Best Travel Camera 2020 - 10 Vacation-Friendly Models For Your Holiday - TechRadar

2/6/2020 Best travel camera 2020: 10 vacation-friendly models for your holiday | TechRadar

THE SOURCE FOR TECH BUYING ADVICE
TRENDING MWC 2020 Galaxy S20 PS5 Disney+ Buying Guides Best Laptops Best Phones Best VPN
TechRadar is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an a liate commission. Learn more
Best travel camera 2020: 10 vacation-friendly models for your holiday

By Mark Wilson, Amy Davies a day ago
The perfect travel cameras for your vacation carry-on
    
(Image credit: Future)
Choosing the best travel camera depends on what kind of traveling you're planning to do. Want to go on safari? You’ll need a
long zoom. Fancy shooting night scenes of city lit by scattered street lights and the odd shop front? A large sensor and fast lens
matter more.
But wherever you're going, the best travel cameras won't weigh you down – so we've picked a variety of options that o er top
speci cations without needing their own suitcase. Specs like large sensors, long zooms, 4K video and more.
You may read that and think, “my phone has all of that already”. But a good travel camera can o er better image quality, far greater
compositional exibility and much better manual control. Or, in many cases, all three.
The rst thing you’ll likely want to think about is the type of camera you’re willing to take on your travels. For many, a bulky DSLR or
mirrorless camera will be too much hassle, making a long zoom premium compact camera the obvious choice. On the other hand, if
you really want your shots to stand out, packing something versatile – but still – makes a lot of sense.
In this guide, we’ll select a few di erent kinds of camera that are just perfect for your next vacation. Whether you want to travel as
light as possible, or you don’t mind having a little more to carry around, we’ve got you covered here.
https://www.techradar.com/news/best-travel-camera 1/23
Best travel cameras 2020 at a glance:

1. Panasonic Lumix ZS200 / TZ200
2. Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III
3. Canon G5X Mark II
4. Sony Cybershot RX100 VII
5. Fuji lm X-T30
6. Nikon Z50
7. Panasonic LX100 II
8. Nikon Z6
9. Canon SX740
10. Sony Cybershot RX10 IV
Great value option: Sony Cyber-shot RX100 III

It's getting on a bit, but this RX100 model still packs a punch
Sensor: 1-inch type, 20.1MP | Lens: 24-70mm, f/1.8-2.8 | Monitor: 3.0-inch tilt-angle screen, 1,229K dots | View nder: EVF |
Continuous shooting: 10fps | Movies: 4K | User level: Beginner/Intermediate
$475.32 VIEW AT AMAZON
$598 View at Walmart
$598 View at BHPhoto

See all prices (29 found)
420 Amazon customer reviews ★☆

☆ ★☆
★☆★☆
★
 Large and capable sensor
 Built-in view nder
 Limited zoom range
 No touchscreen
Before we take a look at our best travel camera list, we wanted to highlight an alternative that is a few generations old but still packs a
punch. The RX100 III from Sony is a couple of years old now and was originally selling for near $1,000/£1,000, but with the arrival of
newer models (including the RX100 VII below), it's dropped massively in price. Downsides? Well, the zoom is pretty short compared to
other rivals here, but otherwise there's a lot to like. There's a decent 20.1MP 1-inch sensor, a pop-up electronic view nder and 4K
video recording, while it's packaged in a premium, metal body. De nitely worth a look if the zoom range isn't your main concern.
Read our in-depth Sony Cyber-shot RX100 III review
Best travel cameras in 2020:
1. Panasonic Lumix ZS200 / TZ200

The best travel zoom camera you can buy right now
Sensor: 1-inch type, 20.1MP | Lens: 24-360mm, f/3.3-6.4 | Monitor: 3.0-inch touchscreen, 1,240K dots | View nder: EVF |
$697.99 View at BHPhoto
$697.99 View at Adorama


☆ ★☆
★☆★☆
★
 Large 1.0-inch sensor
 Decent 15x zoom
 EVF still feels pretty cramped
 Expensive
With the rise of high-end compacts like the excellent Sony Cyber-shot RX100 V stealing the thunder from compact travel zooms,
Panasonic's response has been to keep the camera body about the same size as its earlier ZS/TZ-series cameras but to squeeze in a
much larger sensor. We saw this with the Lumix ZS100 (known as the Lumix TZ100 outside the US), and Panasonic has continued this
with the newer Lumix ZS200 / TZ200. This physically larger 1in sensor enables much better image quality than would otherwise be the
case, but the slight downside is that the zoom range from the lens isn't quite as extensive as some others with smaller sensors. That
said, The ZS200 / TZ200 still sports a very versatile 15x zoom, while there's also a handy built-in electronic view nder, which makes it
easier to compose images in bright light. It's a bit pricey, but this is still the best travel zoom compact camera available right now.
Read our in-depth Panasonic Lumix ZS200 / TZ200 review
2. Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III

Compact yet capable – arguably the ultimate travel package
Sensor: Four Thirds, 20.4MP | Lens: N/A | Monitor: 3-inch vari-angle touchscreen, 1,040,000 dots | View nder: 2.36M-dot OLED EVF
| Continuous shooting: 30fps | Movies: 4K | User level: Intermediate
$999 View at Adorama

 Incredible image stabilisation
 Compact shell with excellent handling
 Smaller sensor struggles in low light
 Polycarbonate body feels like a downgrade
Compact, versatile, capable – pick any two and you’ve got a good travel camera. The Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III is all three, and
then some. Its weatherproof polycarbonate shell is small and light, yet handles wonderfully. It o ers on-the-go photographers a raft
of modes and features that guarantee great holiday snaps. And the combination of a powerful image processor, on-chip phase
detection autofocus and some of the best image stabilization skills around make it an incredibly capable piece of kit to shoot with as
you move. Yes, its outright image quality can’t match larger formats in trickier conditions – low-light, for example – but you’ll struggle
to nd a travel camera that can tick so many other boxes. Add 4K video into the mix for those roaming vlogs and you’ve got a
mirrorless camera that deserves a spot in your carry-on.
Read our in-depth Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III review
3. Canon G5X Mark II

This great all-rounder could be the perfect enthusiast compact
Sensor: 1-inch type, 20.1MP | Lens: 24-120mm, f/1.8-2.8 | Monitor: 3.0-inch touchscreen, 1,040K dots | View nder: EVF |
$899 VIEW AT CRUTCHFIELD.COM
$899.99 View at Canon

 Large 1.0-inch sensor
 4K movies
 Limited 10x zoom lens
 Fixed rear display
What the G5X Mark II loses in zoom, it makes up for in other areas. With a wide maximum aperture throughout the focal length, this
is a camera which is well-suited to a wide range of lighting conditions. Besides which, having up to 120mm (in 35mm terms) available
is still pretty exible. Elsewhere, there's a high-performing 1-inch sensor, great 4K videos and a pop-up electronic view nder which
pairs well with the tilting LCD screen. There are undoubtedly more advanced cameras on the market, but not many combine a good
range of features like this in one competitively-priced package.
Read our in-depth Panasonic Lumix ZS100 / TZ100 review
4. Sony Cyber-shot RX100 VII

Sony's pocket powerhouse gets another upgrade
Sensor: 1-inch type, 20.1MP | Lens: 24-200mm, f/2.8-4.5 | Monitor: 3.0-inch tilt-angle touchscreen, 921K dots | View nder: EVF |
Continuous shooting: 90fps | Movies: 4K | User level: Intermediate
$1,198 VIEW AT ABT ELECTRONICS
$1,198 View at Adorama
$1,198 View at Amazon

 Blistering performance and AF
 High-quality EVF
 Average battery life
 Very expensive
Sony revolutionized premium compact cameras with the original RX100 as it was the rst pocket-sized camera to feature a large 1.0-
inch sensor. They were always great for travel, but thanks to a relatively limited zoom lens, were perhaps sometimes overlooked in
favour of other models. Things changed when we got to the RX100 VI, which paired a much longer lens than ever before - and now
we've seen some re nement of the model for the latest, the RX100 VII. The sacri ce for making the lens longer is losing the super
wide aperture of previous generations, but if you're mainly going to be shooting in sunny climes, it may not be such a big deal.
There's also a heck of a lot of power under the hood of the RX100 VII. It houses features that you might not ever use, such as a
ridiculous 90fps burst mode, as well as those that are more commonplace, such as 4K video. The big downside of this model is its
super-high asking price, but if you want the best of the best for your travels - it could just be the one for you. If your budget doesn't
quite stretch to the asking price of the RX100 VII, take a look at older models throughout the range for better prices.
Read our in-depth Sony Cyber-shot RX100 VII review
5. Fuji lm X-T30
A super-stylish compact system camera that's ideal for travelling
Sensor: APS-C, 26.1MP | Lens Mount: X Mount | Monitor: 3.0-inch tilt-ange touchscreen, 1040K dots | View nder: EVF | Continuous
shooting: 30fps | Movies: 4K | User level: Intermediate
$759 VIEW AT ADORAMA
$799 View at Amazon
$799 View at Focus Camera

 Great build quality and handling
 Gorgeous looks
 Some ddly controls
 No inbuilt stabilization
For those happy to tote a compact system camera, the Fuji lm X-T30 is one of our favourites, and one which makes a heck of a lot of
sense as a travel camera. Distilling many of the best elements of its older, bigger and more expensive brother, the X-T3 into a
pleasingly small form, the X-T30 will help you get gorgeous shots while also looking gorgeous itself. There's lots of great lenses
available for the Fuji X system, so you'll be spoiled for choice there, while 4K video recording, a tilting touch-sensitive screen and a
high-resolution EVF help to round out the spec sheet.
Read our in-depth Fuji lm X-T30 review
6. Nikon Z50
The fantastic 'mini DSLR' for travel photography
Sensor: 21MP APS-C CMOS | Lens: 16-50mm, f/3.5-5.6 | Monitor: 3.0-inch tilt-angle touchscreen, 1,040,000 dot | View nder: EVF |
Continuous shooting: 11fps | Movies: 4K 30fps | User level: Intermediate
$856.95 VIEW AT ADORAMA
$856.95 View at BHPhoto
$856.95 View at Amazon

 Excellent handling for a travel cam
 Great view nder and screen
 No joystick for choosing AF points
 Limited native lens range
The Nikon Z50 is a great option if you like Nikon and are after your rst 'proper' camera. It works well as a travel camera and has a
very comfortable button layout. The 3.2-inch screen can also ip underneath the body to compose sel es of an altogether higher
class, although it and the tripod mount compete for space. At this point, not many lenses have been made speci cally for the Z50’s DX
format, but the range will naturally grow larger over time, and you can use those made for the full-frame Nikons too. We prefer the
Sony A6500 for high-speed action shooting, but this is a good-value camera and generally a joy to use.
Read our in-depth Nikon Z50 review
7. Panasonic LX100 II
A brilliant, xed lens option for keen photographers
Sensor: 12MP, 1/2.3 inch | Lens: 16mm f/2.8 | Monitor: 2.0-inch xed touchscreen | View nder: NA | Continuous shooting: 30fps |
Movies: 4K 60fps | User level: Beginner/intermediate/expert
$824.99 VIEW AT WALMART
$897.99 View at Adorama


☆ ★☆
★☆★☆
★
 Brilliant image quality for the size
 Lots of controls
 Fixed rear screen
 Somewhat ddly interface
The rst LX100 camera arrived way back in 2014 and was notable for its use of a large Micro Four Thirds sensor in a compact camera
frame. There’s still no worry about getting sucked into a wallet-draining well of lens-buying in this second-gen version, and the high-
quality 24-75mm glass will do the job for most scenarios, bar a safari. Handy travel-friendly changes in the second generation LX100
include Bluetooth, USB charging and quickie monochrome lter modes. Its sensor is also higher resolution than the original, with a
21.77MP chip that ends up with 17 megapixels after applying the crop the camera uses for stills. It's no point-and-shoot camera, but if
you need a big sensor in a small body, this is one of the best around.
Read our in-depth Panasonic LX100 II review
8. Nikon Z6
For the ultimate in image quality, only full-frame will do
Sensor: Full frame, 24.5MP | Lens Mount: Nikon Z | Monitor: 3.2-inch, 2,100K dots | View nder: EVF | Continuous shooting: 12fps |
Movies: 4K | User level: Beginner/intermediate
$1,559 VIEW AT ADORAMA
$1,796.95 View at Amazon
$1,796.95 View at BHPhoto


☆ ★☆
★☆★☆
★
 Very large sensor
 Great handling
 Bulkiest in this group
 Not too many native lenses
When it comes to the best possible image quality, full-frame is what you need. Time was that full-frame cameras were packed inside
huge bodies which were decidedly unfriendly for travel. While Sony did a huge amount to change that with its Alpha range of
mirrorless cameras, it's the Nikon Z6 which we'd recommend as a perfect all rounder. Despite being the bulkiest on this page, it's still
conveniently sized for travel and gives you all the bene ts of travelling with a full-frame sensor. There's also 12fps shooting, 4K video,
a tilting touchscreen and a beautiful high resolution view nder. Although still fairly limited, the native lenses available for the Z range
are rapidly expanding - the 24-70mm f/4 lens is the ideal travelling partner. If you want to make things even smaller, also consider the
brand new APS-C Nikon Z50, which also has smaller lenses to pair with it.
Read our in-depth Nikon Z6 review
9. Canon PowerShot SX740 HS

Huge zoom in a svelte shell
Sensor: 1/2.3-inch, 20.3MP | Lens: 24-960mm, f/3.3-6.9 | Monitor: 3.0-inch tilt-angle screen, 922,000K dots | View nder: No |
Continuous shooting: 10fps | Movies: 4K | User level: Beginner/intermediate
$341.97 VIEW AT WALMART
$359 View at Amazon
$399.99 View at Best Buy


☆ ★☆
★☆★☆
★
 Excellent zoom range
 Sturdy build quality
 No view nder
 LCD not touch sensitive
The Canon PowerShot SX740 HS is something of a tale of two halves. The good news is that it exhibits a ne build and is generally
pleasing to use, with good response across most aspects of operation. If you want a no-nonsense camera with a broad zoom range,
and most of the decision-making left to it, the SX740 HS may just be what you’re after. The ipside of this is that it's missing a few
features which are becoming the norm elsewhere - there's no touch-operation, no option to move the focusing point, no electronic
view nder, nor raw shooting. Still, if the ability to zoom is your main concern, you won't nd anything longer than this.
Read our in-depth Canon PowerShot SX740 HS review
10. Sony Cyber-shot RX10 IV

Expensive, but in a league of its own - this is possibly the ultimate travel companion
Sensor: 1-inch type, 20.2MP | Lens: 24-600mm, f/2.4-4 | Monitor: 3.0-inch tilt-angle touchscreen, 1.44m dots | View nder: EVF |
Continuous shooting: 24fps | Movies: 4K | User level: Intermediate/Expert
$1,159 VIEW AT AMAZON
$1,598 View at BHPhoto
$1,598 View at Adorama


☆ ★☆
★☆★★
☆
 Great lens
 Cracking 4K video quality
 High price
 Menus somewhat awkward
In terms of o ering something for everybody, the RX10 IV ticks a lot of boxes. It's like having a bag full of lenses, but with the bene t
of never having to change them. There's a very long zoom, while the maximum aperture is pretty wide throughout the lens. The
sensor might not be as a large as the ones you'll nd on a DSLR/CSC, but Sony's 20.1MP one-inch device has proven itself to be very
capable regardless. You also get 24fps shooting, cracking 4K video quality and handling to rival a DSLR. The major downside? The high
price - if your budget is tighter, don't forget about this camera's predecessor, the RX10 III.
Read our in-depth Sony Cyber-shot RX10 IV review
Honorary mentions
These cameras are slightly di erent to the more traditional models in our list – if your main priority is waterproo ng or video quality,
then the Olympus TG-6 and GoPro Hero 8 Black are well worth considering:
Olympus TG-6
The zoom isn't huge but this compact can go where others fear
Sensor: 1/2.3-inch, 12MP | Lens: 25-100mm | Monitor: 3-inch, 460,000 dots | View nder: No | Continuous shooting: 20fps |
Movies: 4K | User level: Beginner/intermediate
$379 VIEW AT BHPHOTO
$379.99 View at Best Buy
$399 View at Amazon

 Raw shooting option
 Can be taken underwater
 Small sensor
 Low-resolution LCD screen
Not all holidays and stretches of travel are all about capturing wide-angle vistas and subjects in the distance. For some
photographers, having a camera that can withstand being dropped, knocked, splashed or frozen would be more appropriate, and
that's precisely what the Olympus TG-6 o ers. In addition to its rugged credentials, the camera o ers 4K video recording, built-in Wi-
Fi and a ring of LED lights around its lens to throw plenty of light on close-up subjects. There's even the option to capture raw les.
Read our in-depth Olympus TG-6 review
(Image credit: TechRadar)
GoPro Hero 8 Black

Great for video and capable of taking decent stills too
Sensor: 12MP, 1/2.3 inch | Lens: 16mm f/2.8 | Monitor: 2.0-inch xed touchscreen | View nder: NA | Continuous shooting: 30fps |
Movies: 4K 60fps | User level: Beginner/intermediate/expert
$339 VIEW AT ADORAMA
$399.99 View at GoPro

 Superb image stabilization
 Handy new built-in mount
 Stills quality only decent
 Not great in low light
If video quality is your main priority in a travel camera, then it's well worth considering GoPro's latest agship. The Hero 8 Black uses
the same sensor and a similar lens arrangement to the previous Hero 7 Black, but there are some fairly signi cant changes here. The
camera now has built-in mount ngers, so a shell is no longer needed. Video stabilization is also much improved and you can use the
Hypersmooth judder-buster in all modes. If you're doing something really extreme, a new Boost stabilization feature crops further
into the view for even more e ective smoothing.
Read our in-depth GoPro Hero 8 Black review
How to choose the best travel camera for you

Need a bit more guidance on how to decide the right type of travel camera? Have a think about the following options:
Travel Zoom Compact
These small pocket-friendly cameras give you great scope for shooting lots of di erent kinds of subject, with a zoom lens that gets
you close to the action, as well as giving you the opportunity to shoot nice and wide. The trade o for having all of this in a neat
compact size is generally a smaller sensor which is less useful for shooting in low light.
Premium Compact
If you want to stay pocket friendly, but you’re happy to lose the ultra long zoom, think about a premium compact. These generally
pack a one-inch sensor for better image quality, but will normally have a shorter zoom. Some may give you both - but you’ll pay a very
high price for it.
Bridge Camera
A bulkier option than a standard compact camera, but with better scope for zooming, a bridge camera is also ideal for those who like
more intuitive and comfortable handling. They’ll usually have a solid grip, decent electronic view nder and a exible screen. You get
many of the bene ts of having a bag full of lenses, but without the extra luggage.
Mirrorless / Compact System Camera
This is the option if you want the best possible image quality and you’re prepared for a little bit of hassle. With lots of di erent lenses
to choose from, you can pack di erent optics depending on the type of trip you’re on, or pack a good all-round lens and not worry
too much about swapping optics. You’ll have the best possible handling, too as well as plenty of advanced options.
Many of the current compact system cameras on the market have been speci cally designed with travel in mind - and are as small as
possible. We’ve included some of the best options here.
If you’re still unsure about which kind of camera you need, check our step-by-step guide: What camera should I buy? Alternatively, if
you’re going to be by the pool or on the beach, you might want something a bit more rugged – in which case, take a look at our best
waterproof camera and best action camera guides.
Best camera
Best DSLR
Best mirrorless camera
Best 4K camera
Best full-frame camera
Best compact camera
What camera should I buy?
Mirrorless vs DSLR: 10 key di erences
Best dash cam 2020
Pay for your new camera AND get points for your next trip with one of the best credit cards for travel (US only)
SEE MORE CAMERAS NEWS 
TECH DEALS, PRIZES AND

 LATEST NEWS
Get the best tech deals, reviews,

product advice, competitions,
unmissable tech news and more!
No spam, we promise. You can unsubscribe at any time and

we'll never share your details without your permission.
MOST POPULAR MOST SHARED
1 How to watch the Marvel movies in order
2 How to watch the Star Wars movies in order
3 AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3990X apparently crushes $20,000 Intel dual Xeon Platinum 8280 CPUs
4 Star Trek: Discovery season 3: release date predictions, trailer and what we know
5 Best free games 2020: the top free games to download on PC
TechRadar is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.
About Us
Terms and conditions
Privacy policy
Cookies policy
Advertise with us
Web noti cations
California Privacy Rights
© Future US, Inc. 11 West 42nd Street, 15th Floor, New York, NY 10036.

Best Travel Camera 2020 - 10 Vacation-Friendly Models For Your Holiday - TechRadar

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Best Travel Camera 2020 - 10 Vacation-Friendly Models For Your Holiday - TechRadar

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

2/6/2020 Best travel camera 2020: 10 vacation-friendly models for your holiday | TechRadar

Best travel camera 2020: 10 vacation-friendly models for your holiday

The perfect travel cameras for your vacation carry-on

(Image credit: Future)

Best travel cameras 2020 at a glance:

Great value option: Sony Cyber-shot RX100 III

$475.32 VIEW AT AMAZON

$598 View at Walmart

$598 View at BHPhoto

420 Amazon customer reviews ★☆

 Large and capable sensor

 Built-in view nder

 Limited zoom range

Read our in-depth Sony Cyber-shot RX100 III review

Best travel cameras in 2020:

1. Panasonic Lumix ZS200 / TZ200

$697.99 VIEW AT AMAZON

$697.99 View at BHPhoto

$697.99 View at Adorama

248 Amazon customer reviews ★☆

 Large 1.0-inch sensor

 Decent 15x zoom

 EVF still feels pretty cramped

Read our in-depth Panasonic Lumix ZS200 / TZ200 review

(Image credit: Future)

2. Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III

$998.99 VIEW AT AMAZON

$999 View at BHPhoto

$999 View at Adorama

 Incredible image stabilisation

 Compact shell with excellent handling

 Smaller sensor struggles in low light

 Polycarbonate body feels like a downgrade

Read our in-depth Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III review

(Image credit: Future)

3. Canon G5X Mark II

$899 VIEW AT CRUTCHFIELD.COM

$899 View at BHPhoto

$899.99 View at Canon

 Large 1.0-inch sensor

 Limited 10x zoom lens

 Fixed rear display

Read our in-depth Panasonic Lumix ZS100 / TZ100 review

(Image credit: Future)

4. Sony Cyber-shot RX100 VII

$1,198 VIEW AT ABT ELECTRONICS

$1,198 View at Adorama

$1,198 View at Amazon

 Blistering performance and AF

 Average battery life

Read our in-depth Sony Cyber-shot RX100 VII review

(Image credit: Future)

$759 VIEW AT ADORAMA

$799 View at Amazon

$799 View at Focus Camera

 Great build quality and handling

 Some ddly controls

Read our in-depth Fuji lm X-T30 review

(Image credit: Future)

$856.95 VIEW AT ADORAMA

$856.95 View at BHPhoto

$856.95 View at Amazon

 Excellent handling for a travel cam