Small, powerful, and easy to use. That’s what you need in travel-friendly cameras.
The big ball of fire in the sky is starting to hang around a bit longer these days, and that can mean only one thing; winter is on the way out, and it will soon give way to spring and summer. This means travel and vacation season is nearly here. If you plan on traversing the globe this year, and want to carry a small, yet incredibly capable travel-friendly cameras along that won’t take up much space (that costs less than a grand), you need to check out the travel-friendly cameras we have listed after the break.
The travel-friendly cameras below will make the perfect travel companions thanks to their size, weight, build qualities (some even have weather sealing), and superb image output. You can easily match one of these cameras with a small, do-it-all lens, and you will have a package that won’t hinder or get in the way of you enjoying yourself. Check out our recommended travel-friendly cameras below.
Sony a6100
The Sony a6100 is a fantastic little camera that packs a massive punch. The a6100’s small size and weight mean it will not burden you, and it’s very impressive AF system will allow you to capture anything your heart desires while you’re traveling. Familiarize yourself with it before you travel and pair it with the Sony Zeiss 16-70mm f4, and you will have a travel-friendly camera that won’t disappoint. Here are the pros and cons from our full review:
Pros
- Small and very light
- Autofocus system is beyond fast
- 11 frames per second burst mode and 425 AF points
- Real-time Eye AF and Animal Eye AF
- Great tracking capabilities
- Very Good overall image quality
- Decent battery life
- Flip-up screen for selfies
- The splash screens that tell new photographers what each mode does is a nice touch
- It’s under $600!
Cons
- The EVF and LCD are very low quality
- No weather sealing: you’ll be seeing a lot of dust spots
- The layout of the controls should be simplified
- The menu system is still convoluted. Simplify, Sony! Simplify
- You still cannot use the touchscreen to navigate the menus
- Only 1/4000s max shutter speed
- The camera desperately needs a shutter speed dial on the grip
- Just one UHS-1 card slot
- The camera slows down a lot when writing files to the SD card after a burst
- A USB 2.0 port. What year is this? Come on Sony
- No included dedicated charger
Buy now: $598
Buy now with 16-50mm lens: $698
Canon EOS M6 Mk II
The Canon EOS M6 II is one powerful little camera. It packs a massive 32 Megapixel sensor (the largest APS-C sensor to date), is built incredibly well, and will produce truly gorgeous images with beautiful colors. Pair it with the Canon EF-M 18-150mm f3.5-6.3 and you’ll be all set to capture the amazing things you’ll see on your travels. Here are the pros and cons from our full review:
Pros
- Beautiful colors
- The sound of the shutter will appeal to long-time photographers
- It feels like a solid, impressive camera
- Canon’s implementation of the Touch and Drag AF system is the best it’s ever been with the Canon EOS M6 Mk II.
- Pretty stellar battery life
- You’ve got more megapickles than you need. U DONT NEED MOAR MEGAPICKLES!!!!
Cons
- We really wish it were weather sealed
- An integrated viewfinder would have put this over the top
Buy now: $849
Buy now with the viewfinder, and 18-150mm lens: $1,349
Pro Tip: One thing you’re going to want to do before you head out on your travels is to make sure your camera bag is up to the task of protecting your investment. If you think you need a new bag, we highly recommend the Portage Supply Mariner. Make sure to stuff your bag with extra SD cards, a basic cleaning kit, and some weatherproof camera and lens covers before you go, and you’ll have everything you need to make the most of your new travel-friendly camera.
Fujifilm X-T30
The Fujifilm X-T30 is perhaps the most travel-friendly camera in the Fujifilm lineup. The camera’s small footprint will ensure it won’t take up much space, and its 26 Megapixel X-Trans sensor and image processor means you won’t be giving up anything in regard to image quality and performance. Pair the X-T30 with the XF 18-55mm f2.8-4 and capture moments and memories like never before. Here are the pros and cons from our full review:
Pros
- Solid construction that we’ve come to expect and love about Fujifilm cameras
- Compact
- Lightweight
- Almost everything that made the X-T3 such a hit
Cons
- Lacks in-body image stabilization & weather sealing
- Rear touchscreen-only tilts up and down
- Perhaps a tad too compact, particularly for photographers with larger hands
- The new joystick is awkwardly placed on the rear of the camera body
- Unremarkable battery life
Buy now: $799
Buy now with 18-55mm f2.8-4: $1,099
Olympus OMD EM5 Mark III
If you plan on traveling to a land not known for stellar weather, the Olympus E-M5 III is the camera you will want by your side. This incredibly compact, travel-friendly camera is weather-sealed to the nines, produces beautiful images, and features class-leading IBIS. Pair it with the Olympus 14-150mm f4-5.6 and travel like a champ. Here are the pros and cons from our full review:
Pros
- Beautiful retro styling
- Excellent image quality
- Robust weather sealing
- Reliable image stabilization
- Accurate autofocus
- Compact form factor
- Built-in Live Composite and 50 MP High Resolution shooting modes are highly effective
Cons
- Form factor can be too compact for some, particularly for photographers with larger hands or when mated with larger lenses
- Plasticky build quality
- Single UHS-II SD Card slot
- Lacks dedicated joystick
- Poor battery life
- Convoluted menu systems
- No major innovations after over four years
Buy now: $999
Buy now with the 14-150mm f4-5.6: $1,399
Canon EOS RP
The Canon EOS RP is a Full-Frame camera that has been on a serious pre-vacation diet. This small, light camera is one of the smallest Full-Frame cameras on the market, but it packs a ton of features, and that large sensor will allow you to capture incredible details while you are globetrotting. Pair it with the impressive Canon RF 35mm f1.8 and you’ll be snap happy all trip long. Here are the pros and cons from our full review:
Pros
- This isn’t Canon innovating on the inside, but instead on the outside
- This is the smallest and lightest ILC full-frame camera on the market (at the time of writing)
- Goes well with a wrist strap and a light prime lens
- Weather sealing
- The autofocus isn’t bad, and it’s quite usable in a number of working conditions
- Pretty good image quality
Cons
- This camera is begging to be paired with a nice 50mm f1.8 lens.
- Could have done better with a joystick
- The competition from Sony charges around 1/3rd more of the price and offers more
Buy now: $999