For most travellers, the ideal camera for travel photography is lightweight, versatile and able to produce high-quality images. There are several types of cameras available including; point and shoots, compact cameras, mirror-less, and DSLRs. Each type of camera has its own pros and cons. When selecting a camera, you should first select what is most important to you – weight, size, features, ease of use, price are some of the things you need to consider.

DSLR’s are heavy and bulky, however, they have larger sensors, allowing them to produce better quality photographs than Mirrorless. They can also offer more features, reliability, and versatility than the other types of cameras available.

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Best Point-and-Shoot Camera for Travel Photography

The smallest and normally cheapest type of camera available, point-and-shoots are perfect if you want something lightweight while still giving you a decent quality. Some point-and-shoots now include WiFi, HDR and in-camera panorama modes.

Cost: $998 MSPR / £800 RRP

20.2 MP Exmor

Bright F1.8 Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T lens with 3.6x zoom

Full HD 1080/60p video with manual control and dual record

3-Inch Xtra Fine LCD display with bright whites & true blacks

Ultra-slim, sophisticated aluminium body

1.0-inch, 20.2 Megapixel* High-Sensitivity CMOS sensor combined with Canon’s powerful DIGIC 6 Image Processor creates the Canon HS SYSTEM for outstanding low-light performance up to ISO 12800, enhanced image quality and fast operation

Ultra-slim, lightweight and pocket-size camera with intuitive LCD touch panel that has an improved user interface, which allows for quick and easy setting changes even while taking a picture

Capture stunning 1080p Full HD video (60p/30p/24p options) for lifelike images and convenient playback on an HDTV via the HDMI output. Record at up to 60 frames per second for even more detailed, superb results in MP4 format

Easily transfer images and videos to a compatible smartphone, tablet or Canon Connect Station CS100 device with built-in Wi-Fi and NFC capability, and share on social networking sites or view on an HDTV

Continuous shooting speeds of up to 6.0 fps helps capture dynamic movements of fast-moving subjects

Shoot breathtaking images and video of the stars with Star Mode designed to better capture the brilliance and wonder of the night sky

$611.31/ £599 RRP

16.2 MP APS-C CMOS sensor

Built-in Wi-FI and NFC module for transferring and sharing images

New high-performance GR Lens eq. to 28mm F2.8

Sensitivity up to 25 600 ISO

Full HD movie with HDMI terminal

Best Compact Camera for Travel Photography

Compact cameras are bulkier than point-and-shoots but still lightweight enough to be great for travel, while packing more features and better image quality. Compact cameras sometimes feature full manual mode, which isn’t always available on point-and-shoots.

$379 MSRP £269.99 RRP

Zoom in 50x on distant detail or capture better landscapes

Sharp results in your photos and movies with IS

Connect using Wi-Fi with NFC and enjoy remote shooting via smartphone

Easily keep your subject in the frame with zoom framing assist

Shoot high quality images in any light with 16.0 MP CMOS and HS System

$448 MSRP / £420.00 RRP

20.4MP Exmor R CMOS Sensor for superb low light images

Keep your subject in focus with Lock-On AF

Simple connectivity to smartphones via Wi-Fi w/NFC3

Map your images with GPS tagged photos

Enhance features w/ downloadable camera apps

4K quality still image output via HDMI2

Motion Shot Video traces the subjects movement

The Best Mirrorless Cameras for Travel Photography

Mirrorless cameras are lightweight cameras with interchangeable lenses and less bulky than DSLRs. You may be wondering what a mirrorless camera is. Unlike DSLRs, mirrorless cameras do not contain a mirror reflex viewfinder. Instead, mirrorless cameras have electronic viewfinders, which allows you to see the effect your camera settings have on the photograph in real-time.

Mirrorless cameras are the ideal camera for those who want an interchangeable lens system without the weight and size issues of DSLRs.

$699 MSRP / £699 RRP

Built-in 5-Axis image stabilization for sharper images

2.3 million dot OLED electronic viewfinder with 0.62X magnification

Silent mode (disables all shutter sounds)

8.5 frames per second burst shooting

Fast touch autofocus from camera or phone

$1776.99 MSPR / £1570 RRP

World’s first 5-axis in-body image stabilization in a full-frame camera.

Use your favorite lenses without blur from camera shake.

Capture stunning images with full-frame, 24.3MP resolution.

Fast Hybrid AF with phase-detection – 30% faster than a7.

Compatible with Sony’s E-mount lenses, and others with adaptors.

$698 MSRP / £544.48

24 MP APS-C CMOS sensor

ISO 100-25600 (expandable to 51200)

Hybrid AF with 179-point focal plane phase-detection and 25 contrast detect points

Up to 11 FPS continuous shooting

3-inch tilting LCD with 921,000 dots

OLED electronic viewfinder with 100% coverage and 1.4 million dots

Built-in Wi-Fi and NFC

Best Digital SLR Cameras for Travel Photography

A lot of travel photographers have decided to ditch their bulky DSLR setups in favor of the lighter Mirrorless setup. However, DSLRs still offer higher quality photographers and a wider selection of lenses and accessories. DSLR’s are still the go-to systems for wildlife and sports photographers due to the higher FPS, better buffer speed and length of telephoto lenses available. Landscape photographers favor full-frame systems due to the larger sensor size. If these things are important to you then you should consider a DSLR.

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