Best Travel Camera — Pros & Cons, Specs and Prices

To kick things off, we’re taking a look at the best compact travel cameras. This 17 megapixel camera from Panasonic is a dynamic, compact shooter. It’s capable of shooting from 24 to 75mm with an equivalent f1.7-2.8 zoom. 

Not to mention if you have video needs, the Panasonic LX100 II also shoots in 4K up to 30p. If you’re looking for a super compact camera that can fit in your pocket with decent photo and video capabilities, the Panasonic LX100 II may be a great choice. The downside to this camera is its higher price point when it comes to compact cameras.

This point and shoot by Sony is as compact as these cameras get with an impressive zoom capability. Clocking in at 18.2 megapixels on a CMOS sensor, the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX99 utilizes a ZEISS Vario-Sonnar T zoom lens that allows you to shoot 24-720mm.

As far as ergonomics, the camera has a great flip-up touch screen that is great for selfies and/or vlogging. Some of the other key features such as optical stabilization and an electronic built-in viewfinder make this compact travel camera a reasonable buy for its price point.

If you’re looking to move beyond the compact, point and shoot camera into mirrorless cameras, but still consider yourself a beginner, the Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III might be the camera for you. This mirrorless camera is Olympus’ entry level shooter. 

The camera body is still very compact making it a great mirrorless travel camera. Inside, the camera is a 16MP camera making it on the lower side of this list. The camera does, however, have top tier 5-axis in-camera stabilization. This makes it a great low-light camera sharper low-light photography. 

Next up on our list of the best mirrorless travel cameras is the Panasonic Lumix GX85. As its 16MP sensor suggests, it is made for video and photo enthusiasts rather than professionals which in turn lends itself to a more reasonable price tag.

Unlike other Panasonic cameras, however, the Lumix GX85 does not have an anti-aliasing filter. This delivers more detailed imagery. If you're looking for a solid mirrorless camera that balances performance and price tag, the Panasonic Lumix GX85 is a solid choice.

If you’re looking to shoot more video and put together some awesome travel edits or vlogs don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. The Sony a7III is the video workhorse of the group here. It’s built like a tank and is often a trusty go to for plenty of outdoor adventure videographers and photographers.

It has the ability to shoot video at 4K at 24p which makes for some amazing, sharp shots. When it comes to autofocus, few cameras on this list can compare. The a7III has 93% autofocus coverage with 693 phase detection points as well as 425 for contrast detection. Worried about losing focus while getting a shot? This is the a7iii’s specialty. 

A notable feature worth mentioning is the dual SD memory card slots for those that tend to fill up card after card, an easy thing to do while traveling. Obviously the downside to the a7III is its $2000 price tag which can understandably be a dealbreaker for some shooters. 

The Fujifilm X-T200 is for the entry level photographer and videographer. This was the camera that Fujifilm released to replace the X-T100 as a huge upgrade. If you’re looking for an inexpensive travel video camera, the X-T200 is a great deal. The camera’s key specs are a 24MP APS-C sensor, updated autofocus system with 425 phase detect points, and 4K video with no crop.

This wouldn’t be a travel camera blog article without one mention of a GoPro. Afterall, GoPro redefined what a travel camera could be, where it could go, and what it could capture. The GoPro Hero 9 Black boasts an iconically small body with a 20MP sensor. The reason it’s on our video list is its ability to take 5K video at 30P as well as 4K video at 60p.

With its front-mounted LCD, you can witness the HyperSmooth digital image stabilization that is notorious in the action sports and adventure videography world. In GoPro fashion, the Hero 9 Black is waterproof without housing up to 33 meters deep. 

Of course, not every traveler is going to have the budget to buy a lot of the best travel cameras on this list. Don’t fret. Here are a few budget friendly items so you can save some of that cash for more travel adventures. First on our list is the Sony DSCW830. When it comes to compatibility and affordability its hard to beat the Sony DSCW830. While it may not be the best performing camera on this list, it will certainly get the job done if you the job is simply capturing the family vacation or a day hike with friends. 

Keep in mind that this 20MP camera is definitely better for capturing photos than it does video as it has an unimpressive 720p HD video capability. 

While it might seem redundant to have both the GoPro Hero 8 Black and 9 Black, but the 8 is here for a good reason: it’s remarkably lower price point. At a fraction of the price of the 9 Black, the GoPro Hero 8 Black has quite a few of the same features that may not warrant an upgrade and extra expense to some. 

The 8 has a 12 MP sensor as well as 4K video capability at 60 fps. Compare this to the 9’s 20MP sensor and 5K at 30fps, there is a clear difference. Is the upgrade in image sensor and 5K shooting capability worth the extra money? That will be a question you decide based on what type of traveling you will be doing and what you will be doing. That said, there is no doubt the GoPro Hero 8 Black can get the job done in most circumstances. 

Last, but certainly not least on our list of the best budget camera for traveling is the Canon PowerShot G9X Mark II. This camera, unlike the Sony DSC-W830, has a great balance of photo and video capabilities in a compact body. Boasting a 20.1MP CMOS sensor, the images from this camera will satisfy anyone looking to uplevel their simple smartphone photography. Not to mention its video shooting ability at 1080 at 60 fps.

While it may be the most expensive out of any camera on our budget travel cameras list, its performance arguably warrants its price. The camera’s DIGIC 7 processor results in a faster burst rate, quicker interface, and in-camera RAW image processing.