When it comes to choosing a travel camera, there are many factors to consider. Unlike a regular camera, a good travel camera will need to able to adapt to various settings and be like the Swiss army knife of photography.
Here are the top five things to consider when choosing the best travel camera for your requirements:
Purpose
The first thing to consider is what you will be using the camera for. Will you be taking mainly landscapes, portraits, action shots, or a combination of all three? A good travel camera will be able to adapt to your requirements so that you can quickly switch between various styles of photography.
You may wish to capture some beautiful food in a restaurant and then a few portraits, or a group shot with your companions. You’ll need a camera that can easily provide you with this flexibility.
Read about the Fujifilm X-T5 camera here
Size and weight
When traveling, size and weight can be important considerations. A smaller, lighter camera is easier to carry around and will take up less space in your luggage. A smaller camera often has comprises, so it’s important to understand how this will effect you.
The best compact style cameras will more than likely have APSC sensors, these are smaller than the usual 35mm sensors and so allows for a smaller camera body. This makes these cameras ideal for travel photography.
The other consideration around size and weight is to do with whether your camera requires various lens options, or is a camera with a built in lens. The cameras with built in lenses will have a much smaller footprint, such as the Fujifilm X-100V. Read more about this camera here
Lens options
If you are planning on taking a wide range of photos on your trip, it’s important to consider the lens options available on the camera. A camera with a wide range of interchangeable lenses will give you more flexibility and allow you to capture a wider range of subjects, but will inevitably be heavier and need more luggage space.
If you need a camera with interchangeable lens options, it’s worth considering a smaller camera body, such as a mirrorless APSC style camera. This style of camera is much smaller than the DSLRs and will fit in a rucksack much more easily, without damaging your back with the heavy weight.
The focal length of your lenses will be important to get right. Consider lenses with a wide angle focal length, such as 24mm or 35mm. It also good to be able to get a little closer too and so lenses around the 85mm focal length will also be invaluable for portraits.
Image quality
Image quality is an important consideration when choosing a travel camera. Look for a camera with a high megapixel count and good low light performance for the best image quality. If you’re using a lens with a wide aperture of around f/1.8, you’ll be able to shoot in much lower light than an f/4 lens. This will mean you can use a lower ISO can retain a higher image quality.
Durability
Depending on where you are traveling and what you will be doing, durability may be an important factor to consider. If you will be doing a lot of outdoor activities or traveling to rugged locations, consider a camera that is up to the job.
Try and choose a camera that is weather sealed against rain and dust as it will give you peace of mind when on the beach or in bad weather.
In conclusion, it’s best to buy your camera based on the needs of your trip and lifestyle. If you’re wanting maximum flexibility, look at one of the Fujifilm cameras which are small, lightweight and have amazing image quality and autofocus systems. Many of them are also weather sealed too, which will give you peace of mind if it rains or you’re in dusty environments.
Download travel photo presets for your trip here
