We Found the 4 Best Cameras to Travel With

• Truly pocketable but shockingly powerful
• Fast autofocus with Real-Time Eye AF (for both humans and animals)
• Shoots blackout-free at 20fps or Single Burst at 90fps for blink-and-you ’ll-miss-it moments
• 4K video with full pixel readout, plus slow-mo up to 960fps

• No interchangeable lenses
• A small body means small buttons
• Battery life is decent, but you’ll probably want a spare

This was the camera I kept coming back to when I realized I wanted zero fuss and full power. The Sony RX100 VII is like the secret weapon of travel photographers who don’t want to be weighed down. You know that friend who always gets the best photos but never seems to be holding a camera? They’re probably using this. It fits in your pocket. It zooms from 24mm to 200mm. And it focuses faster than you can say “Wait, smile again!”

I’d use this on trips where I don’t want to think too hard—walking tours, markets, quick coffee snaps, stealthy candids of strangers with great outfits. It’s fast (up to 20fps continuous shooting), sharp, and versatile enough to get landscape shots one moment and a close-up of a pastry the next. And the image quality? Chef’s kiss. It also handles video like a champ: 4K with no pixel binning, impressive slow-mo capabilities (hello, 960fps), and built-in stabilization that actually works. The flip-up screen makes selfies feel less awkward, and there’s even a mic jack if you want to go semi-pro.

Norton told me this is the one “you’ll often see in a professional’s pocket,” and that tracks. It’s got pro DNA in a tiny, non-intimidating body.

• Full-frame 24.5MP sensor = dreamy, detailed images
• Great in low light
• Fast autofocus with tracking for 9 types of subjects
• 5-axis image stabilization for handheld shooting

• Not compact—it takes up real estate in your day bag
• Might be more camera than you need if you're just snapping for social
• Price is only the camera; need a lens as well

I wanted a “starter camera,” but one you could grow with, not one that screams starter camera. The Nikon Z5 II fits that sweet spot between approachable and aspirational. It’s basically for anyone wanting to level up from their phone, shoot in all kinds of light, and maybe pretend to be a professional travel photographer. I’d use this for everything from wide-open landscapes in Iceland to portraits of my kid eating gelato in dim side-street cafés. Norton summed it up perfectly: “When asked what the best camera for beginners is, some might pick a really inexpensive camera. I tend to think that it should be easy to get started with and have room to grow. This Nikon is a full-frame camera, allowing for the best quality images, even in less-than-ideal lighting.”

And that’s exactly what makes it so good—it’s forgiving, but powerful. The autofocus system tracks everything from people to pets to passing cars, even in near darkness. Pre-Release Capture saves the moments you missed before you clicked the shutter (basically a photo time machine), and a Starlight View mode lets you frame your shot even when it’s so dark you can’t see your hand. It’s a real camera you can learn on, but won’t outgrow anytime soon.

• Smooth, stable footage thanks to built-in 3-axis gimbal
• Tiny enough to fit in your pocket or that one random pouch in your backpack
• Rotating touch screen makes switching between selfie mode and forward-facing effortless
• Great built-in audio, plus wireless mic integration for top-notch sound

• Not really built for still photography, so you’ll want your phone or a second camera for that
• Requires some post-editing to get the most from the footage (especially with 10-bit)

Content creator was not my goal here. I just wanted vacation videos that didn’t look like they were shot during an earthquake. The DJI Osmo Pocket 3—a tiny, gimbal-stabilized camera—does that. It’s small enough to live in your pocket, but powerful enough to shoot 4K at 120fps, with a 1-inch sensor that delivers impressively crisp video even in tricky lighting. Think golden hour in Lisbon, alleyways in Tokyo, or your living room at 6 a.m. because your child doesn’t believe in sleep.

According to Norton, this camera is made for travel creators but equally useful for anyone who wants professional-looking video without lugging a full setup. “This tiny camera is made for vlogging,” he told me—and he’s not wrong. The built-in three-axis gimbal makes every clip look cinematic, and the audio? Surprisingly, it is excellent thanks to onboard mics and seamless integration with DJI Mic 2 lavaliers, so you’re not messing with cables or clunky attachments.

It’s the perfect “set it and forget it” tool for smooth, vibrant travel footage—whether documenting your road trip or narrating a croissant taste test in Paris.

• Compact, durable body that’s easy to carry on hikes or dusty safaris
• Weather-sealed (go ahead, shoot in the rain)
• Fast, accurate autofocus—great for birds, squirrels, or your toddler sprinting toward a duck
• Vintage design with modern guts: built-in creative filters and profiles

• Smaller sensor than full-frame = slightly less low-light performance
• If you’re not doing wildlife or outdoor photography, you might not need this much telephoto

This is the camera that'd made me think, maybe I am into birding and nature photography? Because the OM SYSTEM OM-3 practically dares you to go outside and wait for something to fly, run, or skitter past. It’s compact (thank you, Micro Four Thirds sensor), fast, and weather-sealed—so it doesn’t flinch when you're standing in the drizzle trying to get a shot of a moose or, more realistically, a slightly dramatic squirrel.

According to Norton, what makes it so good for nature photography is that “the telephoto lenses you’d use for wildlife are much smaller than their full-frame counterparts.” Translation: you’re not hauling a lens the size of a baguette into the woods. I’d use this for hikes, national park trips, or anywhere I might get unexpectedly enchanted by a fox. The autofocus is built for fast-moving subjects, and the OM-3’s vintage-inspired metal body makes you feel like a nature photographer from a cooler, more analog era—even though it’s packed with smart digital features like customizable color profiles, creative filters, and sharp glass with anti-reflective lens coating.

In the end, I didn’t find the perfect travel camera. That's because a single camera doesn't necessarily exist. I found four very different, very capable ones, depending on who you are, how you travel, and what you want to capture (emotionally and literally). Whether you’re chasing birds through the Rockies, filming a silky-smooth vlog in Rome, or want something discreet and powerful for everyday moments, something here will make your photos better, and your trip feel a little more cinematic.

As Norton kept reminding me: the best camera is the one you’ll actually use. So pick the one that fits your vibe, pack an extra battery, and please, for all of us, don’t forget the memory card.