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A good camera can be an indispensable travel companion, letting you capture your adventures abroad to share with friends and family. For many, the best digital camera for travel isthe one you've already got in your pocket—your smartphone. If you want to step up your photography game, however, there are plenty of great cameras out there that won't take up too much space in your luggage. While it can be hard to narrow them down, it's important to consider things like portability, battery life, build quality, your own ergonomic preferences, and, of course, your budget.
We've boughtover 105cameras, and below, you'll find the best travel cameras we've tested. If you're specifically looking for a point-and-shoot camera, check out the best compact cameras for travel instead. Or, if you're interested in capturing beautiful landscapes on your travels, the best cameras for landscape photography might also be of interest. Travel vloggers can also look at our top vlogging picks.
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Best Camera For Travel
OM SYSTEM OM-5 0
Travel Photography
7.5
Landscape Photography
7.6
Sport & Wildlife Photography
7.4
Raw Photo Performance
7.5
Vlogging
8.6
Studio Video
8.0
Action Video
5.9
Body Type
SLR-StyleMirrorless
YesSensor Size
4/3 (MFT)See all our test results
The OM SYSTEM OM-5 is the best digital camera for travel that you can get. As part of the Micro Four Thirds (MFT) system, it offers a balanced mix of portability, ruggedness,and imagequality. Though it isn't as heavy-duty as higher-end models like the OM SYSTEM OM-1 Mark II or the older Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III, it has a more compact body that makes it better for travel. Plus, it'scompatible witha wide selection of portable MFTlenses that willkeep the overall size of your kit down.
Beyond its relatively small size, the camera is weather-sealed and feels well-built overall. Ithas an excellent five-axis in-body image stabilization (IBIS) system, which canhelp you get steadier shots at slower shutter speeds or while recording vlogs. That said, the OM-5doesn't have the longest battery life, so you might have to pick upa spare battery for long days on the go, but overall, this is an excellent travel camera for the price.If you want to save even more money, the older Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III is nearly identical and can be found for less if you buy used, though it uses an older processor and lacks some extra features like 'Live ND' mode.
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Best Full Frame Camera For Travel
Sony α7C II 1
Travel Photography
8.5
Landscape Photography
8.5
Sport & Wildlife Photography
8.3
Raw Photo Performance
8.5
Vlogging
8.2
Studio Video
8.9
Action Video
6.3
Body Type
SLR-StyleMirrorless
YesSensor Size
Full FrameSee all our test results
If image quality is your top priority, the Sony α7C II is one of the best cameras for travel photography you can buy. It's one of the few full-frame cameras on the market that boasts such a compact size. While it's still the largest option on this list, and full-frame lenses are typically larger, it's impressive how compact Sony made this camera while including features like IBIS and a fully articulated screen.
The real star here, of course, is the camera's high-resolution full-frame sensor, which has plenty of dynamic range and great noise handling in trickier lighting conditions. On top of that, the camera has a fantastic battery life and a sturdy, weather-sealed body. That said, its ergonomics leave a little to be desired, particularly when shooting through the tiny viewfinder. If you want to save some money, the original Sony α7C is practically a bargain now, though the new model is more well-rounded, with better video features and a higher-resolution sensor.
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Best Mid-Range Camera For Travel
Fujifilm X-T30 II 0
Travel Photography
7.8
Landscape Photography
7.8
Sport & Wildlife Photography
7.1
Raw Photo Performance
7.7
Vlogging
6.5
Studio Video
7.4
Action Video
5.8
Body Type
SLR-StyleMirrorless
YesSensor Size
APS-CSee all our test results
If you can do without IBIS and want something a bit more affordable, the Fujifilm X-T30 II is a great mid-range option. It uses an APS-C sensor and has a portable, lightweight body that's ideal for traveling. While itlacks more premium features like weather-sealing and advanced video specs, it's still a relatively sturdy camera, and its dedicated exposure dials give you more hands-on control over camera settings.
Aside from its portability, theX-T30 IIusesa relativelyhigh-resolution APS-C sensor that delivers excellent image quality straight out of the camera. Film simulation profiles make the camera a blast to shoot with and let you change up thelook of your photos without having to do any post-processing. On top of that, the camerahas a decent autofocus system and a relatively long-lasting battery, making it an excellent travel camera for the price. If you can stretch your budget, its successor, the Fujifilm X-T50, offers better video features, IBIS, and a higher-resolution sensor, but it's also significantly more expensive.
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Best Budget Camera For Travel
Travel Photography
7.6
Landscape Photography
7.6
Sport & Wildlife Photography
7.4
Raw Photo Performance
7.4
Vlogging
7.6
Studio Video
7.1
Action Video
4.7
Body Type
SLR-StyleMirrorless
YesSensor Size
4/3 (MFT)See all our test results
The Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV is one of the best budget cameras we've tested for travel. Like the higher-end OM SYSTEM OM-5 above, it uses a Micro Four Thirds sensor, making for a remarkably portable camera kit with plenty of lightweight and affordable lens options. It's also a great choice for beginners, thanks to simple controls and easy-to-use creative shooting modes.
This is also one of the only cameras at this price point to feature IBIS, which can help capture handheld images at slower shutter speeds and comes in handy for stabilizing videos and vlogs. That said, this isstill an entry-level model, so it doesn't have the greatest build quality. Its autofocus system can also be sluggish with faster subjects. If you'd prefer a camera with a more reliable autofocus system, the Canon EOS R50 is an amazing alternative and comes a bit cheaper. However, its lens options are more limited, and it's less portable overall.
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Best Point-And-Shoot Camera For Travel
Sony RX100 VII 0
Travel Photography
7.3
Landscape Photography
6.8
Sport & Wildlife Photography
7.2
Raw Photo Performance
6.3
Vlogging
7.3
Studio Video
6.8
Action Video
5.2
Body Type
Point and ShootMirrorless
YesSensor Size
1-inchSee all our test results
A premium point-and-shoot is the way to go if you need something compact but more capable than your smartphone camera. The Sony RX100 VII has been going strong for several iterations, and for good reason. This latest model uses a stacked 1-inch sensor, so image quality is very solid for its class. It's also one of the few cameras that's actually pocketable, so you can bring it with you wherever your travels take you, and its built-in lens has a fairly long zoom range that's great for travel snapshots of everything from landscapes to far-away subjects.
Be aware that compact cameras like this have a limited battery life, though you can always bring a spare battery or a portable battery pack to charge it on the go. The RICOH GR IIIis agreat alternativeif you want a more minimalist camera. Itdoesn't have a viewfinder, and its fixed focal length lens is less versatile than the zoom lens on the Sony. However, it has a larger APS-C sensor that delivers excellent image quality and is better suited to low-light situations. On the other hand, if you're looking for something cheaper, you can still find older generations of the RX100 on eBay and other used camera retailers.
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Best Vlogging Camera For Travel
Sony ZV-1 0
Travel Photography
7.4
Landscape Photography
7.1
Sport & Wildlife Photography
7.3
Raw Photo Performance
6.5
Vlogging
7.8
Studio Video
6.8
Action Video
5.2
Body Type
Point and ShootMirrorless
YesSensor Size
1-inchSee all our test results
If you prefer to vlog about your travels rather than photograph them, try the Sony ZV-1. Like theSony RX100 VII above, it uses a 1-inch type sensor, performing similarlywhen it comes toimage quality and autofocus,but it has a different design, with no viewfinder and a shorter zoom range. On the flip side, it's one of the only compact cameras to featurea fully articulated screen that's ideal for recording yourself.Plus, it hasa better built-inmic than most point-and-shoots, complete with a detachable windscreen to cut down on wind noise while recording.
If you prefer a wider field of view, consider getting the newer Sony ZV-1 II, which has a new wide-angle lens that's a good fit forwalk-and-talk vlogs. The cameraperforms similarly otherwise, but Sony also removed optical stabilization from its lens. For that reason, and because of its price, the original ZV-1 is a better dealfor most travel vloggers and one of the best video cameras for travel if you need something compact.
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Recent Updates
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Aug 29, 2024: We replaced the Fujifilm X100V with the Fujifilm X100VI as a Notable Mention and added a comparison to the Fujifilm X-T50 in our discussion of the Fujifilm X-T30 II.
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Jul 04, 2024: We added the RICOH GR IIIx to the Notable Mentions as another option for those looking for a minimalist compact camera.
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Jun 04, 2024: We brushed up some of the text in the article for clarity and reviewed the picks to ensure they're still current.
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May 08, 2024: We reviewed the cameras included in the article, including their price and availability, to ensure the article is up to date and adequately meets user needs.
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Apr 10, 2024: We've replaced the Sony α7C with the Sony α7C II because it's more widely available and offers some advantages for video work. We also removed the Sony ZV-1 from the Notable Mentions, making it the 'Best Vlogging Camera For Travel.' Finally, we added the Nikon Z f to the Notable Mentions.
All Reviews
Our recommendations aboveare what we think are currently the top travel cameras for most people, according to their needs. We factor in the price, feedback from our visitors, and availability (no cameras that are difficult to findor almostout of stock in the U.S.).
If you'd like to choose foryourself, here's the list of all of ourcamera reviews, ranked by their suitability for travel photography. Be careful not togetcaught up in the details. There is no single perfect camera. Personal taste, preference, and shooting habits will matter more in your selection.
