How to Select the Best Travel Camera in 2019

“What’s the best travel camera in 2018?” It’s one of the most frequent questions we receive from readers. The advent of digital technology (and smartphones) has increased the interest in and the importance of photography to document one’s travels. We’re constantly bombarded with questions – from the best waterproof camera to the overall best camera for travel – so we decided to write one long article and share our expertise.

For background, we have always had an interest in photography, but the more we travel, the more that interest has strengthened. Like most people, we started out with one of the very basic travel cameras: a point-and-shot Kodak Easyshare. Since then, travel cameras have evolved, our skill has increased and we’ve sought out the best travel camera. Here are our thoughts.

How to Select the Best Travel Camera

We’re going to share the secret of the best travel camera now. The secret is, there is no secret. The best camera is the one that works for you. A lot of photographers get wrapped up in brand loyalty (Nikon vs. Canon) or the absolute best lens configuration. All of that gear-head talk misses the point: photography is meant to be fun.

Unless you intend to be a semi-professional photographer or even a professional photographer, most cameras on the market have features you will never need and will never use. When selecting the best vacation camera for you, first think about how you will use it. Then figure out which camera fills those needs.

As we wrote in our 15 travel photography tips article, it’s not about how much money you spend on the gear. The best travel camera is the one that gets the job done. We wrote, “Great travel photos can be captured on almost any kind of camera. One of the best photos we ever took (and ultimately sold) was a quick snapshot on an iPhone. It just captured the right moment… You don’t need professional gear to take great shots. Sure it helps, but you can improve not matter what camera you are on.”

Just like cars, travel cameras have many different market segments. Some of the names can be quite confusing. We’ve tried to simplify the names and marketing terminology to help you focus on the best camera for your needs. The different types of cameras are: point and shoot, digital SLR (or DSLR), mirrorless and action camera. We’ll lay out the strengths and weaknesses of each of the travel cameras below.

Travel Camera Features to Consider

When selecting a great travel camera, there are a number of product features to consider. Many of these can be quite technical, but these are the main things you need to decide before making your selection.

Camera Size and Weight

If you are using your camera for travel photography, you want something that is small, lightweight, and is streamlined. Ideally, you want something you can slip into a small bag and doesn’t require a whole harness or giant bag to carry.

Integrated 4k/HD Video

Nearly all of the top travel cameras these days shoot video in addition to photos. You should definitely get a camera that can shoot both photos and video. Many cameras still shoot “high definition” in the lower quality 1080 pixels. If you’re buying a camer, consider one that has 4k capabilities, since that is the direction that social media is moving in.

Camera Lenses

When it comes to cameras, there are two main pieces: the body and the lens. The body is where the image is captured, while the lens is the mechanism for registering the image. In a point and shoot camera, both happen inside the camera. But in larger DSLR cameras, as well as in the best mirrorless camera for travel, you’ll have to deal with interchangeable lenses. Is this something you want to deal with?

Graphic Resolution (a.k.a., Megapixels)

All digital cameras come with a megapixel rating. What is that? The megapixel is the graphic resolution rating on the camera. The higher the megapixel means the more detail you can capture with distortion. Higher megapixels allow you to edit, crop or otherwise manipulate the image (whether that is with sophisticated software or just for social media).

Waterproof Cameras

Many people looking for a vacation camera or are searching out the best camera for traveling might look at a waterproof camera. These cameras are resistant to water (usually to a depth of 50 feet or so) and also resist dust. Waterproof cameras often are the best camera for trips, particularly if you are going to the beach, going swimming or snorkeling.

Your Smartphone: The Easiest Travel Camera

Smartphone Cameras

If you are looking for simple, the smartphone camera you already have is the simplest of all. It’s built in, compact, and is always with you. No matter where you go, you have the smartphone with you. These basic smartphone cameras are best for capturing snapshots or candid moments, while requiring no additional investment. As a benefit, these smartphone camera travel photos can be instantly uploaded to social media or shared with friends.

However, while these are smartphone photos are great, at some point you want to upgrade into a good traveling camera and begin taking better travel photos.

The Best Point and Shoot Travel Cameras

Point and shoot cameras go under the name of “compact digital cameras.” They come in two different flavors: basic (cheaper) and advanced (more expensive). If you are just started out in the world of travel photography, this is where you should be looking.

These “compact digital cameras” are…compact. That means, they are highly portable in both size and weight. You can slip them into your purse or backpack while you are out traveling for the day. Many of the point and shoot cameras come with some of the same features that are found in fancier DSLRs, but without the extraneous bells and whistles.

If your primary interest in travel photography is taking pictures of the family or buildings in Europe, a point and shoot will suit your needs.

The Best DSLR Travel Cameras

A Digital SLR is a single-lens reflex camera (it uses a mirror to reflect the image your camera sees up to the viewfinder for you to see it). These are the bulky, black-bodied cameras with interchangeable lenses. Many people refer to them simply as “professional cameras.” While professional photographers use DSLR cameras, the benefits these cameras offer are open to any photographer.

While DSLR cameras weigh significantly more than point and shoot cameras, they provide remarkable improvements over simple cameras. These benefits include enhanced zoom, ability to photograph in various light settings, factory pre-sets for aperture/shutter priority, and various lens configurations. For some travel, particularly wildlife on an African safari or the animals of the Galapagos, a point and shoot just won’t cut it.

Often, the big decision is Nikon vs. Canon. This is the Coke or Pepsi debate in the photography community. Truth be told, both offer some differentiation at the really, really high end of DSLR cameras. However, for most photographers who are just looking for good travel cameras, you won’t be able to tell a difference.

If we’re asked to recommend, we usually give a slight edge to Nikon because their menus are simpler, they use more obvious terminology and are slightly more intuitive for the non-professional photographer. But you won’t go wrong with either one.

The Best Mirrorless Travel Cameras

Mirrorless cameras lack the “reflex” optics of a DSLR. What in the world does that even mean? Essentially, mirrorless cameras use digital/electrical technology to project the image you see into the viewfinder, rather than a mirror to project it up to the viewfinder. Why does it matter? Without the mirror, these cameras can cut weight and size, but make a small sacrifice in speed.

Just like DSLRs, mirrorless cameras have the potential to change lenses. While there are fewer lenses available for mirrorless cameras, an entry-level photographer looking for a good camera for travel won’t have a problem finding the lens you need.

On pricing, a mirrorless camera for travel is comparable with the very high end of the DSLR camera range. This means if you are looking for a basic or entry-level camera, you’ll pay more for a mirrorless than a DSLR.

The Best Travel Action Camera

This category goes hand in hand with the best waterproof camera, since that is probably what you’re looking for. Here, you need to ask yourself the question: are you looking to do more video or more photography? There is a definite tradeoff on camera and video functionality in the action camera market.

For years, the action camera market has been dominated by GoPro. We have a GoPro Hero 3 and have used it from Eastern Europe to South America. The video is excellent. The photography…not so much. The issue is that the housing is so stiff that as you take the picture, you get a lot of movement, so everything comes out blurry (even in “burst mode”).

If you are only looking for the best waterproof camera for travel, there are a number of options in the point and shoot market, including the B00UKV5E4Q. For a more dedicated camera for scuba diving, we recommend (and use) the Sony Cyber-shot RX100 inside the Fantasea Underwater Housing.

What’s In Our Gear Bag

On our trips, we carry:

• A DSLR. We’ve been using the Nikon D90 with an 18-105 lens for about 8 or 9 years and it’s been a great, highly functional camera.
• A compact digital camera. We use the Sony Cyber-shot RX100 and adding the Fantasea Underwater Housing if we’re going to be snorkeling or scuba diving.
• An action camera. We are using an older version of the GoPro (the Go Pro Hero 3), but will probably be upgrading soon.
• A tripod. We use the MeFoto Q1 tripod for a lot of our best shots.

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