For a digital travel camera, you want a lightweight, compact digital camera with high image quality for the road.
This is the 2019 updated guide to choose which camera you should bring with you on your travels. Before you pick which camera to pack in your camera bag, it’s important to make sure the camera you choose it.
If I had to recommend one travel camera, it would be the FujiFilm X-T3
Read all about the award-winning mirrorless camera from Fuji here: FujiFilm X-T3 Review.
The Fuji x100f – The Cadillac of digital travel cameras. I own this camera and it’s a perfect camera for travel & street photography.
The image quality phenomenal compared to how small this thing is. I wrote a review where I show my photos shot with the Fujifilm x100f. I also wrote about my 2nd favorite travel camera, which is the Ricoh GR II.
The X100f is $1,299, so you need to decide if you want to spend that much on your travel camera. If not, I would recommend these 5 small digital cameras, at a lower price:
- Fujifilm X100F on BHPhoto.
- The Ricoh GR II. This has crazy positive reviews on Amazon
(I own this too and it’s amazing) - Panasonic Lumix ZS200 on Amazon.
- Sony Cyber-shot HX90V on Amazon.
What makes a great Travel Camera:
- Size & weight: When you travel it’s obvious you want a small compact digital camera. No extra lenses, no hassle.
- The Image Quality: The cameras I have listed below all have
- Is a digital compact camera (my personal preference)
F.A.Q Before buying a camera for traveling, road trip or backpacking:
- Are megapixels important? – There was a time where megapixels where to talk of the town. Image quality and IQ of the camera is much more important. The thing megapixels brings to the table, is that you can store more information and there for you can crop the image, and still have a lot of information left.
- Do you need a camera with wifi & Bluetooth: Some cameras can make their own wifi network, which allows you to upload photos and video to your computer & smartphone. Personally, I never really use the wifi or Bluetooth. I just insert the SD card into my computer and upload the photos that way.
- Compact Camera vs DSLR with interchangeable lenses: For me, I would never by a mirrorless or DSLR with interchangeable lenses, unless you are really into photography such as landscape.
- Do you need a tripod: If you are into making long exposure effects with 10-second shutter speed, I’d recommend looking at a tripod like this. I don’t personally use tripods, so I can’t speak much of it. For traveling or road trips I just think it’s one extra thing to carry, that I can easily live without.
What’s a good point and shoot camera?
Most of the above digital cameras are point and shoot. So again, if what you care about is image quality, no one beats the x100f from Fuji. If you care about having a small camera that fits your pocket, I’d go for the Ricoh GR II. It does excellent in high contrast black and white!
If you want to, you can check out my street photography in color and black and white.