What is the best travel camera for you?

Few travelers leave without a camera. Most of us want to bring back more than memories from a trip: we want photos we can keep, share, print, or simply enjoy years later. But in the digital age, the choices have become almost endless. So, what is the best travel camera for you? How do you choose the right camera? And which camera should you buy for a trip?

The goal of this article is not to list every possible option. Choosing a camera for travel depends on several things: your needs, your interests, your photography level, and, of course, your budget. I also won’t go into all the accessories that can come with buying a camera, especially if you choose a DSLR or mirrorless system. I cover that separately in a full guide to useful photography accessories for travel.

So, are you wondering how to choose a camera for traveling? Which first camera should you buy? Should you choose a mirrorless camera or a DSLR? What is the best travel camera for your own way of traveling? And what camera should you take on a round-the-world trip? I’ll try to answer all of these questions in this article.

Before rushing into buying a camera for your next trip, it is worth asking yourself a few simple questions. Depending on your answers, one type of camera may make much more sense than another.

Between you and me, there is no single right or wrong travel camera. The goal is simply to find the one that best fits your use, your needs, your budget, and your style of trip. This article is here to help you choose according to those different criteria.

First of all, ask yourself what you actually want to use your camera for. You’ll probably say: to take photos!

More seriously, what is the real purpose of buying a camera for travel? Do you simply want to capture memories from your trips, even if those photos may end up sitting on a hard drive somewhere? Do you want to share them with family or on social media? Would you like to print them when you get home, make enlargements, sell your photos, or simply enjoy travel photography as a passion? What kind of photos do you actually want to take?

In short, there are almost as many reasons to buy a travel camera as there are travelers. I’m exaggerating a little, but not that much.

Basically, start by identifying what you want to do with your camera. In my opinion, this is the most important step when choosing a new camera.

And yes, unless you are a millionaire — and if you are reading this page, you are probably looking for advice rather than simply buying the most expensive camera available — you will need to set a budget.

In any case, budget is one of the main factors that will influence the type of gear you buy. If you want to sell your photos, make large prints, shoot wildlife in the forest, and do all of that with a €300 budget… well, you may run into a few problems.

Camera prices have changed a lot in recent years. Some older DSLRs are now quite affordable on the second-hand market, while many recent mirrorless cameras and premium compacts can be expensive. In other words, the old idea that a compact is always cheaper than a mirrorless camera, and that a mirrorless camera is always cheaper than a DSLR, is no longer really accurate.

A better way to think about it is this: the more specialized your needs are — low light, wildlife, video, high-quality lenses, weather sealing — the more your budget will matter.

This is another point that matters for many travelers. Going hiking in the Canadian Rockies is not the same as wandering between temples and beaches in Southeast Asia. And if you are planning a safari, I also wrote a detailed guide on which photography equipment to choose for a safari.

If you need to save space for hiking gear, you may regret carrying 5 kg of camera equipment. On another kind of trip, that extra weight may be easier to manage.

The length of the trip also changes things. Carrying a large DSLR or mirrorless setup with several lenses for a weekend is one thing. Carrying it for several months, or for a full year of traveling around the world, is another. Do you feel ready to carry a camera body and lenses every day, or would you rather compromise and choose something smaller?

Photography enthusiasts will often save weight on clothes rather than camera gear. Some of us recognize ourselves a little too well here.

Your photography level is not the only thing that matters, but it can still help you choose the right travel camera. It is also directly linked to your personal priorities.

If you are a complete beginner and do not feel any particular need to improve your photography, you probably do not need to spend a fortune on a camera you may not want to learn properly.

But you can also be a beginner who genuinely wants to learn, gain experience, and enjoy the process. Maybe you already love photography but have never bought a dedicated camera. Maybe you are tired of automatic mode and want to understand depth of field, shutter speed, ISO, or white balance.

In short, be honest about your current level, but also about what you want to do next.

There are also a few more technical aspects to consider when choosing your travel camera.

Size and weight?

This is a very important point.

Can you see yourself carrying a 1 kg camera body with a lens of roughly the same weight — about 2 kg in your hands or around your neck all day?

Or would you rather have something smaller, lighter, and easier to pull out of a pocket or bag at any moment? What weight would still feel comfortable for the kind of trip you are planning?

Editing your photos afterward?

Post-processing what? If you are not familiar with photo editing, that is perfectly fine. Just ask yourself whether you would enjoy spending time in front of a computer improving your photos.

How do you see it? Do you simply want to take pictures and leave them as they are? Do you really not want to spend time editing photos on a laptop when you get home? Or would you actually enjoy going through your memories and improving them? Maybe you already know what post-processing is and have no problem editing RAW files after the trip.

In any case, your motivation to edit your photos afterward is another useful factor when choosing a travel camera.

These are the main questions to ask yourself before choosing a camera for traveling. If you can already answer them clearly, your decision will be much easier.

Even if this topic often comes up on travel blogs, I wanted to give you a clear overview of the main options available when choosing a camera for a trip. There are many types of cameras, but these are the main ones in my opinion. I’ll go through their main advantages and disadvantages based on the needs we discussed above.

Let’s be clear: for many travelers, a recent premium smartphone can now be enough. Phones have become very impressive for everyday travel photos, especially if you mainly want to share your images online, shoot video, create stories or reels, and keep your setup as light as possible.

That said, a phone is still a phone. It is not always the best tool if you want strong optical zoom, real control over depth of field, comfortable handling, long shooting sessions, large prints, or a more serious photography workflow. But if you want to travel light and keep things simple, these three current models are among the most relevant options to consider today.

A smartphone is best suited to travelers who want the lightest possible option, something that fits in a pocket, and photos that are mainly meant to be shared online or kept as memories. But if you want to print large images, shoot wildlife, work seriously with RAW files, use real telephoto lenses, or genuinely learn photography, a dedicated camera will still give you much more room to grow.

A compact camera is often one of the first dedicated cameras people buy. Its main advantages are lightness, compactness, lower price, ease of use, and discretion. Basic compacts can still work well for everyday photos, and rugged waterproof models remain especially useful for travel, beach days, hiking, snorkeling, or sports vacations.

There is also a whole category of advanced compact cameras that may fit your needs much better than a basic compact. These models offer better image quality, larger sensors, stronger features, and more creative control. For example, here is my selection of the best advanced compact cameras right now.

On the other hand, compact cameras remain limited if you want to shoot specific subjects such as wildlife, create strong background blur, make large prints, or sell photos. Their smaller sensors and fixed lenses can quickly become limiting depending on your goals.

They remain an economical and practical solution for beginners, travelers who want to stay light, or anyone who mainly wants simple photos without building a full camera system. In some situations, a small discreet compact will always be more useful than a large, attention-grabbing camera.

For a rugged travel compact, I personally used the Olympus Tough TG-6 for weekends, short trips, discreet shooting, and underwater use. Today, you should also look at its successor, the OM System Tough TG-7, if you want a tough waterproof compact that is still relevant.

There are also cheaper compact cameras if you simply want a basic model, such as the Nikon Coolpix A100, though models like this are now often difficult to recommend over a recent smartphone. On the higher end, expert compacts such as the Sony RX100 III helped define the category, even if newer versions and other current models are now more relevant.

Depending on what you really want to do with your compact camera, it may sometimes make more sense to use a good smartphone instead.

By the way, if you are interested in traveling with a tough, solid, resistant camera, I suggest reading our complete guide to the best underwater cameras of the moment! Instant cameras can also be a fun way to capture travel moments.

Basic bridge cameras are not especially attractive today. They do offer more comfortable handling than point-and-shoot cameras, and some include advanced options such as PASM modes or RAW format, but they are still limited by their small sensors. Their main advantage is a huge zoom range, which is often more of a marketing argument than a real need. The Nikon P1000 and its 24-3000mm zoom is a good example: impressive, yes, but very few travelers genuinely need that kind of reach. Some models use a shorter range to keep a brighter aperture, such as the Panasonic FZ300 and its 25-600mm f/2.8 equivalent lens, but the sensor remains small.

Advanced bridge cameras, like advanced compacts, often use a larger 1-inch sensor. This is the kind of sensor found in cameras such as the Sony RX100. However, while some compact cameras can use even larger sensors, advanced bridges are usually limited to 1 inch because combining a larger sensor with a very long zoom would make the camera much bigger, heavier, and more expensive, or would force the zoom range to be much shorter.
In this category, you will find cameras such as the Sony RX10, which is high-end and expensive, as well as the Panasonic FZ2500.

Advanced compacts and advanced bridges can still be very good cameras to start with. They offer better image quality than most basic compacts and smartphones, more useful focal ranges, often brighter lenses, decent ergonomics, electronic viewfinders, and manual controls close to what you get on mirrorless cameras or DSLRs. And since you will not be tempted to build a whole lens collection, they can remain very useful travel or everyday cameras even if you later move to a more specialized system.

This is now the most popular type of dedicated camera. While some photographers still defend DSLRs — and they can still make sense in a few cases, especially second-hand — most camera brands have now fully shifted their innovation toward mirrorless systems. In the early years, mirrorless cameras were sometimes seen as lower-end bodies with smaller Micro Four Thirds sensors. They quickly expanded to APS-C, then full frame, and even medium format. At first, people could complain about limited lens ranges, weaker performance than DSLRs, and electronic viewfinders that were not always convincing.
But those days are largely behind us. Today, mirrorless cameras are the best choice in many situations, and I would no longer advise most people entering the world of interchangeable-lens cameras to choose a DSLR over a mirrorless system.

Mirrorless cameras have many advantages: they are often lighter, more compact, quieter, faster, and more advanced for video. Lens ranges have also expanded a lot, especially for Micro Four Thirds, Fujifilm APS-C, Sony E-mount, and now Canon RF and Nikon Z. Prices can be close to DSLR systems, but the second-hand DSLR market can still be attractive if budget is your main priority.

It is still useful to separate mirrorless cameras by sensor size:

• Micro Four Thirds offers good image quality, compact lenses, and a mature lens ecosystem, especially through OM System and Panasonic. It is ideal if you want lightweight gear and long focal lengths without carrying huge lenses. Its limits are mainly low-light performance and very shallow depth of field compared with larger sensors.
• APS-C is probably one of the best compromises for travel. You get very good image quality, smaller lenses than full frame, and more flexibility than Micro Four Thirds in low light and background blur. Fujifilm offers the most complete APS-C ecosystem, while Canon, Nikon, and Sony also have strong APS-C bodies, even if their lens ranges vary depending on the brand.
• Full frame is the most developed high-end format today. Sony started early with mainstream full-frame mirrorless cameras, and Canon, Nikon, Panasonic, Leica, and Sigma have since built serious systems too. Full frame is excellent for image quality, low light, dynamic range, and depth of field, but it also usually means larger, heavier, and more expensive lenses.
• Medium format remains more specialized. Fujifilm has made it more financially accessible than it used to be, but the lenses remain expensive, the systems are less compact, and for most travelers, full frame or APS-C will be more practical.

Mirrorless cameras still have a few downsides compared with DSLRs, especially battery life and sometimes price, but for most travelers today, they are the most balanced and future-proof option.

I would particularly recommend this type of camera to people who want to learn photography without carrying overly heavy equipment. A mirrorless camera is often the best balance between image quality, size, lens choice, and long-term potential. If you want to learn more about mirrorless cameras, here is my full guide.

DSLR cameras are no longer the trendiest choice today, but they can still be very interesting, especially second-hand. For years, they were the obvious travel camera for many people, and they still offer excellent image quality. Of course, buying a DSLR will not magically make you a great photographer either.

Owning a DSLR also means thinking about lenses. You can use native Canon or Nikon lenses, as well as third-party options from brands such as Sigma, Tamron, Samyang, or Rokinon.

I would recommend a DSLR mainly to people who want good image quality, are comfortable changing lenses, and do not mind carrying a larger and heavier setup. Many people buy a DSLR, never read the manual, and spend years shooting in automatic mode. If you do not want to deal with settings, lenses, and extra gear, a compact camera, a smartphone, or a simple mirrorless setup may make more sense.

Today, the main DSLR systems to consider are Canon and Nikon, mostly through the second-hand market. Pentax also still has a place for DSLR enthusiasts, but Sony, Panasonic, Olympus/OM System, and Leica are now mainly associated with mirrorless or compact systems.

In the beginner, amateur, and expert ranges, you will mostly find APS-C DSLR cameras.

Entry-level DSLR bodies can still be interesting if your budget is limited, you want to learn photography, and you find a good second-hand deal. I personally started with a Canon 500D, which is no longer available new.

If you are looking for a beginner camera on the used market, older DSLRs such as the Canon EOS 4000D or the Nikon D3500 can still be affordable ways to learn the basics.

When you become more comfortable, you can move up to older amateur bodies such as the Canon 800D or the Nikon D5600.

If you have a larger budget and want a more advanced DSLR, models like the Canon 80D or the Nikon D7500 remain strong APS-C options, especially if you find them in good condition with the right lens.

Finally, if you clearly have the budget, do not mind the weight, and want to move toward a high-quality DSLR system, you can consider full-frame cameras such as the Canon 5D Mark IV or the Nikon D750. Just keep in mind that, for most buyers today, a recent mirrorless camera will usually be the more future-proof choice.

This is a separate category, but it can still be fun in addition to one of the cameras mentioned above.

The Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 was one of the most popular instant cameras for a very affordable price, although newer Instax models are now available.

An instant camera can be a great gift idea for someone going on vacation. A few years ago, I also chose the Pogo XL GL-10 portable printer, which is no longer sold. The Polaroid Snap Touch then appeared. This kind of camera or printer can be very practical when traveling, especially if you want to give printed pictures to children or people you meet along the way.

That’s it for the main camera types you can consider before a trip. I hope this overview has made things clearer.

To finish this photography article, here are a few suggestions for travel cameras according to budget. This buying guide should ideally be updated regularly, because camera ranges, prices, and availability change quickly.

I have deliberately left smartphones aside here and focused mainly on dedicated cameras: compacts, bridge cameras, mirrorless cameras, and DSLRs. Choosing the right gear can quickly become a headache, so I hope this section will help you identify a few models or categories that can capture beautiful travel images.

If you have a very limited budget, or if you mainly want souvenir photos rather than a more technical photography setup, this category is for you. Under €250, you will usually be choosing between a basic compact camera, a bridge camera, a used camera, or simply using a good smartphone. With this kind of budget, the question “bridge or DSLR?” is not really the main issue anymore.

• Compact: older examples include the Canon Ixus 190 BK and the Sony DSC-HX60B. They are compact, light, easy to carry, and simple to use, but they are now quite dated compared with recent smartphones.
• Bridge: older models such as the Canon SX540 HS or the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ82 offer a longer optical zoom than a compact camera, but they are bulkier and still limited by small sensors.

Once you move out of the very low-budget category, things become more interesting. Around this range, you can start looking at used expert compacts, older mirrorless cameras, beginner mirrorless kits, and sometimes used DSLR kits. The best choice will depend on whether you want the simplicity of an all-in-one camera or the possibility of changing lenses later.

• Compact: the Sony DSC-RX100M2 was an excellent expert compact in its time, with a larger sensor than basic compacts. Today, I would mainly consider it second-hand or compare it with newer RX100 versions.
• Bridge: the Fujifilm Finepix HS50EXR is an older bridge camera known for its zoom and handling, but current buyers should compare it with more recent options or use it only as a second-hand reference.
• Mirrorless: the Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III remains an interesting compact mirrorless body if found at a good price, though newer OM System and Panasonic Micro Four Thirds cameras are now available.
• DSLR: the Nikon D3500 or Canon 4000D can still be affordable second-hand cameras for learning photography, but I would compare them with beginner mirrorless kits before buying new.

Around €1,000, you can start to get genuinely strong travel gear. This is where recent mirrorless cameras, good used full-frame bodies, advanced compacts, and high-quality lenses become realistic options. Low-light performance, autofocus, video quality, and lens choice start to matter much more here. Here are some older examples from the article, but current buyers should also compare them with recent mirrorless models such as Canon EOS R50/R10, Nikon Z50 II, Fujifilm X-M5/X-T30 III, Sony A6100/A6400/A6700, or equivalent kits depending on availability.

• Compact: the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V remains a strong expert compact reference, although newer RX100 and premium compact models may be more relevant today.
• Bridge: the Sony DSC-RX10 line remains one of the best-known advanced bridge options, especially if you want a long zoom without changing lenses.
• Mirrorless: the Sony A7 II + 28-70mm was once a very attractive full-frame starter kit. Today, it is more of a used-market option, while newer APS-C and full-frame mirrorless bodies may be better long-term choices.
• DSLR: the Nikon D7500 or Canon 800D + EF-S 18-55mm F/4-5.6 IS STM can still make sense second-hand, especially if you already have compatible lenses.
  

Above €1,000, almost any carefully chosen camera can deliver very good results. At this level, the real question becomes less “which camera is good?” and more “which system best matches the way I travel and shoot?” You should think about lens size, total kit weight, autofocus, video needs, battery life, weather sealing, and long-term upgrade options.

• Bridge: the Sony DSC-RX10 IV remains one of the most famous advanced bridge cameras, especially for travelers who want a long zoom and strong video features in one body.
• Mirrorless: the Sony Alpha 7S was an important full-frame mirrorless camera, especially for low light and video. Today, if your budget allows it, you should compare it with newer full-frame or APS-C mirrorless models before buying.
• DSLR: the Canon 7D Mark II + 24-105mm f/4 EF L IS II was an excellent APS-C DSLR travel setup, but it is now mainly a second-hand option for people who specifically want a DSLR.

Finally, here are a few tips for buying your camera before a trip:

• Buy your camera in advance: don’t rush online two days before leaving.
• Read the manual: it sounds obvious, but believe me, many people buy a camera and never read more than a few pages.
• Try the camera before buying if possible: in a store, you can at least check the grip, weight, menus, and general feel. It is hard to imagine the weight of a 6D + 24-70mm f/2.8, for example, if you have never held that kind of setup.
• Learn how to use your camera before the trip: there is nothing more frustrating than not knowing what a button does, how to switch modes, or how to set up a long exposure once you are already on location.
• Think about a small backup camera: if you travel with a larger DSLR or mirrorless setup, I strongly recommend also having a small, sturdy compact or smartphone solution for situations where walking around with a big camera is not ideal.
  That’s it for this article. It was a long one, I’ll give you that.

If you have any doubts and need advice on which travel camera to choose, feel free to leave a comment. I’ll be happy to help. You can also read the article on which lenses to choose for a trip. In any case, remember to back up your photos while you are traveling. And if you are quite active or have sports activities planned during your trip, here is a selection of action cameras that could come in handy!

See you soon

Written by Sylvain PONS

I've been passionate about photography since 2010, learning as I went along. Today, I dedicate myself to guiding others in their choice of camera gear and sharing a variety of tips to improve their photography skills.

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