The topic of this article might seem easy-breezy to compose, but truth be told—it isn’t. For starters, how do you define “travel friendly?” Where are you going? How are you getting there? And what exactly do you plan on photographing once you get there? Do you already own a camera and lenses? If you do, are you happy with them and, if not, why?
There’s simply no way we can address every scenario but, at the very least, we can offer you food for thought.
Bigger Doesn’t Always Mean Better
With few exceptions, it would be fair to say just about every camera we sell at B&H would make for a good, if not terrific, travel companion. Cameras featuring sensors with upwards of 100MP can take breathtakingly sharp, detailed photographs, but are the pictures they take necessarily better than the pictures we take with cameras containing smaller-format, lower-resolution imaging sensors? Not always.
There’s no shortage of pocket-sized point-and-shoots and compact DSLR-style bridge cameras with ridiculously broad zoom ranges. There are also many larger (and heavier) mirrorless and DSLR options. The questions are: A) which of these camera systems can you hang off your shoulder for extended periods of time before suffering curvature of the spine and, B) which camera system will best capture the type of pictures you plan on taking where you will be traveling?
The following are my thoughts on the “ideal” compact travel system, a system that would satisfy my creative needs 85-90% of the time based on size, weight, and performance levels. Considering that the perfect camera doesn’t exist, 85-90% of the time is more than acceptable.
A Few Words about Variable-Aperture Zooms
The problem with many less expensive zoom lenses and point-and-shoot cameras is that they have maximum apertures of f/3.5 or smaller, making them difficult to use indoors or in low light without resorting to the limitations of the camera’s flash. And that’s at maximum aperture. Zoom in and the maximum aperture becomes progressively less efficient, which in turn diminishes the speed and accuracy of the camera’s autofocus system.
In the case of superzoom cameras with advanced image stabilization, these cameras become increasingly difficult to hold steady at longer focal lengths without resorting to a tripod (so much for portability). These performance issues hold true regardless of camera format, be it full-frame, APS-C, Micro Four Thirds, or pocket cam.
This is a primary reason why, when it comes to traveling lightly, I prefer to rely on a pair of wider-aperture fixed focal length lenses—one wide-angle, another slightly long, and I’m good-to-go indoors or out, daytime or night.
Optical and Electronic Viewfinders (OVFs and EVFs)
One feature I hold sacred is an optical or electronic viewfinder. LCDs are wonderful, but try using them while holding the camera at arm’s length under bright sunny skies. Worse yet, handholding the camera at arm’s length under bright sunny skies with the lens set anywhere past the halfway mark of its super-zoom’s focal range. In my book, cameras that lack an OVF or EVF never make it into my bag.
Keeping these thoughts in mind, I’ve decided to break my camera and lens choices into several categories, the first being rugged, water- and shockproof point-and-shoot cameras.
Tough Point-and-Shoot Cameras
OK, OK, I know I said I wasn’t going to discuss point-and-shoot cameras but, rugged, waterproof point-and-shoot cameras and the few point-and-shoot cameras featuring fast, narrow-range zooms are the exceptions. The beauty of the rugged, waterproof cameras is that they’re ideal for rough-and-tumble travel. They’re built to tighter standards and you can feel the difference when you pick them up. They contain more metal alloys, less plastic, and every button, seam, and flap is lined with waterproof gaskets. They’re waterproof, shockproof, and freezeproof, which means you can bounce them off the walls of your igloo without voiding the camera’s warranty.
Rather than hiding behind a thin metal curtain when the camera is at rest, the lenses on these tough digicams reside behind scratch proof (and very easy to clean) glass ports. These cameras are terrific in that you can slip them into your pocket and use them in the worst weather. The best part? The most popular models sell for $150 to $450.
Non-Rugged Point-and-Shoots Worth Considering
Non-rugged point-and-shoots I would consider, specifically because of their wider maximum apertures, include the Canon PowerShot G7X Mark II (24-100mm f/1.8-2.8 equivalent), Panasonic Lumix DC-LX100 II (24-75mm f/1.7-2.8 equivalent) and Lumix DMC-LX10 (24-72mm f/1.4-2.8 equivalent), which feature short but fast zoom lenses. And let us not forget the Leica D-Lux 7, which is a gussied-up version of the Panasonic DMC-LX100 II. The wider apertures on these cameras greatly extend their AF and AE performance when shooting in low light.
Bridge Cameras
On paper, bridge cameras are the perfect camera. They’re small (though a few are larger than compact DSLRs) and feature lenses that can capture subjects that are millimeters from the front of the lens, or subjects two miles away. The problem with most bridge cameras is lenses that are optimized for brighter lighting conditions, but become increasingly balky as light levels drop off. A few of these cameras have zooms that open to f/2.8 and remain relatively fast throughout their zoom ranges.
These cameras include the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 IV (24-600mm f/2.4-4), Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000 (25-400mm f/2.8-f/4), Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ2500 (24-480mm f/2.8-4.5), and, although they start getting precariously slow at the telephoto end of the zoom range, the Nikon COOLPIX P1000 ( 24-3000mm f/2.8-8), Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300 (25-600mm f/2.8-f/8), and Lumix DC-FZ80 (20-1200mm equivalent F/2.8-f/8) are worthy options.
Single Focal Length Fixed-Lens Cameras
For some people, the thought of venturing forth with only one camera and one lens can invoke an anxiety attack. For others, it’s liberating. The following are premium cameras that will match or surpass the image quality of whatever camera you currently own.
The Leica Q2 (47.3MP, 28mm f/1.7 equivalent Leica Summilux lens) is an absolutely superb travel and street photography camera. Rock-solid construction, stealthy appearance, with top-shelf image quality, the Q2 replaces the original Leica Q (24MP), which is still available.
The Sony RX1R II is one of the smallest full-frame cameras on the market—it’s ridiculously small. It features a 42MP CMOS sensor and a 35mm f/2 lens that was designed specifically for this camera. The cool part of this camera is that the image quality is so good you can crop deep into the image file and still retain an amazingly sharp photograph. As with Leica Q-series cameras, Sony’s RX10R II is a solidly built camera, small and light enough to take anywhere you go.
If the Leica Q-series cameras and the Sony RX10R II are too pricey for your budget, take a look at the Fujifilm XF 10, a solid compact camera that features a 24.2MP APS-C CMOS sensor and a 28mm f/2.8 equivalent lens. If 28mm is too wide for your tastes, check out the Fujifilm X100F, which sports a 24.3MP APS-C sensor and a 23mm f/2 lens (35mm equivalent). As for image quality, they’re both wonderful.
Mirrorless Cameras
In my opinion, mirrorless cameras are the best choice for travel photography, for reasons of size and weight. The lengths, widths, and heights of carry-on baggage have dramatically decreased over time. Fortunately, camera and lens sizes have decreased, too, thanks in part to the introduction of mirrorless cameras. By taking reflex viewing systems out of the equation, camera and lens manufacturers have been able to reduce the form factors of cameras and lenses dramatically.
As an example, if you view any of the current full-frame mirrorless cameras and their DSLR counterparts side-by-side, they look like a before-and-after photograph for a diet supplement ad. The specs, performance capabilities, and most notably, the resolving power of both cameras are remarkable. So is the size difference between them.
Determining which mirrorless cameras fare best for travel is challenging, due to the broad choice of camera styles and sizes we can choose from. The size differences between compact cameras containing 1", Micro Four Thirds, APS-C, and even full-frame imaging sensors are often negligible, but the differences in image quality between the results you get from cameras containing smaller-size imaging sensors—as amazingly good as they are—pale when compared to the results you get from cameras containing larger full-frame sensors.
Canon’s EOS M50, which contains a 24.2MP APS-C CMOS sensor, makes for a good travel camera, especially when coupled with the Canon EF-M 22mm f/2 STM (35.2mm equivalent) or Canon EF-M 32mm f/1.4 (51.2mm-equivalent), which are the fastest of Canon’s EF-M-series lenses.
Fujifilm offers an extensive line of APS-C format mirrorless cameras. The top gun of the group is the Fujifilm X-Pro2, which in addition to channeling many of the best attributes of a classic Leica M camera in a state-of-the-art digital camera, begs to go on vacation with you. Equally formidable is the Fujifilm X-H1, which features a 24.3MP APS-C X-Trans CMOS II imaging sensor. Other travel-friendly cameras from Fujifilm include Fujifilm’s X-T1, X-T2, and if medium format is your preferred format, the Fujifilm GFX 50S and GFX 50R.
Micro Four Thirds (MFT) cameras from Olympus and Panasonic are available in a choice of body styles, and there’s an impressively wide selection of MFT lenses available to go along with them.
For wider-angle scenes, I would recommend the Venus Optics Lauwa 7.5mm f/2 MFT (15mm equivalent), the super-fast Voigtländer Nokton 10.5mm f/0.95(21mm equivalent), the Olympus M.ZUIKO Digital ED 12mm f/2 , Rokinon 12mm f/2 NCS CS , and Panasonic Leica DG Summilux 12mm f/1.4 ASPH (each 24mm equivalents). If you prefer a lens a little less wide, check out the Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG Summilux 15mm f/1.7 ASPH (30mm equivalent), the 34mm equivalent Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 17mm f/1.8, Voigtländer’s super-fast Nokton 17.5mm F/0.95 35mm equivalent lens, or the Panasonic Lumix G 20mm f/1.7 II ASPH, which at 40mm equivalent, is a smidgen shy of a normal lens.
For tighter shots, I would recommend the Panasonic LUMIX G 42.5mm f/1.7 ASPH POWER O.I.S (85mm equivalent), the even faster Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG Nocticron 42.5mm f/1.2 ASPH Power O.I.S., or the 90mm equivalent Olympus M.ZUIKO Digital 45mm f/1.8.
And remember, for wider-field photographs, you can use your camera’s Panorama mode (assuming it has one), and for tighter shots you can always crop (yes… It’s OK to crop a picture if it makes the picture better!)
If you’re an MFT fanboy (or fangirl) I’ll allow for a fast (f/2.8) zoom, which would include the Olympus M.ZUIKO Digital ED 7-14mm f/2.8 PRO or the Olympus M.ZUIKO Digital ED 12-40mm f/2.8 PRO lens.
There are too many full-frame and APS-C format mirrorless cameras from Canon, Fujifilm, Leica , and Sony to name in the space of this article but, if you follow Explora, you’re familiar with most of them. Which ones are best for travel? Again, I prefer smaller-profile cameras for traveling, and there are many to choose from the abovementioned manufacturers.
As for lenses, according to the B&H website we stock more than 200 wide-angle lenses for full-frame and APS-C mirrorless cameras with apertures f/2.8 and faster, and well over 100 medium-telephoto lenses for full-frame and APS-C format mirrorless cameras, also with apertures of at least f/2.8. Keep in mind that you can, no doubt, justify traveling with any of the MFT lenses we sell, just make sure you factor-in the size, weight, and light-gathering abilities of the lens—if it’s big and heavy, the size and weight of the camera becomes secondary.
DSLRs
DSLRs are available in more sizes and formats than mirrorless cameras. If you currently own a DSLR and you’re happy with it, you’re welcome to use it. If your current DSLR is too large and heavy for long treks, or you don’t own a DSLR, I suggest a smaller-profile APS-C format DSLR simply for reasons of weight and mass.
Compact DSLRs worth investigating include the D3330, D3400, and Nikon D3500, which come with 18-55mm kit zooms. If these cameras are too small for your likes or needs, by all means check out the D5500, Nikon D5600 and, without a doubt the D500 and D750.
The Canon Rebel-series cameras have been hot sellers for years and the Canon EOS Rebel T5, T6, T6i, & T7 and EOS T7i, carry the tradition forward. Prefer something even smaller? Try Canon’s EOS Rebel SL1, EOS Rebel SL2, and most recently released EOS Rebel SL3. Prefer something a bit larger from Canon? Check out Canon’s EOS 7D Mk II and the EOS 6D Mk II.
If you’re looking for a truly compact DSLR that can handle wet weather, the camera you should look at is the Pentax K-70, which is weather-resistant and a solid performer in every meaning of the phrase. Pentax also produces several smaller pancake-style lenses that complement the form factor of Pentax’s smaller camera bodies.
Lenses
When selecting equipment for travel, I try to pack as efficiently as possible, especially when it comes to lenses. From personal experience, I know a fast, wide-angle lens (24mm or 28mm) and an equally fast short telephoto lens (85mm to 105mm) are sufficient for 90% of the type of photographs I take. Would a fast 50mm normal lens be handy? No doubt, but by stepping closer with the wide or stepping back a bit with my longer lens I can often capture results that more than satisfy my visual needs. Would a 24-105mm f/4 zoom accomplish the same goal? Pretty much, but I prefer two fast lenses over a single larger, bulkier lens any day.
If there’s a downside to wider-aperture lenses, it would have to be that they’re heavier than slower glass. There are fast (f/2.8 and f/4) super-telephotos that get you so close to the polar bears you risk soiling your trousers, but do you really want to carry one around all day? When choosing lenses, this is an element you must factor-in to the equation.
Figuring out the best combination of cameras and lenses for travel is difficult because we all have unique criteria, based on our specific personal needs.
Do you have a favorite travel camera, lens, or system? If you do, drop us a line and tell us about them. And if there’s a camera or lens choice I missed (no doubt!), let us know about that, too! For more travel-related news and tips, be sure to check out the rest of Travel Week on B&H Explora!
