Best Compact Cameras for Travel

Wondering what the top compact travel cameras are right now?

If you’re overwhelmed with wanderlust and wish to visit new locations, it’s worth noting that a photograph is the best souvenir for such an adventure.

It’s the best way to revisit your favourite moments and share the thrill with friends and family.

While smartphones possess decent cameras for moderately beautiful shots, they aren’t sophisticated enough to capture events with absolute quality.

Furthermore DSLR cameras or mirrorless cameras are too bulky for some!

For this reason, I recommend a dedicated point & shoot compact travel camera.

Best compact cameras a glance:

1. Sony ZV-1 – Best compact travel vlogging camera
2. Panasonic Lumix ZS200 / TZ200 – Best compact zoom camera
3. Nikon Z FC – Best retro style compact travel camera
4. Sony Cyber-shot RX100 VII – Best pocket sized camera
5. Olympus Tough TG-6 – Best for clumsy travellers or wild adventurers

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Head to the Best Places to Visit in Cornwall for Photography for some travel inspiratoin.

This article will reveal the top five recommended point & shoot compact cameras for travellers, ensuring you capture epic moments in high-quality.

Let’s begin!

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1. Sony ZV-1 – Best compact travel vlogging camera

First on the list is the Sony ZV-1, an affordable travel camera widely used for Vlogging. One feature that makes this technology unique for travellers is its slim dimensions, which facilitate portability and video capture.

It’s worth noting that the Sony ZV-1 possesses a small but sophisticated built-in mic alongside a clip-on windshield for excellent noise reduction.

These elements combined make it easy for the camera to clear audio input while you make videos in the great outdoors.

Aside from excellent sound quality, this travel vlog camera can produce 4k UHD videos with zero complications. There’s also auto-focus to ensure each shot is crystal clear and full of detail.

One final factor worth mentioning is that despite being excellent for Vlogging, the Sony ZV-1 is a capable still camera with 24fps burst-shooting.

So ultimately, it’s a reliable travel vlog camera buddy for your next adventure.

Pros:

• Impressive auto-focus
• Clip-on windshield for mic
• Very portable

Cons:

• No viewfinder

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2. Panasonic Lumix ZS200 / TZ200 – Best compact zoom camera

As a traveller, it’s important to prioritize the compactness of your point & shoot camera alongside its image quality, and in this case, the Panasonic Lumix ZS200 / TZ200 fits the criteria.

This device features a larger one-inch sensor in its small frame, giving it the ability to take high-quality shots.

While the camera only offers a decent 15x zoom, it’s a noteworthy feat for devices in this category.

Additionally, the Panasonic Lumix ZS200 sports a handy electronic viewfinder, which helps in polishing shots taken in extremely bright environments. It also takes 4K UHD shots with continuous shooting of 10 fps.

Lastly, this travel camera is built to be usable by beginners and intermediate photographers.

Therefore, you don’t need to take a long lesson to produce impressive images with this gadget.

Pros:

• Decent 15x zoom
• Large one-inch lens
• Portable frame
• Beginner-friendly point & shoot camera

Cons:

• Slightly pricey for a compact camera for travel

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3. Nikon Z FC – Best retro style compact travel camera

The purpose of pictures is to relive moments and ignite feelings of nostalgia about where you visited; fortunately, the Nikon Z FC functions excellently in this category.

This device is a stunning reminder of the 30-year-old Nikon FM2, equipped with its dials, retro style, and dimensions.

Nevertheless, the Nikon Z FC is a modern camera conditioning multiple technological factors that produce impressive images.

For example, the device comes with a 20.9MP sensor that allows 4K videos at 30 fps. In addition to these elements is a reliable tracking auto-focus that ensures you capture the event excellently.

The 3.0-inch vari-angle touchscreen is another noteworthy addition that makes taking selfies hassle-free for beginners.

The screen equally adds to the camera’s portability since folding into your bag is easier.

Ultimately, the Nikon Z FC is a unique camera for the casual traveller as it provides all you need for excellent photography.

However, beginners will also enjoy using this device, thanks to the intuitive dials that control shutter speed, ISO, and exposure. It’s a worthwhile option.

Pros:

• Vari-angle touchscreen
• Visually appealing design
• 20.9MP sensor

Cons:

• No native lenses

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4. Sony Cyber-shot RX100 VII – Best pocket sized camera

Sony is popular for having excellent point & shoot compact cameras like the original RX100 pocket-sized and packed a one-inch sensor.

However, the recent model of the device, the RX100 VII, is more sophisticated with larger lenses and more aesthetically pleasing frames.

While the larger lens provides excellent picture quality, it loses out on the super-wide aperture from previous models.

Nevertheless, it provided more noteworthy features compared to previous models.

For example, the Sony Cyber-shot RX100 VII shoots 4K videos at an astonishing 90 fps, ensuring each scene captured is pristine.

This Sony RX100 travel camera has two noteworthy downsides; its controls are not beginner-friendly and are best suited for intermediate photographers.

Additionally, the asking price is relatively high, requiring a robust budget to acquire. Nevertheless, it is still one of the best compact cameras to include in your travel arsenal.

Pros:

• Impressive video capturing quality
• Auto-focus for better shots
• Portable

Cons:

• Relatively expensive
• Average battery life

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5. Olympus Tough TG-6 – Best for clumsy travellers or wild adventurers

The Olympus Tough TG-6 builds on the success of its predecessors, the TG-5, with substantial improvements to the camera’s impressive specifications.

The device comes with a 3-inch LCD screen with 1.04 million dots for fluidity and accuracy, as well as an anti-reflective coating on the front sensor.

This sensor has a value of 12MP, working with a 25-100mm lens that possesses a maximum aperture of f/2-4.9.

Its processing capacity allows for excellent video footage of up to 4K, ensuring you accurately capture the exciting moments in your journey.

One feature that makes this camera unique is its durability. Here is some proof of it in action.

Essentially, Olympus made the Tough TG-6 to be resistant to water up to depths of 40 feet, as well as withstand temperatures below zero (-10°C), pressures of up to 100kg, and shock from seven feet.

Pros:

• Extremely durable
• Shoots high-quality 4K video footage
• Ideal for beginners wanting to point & shoot
• Internally stacked zoom lens

Cons:

• No eye-level viewfinder
• LCD and image quality suffers in extremely bright environments

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Conclusion

While the joy of an adventure depends on your activities, a camera can help capture and preserve the happiness for nostalgia.

Fortunately, the options listed on this page are sufficient to meet your needs as they all take high-quality shots.

However, your decision will mostly be based on budget, any travel vlog camera requirements and your photography skills.

If you’re looking to take your snaps to the next level, try pairing with one of these mini tripods for photography!

Enjoy!

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