Best Travel Camera: Mirrorless, DSLR, Action Cameras & More

Canon PowerShot G5 X Mark II Digital Camera

The G5 X is one of the best compact cameras that exist at the moment. It’s like a mini DSLR in terms of image quality, but about ten times more portable.

This digital camera weighs less than a pound, so you will barely even feel it in your travel bag. It is also very small and thin, and it doesn’t take up a lot of space in your luggage.

It features a 20 MP CMOS sensor with 5x optical zoom, as well as optical image stabilization. The camera has a focal length of 8.8 – 44 mm, with an aperture range of 1.8 – 2.8.

What that basically means is that you can get some stunning portrait shots with a shallow depth of field, but don’t hope for great low light performance.

Also, this digital camera has a 3” LCD screen that you can flip up by 180 degrees – a pretty useful feature if you want to vlog your travels, or just take awesome selfies. The screen can also be flipped down by 45 degrees, and the camera even has an electronic viewfinder for really bright environments.

Another reason why I’m impressed with this point-and-shoot camera in 2020 is the ease of use. All of the controls are at the top of the camera, and they are very intuitive to use. Pair that with a streamlined UI, and you get yourself one of the best digital cameras on the market which is great for travel photography.

Honestly, if you want DSLR quality images but don’t actually want to carry around a DSLR and a bunch of different zoom lenses, this is by far the best travel camera for you.

The only problem is that the G5 X costs more than an entry-level DSLR, so it’s not that great if you were hoping to get an affordable camera.

Nikon Z50 Compact Mirrorless Digital Camera 

The Z50 is one of the best mirrorless cameras – not just by Nikon, but in existence.

At first glance, it looks just like a DSLR – that’s because of the Z lens mount that allows for use of some really big lenses on the camera. But when you look at the actual body of the Z50, it becomes obvious why this is one of the best travel cameras out there.

It is unbelievably tiny! And it looks deceptively large at first glance, but that’s because of the generous grip that’s standard on Nikon cameras. The Z50 body actually weighs some 15 ounces, and that is with the battery inside.

Now, there are several options when it comes to the lens you get with the compact travel camera. You could go for just the body, but that’s useless if you don’t already own a Z-mount lens.

The other options are just a 16-50mm zoom lens, a 50-250mm plus a 16-50mm lens, or a creator’s kit that includes a tripod and a microphone. The two-lens kit is definitely the best value for money out of the bunch.

The Nikon Z50 features a 20.9 MP APS C sensor, with 4K UHD video support. It’s also great in low light. It has an LCD that flips down, which is perfect for taking selfies and vlogging. And it has built-in WiFi and Bluetooth, so you can pair it with your phone and view images as you’re shooting them.

Obviously, the aperture range and focal length depending on the exact lens you use. But, if we’re talking about the standard 16-50mm lens that comes with the camera, you should know that it has an f/ 3.5 – 6.3. And it’s a VR (vibration reduction) lens, so you’ll always get really sharp and focused images.

The Z50 truly is one of the best mirrorless cameras that were ever made, but it’s also one of the priciest. It costs a lot more than an entry-level DSLR, so it’s definitely not a good idea if you’re on a tight budget.

GoPro Hero 8 Black

If you just want to shoot videos, it’s a no-brainer – get yourself a GoPro action camera and you’ll be all set.

They are the best action camera manufacturer for some really good reasons, like the excellent camera build quality, and incredibly smooth videos. It’s no surprise that many people use this for travel photography and video.

The latter is thanks to HyperSmooth 2.0 – GoPro’s take on image stabilization. It works astoundingly well,  and you’re guaranteed smooth and stable videos even if you’re constantly moving around.

In addition to that, this action camera can also take some really good photos. The Hero8 has improved HDR, as well as a feature called SuperPhoto. It lets you really crank up the contrast and kill the blur, allowing you to get some extremely detailed shots even in really bright conditions.

Another reason why the Hero 8 is an excellent compact travel camera for travel is its durability. This action camera is designed for people who are constantly on the move and want to capture their adventures.

This means that the brand has taken into account what might happen when you’re trying to ski and shoot at the same time – sometimes you just land on the camera, whether you wanted to or not.

That’s exactly why GoPro cameras are champions – they are extremely durable, and can survive pretty much anything short of being run over by a car.

The camera body is entirely waterproof up to 10 meters, and you can even control the camera just with your voice – you can tell the Hero 8 to start recording and then plunge yourself into the ocean – you’ll have an incredibly cool video to show for it, and a slightly wet action camera that’s still recording.

And even if you can’t afford a GoPro, why not check out some affordable GoPro alternatives?

Panasonic Lumix ZS50 Camera

The Panasonic Lumix ZS50 is a great point and shoot camera with an affordable price point. It retails for around $350, so it’s a good option for people who are on a tight budget and can’t afford a pricier camera.

It’s lightweight and portable, as well as equipped with some really good features. It supports RAW format shooting which is a must for more experienced photographers, and it has 30x optical zoom lens.

On top of that, the Panasonic travel camera has optical image stabilization, as well as a live viewfinder for better shots in really bright conditions.

However, the video quality isn’t that great and I would not recommend this travel camera if that’s your main focus. Sure, you get OIS, but the highest resolution you can film in is 1080p (so not 4K video!). You can get up to 100fps if you scale down to HD, and if you go down to VGA, you can film at 200 fps – those numbers aren’t really up to our 2020 standards.

But if you just want to shoot photos, it’s a good compact camera. It features a Leica lens with max focal length of 129.0 and it performs pretty well even in low light conditions. At least, it performs well for a small pocket camera – you still won’t get DSLR quality images in the dark, but they will be acceptable.

This travel camera also has a few different modes that you can use to get some unique shots.

It supports macro shots, which is great for those really close-up photos when you want to capture all the little details. And you can shoot timelapse videos in Full HD, which is pretty cool. The battery life is decent, but nothing impressive.

Best Instant Travel Camera

Have you considered getting an instant camera? They’re a great option if you want old-school photos that you can print out on the spot, but there are a few things you should know about them first.

The Fujifilm Instax Mini 90 is one of the modern modern polaroid cameras you can get your hands on. Unlike the older polaroids, the Instax Mini is very small and lightweight, making it an excellent option for travel.

It also allows you to go old-school with printing out photos and using film, like a proper photographer.

But that’s also the downside – you are limited by the amount of film you have. And since you constantly have to buy film to continue shooting, this tiny polaroid camera could eventually set you back more than a proper DSLR.

On top of that, you can forget about the video, since instant cameras can only shoot photos.

If you can live with those downsides, I think you can learn to love the Instax Mini – especially if you’re a fan of vintage photos. And this has some convenient options you can play with, so it’s not like it will do everything for you.

The camera has a macro mode that allows you to shoot objects that are at least 30cm away from the lens, which is pretty cool. It also has the ability to shoot double exposure images on a single sheet of the film if you press the shutter button twice.

Also, the sensors are able to automatically detect the brightness of the photo subjects and adjust shutter speed and exposure accordingly.

While more experienced photographers prefer to do this on their own, it’s nice to know that you don’t have to fiddle around the setting for five minutes if you just want to snap a photo.

Overall, the Instax Mini is a very niche travel camera that some people are going to love, and others won’t even consider. But it is a really good option for travel, thanks to the tiny and lightweight body.

Sony Alpha a6000 Mirrorless Digital Camera

The Alpha a6000 is another amazing mirrorless camera you should consider getting.

It’s ultra-lightweight and portable, which makes it an excellent option for travel. And it allows you to capture some stunning photographs, so it’s actually a really good mirrorless camera.

This isn’t exactly a cheap camera, but it is discounted fairly often and you can get it for less than $500. And that’s a really good deal for a Sony mirrorless camera, especially one that comes with a really good 16-50mm lens.

The camera features a 24 MP APS-C CMOS sensor and a max ISO sensitivity of 25600. It also has an OLED electronic viewfinder that will help you get great shots in really bright conditions, as well as a tilting LCD.

And it has built-in WiFi and NFC, so you can connect it to your smartphone and view and edit photos as you’re shooting them.

In addition to that, the Alpha a6000 features hybrid autofocus with 179 focal points, which actually makes it the fastest AF in the world. That’s a pretty impressive feature for a tiny camera that weighs less than a pound and costs less than a last year’s iPhone.

But it’s by no means a perfect or most compact camera. For one, the battery life is disappointing – it will last you about 350 shots, which means that you’ll definitely need a backup if you’re a heavy shooter like me and love your travel photography.

Also, the screen can only be tilted; you can’t flip it up for full selfie mode. This means this isn’t a good camera for you if you wanted to use it for vlogging – instead, look for one that has a fully articulated LCD.

Nikon D3500

Nikon’s D series is full of some really amazing entry-level full-frame DSLRs, and the D3500 is one of those.

It’s a great option for travel because it’s really lightweight for a DSLR, and it is actually a great budget option. The camera retails for only some $400 for the body and a lens kit – if you want to get into DSLRs and digital photography, it’s a no-brainer.

Especially since Nikon’s entry-level DSLRs are so easy to use that they will blow your mind. If you really have no clue about digital photography, it’s as simple as putting it in auto mode and just pressing the big shiny button.

Yes, this full-frame DSLR is as easy to use as a point-and-shoot camera, making it a great option for people with little to no experience in digital photography.

And it has all the making of a good DSLR, so once you learn more about the different features you will actually be able to play around with them. The D3500 comes with Nikon’s classic 18-55mm lens with f/3.5-5.6, which works great for landscape shots.

You can also get the camera in a bundle that includes two lenses, and that’s only some $100 more expensive than just the one lens.

One thing to note is that the D3500 – and other entry-level DSLRs for that matter – are not that great for shooting videos. This Nikon camera can only shoot 1080p videos, and it has monaural sound. This is a bit outdated, considering that stereo has been the norm since the late 20th century.

All in all, if you’re looking to shoot mostly photos and start learning about DSLRs, the D3500 is a great and inexpensive option.

Akaso V50 Elite

The Akaso V50 Elite is another really good action camera. It is a lot cheaper than a GoPro, but it is by no means a cheap action camera. And it has some really amazing features that will make you think twice about getting something that’s nearly three times more expensive.

Akaso has a lot of action cameras in different price ranges – you can get a basic one for less than $50, or you can get the V50 Elite for a little under $150.

And honestly, it’s worth every single penny. The image and video quality are really great, and it’s up there with the Hero cameras – but for a fraction of the price.

This action camera supports 4k video at 60 fps, and you can get up to 240 fps if you scale down the resolution to 720p. You can control it with just your voice, or with a remote control that you get with the camera.

On top of that, the V50 Elite comes with an improved waterproof case that lets you dive up to 131 feet underwater. That’s absolutely amazing – it allows you to go four times deeper than you can with the GoPro Hero 8.

The Akaso action camera also features HyperSmooth image stabilization, it has built-in WiFi and it comes in a bundle with all the mounts you could possibly need. It even comes with a 64GB micro SD card, as well as two batteries.

And all those accessories you get with the V50 Elite are compatible with most other action cameras, including the ones by GoPro. So, if you eventually decide to upgrade, you’ll have a bunch of useful things to use with your GoPro camera.

Sony RX100 VII Premium Compact Camera

If you want a portable camera that will get you DSLR quality images, the Sony RX100 VII is the one to get. It features a stacked CMOS sensor that allows you to get some outstanding photos even in low light conditions. This camera has an electronic viewfinder that you can access with a simple push, which is super convenient.

The Sony travel camera features a 20.1 MP image resolution and an aperture range of f/2.8 to f/4.5. It supports 4K video shooting, and it boasts incredibly fast autofocus with 357 focal points.

Also, the camera has great image stabilization that works even when you’re filming in 4k, and that’s really amazing.

This is a great travel camera for both photos and videos, in terms of image quality. You will be able to create some absolutely stunning shots, and you can even get some really good selfies thanks to the screen that flips out. This also makes the RX100 VII a great option for bloggers!

It even has a built-in microphone, as well as an external 3.5mm microphone jack.

The only problem is that you’re paying top dollar for those top features. This is a really pricey camera with a four-digit retail price – it’s not something everyone can afford, and definitely not for those who just want a budget option.

You can get a really good DSLR or a mirrorless camera for the same amount of money, and I would honestly recommend those over the Sony if you want a bit more flexibility with your travel camera.

But if you just want DSLR quality in a portable package, then this is the camera for you.

Canon Rebel T7 DSLR Camera

The Rebel T7 by Canon is another great entry-level full-frame DSLR that could work for travel.

It’s also one of the most affordable entry-level cameras on the market, so it’s a great option if you’re ready to finally bite the bullet and get a full frame DSLR, but don’t have a lot of money to spend.

In fact, for some $400 you will get a camera body, a standard 8-55mm lens, a lens cleaning kit, a carry case, and three different filters to play with. Just put everything you get in the box in that camera bag, and you’re ready to be on your way!

The filters are an extremely convenient addition to this bundle – they’re great for experimenting with different types of shots and trying to create something unique. The bundle actually includes a UV filter (self-explanatory), a CPL filter (for reducing glare) and an FLD filter (color correcting), which will really let you step up your game even with your first shots.

Also, this entry-level DSLR has some really great features. There’s the 24.1 MP sensor, a 3” LCD monitor, a generous grip, lots of different photo modes, and support for Full HD videos.

Plus, it is very simple to use – Canon cameras always boast a simple and intuitive UI, which is what makes them an excellent option for amateur photographers.

The only thing that’s not great about this camera is its weight. At 1.5 lbs, it’s a properly heavy DSLR, so it’s definitely not the most travel-friendly option.

But, that is the weight of the camera with the battery inside and the attached 18-55m lens – the actual camera body is much lighter. All in all, it’s a really good travel camera and it’s great for people who are on a budget but still want a quality DSLR.