Photo Tip Tuesday – Best point-and-shoot cameras for travel

With everyone being stuck indoors for the past few months, many people are starting to plan their getaways – whether it be a staycation or a road trip. Recently, I was asked by a fellow blogger, Janair, what the best travel camera is. Although there are hundreds (if not, thousands) of cameras to choose from, here’s a list of a few options to help in the search. With a range of prices, megapixels and zoom lengths, these will definitely help narrow down the wide field of choices. Thanks again to Janair for the topic suggestion!

Inexpensive and easy to use
Canon PowerShot Elph 180 ($119)
This range of Canon cameras has been around for over 15 years and has remained the go-to point-and-shoot camera that will easily slip into a pocket without breaking the bank. The Canon Powershot Elph 180 delivers 20 megapixels and an 8x optical zoom range (starting from 24mm). Even though the ISO range goes from 100 – 1600 (with a maximum ISO of 800 in Auto mode), there are some creative digital filter options available within the menu.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W800 ($105)
A lot of travelers wonder “why should I buy a camera when my phone will do what I need?”, and that’s where the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W800 comes in. With its optical zoom lens (as opposed to digital zoom) the W800 has a focal range from 26-130mm, which will cover most needs easily. This camera also captures standard HD 720p video, so while it doesn’t have the quality of a 1080p or 4K camera, it will suffice for social media travel videos.

Rugged build
Fujifilm XP140 ($160)
Whether you submerge it 80 feet underwater, drop it on the rocks from 6 feet above, or take in into sub-freezing temperatures, the Fujifilm FinePix XP140 can handle almost anything you throw at it. Not only is the body a tough build, but the camera also delivers high-quality images in a range of lighting conditions. It can also shoot HD 4K video at 15 fps and has a scene recognition mode to make the most of different shooting situations.

Olympus Tough TG-6 ($349)
This camera definitely lives up to its name. Not only does it house a 25-100mm equivalent lens, but it also has 4K video. Some of the other pro-level features this camera boasts includes the Macro and Microscope modes (which allow you to get closer to your subjects), RAW support. and 20 frames per second burst capture. If you (or your kids) have butterfingers or you plan on a more adventurous trip, this camera would be an excellent choice.

Zoom lens
Nikon COOLPIX B500 ($257)
This WiFi-enabled camera from Nikon features a 16MP CMOS sensor for high-resolution images, as well as Full HD 1080p video. The 40x optical zoom lens provides a 35mm equivalent focal range of 22.5-900mm, covering wide-angle to telephoto perspectives to suit working in a wide variety of environments. It also includes an 80x Dynamic Fine Zoom that digitally doubles the camera’s reach. The lens also features Vibration Reduction to help reduce the appearance of camera shake when shooting at the longer zoom lengths or with longer shutter speeds.s.

Panasonic Lumix ZS70 ($297)
This WiFi-compatible point-and-shoot camera has enough control to satisfy a broad range of users, with the advantage of a 30x optical zoom 4K video and RAW shooting. The camera also includes an electronic viewfinder and a lens control ring. The camera’s 49-area autofocus is reliable and the metering system is good for a variety of shooting scenarios.

Canon PowerShot SX740 HS ($359)
The 20.3MP Canon PowerShot SX740 HS has a lens reach that professional photographer would have to change lenses for with a focal range equivalent to 24-960mm. The LCD screen can also be flipped to face forward (perfect for composing selfies) and there’s also a host of selfie-friendly shooting modes (along with Program, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority and Manual modes). There’s also the ability to shoot 4K video for those high-definition captures.

Great image quality
Panasonic Lumix LX10 ($498)
If you want a point-and-shoot camera that also delivers a visible increase in picture quality from a camera phone, you’ll need a larger sensor. The Panasonic LX10 has a 1-inch, 20-megapixel sensor that gets the job done. Although there’s no electronic viewfinder, the responsive touchscreen is spot-on and the 24-72mm has one of the widest aperture settings around with a range from f/1.4 to f/2.8.

Canon PowerShot G9 X Mark II ($390)
The Canon PowerShot G9 X Mark II creates its image quality with a 1-in sensor paired with a wide-angle 28-84mm equivalent lens (whose maximum aperture is an impressive f/2). Unfortunately, there’s no viewfinder, but the 3-in LCD on the rear responds to touch, which ensures physical controls can be kept to a minimum.

Fujifilm XF10 ($429)
As one of the most travel-friendly cameras in Fujifilm’s range, the XF10 is designed to be thrown into a bag or pocket and taken on adventures. Although it’s small and has a large APS-C sensor to produce great images, it also has a fixed 28mm wide-angle lens rather than a zoom. Some users have also complained of issues with autofocus speed and accuracy, so proceed with caution.

Sony Cyber-shot RX100 VI ($998)
While the RX100 VI does cost more than most point-and-shoot buyers are willing to pay, it also houses some of the best qualities of compact cameras. With super-smooth 4K footage, dynamic burst shooting and the pop-up electronic viewfinder, this camera will definitely be a good tool for your visual storytelling (especially for travel & video).