The Best Travel Cameras in 2023

Traveling lets you explore a lot of places, cultures, and other things. And what better way to immortalize such an experience than by capturing every second of your trip with the best travel cameras?

The greatest travel cameras combine portability with cutting-edge functionality, enabling you to record all the spectacular sights you encounter wherever you go. Any camera, in theory, could be used as a trip camera, but these are the ones we believe to be the finest right now.

A large kit is typically the last thing you want to bring on vacation, especially considering airline baggage limits and the cost of adding more luggage. In light of this, your camera and any accompanying lenses must be reasonably light. There are many small mirrorless systems that won’t take up much space in your luggage but will generate considerably higher-quality content than your phone, whether you capture photographs, videos, or a combination of both.

If you’re looking for a good travel camera, you’ve come to the right place, as we have listed some of the best ones you can find on the market today. Check out which ones suit your liking best.

The Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV is svelte, fashionable, and surprisingly light. This Micro Four Thirds camera is poised to dazzle thanks to an improved 20 MP sensor and enhanced focusing. The 20 MP Live MOS sensor, an improvement over the 16MP sensor used in the previous generation, is one of the main new features of the Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV. This aligns the E-M10 series with the most recent iterations of the E-M5 and E-M1 series, which use 20 MP sensors as well.

A small in-body image stabilization mechanism with up to 4.5 EV steps of adjustment and 15 fps high-speed sequential shooting is another feature of the Mark IV. For continuous focusing on moving subjects, Continuous AF precision has also been increased. The Face Priority/Eye Priority AF can now focus on faces that are in profile or looking downward, which should make it easier for users to take excellent portraits even from unusual angles.

A number of shooting modes are available on the Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV, including AUTO, SCN (Scene), AP (Advanced Photo), and Art Filter. Panoramas, HDR, and other difficult shooting techniques are made accessible to beginners via the AP mode. While not especially helpful in more serious shooting scenarios, the Art Filter mode has a range of filters that are fun to test with family and friends.

The Mark IV keeps the Mark III’s 4K video capabilities, but it also has the benefit of a tilting LCD monitor that can be turned 180 degrees downward for self-facing video recording and vlogging. Additionally, the Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV camera has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth incorporated right into the camera body.

With a lot to offer, the Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV is a terrific compact camera. Although the Mark IV’s other enhancements are undoubtedly minor, we’re nevertheless delighted with what the Mark IV brings to the table, especially with its new 20 MP sensor and enhanced Continuous Autofocus.

Pros

• Improved sensor
• Tactile controls
• Snappy and precise autofocus

Cons

• No mic port

Specification

• Price $699.99
• Effective Still Resolution 20 MP
• Special Feature Lightweight
• Optical Zoom 1x
• Screen Size 3 Inches

The Fujifilm X-S10 represents a brave new direction in the company’s search for the ideal mid-range mirrorless camera. It has created one of the best cameras to date for amateur and beginner photographers by cramming many of the best features from its flagship Fujifilm X-T4, including in-body image stabilization (IBIS), into a smaller, less expensive chassis.

The Fujifilm X-S10 was designed to be a real all-arounder that is at home shooting both still photos and video. The 26.1 MP X-Trans CMOS 4 sensor and X-Processor 4 are included, along with the ability to record uncropped 4K/30p video. The X-handling S10’s controls, however, take a slightly atypical turn. You get a PASM (Program, Aperture, Shutter Speed, Manual) dial and a thick handgrip instead of Fujifilm’s distinctive array of manual dials, which are more reminiscent of vintage DSLRs. In summary, the X-S10 will fit right in if you currently own an older Canon or Nikon DSLR and want to upgrade to a smaller, more contemporary model.

Stills’ image quality is comparable to that of the Fujifilm X-T4, which is presently ranked second in our list of the best cameras for photography. One of the best YouTube cameras, the X-S10 matches competitors like the Nikon Z50 and Sony A6600 in terms of 4K video quality and flexibility. The focus of the X-S10 might be its lone significant flaw. Even if the subject-tracking isn’t quite as sophisticated as the Sony system found on cameras like the Sony A6600, its AF performance is nonetheless remarkable in the majority of circumstances.

Pros

• Travel-friendly size
• Excellent build quality
• Vari-angle touchscreen
• In-body image stabilization

Cons

• Conventional mode dial

Specification

• Price $999.00
• Effective Still Resolution 26.1 MP
• Special Feature X-Processor 4 Image Processor
• Optical Zoom 1x
• Screen Size 3 Inches

Stills’ image quality is comparable to that of the Fujifilm X-T4, the second-placed camera in our ranking of the best cameras for photography, when compared to its rivals. One of the finest YouTube cameras is the X-S10 because of the superior 4K video quality and versatility compared to competitors like the Nikon Z50 and Sony A6600. It’s possible that the autofocus is the X-only S10’s real flaw. Its AF performance is still impressive in the majority of circumstances, but the subject-tracking isn’t quite as sophisticated as the Sony system seen on cameras like the Sony A6600.

The Z fc has the same 20.9 MP APS-C CMOS sensor with a low pass filter and the same EXPEED 6 image processor thanks to sharing the Z 50’s technology. While some mirrorless versions from manufacturers like Fujifilm and Canon can provide even greater megapixel counts, that is around 3 MP less than the 24 MP sensors in most APS-C competing cameras.

While the slightly larger individual sensor photosites should, in theory, improve the Z fc’s low light performance and dynamic range, 20.9MP is still more than enough resolution. The superb 209-point hybrid AF system with eye detection for both people and animals seen on the Z 50 is also. In comparison to the Z 50, Nikon’s low-light performance has been marginally improved because the Z fc’s system can now focus down to -4.5EV, whereas the Z 50’s system was only sensitive to -4EV.

The performance of the Z fc is predictable because the image quality is the same as that of the Z 50, on which it is based. The trade-off is improved dynamic range and low-light performance over a more typical 24 MP sensor, despite the fact that you “only” get 20.9 MP because of the slightly larger photosites distributed throughout the same APS-C sensor area.

Pros

• Vintage style
• Sophisticated Z mount
• Mirrorless

Cons

• Pricey
• Few native DX-format Z lenses

Specification

• Price $1,096.95
• Effective Still Resolution 20.9 MP
• Special Feature Live View
• Optical Zoom 3x
• Screen Size 3 Inches

It’s obvious who Panasonic is targeting with its new G100, which the firm is advertising as “the ultimate” vlogging camera. The novice camera is a step up from the Panasonic G95/G90, but it differs significantly from that model in that it has a smaller chassis and more video-focused features to appeal to aspiring YouTubers. But because of its compact size, stills photographers can also regard it as the perfect travel camera. You may create a cute little compact bundle by combining this with some of the smaller Micro Four Thirds lenses now available.

However, the highlights of this article are those video specifications. The addition of a Nokia Ozo Audio-equipped microphone system, which makes it the first mirrorless camera to do so, is the most noticeable change. This entails that you have three microphones that can take up sound based on where it is coming from, which includes the camera’s back if you’re strolling and chatting to record a vlog. Panasonic insists that an extra microphone is not required because it is so confident in the sound system.

When it comes to performance, the rear microphone, designed to capture sound when you’re narrating walking footage from behind the camera, is especially helpful. On one occasion, when the camera was turned around, the microphone did not immediately move from the front to the rear microphone. We would like to test this further to determine whether this was an isolated incidence or something that occurs more frequently.

The G100’s compact size and a few of its features that are specifically designed for video are sure to appeal to vloggers. The Ozo Audio by Nokia and triple microphones are especially impressive because they instantly determine where the sound is coming from, including from behind the camera. However, it is regrettable that a crop is used on 4K footage.

Pros

• Quality video and images
• Audio-recording features
• Bright EVF and articulated LCD

Cons

• No in-body stabilization
• No headphone jack

Specification

• Price $497.99
• Effective Still Resolution 20.3 MP
• Special Feature Lightweight,Travel
• Optical Zoom 2x
• Screen Size 3 Inches

The best pocket vlogging camera available right now is the Sony ZV-1. It combines the best video capabilities of the Sony RX100 series, including its industry-leading autofocus system, with design changes that make it perfect for filming YouTube videos at home or while on the go. Its key selling point is the marriage of Sony’s Real-time tracking and Real-time Eye AF technologies with a brilliant 24-70 mm f/1.8-2.8 lens. Together, they make it simple to capture high-quality vlogs with enticing background blur and stable focus thanks to the ZV-1’s 1-inch sensor, which is larger than those in today’s smartphones.

Depending on your demands, you might want to look at alternative solutions since the ZV-1 isn’t ideal. Its strongest stabilization also adds a slight crop that can make the resulting focal length slightly tight for handheld shots, though we didn’t find this to be a major issue. Its SteadyShot stabilization is passable for walking videos but falls short of the smoothness offered by the DJI Osmo Pocket, GoPro Hero 8 Black, or larger cameras like the Olympus E-M5 Mark III.

The ZV-1 isn’t the easiest camera for smartphone users to use, despite the addition of renamed shortcut buttons for newbies. A beginner-friendly part for those new to video would have been excellent. Aside from allowing you to tap to concentrate, its touchscreen doesn’t interact with menus like the useful “Fn” grid, and its settings are still confusing. Vlogging cameras require exceptional image stabilization in addition to great autofocus, a forward-facing screen, and good audio choices to aid in stabilizing handheld recording. This is where the Sony ZV-1 falls short the most out of those four functions. By no means would we say that its SteadyShot system is poor. Its strongest stabilization mode, “Active,” combines optical and electronic stabilization and is also compatible with 4K shooting.

Pros

• Compact
• Fast AF

Cons

• Small screen

Specification

• Price $748.00
• Effective Still Resolution 20.1 MP
• Special Feature BIONZ X Image Processor
• Optical Zoom 3x
• Screen Size 3 Inches