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Ordinary Traveler / Blog / Photography Posts / Best Travel Camera 2021 (Top Cameras For Every Budget)

Best Travel Camera 2021 (Top Cameras For Every Budget)

By Christy Woodrow, Last Modified: January 4, 2021

Best Travel Camera 2019: How To Choose One That's Right For You

These are the best travel cameras of 2021, tested by pro photographers who cover everything from compact cameras to mirrorless and DSLRs for every budget!

In this complete buyer’s guide, we show you how to choose the best compact travel camera for you!
 

Table of Contents

  • Best Travel Camera 2021 (Top Cameras For Every Budget)
  • Best Travel Cameras of 2021
    • Travel Camera Buying Guide: Terminology to Know
    • What to Look for When Buying a Travel Camera
    • Compact Digital Cameras (Point & Shoot) For Travel Photography
    • Best Compact Travel Camera
    • Advanced Compact Digital Cameras (High-End Compact) For Travel Photography
    • Best Advanced Point-and-Shoot Travel Camera 
    • Mirrorless Cameras for Travel Photography
    • Best Mirrorless Travel Camera
    • Digital SLR Cameras for Travel Photography
    • Best DSLR Travel Camera
    • Best Travel Camera Under $500 
    • Best Travel Camera for Underwater Travel Photography

Best Travel Camera 2021 (Top Cameras For Every Budget)

 

While working as a professional travel photographer over the last 10 years, I’ve scoured the internet and tested camera gear in order to find the perfect travel photography kit. 

When readers and members of our Instagram community ask us what camera we use, I always tell them that what works best for us won’t necessarily be the best fit for them. Choosing the best travel camera for 2021 is more about finding one that allows you to shoot the photographs you want.

Finding the best camera for travel photography is different from choosing a professional camera for things like wedding photography and portrait photography, or even just everyday use at home. With so many camera options on the market, it can be a little intimidating when you start your new camera search.

How to Choose the Best Camera for Travel

 

Best Travel Cameras of 2021

There are several types of travel cameras on the market (Point and Shoot, Advanced Compact Cameras, DSLR, Mirrorless) and each one has its own list of benefits. First, and most importantly, you should consider what is most important to you – size, weight, price, ease of use, etc. Below, I’ve listed the benefits and limitations of each type of camera as well as the top cameras in each of those categories.
 

Travel Camera Buying Guide: Terminology to Know

 
Sensor Size
When it comes to sensor, the larger the size the more light it can capture. Sensor size is especially important when considering whether you’ll be taking a lot of low light shots, as if it has a small sensor size you’ll generally get a grainy photo.

For example, smart phones usually have a very small sensor size, and thus tend to not take awesome low-light pictures. Sensor sizes tend to increase as the size of the camera does, and in the DSLR realm, the sensitivity is measured as ISO.

Aperture
The aperture controls the brightness of an image, and the number that correlates to it refers to the size of the hole that lets light into the sensor. Apertures are shows as f-numbers (for example, f/2.8, f/4, etc.), and the larger the number, the smaller the hole.

Generally speaking, if you’ll be shooting in low-light, look for smaller numbers, as these will let more light into the sensor.

Megapixels
The megapixel number on your camera refers to the size of image the camera can produce. One megapixel means one million pixels, and as the number goes higher you’ll get clearer resolution in your photos. This is especially important if you plan on making prints.

While megapixels are important, if you truly want excellent-quality photos then be sure to take into account sensor size and aperture as well.

Optical & Digital Zoom
With point and shoot cameras, zooming in on faraway objects with your optical zoom essentially allows you to magnify the image and make the objects in the frame appear closer without reducing quality. So, if you have 8x optical zoom option, that means you can make object appear 8x larger in the frame.

Digital zoom, on the other hand, is when your camera zooms in on a frame and crops what isn’t shown on your screen. This only reduces the quality of the image, so steer clear.

Focal Length
When picking out a lens for your DSLR, focal length refers to optical zoom, and is the distance between the sensor and the lens when the subject is in focus. Measured in millimeters, a lower focal length means the lens can be used for wider shots.

EIS/OIS
EIS (Electronic Image Stabilization) and OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) are image stabilizers that correct small movements when taking a photo and eliminate blur.  OIS is great for improving low light photography, while EIS is primarily a video stabilizer.

 

What to Look for When Buying a Travel Camera

 
Ergonomics & Navigability
Before you purchase, think about your travel habits and what features will suit your needs. Do you need a small, light camera for easy shots, or are you looking for a more professional DSLR? Comfort, size, and weight of the camera will all factor into this. Also consider if the camera is easily navigable, and if it has easy accessibility to common functions.

WiFi
What about your WiFi needs? If you’re someone who likes to import straight to your smartphone or computer after you’ve taken a shot, then purchasing a camera with WiFi capabilities will be handy.

Lens Selection
Also consider the lens selection that your camera can support, as you won’t be able to swap out different brand’s lenses due to the unique mounts. Most of the main lines will have many of the same lens options, but it’s something to look into if you have specific requirements.

Video
Almost all cameras on the market today shoot video, but there are certain aspects to pay attention to depending on what quality you’d like to achieve. Frame rate is the most important, with 24 – 30 frames per second being in a normal range, while up to 60fps will give you smoother playback.

How to Choose the Best Travel Camera

 

Compact Digital Cameras (Point & Shoot) For Travel Photography

If your main concern is price, weight, and purchasing a travel camera that is easy to use, then you will want to look at purchasing a Compact Digital Camera. This type of camera won’t weigh down your luggage and it will easily fit in a small backpack or purse.

Compact Digital Cameras are perfect if you don’t want to be hassled with too many controls and you want the least expensive option. Nowadays, you can still find a Point and Shoot camera that takes great photos. That’s not to say you should pick just any Point and Shoot because they are not all created equal. Here are the best compact travel cameras under $450.

 

Best Compact Travel Camera

 

Best Travel Cameras - Canon PowerShot SX720

Canon PowerShot SX720 – Check Prices Here 

Details: Built-in Wifi, 20.3 megapixel, 40x optical zoom, 3″ LCD, 1080p Full HD video

 

Best Travel Cameras - Canon PowerShot G9 X

Canon PowerShot G9 X – Check Prices Here 

Details: 20.2 megapixel, outstanding low light performance, 12,800 ISO, ultra slim, 1080p Full HD video

 

Advanced Compact Digital Cameras (High-End Compact) For Travel Photography

Advanced Compact Digital Cameras are similar to Point and Shoot cameras, but they come with a few more bells and whistles. They are the high end of compact cameras with built-in lenses.

Advanced Compact Cameras are similar in size to the above mentioned ones and they offer full manual mode in addition to auto mode. (Note: Both of the cameras listed in the above section offer manual mode as well.) They also usually have the ability to capture photos in RAW format — which is important if you plan to make any edits to your photos once you upload them to your computer.

These cameras tend to be slightly more expensive than the regular compact cameras, but less expensive than DSLR or mirrorless cameras. See below for the best point-and-shoot travel cameras.

Best Compact Cameras for Travel

 

Best Advanced Point-and-Shoot Travel Camera 

 

Best Compact Travel Cameras - Canon G7 X Mark II

Canon G7 X Mark II – Check Prices Here

Details: Built-in wifi, 13.1 megapixel, full manual mode option, captures RAW & JPG, ISO 100-12800, 24-120mm equivalent F2-3.9 lens. We’ve used the Canon G series for over 7 years now and absolutely love this line of cameras! It’s perfect for those times when we don’t want to lug around our heavier equipment. This camera is also comes highly recommended for video!

 

Best Travel Cameras of 2020 (And How To Choose One)

Panasonic Lumix FZ1000 – Check Prices Here

Details: 21.1 megapixels, 4K video, Leica 16X f2.8-4.0 zoom lens. We own a mirrorless Panasonic camera and have been very happy with its performance. Panasonic gets great reviews for their compact and mirrorless models.

 

Best Travel Cameras of 2020 (And How To Choose One)

Sony RX100 III – Check Prices Here

Details: 20.9 megapixels, 24-70mm equivalent F/1.8-2.8 lens, continuous shooting up to 10 FPS, ISO 160-12800. Sony has come a long way with their camera technology in the past few years. Their mirrorless cameras are extremely popular and this has many of the features that people have come to love with those (like low noise at high ISO) at a more affordable price.  

 

Mirrorless Cameras for Travel Photography

If image quality, size, and weight is the most important factor, you will want to look at purchasing a mirrorless camera.

What is a mirrorless camera, you ask? Unlike a Digital SLR, this type of camera does not have a mirror reflex optical viewfinder — hence, the name mirrorless.  This type of camera is perfect for people who still want an interchangeable lens without the weight of a DSLR.

Another plus for mirrorless is the electronic viewfinders because you can view the real-time effect of aperture and ISO adjustments, unlike a DSLR. If you want to take some of the guesswork out of your photography, then mirrorless is the way to go. Below, you’ll find our recommendations for the best mirrorless travel cameras.

How to Choose the Best Travel Camera

 

Best Mirrorless Travel Camera

 

Best Mirrorless Camera for Travel - Sony A7II

Sony A7 II – Check Prices Here

Details: 24.3 megapixels, enhanced fast hybrid AF and 5 fps burst, world’s first 5-axis in-body image stabilization in a full-frame camera, ISO 100-25600. Almost every travel photographer I know that owns a mirrorless either has the Sony A7 or the Fuji X-T1 (below). The A7 II touts a 30% faster auto focus than the older version. If you are considering purchasing this camera, read our full review of the Sony A7ii here.

You can get the A7 II body for about $1298 new or buy it with a 28-70mm lens for just a few hundred dollars more. If faster auto focus or in-camera image stabilization is not as important to you, the slightly older version (Sony A7) is a fraction of the price.

 

Best Mirrorless Travel Camera Fuji XT-3

Fuji X-T3 – Check Prices Here

Details: 26.1 megapixels, water and dust resistant, up to 20 FPS continuous shooting, 3″ tiltable LCD. Travelers love this camera. It’s lightweight and takes amazing photos. Purchasing the Fuji X-T1 with the 18-135mm lens makes this the ultimate travel camera.

 

Digital SLR Cameras for Travel Photography

Mirrorless cameras have come a long way and many photographers have decided to ditch their bulky DSLR cameras for this lighter option — including me!

DSLR cameras are better suited for sports, wildlife, and other types of action photography. If these types of photography don’t interest you, then you will probably be fine with a mirrorless. I often travel to photograph wildlife and I need a capable zoom lens, which is why I hesitated about switching completely to mirrorless.

However, there are a few zoom lens options out there for mirrorless cameras, just not as many. I currently use the Sony 70-200mm with my Sony a7ii and it gets the job done in most cases. I opted for the F4 instead of the Sony 70-200mm F2.8 in order to keep my kit light.

Choosing a DSLR means you will have more lens options, faster focus (although mirrorless is following close behind), and a slightly longer battery life. Eventually, I’m sure DSLR cameras will become obsolete, but we are still a little way off from mirrorless replacing traditional DSLR cameras entirely.

How to Choose the Best Camera for Travel Photography

 

Best DSLR Travel Camera

The following DSLR camera is great for entry level or intermediate photographers who still want the benefits of more lens selection, longer battery life, great low light capabilities, and faster focus.

 

Best DSLR Cameras for Travel Photography

Canon Rebel T7i – Check Prices Here

Details: 24.2 megapixels, compact, 3″ touch panel LCD, ISO 100-25600. I’m a huge fan of Canon Rebels. I have owned two Rebels over the years and the only reason I upgraded to a Mark II was because I wanted a full frame camera. For the average photographer, a Canon Rebel is a wonderful camera. The Rebel T7i is as small as DSLR cameras come and it’s extremely affordable.

 

Best Travel Camera Under $500 

 

Best Travel Cameras of 2020 (And How To Choose One)

Canon Rebel T6 With 18-55mm Lens – Check Prices Here

Details: DSLR with 18 megapixel, continuous shooting up to 5 fps, ISO 100 – 12,800, and multi shot noise reduction. The kit listed here comes with a 18-55mm lens, (2) 32 GB memory cards and tons of accessories. This is a great deal for under $500!

 

Best Travel Cameras of 2020 (And How To Choose One)

Nikon D3400 With 18-55mm Lens – Check Prices Here

Details: 24.2MP DX-Format CMOS Sensor,  Wifi & Eye-Fi Compatible, ISO 100-25,600, Continuous shooting up to 5 fps, and Snapbridge Bluetooth Connectivity. This camera is a steal for $417!

 

Best Travel Camera for Underwater Travel Photography

This post wouldn’t be complete if I didn’t mention underwater photography. If you are anything like us, then you love to play in any body of water and who doesn’t want to get the best underwater photos on vacation?

We’ve tried a handful of point and shoot underwater cameras, which have taken decent photos, but ever since GoPro came out with their Hero6 Black with LCD screen, this is now our favorite underwater camera for travel. The issues I had with their previous versions (fogging, no LCD screen, ultra wide angle lens) have all been fixed on the Hero 5 & 6. It’s great for action selfies on land too!

Best Travel Cameras of 2020 (And How To Choose One)

 

More Travel Photography Resources:

How to Take Amazing Photos as a Solo Traveler

Best Compact Camera: The Complete Buying Guide

The Best Camera Lenses for Travel Photography

The Best Carry-On Luggage (For Every Type of Traveler)

Sony a7II: Why I Love This Camera for Travel Photography

The Best Cameras for Hiking & Backpacking

The Ultimate Packing Guide for Travel Photographers

20 Travel Photography Tips You Need To Know

 

About Christy Woodrow

Christy Woodrow is a travel photographer and professional blogger based in San Diego. She has been traveling around the world with her partner, Scott, since 2006. Join them in their quest to find off-the-beaten-path destinations by signing up for weekly emails. You can read more about her on our about page.

Filed Under: Photography Posts

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Elizabeth Higgins says

    This is such an informative post, Christy and Scott! I am in the market for a new camera as my old one broke. Well, it really is not as modern and we have used it for years; guess it just really is time to let it go and buy a new one. Thanks for sharing, we’d definitely be looking into these cameras.

    Reply
    • Ordinary Traveler says

      So happy to hear the post was helpful! Congrats on your new camera purchase. 🙂 It’s so fun getting new equipment!

      Reply
  2. Jamie DeMonaco says

    Hello,
    Thank you very much for this post; I found it helpful. Can you recommend a camera for me? I was thinking of finally upgrading my cell phone so that I would have a better camera on hand but I am not pleased with the clarity once I zoom in on many cell phone pics. I am looking for a travel camera that takes great nature photos (I love to photograph flowers, trees, nature walks, insects, kayaking, etc) but will also need to take pictures of active children and animals (limited lag) in all light settings. I do not plan to purchase a camera in which I would interchange lenses. Preferably a lightweight camera that I can carry in my purse. Preferably no more than the $400-$500 range but I am open to something that works best for my needs listed above. I greatly appreciate your input.

    Reply
  3. Ima Block says

    How about Nikkon DS5300? is it good for travel and selfie?

    Reply
    • Ordinary Traveler says

      That is a decent camera! I included the Nikon D3300 in another post with my top cameras for 2017 https://ordinarytraveler.com/best-travel-cameras-2017 .

      Reply
  4. Ordinary Traveler says

    Thank you!

    Reply
  5. Sarah Saxon says

    Absolutely love this post! Thank you. I’ve spent the last few weeks drowning in information and agonising over which camera will be the best for me. As a complete beginner who wants to capture great images but wouldn’t have the slightest idea where to start with changeable lens this guide is ideal. I think I’ve decided on a bridge camera – the Canon PowerShot SX60 which I think is similar to the SX720 you’ve mentioned in this article!

    Reply
    • Ordinary Traveler says

      That’s so great to hear! What made you choose the SX60 over the 720?

      Reply
      • Sarah Saxon says

        Mainly recommendation, I know quite a few people who have (or have had) the SX60 and they basically said that for the extra £70-100 it was worth it. I want it mainly for a safari I have planned later this year too so I think the better zoom on the SX60 may come in handy!

        Reply
  6. ExpertBond says

    oh! after 3 hours wasting I have found some best travel camera review. I will buy Sony A7 ii . What is your recommendation about that?

    Reply
    • Ordinary Traveler says

      I love the Sony A7ii! I upgraded from my Canon 5D Mark II last year and wrote a full review here: http://ordinarytraveler.com/articles/sony-a7ii-mirrorless-camera

      Reply
  7. Piotr Kulczycki says

    This is a great post! But you should include also smartphones. They are great for travel.

    Reply

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