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In a world of pictures ruling our lives and our feeds, everywhere we go, we search for the perfect “Instagram” spot so that we can click a whole bunch of pictures and then ultimately upload a couple of them to the ‘gram.
So, here’s an article about the best cameras for travel blogging to help you pick out one that suits your needs and helps you take that perfect picture that will make it to your feed.
For me, travel photos are my most prized possessions, they act like travel souvenirs and make for good postcards to send back home.
If you’re a professional travel photographer then I’m sure you don’t particularly need my help picking the best camera but if you’re an amateur or you’re upgrading from your phone camera/regular camera then read on.
BEST CAMERAS FOR TRAVEL BLOGGING
There’s no easy or right answer to this question. Different people have different budgets and needs while choosing a travel camera.
The digital camera choices out there are endless and anyone could get overwhelmed by them (including me while researching for this article).
I’m merely trying to help you narrow down that ever-growing list with this camera guide. So that way you have the perfect camera for your next travel destination.
Before we dive into the camera specs and their features, it’s important to understand what all the jargon that’s gonna come later means because essentially knowing what the terms mean will help you pick a good camera for travel.
So, let me give you a quick overview and features that you might want to look for:
Budget
Firstly, make sure you know how much you want to spend on a travel camera. You have to also make sure you know that the camera body isn’t the only thing you might have to invest in.
Depending on your purpose and need you might need add-ons, attachments and/or lenses. Lenses cost roughly as much as the camera boy itself so make sure you have set aside enough money for the entire kit that you want to buy.
Weight & Portability
Keep in mind that bigger camera doesn’t necessarily mean a better camera. Travelling with your camera entails you carrying around all of your gear along with it as well, and everywhere.
So make sure you factor in the weight of the camera and its add-ons keeping in mind portability.
Interchangeable lenses
Quite a few high-end mirrorless and DSLR cameras (even some in this list) have interchangeable lenses what this means is you can swap out your lenses for others and pick the lens according to the scenario.
Fixed lens cameras (like in smartphones and compact cameras) don’t allow you to do so.
RAW and JPG format
Almost everyone will know what JPG means but what does RAW mean? RAW is an image format that keeps track of and saves all the metadata associated with an image. What this implies is that your image is saved without any internal modifications to it, just like the word says, RAW.
Not all cameras shoot in RAW format. Most advanced users and professionals prefer the RAW format as it allows you to perform more modifications/editing during post-processing.
Wi-Fi/NFC/Bluetooth
Some cameras come with these features built-in which will make your work of uploading it to the cloud or directly to social media easier. But additional features also mean additional cost so weigh the pros and cons of having these in the camera that you’ll eventually pick.
Weatherproof
If you’re an event photographer then you’ll know the importance of this feature.
Event travel vloggers might have faced the situation where you’re travelling and it suddenly starts raining or snowing or there’s a dust storm and your first thought is to protect the camera and its gear. Dust and water-resistant cameras come in handy here.
Stabilisation
Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS) is a feature that compensates for hand movements on slower shutter speeds to help keep the image sharp especially during low light conditions.
Add-on lenses
Instead of directly opting for a higher end camera it may be advantageous to go for a lower end one or a lower/older model in order to buy an additional lens like a wide-angle one or a zoom lens.
These are particularly handy if you’re an adventure loving person or if you like clicking landscapes. Similarly, wildlife enthusiasts might want a long lens. So pick one depending on your requirement.
A little tip: The prices mentioned are for NEW cameras and for the body only; lenses and other accessories will be add-ons to that price. You might be able to find a cheaper seller or a “USED but in good condition” one at the time of buying it.
I’ve split the options cost-wise into 3 categories so you can pick one within your budget. Let’s dive in:
- Under $500
- Between $500 – $1000
- Over $1000
Best Camera For Travel Blogging Under $500
Panasonic Lumix ZS70 / TZ90
Image via Panasonic Website
Panasonic’s Lumix range of cameras makes for the best budget travel cameras. If you’re searching for a budget, compact option in cameras then this range is for you.
The Panasonic Lumix ZS70 (known as the TZ90 outside the USA) is a good option in this range. This 20.3 MP point and shoot camera can record 4K videos.
It has a touch-enabled 180° flip-front display which is perfect for selfies and Wi-Fi so you can connect to it and instantly view and transfer the photographs clicked on your laptop/phone.
This camera is a good option for beginners who want to learn and grow to be professionals as it has the ability to shoot in RAW format as well as full manual control.
Additionally, it also has good zoom capabilities with its 30x optical zoom and a 5-Axis HYBRID O.I.S.+ (Optical Image Stabilizer Plus) feature so it detects and compensates for five different kinds of movements.
In addition to this, the ZS70’s LCD flips up to face the front, which is perfect for capturing selfies and group shots with ease.
It is a good compact travel camera as it is light and portable so if you’re into travel photography you will find this one is easy to carry around.
You’ll find the Lumix ZS70 on Amazon for $297.99.
Olympus (Tough) TG-6
Image via Olympus Website
Some photographers would like a camera that is rugged, some would like one that can withstand drops, splashes or being frozen, some would like to use the camera for underwater photography, basically a camera that can survive nearly everything. Then look no further than the Olympus TG-6.
This camera has all that and more.
It is tough, built for adventure, waterproof, dust proof, shock-proof, crush-proof AND freeze-proof (all within certain limits, of course). Phew! Oh and it has anti-fogging as well. Wow!
It even has 5 underwater shooting modes so it’s great for underwater photography. Apart from this, it is compact and lightweight so you can take it with you while hiking mountain trails, skiing down snowy slopes, backpacking across countries and any other outdoor adventure.
And it doesn’t end there. You can shoot videos in 4K Ultra HD, it sports a 12 MP camera with a 4x optical zoom lens and a back-illuminated CMOS sensor with OIS. The camera also has RAW shooting.
It also has built-in Wi-Fi and GPS. And all this with a price tag that won’t burn a hole in your pocket.
The TG-6 is available on Amazon for $349.
Best Cameras Between $500 – $1000
Canon Powershot G7X Mark II
This high-end, compact travel camera is the 3rd version of the G7 in Canon’s Powershot series.
You can take really good pictures using its 20.1 MP, and the new stacked CMOS sensor with Canon’s DIGIC 8 processor will help the camera perform faster which means your photos will get processed faster.
The successor to the Canon Powershot G7X Mark II, this one has a microphone jack and can record videos in 4K at 30 fps with no- crop unlike its predecessor.
It has a 4. 2x Optical Zoom Lens (24-100mm f/1. 8-2. 8) with Optical Image Stabilizer (OIS).
Another great feature is its Wi-Fi capabilities so it is ideal for vloggers to directly stream travel vlogs and videos on YouTube. It also has a time-lapse video mode so hello travel journey videos.
For all of you who create frequent Instagram Stories, here’s something that you’ll like; you can take vertical videos with the G7X Mark III and you can share it directly on your feed.
Now coming to its shortcomings, the G7 Mark III has no viewfinder and no headphone jack. And although it can shoot in 4K, its continuous video recording limit is at best 10-15 mins approx.
You can check it out here. It is priced at $599 on Amazon.
Panasonic Lumix GH4
Image via Panasonic Website
This is another variant in the Lumix range that you can take a look at. It is a mirrorless Micro Four Thirds (MTF) mount digital camera with 16 MP and can shoot UHD 4K videos at 30 FPS. So, it’s a good hybrid, i.e., a good choice for both photographers and videographers.
It also has high-speed autofocus and built-in Wi-Fi with NFC so you can transfer photos instantly. Apart from this, its low light shooting capability is quite good.
It is retailing on Amazon for $697.99 and you can check it out here.
Sony Cybershot
Sony Cybershot RX100 VA
Image via Sony Website
The Sony Cybershot RX100 VA is the lightest pocket-friendly camera among all the cameras mentioned in this article at 0.66 lbs.
This small, lightweight and beginner friendly point and shoot isn’t shy of features though. The camera has a CMOS Sensor and can take images with its 20.1 MP resolution and videos in 4K resolution at 30fps.
It sports a bright zoom lens for better low-light images and has really fast focus and capture rates
The RX100 VA is an upgraded version of the RX100 V so it packs all of its predecessor’s features like OIS, tiltable screen, Wi-Fi and NFC, however both don’t offer Bluetooth. It does have new additions like processor and firmware updates and increased zoom range.
Apart from this, it also includes a larger buffer for JPG and RAW shots than its predecessor, which means you can take more shots before waiting; it’ll help in burst mode.
The 4K quality and flip screen make the RX100 VA an attractive choice for vloggers however it does not include microphone input so that might be a dampener.
You can find the Sony RX100 VA on Amazon here for $848.
Best Cameras Above $1000
Canon EOS 6D Mark II
This probably falls in the category of the lightest SLRs. It has a 26.2 MP full frame CMOS sensor with a DIGIC 7 Image Processor and an ISO range of 100-40000 (woah!). So, you know for sure the image quality is incredible!
The EOS 6D Mark II performs well in low light conditions as well.
It can take 4K and Full HD video recording even with the time-lapse mode.
A feature that will come in handy and is a great addition is that along with being compact, the camera is dust and water-resistant because it has weather sealed parts within it.
Additional features include Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and GPS making it perfect for travel and shooting on-the-go.
It retails at $1,199 on Amazon and you can find it here.
Canon EOS 5D Mark III
Canon’s EOS 5D Mark III is one of the most popular high-level DSLRs in the market hence it makes it to best cameras for travel. It is a 22.3 MP full-frame DSLR that has fast autofocus, great low light capabilities and can shoot 1080p video at 30 FPS.
One feature that will come in very handy for people who click a lot of photographs like professional event photographers is the dual card slot so you can take a good number of pictures before you have to change cards.
The only flip side is that this camera is a bit on the heavier side not only in terms of price, but weight too, BUT its features more than make up for the weight it carries around and it is one of the current best that Canon has to offer, for photos and videos alike.
You can check out the Canon EOS 5D Mark III on Amazon. It is retailing at $2,399.99 at the time of writing this.
Sony Alpha A7R III
Image via Sony Website
Currently, the Sony Alpha A7R III is a top choice. However, you’ll need to have a higher skill level to work with it to its full potential and this also means that it comes with a pricier tag.
It has a full-frame mirrorless interchangeable lens that can shoot stills with its high resolution of 42.4 MP and videos in 4K HDR quality. Its processing power has also been boosted hence its efficiency has increased.
Apart from this, it has impressive continuous shooting of up to 10 fps with AF/AE tracking. This helps lock the camera’s exposure and focus values thereby keeping the focus on a specific subject even when other objects pass in front of the subject.
Its low light performance is commendable too and it has great battery life. All of this will greatly help wildlife photographers shoot for long hours in silence so if you’re someone who loves taking photographs of birds and animals, I suggest you should invest in this beauty.
You can find the Sony Alpha A7R III on Amazon for $2,498.
Brief Summary
| Camera | Panasonic Lumix ZS70 | Olympus TG 6 | Canon Powershot G7X Mark II | Sony Alpha A7R III | |
| Type | Mirrorless point & shoot | Compact Point & shoot | Mirrorless point and shoot | Full-frame mirrorless | |
| Resolution | 20.3 MP | 12 MP | 20.1 MP | 42.4 MP | |
| Video Resolution | 4K UHD 2160p | 4K UHD | 4K UHD at 30fps | 4K at 24 and 25 FPS | |
| Image Processor | Venus | – | DIGIC 8 | Front End LSI | |
| ISO Range | 80-3200 | 100 – 1600 | 125–12800 | 100–32000 | |
| Interchangeable lense | Yes | No | No | Yes | |
| WiFi | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | |
| Display Screen | 3″ LCD | 3″ LCD | 3” tilting LCD | 3″ tilting LCD | |
| Weight | 1.23 lbs (body only) | 1.1 lbs (body only) | 1.57 lbs (body only) | 1.45 lbs (body only) | |
| MSRP | $298 (body only) | $349 | $749 (body only) | $2,498 (body only) |
| Camera | Canon 5D Mark III | Canon EOS 6D Mark II | Canon Powershot G7X Mark II | Sony Alpha A7R III | Panasonic Lumix ZS70 |
| Type | Full-frame DSLR | Full frame DSLR | Mirrorless point and shoot | Full-frame mirrorless | Mirrorless point & shoot |
| Resolution | 22.3 MP | 26.2 MP | 20.1 MP | 42.4 MP | 20.3 MP |
| Video Resolution | 1080p at 30 fps | FHD 1080p at 60p | 4K UHD at 30fps | 4K at 24 and 25 FPS | 4K UHD 2160p |
| Image Processor | DIGIC 5+ | DIGIC 7 | DIGIC 8 | Front End LSI | Venus |
| ISO Range | 100-25600 | 100-40000 | 125–12800 | 100–32000 | 80-3200 |
| Interchangeable lense | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| WiFi | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Display Screen | 3.2″ LCD | 3″ LCD | 3” tilting LCD | 3″ tilting LCD | 3″ LCD |
| Weight | 1.9 lbs (body only) | 3.45 lbs (body only) | 1.57 lbs (body only) | 1.45 lbs (body only) | 1.23 lbs (body only) |
| MSRP | $2,600 (body only) | $1,199 (body only) | $749 (body only) | $2,498 (body only) | $298 (body only) |
Let us know in the comments which camera you finally picked for your travel blog. 😉
