An Expert Guide To Budget-Friendly Travel Camera

Author: Megha Agarwal on Jan 03,2024

If you are into photography, then traveling the world with a camera will help you come back home with a lot of pictures that will stand the test of time. Clicking pictures is the best way to share travel memories and experiences with your friends, family, and loved ones. As the adage goes, a picture is worth a thousand words, it is something that can bring back the excitement and thrill of the vacation whenever you look back at them. Without a doubt, photographs are truly the most precious treasured souvenirs one can ever bring back from their vacation. 

But are you wondering which is the best budget camera for capturing travel memories? Well, the answer to this question is not easy. With thousands of cameras available in the market, there are different cameras for different needs and budgets. Clicking good photos is not just about an eye for the evocative and a sense for the thrilling, but also about the technology and cutting-edge features. 

With this in mind, our experts have come up with this article. Here in this article, we have some good camera suggestions to help you get the job done without breaking the bank. Through this article, we want to break the misconception that one needs to go out and spend thousands of bucks to buy a travel camera. This is definitely not true. Today, the market is filled with a plethora of budget-friendly options to choose from. Apart from the recommendations, you will get additional information that will help you pick the best budget-friendly travel camera that can match your needs. 

Without further ado, lets get into the article!

What To Consider While Buying A Budget-Friendly Travel Camera?

Picking the best stuff from the list is a matter of just a few minutes, but before that, it is crucial to learn what makes an excellent budget-friendly travel camera. Here are some of the features that will help you move forward with your decision. 

- Brand

It is always suggested to look for the brand that you can afford. There are various brands available in the market, right from affordable to expensive. So, all you need is to do a little homework before you go out to buy a camera. Check out different budget-friendly travel camera brands and find the one that fits your needs. Also, try to get a camera of a good brand that can be used for years and whose service center can be easily found in case of any need. 

- Size & Weight

Next important factor that you must consider while making a purchase is the size and weight of the camera. The size of the whole gear plays a crucial role in making the vacation comfortable. Most travelers prefer to carry small & lightweight cameras that they can easily take along with them all around. Carrying heavy and large cameras around the neck might lead to neck pain and back issues. Hence, keep this factor in mind and grab a camera that is easy to handle while traveling. 

- Megapixels and File Formats

This is the one feature that most camera companies like to preach about. The megapixels are like gold bars; the more the pixels, the better the camera. But the question comes- what are pixels? Well, they are tiny dots of color that make an image. Contrary to popular belief, they dont actually have a lot to do with the image quality. It has a lot to do with the sensor and lens. If you are planning to print out the images, take into consideration the megapixels. Else, choose the one with the normal range. 

- Weatherproofing

This is another factor that we recommend while choosing a budget-friendly travel camera. While you are traveling, you cant always expect perfect weather. Hence, its always a better option to be on the safer side and buy a waterproof camera or have good weather sealing. Having such a camera will help you shoot in all types of environments, like dusty or wet. However, make sure that a camera is as waterproof as its lens. 

Best Budget-Friendly Travel Cameras- Our Top Recommendations

Canon Powershot ELPH 190

If you are looking for a budget-friendly travel camera under $200, then Canon Powershot ELPH 190 is a great deal for you. It is a pretty powerful camera at this price with great features to capture outstanding shots. This camera comes with an outstanding zoom feature to get as close to things as you want. Along with this, the camera has a memory card slot that wont let you run out of storage and an image stabilizer feature to capture clear and perfect photos. For fast and responsive performance, this amazing camera is built with DIGIC 4+ Image Processor. With so much to offer, this camera is definitely a steal. 

Sony RX100 VII

The next suggestion that we have for you is Sony RX100 VII. This is a budget-friendly travel camera that qualifies for the best compact cameras category. Although this camera wont work perfectly for high-end professional photos, it is perfect for learning photography fundamentals. When it comes to features, it is lined up with an impressive optical zoom, full manual control, decent sensor size, flip screen, good ISO performance, and wide aperture. It has features like image stabilization, electronic viewfinder, RAW shooting format, etc. All these outstanding features make it a perfect camera to check out. 

Fujifilm X-T20

Heres another top budget-friendly travel camera for all photography enthusiasts. It is a mirrorless camera ideal for all those who are starting on their photography or video-making journeys. What makes this camera stand out is its compact size, lightweight, and unique features. It has an easy-to-use control panel, exceptional lens, X-Trans III sensor, fantastic rear touchscreen, and more. Carrying this camera on your vacation will help you capture gorgeous photos ensuring you dont carry loads of gear with you. This camera has tons of features crammed into a small body that is easy to pack and quite affordable.