As travelers, we can agree that one of the best things to do is keeping track of the places you’ve been to and the people you’ve met. Taking pictures is one of the best ways to do it. With these best digital cameras for travel, you’re not only taking photographs but also saving them in their best quality.
Balancing quality and price is key when picking the best digital cameras for traveling. In this article, we’ll look into some key points to having the best tool to take your travel photos. For that, we selected the best digital camera deals from some top digital camera brands. Not only do we pick the overall best that will generally please all types of travelers, but we also break down each product based on its strength. First, we have the best value-for-money camera (Nikon D3500). It’s not always the cheapest, but the most affordable yet, with all the top features you’d like in a digital camera. On the other hand, those who don’t mind spending more should go for one with the best image quality camera (GoPro Hero 11). Besides those two, we awarded a couple more: most compact and most versatile. Let’s find out!
Table of contents
- Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-W800 Digital Camera
- Kodak Smile Instant Print Digital Camera
- Olympus PEN E-PL10
- Panasonic Lumix G85 Mirrorless Digital Camera
- Nikon D3500
- Canon PowerShot G9 X Mark II
- Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III
- GoPro Hero11
- Sony a7 III Mirrorless Camera
- Fujifilm X-T2000 Mirrorless Digital Camera
- Panasonic G7
- GoPro Hero9
- Canon EOS 5D Mark IV Full Frame DSLR Camera
- Our Verdict!
- How To Choose The Best Digital Cameras for Travel
- Which camera is best for tourism?
- Is DSLR good for travel?
- Should I stay with DSLR or go mirrorless?
Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-W800 Digital Camera
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Producing attractive images with great details, the Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-W800 Digital Camera can be easily considered one of the best digital cameras for travel. When you turn this small beast on, the lens telescope out of the front. That is not just for the eyes; it houses the 5x-zoom that’s more than good enough to capture photos from a distance.
Everything you shoot will be securely saved in an SD card, which is sold separately. The slot is right next to the slim battery, keeping things neat on the slim theme. Space is not the only thing you’re saving, but also money. With a less-than-100-USD price tag, this is one of the best cameras on the budget out there.
Pros
- It shoots 20.1MP images through 5x optical zoom
- It produces intense color and detail even for such a compact camera
- With the right setting, it can perform really well in bright light
Cons
- This camera is not so good for shooting moving objects into still images
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Kodak Smile Instant Print Digital Camera
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The Most Compact. Another one on the cheaper – but not lacking in quality – side is Kodak Smile Instant Print Digital Camera. It’s considered not only the best one but also one of the better instant print cameras. That’s right; you get to print your images just seconds after you push the shutter.
Unlike most cheap instant cameras, this one lets you pick from the stored images on the microSD card. In other words, you don’t have to print every photo you take. On top of that, we also like this camera’s slide-to-open mechanism, which is excellent when you have to take a photo in a hurry. With Kodak Smile Instant Print Digital Camera, we never worry about not capturing the passing alpacas on the streets of Peru. Read a more detailed review of Kodak Smile by Gadget Review here.
Pros
- This camera lets you print out your images on Zink paper instantly
- Or save them for later as it’s equipped with microSD card file storage
- It comes with a slide-to-open mechanism, making it very easy to use
Cons
- For a digital camera, the startup is rather slow
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Olympus PEN E-PL10
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Are you planning to start a travel vlog? Read closely! Because we got the perfect tool for you: Olympus PEN E-PL10. This digital camera comes with a 180-degree selfie/vlogging screen, which flips two ways. It will automatically switch to Selfie Mode when the screen is flipped down, which is super convenient.
Not only is this the tool to make you look good on screen, but the camera itself is also pretty. It has a simple, chic design, a clean, sophisticated look, and a leather texture finish. Ready to record your activities and upload them to YouTube in crystal-clear quality?
Pros
- The Intuitive Touch AF Shutter focuses and shoots with a single touch of the screen
- It has a compact and lightweight construction
- Though it’s categorized as a camera for beginners, it comes with a 4K recording
Cons
- It doesn’t come with a viewfinder
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Panasonic Lumix G85 Mirrorless Digital Camera
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Like Sony, Panasonic makes a wide range of consumer and commercial-grade electronics. When it comes to cameras, this brand has a name for making great digital cameras and cinema-quality video cameras. Nowadays, you can easily find an exciting range of full-frame DSLRs and cropped-sensor digital cameras under the Lumix banner. One of them is the Panasonic Lumix G85 Mirrorless Digital Camera.
This mirrorless model comes with interchangeable lenses like a DSLR but with half the bulk! It’s the perfect transitional camera with enough features to start shooting light and fast without too much manual clutter. Among all of its features, we fancy its dual image stabilization. See how it’s compared to its peers in this first impression review of G85.
Pros
- You can get a crystal-clear 4K video with a handheld shot, even in the darkest settings
- It records 4K videos like a pro with true-to-life photo details
- The dual image stabilization lets you shoot moving objects – or while you’re moving – so well!
Cons
- The settings and features can intimidate some beginners
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Nikon D3500
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Best Value for Money. Like Fuji and Canon, Nikon has been in the business of making cameras for decades. As a brand loved by many and considered the best digital camera brand globally, it makes a vast range of pro-level DSLR cameras. On top of that, many third-party companies also make excellent lenses to pair with a Nikon camera.
Among the excellent products Nikon offers, nothing can beat the Nikon D3500. This impressive DSLR camera has a 24.2MP sensor that’s as good as those that cost twice the price. This feature translates to remarkable image quality. One look at your photos, and your followers will think professionals do them!
Pros
- This Nikon’s entry-level camera is not just affordable but also lightweight, compact, and boasts tons of fantastic features
- It’s equipped with a 5fps continuous shooting speed, which is superb for novices
- It comes with a Guide Mode that can help beginners get started and understand the basic principles of photography
Cons
- You may find the LCD screen not so touch-sensitive
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Canon PowerShot G9 X Mark II
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What we love most from Canon PowerShot G9 X Mark II is its fast capture feature. As advertised, all you need to do is point and shoot. This will come in handy when you have to take photos in a hurry, which is almost always the case when traveling.
Professionals worry not. This camera also has manual photo settings. But for newbies, the 8 built-in presets will most probably be enough. Overall, it’s a good choice for those looking for a starter camera with just a few quality controls to master.
Pros
- The 8 built-in presets allow fast, good-quality captures
- Features like autofocus, time-lapse, and 3x optical zoom will give you enough to play with so that you won’t feel too restricted
- With its Bluetooth-enabled feature, you can share your images wirelessly over to the Camera Connect App
- It’s slim, it’s lightweight, and it looks stylish. What more can you ask?
Cons
- The price is not that cheap for a small digital camera
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Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III
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If you’re looking for the best lightweight camera for travel with excellent image quality and interchangeable lenses, then the OM-D E-M1 Mark III from Olympus is perfect. This compact mirrorless camera packs more zoom in less space, making it ideal for wildlife photography. Not to mention its best feature is the space-saving, best-in-class stabilization system. It allows you to take six-second-long handheld shots, so you don’t have to lug your travel tripod everywhere. With some famous tourist attractions not allowing tripods, it’s a huge plus.
A 20-MP sensor captures brilliant photos in most conditions. Combine that with the built-in neutral density filters, and you get long-range exposures, like water body shots such as a beach or a waterfall, that come out wonderfully. Plus, the camera also features cinema 4K video, accurate and fast autofocus, boasting an overall good performance.
Pros
- There’s a handheld mode that boosts the res to 50 MP for stationary objects
- It features cinema 4K video, accurate and fast autofocus, boasting an overall good performance
- Its compact, weather-proof body is the traveler’s best friend
Cons
- Its video features and low-light capabilities are not as great as other cameras
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GoPro Hero11
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Best Image Quality. If what you’re after is an action camera, the go-to brand is, obviously, GoPro! Action cameras have recently enjoyed popularity, thanks to the trend of posting content to platforms such as YouTube. In case you didn’t know, GoPro makes a small but reliable selection of compact action cameras ideal for outdoor sports like kayaking, skiing, and climbing. But even if you’re not action-oriented, it can make a perfect travel camera that shoots 4K video.
The latest GoPro range is the best, but it’s also the most expensive. Introducing the GoPro Hero11. Needless to say, it’s equipped with all of GoPro’s latest technology, from the Emmy award-winning HyperSmooth stabilization to pro-quality 5.3K video. Overall, it’s GoPro’s ultimate action camera that has got even better!
Pros
- It comes with the Hypersmooth 5.0 video stabilization system
- One battery charge lets you record up to 4 hours of recording
- With a GoPro subscription (which is not included), you can have unlimited cloud backup and upload
- Read the full specs on GoPro official website.
Cons
- The latest product is (almost) always the most expensive
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Sony a7 III Mirrorless Camera
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Sony is well known for developing all kinds of high-tech devices. From stereos to PlayStations, you name it. Of course, it makes exceptional cameras too. The brand’s selection of powerful full-frame mirrorless digital cameras delivers incredible image quality.
One of the best digital cameras for travel it has ever made is the Sony a7 III Mirrorless Camera. Despite being the company’s entry-level camera, it’s still the model that has caused many waves in the camera industry since its first release. Featuring Sony 24.2MP BSI full-frame image sensor, this camera can produce sharp, vivid, and contrasty images with tons of dynamic range.
Pros
- If you’re someone who appreciates the ability to shoot silently, you’ll be thrilled to know that there’s a Silent Shutter Mode
- It allows you to shoot more than 1,700 photos on just one battery
- With dual SD card slots, save as many photos from your upcoming trip!
Cons
- The menu can be a bit confusing for beginners
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Fujifilm X-T2000 Mirrorless Digital Camera
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It’s funny to think that most people still relate Fujifilm to old-school cameras. While it’s true, this brand is also the creator of some excellent cameras. This brand creates a range of premium compacts and highly acclaimed digital cameras. Unlike some brands, it doesn’t make full-frame cameras. Instead, it invests heavily in APS-C sensors that are smaller but arguably just as good.
Speaking of which, you should give the Fujifilm X-T20 Mirrorless Digital Camera a look. This camera looks and feels like an old-school camera, but its features are far from old. Featuring an electronic viewfinder, you can use this camera to shoot 4K video as well as 24MP stills.
Pros
- It has a big 3.5-inch Vari-angle touchscreen with twice the resolution of most rivals
- The 1:6 aspect ratio perfectly suits video capturing
- It’s lightweight and compact, perfect for travelers
Cons
- It tends to overheat when shooting video
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Panasonic G7
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The Most Versatile. Panasonic G7 is one of the best digital camera deals for travelers for many reasons, but mainly because of two words: 4K images. Whether to catch a rainbow over a stormy desert or a horse running through the meadow, this camera can make a quick yet precise burst shot so you won’t miss a thing.
Among similar cameras from its competitor such as Canon and Nikon, Panasonic G7 is the cheapest. This is quite hard to believe since it’s equipped with everything a professional photographer and video maker needs: flash mount, extendable microphone, and of course, a high-quality result.
Pros
- It comes with a 16-megapixel sensor for 4K video recording
- The fold-out display makes it easy to take photos from different angles, even a selfie!
- It’s compatible with many lens types and options, so professional photographers can upgrade to adjust to their style and purpose
Cons
- When recording continuously, the battery will last only a couple of hours. This is the only thing that stands in its way of sitting on top of our list of best cameras for video recording.
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GoPro Hero9
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GoPro Hero9 may not be the latest or the best of its series. But we still prefer this one for its cheaper price tag but not-so-much-lower standard compared to its successors. The key feature of this model is the 20MP stills capability and a 5K video shooting. That’s right, 5K instead of the standard 4K from other best digital cameras for travel or any other means.
On top of that, the Hypersmooth 3.0 video stabilization system unique to this model is unbeatably smooth. When we say smooth, we mean as smooth as slow-motion shots of a professional surfer riding the waves of the Australian Gold Coast. Make your content even smoother by equipping your camera with the best GoPro accessories!
Pros
- The front-facing color LCD screen allows you to frame yourself while vlogging
- The Hypersmooth 3.0 video stabilization system is what you’ll fall in love with
- It’s bigger than its previous models, making it somewhat easier to hold or mount
Cons
- This camera is not compatible with older type batteries
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Canon EOS 5D Mark IV Full Frame DSLR Camera
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Who would be surprised to see Canon on top of our list of the best digital cameras for travel? Founded back in 1937, this brand is most known for its high-quality DSLRs and DSLR lens lineup. Apart from that, it was the first company to include a micro-computer in a camera, the first company to produce a camera with eye-controlled AF, and the first company to produce an image-stabilized lens available to the masses. With all of its accolades, there’s no wonder it’s seen by many as one of the, if not the best digital camera brand in the world.
One of its best digital cameras for traveling is none other than the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV Full Frame DSLR Camera. We love the wide dynamic range that creates high-quality videos when combined with the 4K mode. And when it comes to more versatile shooting, the 7.0fps continuous shooting speed guarantees every moment to be captured in perfection! Watch it reviewed by Tech Through the Lens on YouTube.
Pros
- It’s Canon’s flagship full-frame camera that offers everything you possibly need
- This high-end model features a 30.4MP full-frame CMOS sensor
- You can use the EOS Utility Camera Beta Software to turn this camera into a high-quality webcam
Cons
- With excellent features comes a high-end price tag. But you get what you pay for
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Our Verdict!
Some of you may think our overall best, Canon EOS 5D Mark IV Full Frame DSLR Camera, among the best digital cameras for travel is not the ultimate best, and we totally get it. Each of us has our own preferences, which highly depend on our traveling style and purpose. So, we break down the list into different best products according to their strongest suit:
- Best value for money: Nikon D3500
- Best image quality: GoPro Hero11
- Most compact: Kodak Smile Instant Print Digital Camera
- Most versatile: Panasonic G7
How To Choose The Best Digital Cameras for Travel
Especially when you’re looking for the best lightweight cameras for travel or the best compact digital cameras for travel, there are four key features you should seek in a product:
Size and Weight
Traveling with a camera can be a chore, not to mention when it’s too bulky and heavy. So, take a look at the camera dimensions with and without its bag – oh yeah, some cameras come with a big, bulky bag.
A mirrorless camera is your best bet if you prefer a more compact product. DSLRs are bulkier and mostly heavier. Brands like Nikon and Fujifilm produce cameras that can easily fit your jeans pocket or small bag. With that said, there’s a catch. A larger model usually means better ergonomics and battery life.
Weatherproofing
Avid travelers would know how the weather can play spoilsport, no matter where you go. Fortunately, you can find the best digital cameras for travel that are either waterproof or feature excellent weather sealing. However, we should tell you that full waterproof ones usually compromise other features, such as size.
Battery Life
Most cameras, even the best compact digital cameras for travel, only have a few hours of battery life if used continuously. This issue can be solved by simply charging your device daily or carrying spare batteries. But why not choose a safe space and be more practical by choosing cameras with long-lasting battery life?
Which camera is best for tourism?
It depends on what type of tourism. If you’re planning to do more outdoor activities, the GoPro Hero series has some of the best compact digital cameras for travel. But an action camera won’t be enough if you’re into photography. DSLRs or mirrorless digital cameras should suit you better.
Is DSLR good for travel?
In general, yes. But you should remember that this type of camera usually requires a lot of space. Not to mention the bag/case to store it safely. However, if you don’t mind carrying a bulky camera around, DSLR cameras are great.
Should I stay with DSLR or go mirrorless?
Well, do you prefer high-quality images or more compact cameras? Mirrorless cameras are more compact and lighter, but DSLRs won’t disappoint you regarding quality, even on their standard lens. But let us entertain you with this idea: how about mirrorless-design DSLRs? Please scroll up our list to find Panasonic Lumix G85 Mirrorless Digital Camera.
