Best Travel Camera: 8 Great Options for Making Memories

Have you been looking for the best travel camera for your journeys? If you spend a lot of time outdoors, it’s likely you’ve seen some truly beautiful sights. From incredible terrains to panoramic views (plus some fun and silly moments for you and your camping buddy), it seems such a shame to let any of it go to waste.

Well, luckily, with a travel camera you don’t have to. In the past, digital cameras were bulky, heavy, and slow to use. But nowadays you can slip one in your pocket and basically forget it’s there – until the prime moment to take a snap comes along. Finding the best travel camera for such moments is key to capturing them at their best.

Why Choosing the Best Travel Camera Can Be Tricky

Photo by Andre Furtado from Pexels

Getting the right piece of equipment is always a tricky process, and finding the best travel camera is even more so. You have many more aspects to take into consideration when purchasing a travel camera than with other tech purchases. Knowing exactly what you want, planning your purchase ahead of time, and doing your research beforehand is key to making the best travel camera purchase. Our goal is to help you make an informed decision.

What makes for the best travel camera?

The best travel camera needs to be lightweight and non-bulky. If it’s taking up too much valuable kit space, it’s always in danger of being ousted in favor of more essential items.

You also want the best travel camera to be quick and easy to use. Even if you’re a keen photographer, it’s unlikely you’ll be spending much time and effort on setting up the perfect shot. You will want your camera to be able to snap some acceptable photos right from the moment you switch it on and point the lens.

Pre-purchase considerations

Weight, size, and ease of use are pretty general considerations when looking to purchase the best travel camera. But you also need to think about yourself and your personal preferences before purchasing in order to make an informed decision.

If you tend to be outdoors in colder, darker conditions, the best travel camera for you may also be particularly well-suited to more inclement conditions. You may also wish to be able to take videos on your travel camera. A large amount of memory (or additional memory card) may make using your travel camera easier. Some travel cameras also have GPS and Wi-Fi capabilities, which make for nice additions. You may prefer a pivoting screen or even a touchscreen.

Taking all of these features into consideration and deciding exactly what is important to you is key to finding the best travel camera.

Price range

The best travel camera may not be the priciest option. Instead, it’ll be whichever camera is most closely aligned with your needs and wants. For the purposes of our guide, we’ve tried to find more budget-friendly travel camera options. These cameras will be prone to be slightly bashed around and have a good potential for getting lost, so you don’t want to spend a large chunk of change on them just in case. We’ve included some bargain options, alongside some slightly more high-tech items in order to help you find the best travel camera for you.

Where to shop for the best travel camera?

You can purchase excellent travel cameras at a range of stores. However, for our purposes, we’ve selected all of our best travel camera options from Amazon. Amazon is extremely accessible, so no matter where you’re based, you can purchase one of our top camera picks.

Amazon also has an excellent system for customers to rate and review their purchases. These reviews help us to make sure we’re choosing the best travel camera option. After all, a camera can have all the specs and features you want, but if the user experience is garbage, then it’s obviously not a wise purchase.

How We Reviewed

Photo by Mohamed Almari from Pexels

We chose our selection of best travel camera options based on extensive research. This research included information on each camera’s features and specifications, alongside review information from verified customers. We collated this information to bring you eight options for the best travel camera, plus our one winner.

Our Selection of the 8 Best Travel Camera Options

All of our contenders for the best travel camera are lightweight, slimline, and quick to point and shoot. They also have other distinct special features, which can help you choose your ideal camera.

1. Sony DSCW800 Digital Camera

This popular camera option offers excellent photo quality at a good price. It’s super-sleek, making it easy to slide into pockets, and looks great, too.

Key features

The Sony DSCW800 Digital Camera has a CDD sensor to help you take clearer photos without having to fiddle with settings. It has 5x Optical Zoom, and reduced blur with SteadyShot image stabilization. This camera can also take video in 720p.

Pros and cons

The Easy Mode setting on this camera makes snapping pictures a total breeze. It’s extremely light, weighing in at just 4.48 ounces. The images you can capture on this camera belie its point and shoot nature, too.

One downside to this camera is its lower battery life. If you’re out on an extended trip, you may wish to take a few charged batteries with you to avoid missing any moments. This camera is also not the best for taking fine, detailed, up-close images — although that doesn’t tend to be what a travel camera is used for anyway.

Where to buy

The Sony DSCW800 Digital Camera is available on Amazon.

2. Canon PowerShot ELPH 180 Digital Camera

This travel camera option is extremely easy to use. It’s also lightweight and petite, making it a great option for on the go.

Key features

The Canon Powershot ELPH 180 has 8x Optical Zoom and fantastic image stabilization. It takes photos in 20 megapixels, and video in 720p. It has Smart AUTO settings options, where the camera chooses the best settings based on what you’re photographing. The camera also has fun lens effects, including fisheye and monochromatic options.

Pros and cons

This camera is extremely small, sleek, and travel-friendly. It’s very simple and easy to use. It comes at a low price and has excellent battery life.

Some users criticize the oversimplicity of this camera’s design. There is a lack of customization available, so many shots end up looking too similar. Others comment that the image stabilization is not as good as it should be.

Where to buy

The Canon PowerShot ELPH 180 Digital Camera is available on Amazon.

3. AbergBest 21 Mega Pixels 2.7″ LCD Rechargeable HD Digital Camera

This bargain camera option is very simple, but perfect if you want to quickly and easily capture moments on video or photograph.

Key features

The AbergBest Digital Camera can record images, videos, and sound. It takes photographs in 21 megapixels and records video in 720p. It also has a 2.7 inch LCD screen to allow you to see what you’re doing. There’s 8x digital zoom, anti-shake, face-detect, and a self-timer, too.

Pros and cons

This camera is extremely well-priced. If you simply want something cheap to record your travels, this may be an excellent option for you. It’s also extremely sleek and small and weighs just 10.6 ounces. It also comes in three color options — black, white, and red.

One con to this camera is the difficulty of finding review information. Even though it is an Amazon Bestseller, with over 100 questions and answers, there are no customer reviews. That can seem a little shady — although the same item has good reviews on Amazon UK.

Where to buy

The AbergBest 21 Mega Pixels 2.7″ LCD Rechargeable HD Digital Camera is available on Amazon.

4. Panasonic LUMIX 4K ZS60 Point and Shoot Camera

This camera is a higher quality point and shoot, and although the price reflects that, it makes for one of the best travel camera options for those more into their photography.

Key features

This travel camera has 30x optical zoom and photographs in 18 megapixels. It also records video in 4K Ultra HD. The lens-mounted control ring offers DSLR-esque exposure but with the ease of a point and shoot.

Pros and cons

This camera is small but powerful. It has a 3-inch display and electronic viewfinder. It allows you to customize your photographs and has Wi-Fi capabilities. This camera offers a high-quality photography experience at a low price.

This travel camera option is a little more complex than others we have mentioned. If you are a total novice, you may be better going for a simpler option. This camera is also a little pricier than some other options.

Where to buy

The Panasonic LUMIX 4K ZS60 Point and Shoot Camera is available on Amazon.

5. Canon PowerShot SX420 IS Digital Camera

This product is a slightly fancier option for the best travel camera. That also means it’s a little bulkier and heavier, so it’s a better option for those who prioritize their photography.

Key features

This camera has powerful 42x Optical Zoom, plus optical image stabilizer. It offers photography options in a range of aspect ratios. It captures images with 20 megapixels and video with 720p. This camera also has a large LCD screen. There’s a handy SmartAUTO setting, which allows the camera to select options based on the photograph set up.

Pros and cons

If you want to take truly breath-taking images, this may be the best travel camera for you. It offers a slight step up from traditional point and shoot cameras.

The main downside to this camera is its size. It’s definitely too bulky to slip into a pocket, and it’s more cumbersome than our other options. It’s still lightweight and comfortable in your hands, though.

Where to buy

The Canon PowerShot SX420 IS Digital Camera is available on Amazon.

6. Nikon COOLPIX B500 Digital Camera

This is another slightly higher-priced option for the best travel camera. As you’d expect, this slightly higher price comes with more features and higher quality photography results

Key features

This camera has 40x optical zoom and a whopping 80x dynamic zoom. It can record video at 1080p and has 16-megapixel OSR and ISO 6400. It can connect to Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, too.

Pros and cons

This camera will take superior quality photographs and video. It has tons of fun settings to allow you to take photographs in more challenging lighting. It also has a flappable LCD screen, making it great for self-timer shots.

This camera is a little heavier than our other options, weighing in at almost two pounds. Some users also report issues with focusing on subjects that are further away.

Where to buy

The Nikon COOLPIX B500 Digital Camera is available on Amazon.

7. Suntak HD Mini Digital Video Camera

For those wanting something super-sleek and travel-friendly, this may be the best travel camera for you. It’s extremely small and easy to pack, plus comes with a smaller price tag, too.

Key features

This is a slightly simpler camera than other options on our list — but still excellent for capturing memories on the go. It has 8x optical zoom and 21-megapixel resolution for photographs and can capture videos at 720p. The camera comes with a selection of predetermined settings, plus has anti-shake and face detection options.

Pros and cons

This camera is extremely cheap and easy to use. It also comes with a 1-year warranty, and a 30-day money back guarantee. It’s very small and simple enough to be used by non-experts.

The camera is a little bit simplistic and can be seen almost as a toy. It’s great for capturing simple photographs and videos for memories, but may not be the best travel camera choice for those who are really into their photography.

Where to buy

The Suntak HD Mini Digital Video Camera is available on Amazon.

8. Kodak PIXPRO Astro Zoom AZ252-WH 16MP Digital Camera

This is a more traditional style of camera, which allows you to customize your shots with multiple different settings. It has a stylish, retro look, too.

Key features

The main USP of this camera is its huge, 24mm lens. That makes it truly excellent at capturing larger landscapes. It captures photographs with 16 megapixels and video in 720p. It offers 16x optical zoom and has Optical Image Stabilization too.

Pros and cons

If you’re looking to focus more on the landscape than anything up close and personal, this might be the best travel camera for you thanks to its large lens.

One downside to this camera is its autofocus features. Customers criticize it, claiming it leans more towards a soft-focus effect.

Where to buy

The Kodak PIXPRO Astro Zoom AZ252-WH 16MP Digital Camera is available on Amazon.

Our Pick for the Best Travel Camera

Based on all of our collected information, we think the most universally suited option for the best travel camera is the Panasonic LUMIX 4K ZS60 Point and Shoot. It offers excellent features and specs for its price and would be enjoyed by both novices and wannabe photographers alike.

Featured Image by SplitShire from Pixabay