Photography is essential in our trips. We not only want to experience traveling and the destination, but also share it, and why not say it, sometimes show off our vacations. In this sense, having a good camera for traveling is essential, and it helps us preserve the best memories of our trips. So, which camera should you choose for your travels? It’s an important and somewhat complicated decision in which we need to consider different factors. Unfortunately, there is no perfect camera that adapts to every type of need, but there is the perfect camera for you, based on your preferences, knowledge, and budget.
Types of Cameras
On the market, we can find different types of cameras depending on our needs.
Action Camera
These are the cameras many know as “GoPro type,” which stand out for having small dimensions and accessories that allow them to be attached to many different places. Due to their small size and ease of placement anywhere, they are often used for sports or adventure activities.
Compact Camera
These are the “traditional” cameras, those small “point-and-shoot” cameras where you frame, press the button to take the photo, and automatically it configures itself to take the best possible photograph. Small and easy to transport, they have been replaced in recent years by smartphones. The most advanced compact cameras allow some modifications in the settings to take photos in a more “manual” way, and some even allow saving photos in RAW format, which is used for professional editing on a computer.
DSLR Camera
DSLR cameras are the most used professionally. They work based on a mirror system that reflects (hence the name) the image into the viewfinder. Due to this system, they have a large size and weight, but they allow full configuration of the photograph settings, modifying the ISO, shutter speed, and aperture. Additionally, in these cameras, you can change the lens (the lens) to choose the one you need depending on the type of shot: telephoto lenses for taking photos from a distance, fisheye to cover the largest possible range in photography, macro for photographing small objects, etc. Lastly, these cameras allow us to save photos in RAW format to edit them later.
Mirrorless Cameras (Evil)
Mirrorless or “evil” cameras are professional cameras that do not use the mirror system of DSLRs but instead use an electronic system. This allows them to have a smaller size while offering DSLR-like performance, making this type of camera currently growing. The disadvantage is that since they are not as popular as DSLRs, they have fewer accessories and lenses available.
Bridge Camera
Bridge cameras sit between compact cameras and DSLRs, allowing manual photography but with some limitations. Also, they are somewhat smaller than DSLRs, and some even allow changing lenses. This type of camera is ideal for those who are unsure whether to choose a DSLR/mirrorless or a compact camera.
Other Cameras
In addition to these, other varieties have emerged that can also be useful but for very specific cases, such as 360° cameras that record and take photos in 360°, underwater cameras, instant cameras, etc.
What to Consider When Choosing a Camera for Travel?
To choose the camera that best suits us, we should consider the following elements:
Size and Weight
The size and weight of our camera is an important factor to keep in mind when deciding which camera to choose, as it can influence the way we travel. Obviously, it is not the same to travel with an action camera, a compact camera, or a DSLR. If we usually do sports or adventure activities on our vacation, an action camera is what suits us best. If we do not engage in these types of activities, we can opt for a compact camera or a DSLR. Compact cameras, as their name suggests, are cameras with a very small size and weight, making them very easy to transport and carry anywhere. On the other hand, DSLRs are larger and heavier, and you will need a small transport bag to carry it anywhere.
Knowledge
If you have a lot of photography knowledge, you may prefer a camera that gives you many options for controlling the photograph, i.e., a DSLR. If you want to learn photography, you can also opt for a DSLR, but you must be sure that you will use it, as its cost is usually much higher than compact cameras. If you want to start practicing without needing a camera, you can try photography simulators to start applying your knowledge. What we do not recommend is starting with a “bridge” camera, as, being unable to fully configure the photo capture, you will not be able to experiment or enjoy it as much as with a DSLR.
Photo Editing
If your goal is to edit your photos professionally or semi-professionally, you need a camera that takes photos in “RAW” format, common in DSLR cameras, but harder to find in compact cameras, and when they offer it, they are usually very expensive.
Price
Price will obviously be another important factor, as each type of camera has its cost, and not everyone can afford the same expense. Price can be a determining factor in buying the camera we would like, but there are often options with a good price-quality ratio that bring it closer to an affordable price.
Sensor and Megapixels
An important element that, however, is often overlooked by people with less photography knowledge is the size of the sensor. The larger its size, the more light it can capture, and thus better photos we will get. As for megapixels, it’s important that the sensor offers a good number of megapixels, but it is not the most important factor, as is often shown when promoting a camera.
What Are the Best Cameras for Traveling in 2020?
As we mentioned, the perfect camera doesn’t exist. There are different types, and the one that best suits us may be of one type or another. However, we will tell you about the best cameras for traveling based on your needs.
GoPro Hero: A Classic That Continues to Lead
GoPro cameras have a long tradition and are considered the pioneering brand among action or sports cameras. The GoPro Hero is one of the best cameras of this type with an affordable price that makes it a tough competitor to beat in this market. As is customary with these cameras, it has a very small size that makes it easy to transport and can be attached to different surfaces in various ways. The GoPro Hero features a 2” touchscreen and voice controls, along with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, which allow you to control the camera remotely and share the images more easily.
Canon PowerShot SX740 HS: The Most Versatile Camera
This new model of Canon PowerShot is a compact camera with great versatility, standing out for its powerful 40x optical zoom, which we can make the most of at our vacation destinations. The image quality is excellent, though it decreases in low light conditions.
SONY RX100: A Premium All-Terrain Compact
The SONY RX100 allows you to take photos in manual mode, giving you complete control over how you want to take your photos, adjusting the focus manually, the aperture, shutter speed, and ISO.
Canon EOS 800D: A Good One to Start With in DSLR Photography
The Canon EOS 800D has a good price and all the functions you can ask for in a DSLR camera. It offers very good image quality and the intuitive Canon interface, which is so easy to use. The only drawback of this camera is that it doesn’t have built-in stabilization, as Canon usually puts stabilization in the camera’s lenses. This stabilization works very well for photography but is not as smooth for video. Additionally, it does not have 4K recording, so if video is very important to us, we can find better options in the market.
Sony Alpha ILCE7M3
The Sony Alpha7 is one of the best cameras currently available on the market, with a powerful 35mm CMOS sensor and 24.2 Megapixels, allowing an ISO sensitivity range of up to 51200. It is a camera that allows very fast, precise, and high-quality shots, and it also has a 4K video mode that works very well. One of the features that stands out the most about this camera is its ISO sensitivity range, which, in addition to being able to go to very high values, reduces noise very well as long as we don’t overuse it, of course.
A Camera for Every Type of Traveler – Which One Is Yours?
The perfect camera for any user doesn’t exist, but there is the perfect camera for you. You should think carefully about your preferences when traveling and taking photos, assess your knowledge, or if you’re willing to try a more complex camera. Also, keep in mind that year by year, models are updated with new improvements, so it’s worth keeping an eye on the new features that come out and if any new functionality might be especially interesting for you. This little guide can help you choose the camera you need. Have you got your eye on any?
