sony Cyber-shot RX100 VII is no doubt the best compact travel camera money can buy. Released in 2019, it’s the newest model in the ever so popular line of Sony Cyber-shot cameras, and boy does it pack a punch!
The RX100 VII boasts a top-of-the-line 1-inch, 20.1MP sensor which produces incredibly sharp images for a point-and-shoot camera. When you show off your photos to friends and family back home they will be shocked to discover you shoot with such a small camera!
With a zoom lens that has a range of 24-200mm, it’s wide enough for dramatic landscape shots, but also can be zoomed in close enough to capture the most minute details of buildings and animals. Furthermore, if you like street and portrait photography you will love the buttery bokeh produced by the f2.8-4.5 aperture!
Additional superb features of this camera are that it can record 4K video, has lightning-fast autofocus, can shoot continually at a ridiculously fast 90fps, and that it has a 3-inch touchscreen monitor. Oh yeah, best of all it fits in your pocket!
Best Mirrorless Camera for Travel
As a group, mirrorless cameras are one-hundred percent the best cameras for travel. They are smaller and lighter than DSLRs, but still give you the option of using interchangeable lenses! Sony were the pioneers of this new technology, and today they are still the unquestioned king of mirrorless cameras.
While you may be tempted to go for a full frame mirrorless like the Sony Alpha 7 IV, the best mirrorless camera for travel in my opinion is the Sony Alpha A6500. It’s noticeably more compact than the larger full frame alternatives, and the 24.1MP APS-C sensor is one of the sharpest and most advanced crop sensors on the market.
Other great travel features of the Sony A6500 are in-body stabilization, the option to record video in 4K or full HD, super fast autofocus, a weatherproof magnesium alloy body, and built-in wi-fi which lets you quickly and easily transfer your photos to your phone.
The A6500 has subsequently been replaced by the newer Sony Alpha A6600, but the differences are not substantial enough to warrant the huge difference in price. Better yet, shop second-hand and you are sure to find terrific bargains! MPB.com is an outstanding resource when looking for second-hand cameras and lenses, and always has endless choices in stock.
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Best DSLR Camera for Travel
DSLRs tend to be heavier and bulkier than mirrorless systems, which is not the best for traveling, but if you have your sights set on a DSLR then the Canon EOS Rebel T7 is the best camera for travel.
The Canon Rebel T7 is considered an entry-level camera, but don’t let that fool you, it’s a fantastic machine! It features a new 24MP APS-C sensor, which is a noticeable upgrade from the 18MP sensor of the Rebel T6. Additionally, it has built-in wi-fi, multiple intuitive shooting modes, full HD video, and it’s extremely easy to use.
On top of those features, the real thing that makes this camera stand out is the price. You can get your paws on one of these brand new, with a kit lens, for only $449! That’s a fraction of the price you will pay for the majority of travel cameras.
Thanks to its easy-to-use features and low price tag, the Canon EOS Rebel T7 is without a doubt the best beginner camera for travel!
Best Action Camera for Travel
If you are an adrenaline junky, the GoPro Hero 10 Black is an absolute must-have item when traveling!
The recently released Hero 10 has a 23MP sensor and an all-new GP2 processor which it uses to be the first GoPro capable of recording 5K footage. It can shoot 5K at 60fps and 4K slow motion footage at up to 120fps. Let those numbers sink in for a moment, not even most high-end mirrorless and DSLR cameras can match them!
The addition of HyperSmooth 4.0 and horizon leveling software make video from even the most rigorous adventures look smooth. And saving the best for last, it’s fully waterproof up to 10m without the use of an additional case!
No matter your passion, scuba diving, biking, rock climbing, or kayaking, the GoPro Hero 10 Black is the best action camera for travel!
Best Phone Camera for Travel
If investing in a separate camera isn’t in the cards for you, but you still want to shoot amazing photos and videos, another great option is the Apple Iphone 13 Pro.
It possesses not one, not two, but three different cameras! A telephoto, a wide-angle, and an ultra-wide-angle. With all three built into the Iphone 13 Pro, you can be totally prepared at all times to capture absolutely anything.
Moreover, there are both optical and digital zooms which can magnify the image up to 15x. If all that wasn’t enough, there are new portrait and night modes which produce quite mind-blowing results.
I love all my cameras, and will always prefer shooting with a real camera over a phone, but the Iphone 13 Pro is the best phone camera for travel I’ve ever seen and the first phone to ever make even a small part of me think about leaving the camera at home.
Final Thoughts on the Best Camera for Travel
photo by martin-dm via iStock
I hope you now have a better idea of which camera for travel is for you! The most important thing is finding one you like to use and won’t leave behind. Once you have the right one, you can finally document all those once-in-a-lifetime moments, and turn them into memories that will last forever!
