Capture the moment in 2020

You might have noticed that many people like to take photographs when they travel. In fact, people who barely use their phone’s camera in regular life are often eager to document the strange (to them) and wonderful landscapes, buildings, water features, art, nature, people, animals, and, of course, sunsets of a new location.

There is something about leaving your everyday surroundings that forces you to pick up a camera and start snapping. It’s a primal urge that cannot and will not be ignored. You can try and resist, but just when you think you’ve overcome the struggle, a pretty sight will catch your eye and then the next thing you know you’re eight shots deep into a semi-professional photoshoot.

If you’re going to spend most of your trip with a camera in your hand, then you should probably think about investing in a decent device. There are lots of great travel cameras on the market from a bunch of leading brands, so you have plenty of choice. 

With so many options to consider, we’ve gathered the best mirrorless, DSLR, point-and-shoot, instant film, and GoPro cameras to help inform your decision, starting with a little detail on each type of camera.

DSLR cameras

DSLR cameras are digital cameras with larger sensors that can capture higher-quality images, interchangeable lenses (meaning the photographer can adapt the camera to fit the specific environment they’re photographing), and a long battery life. 

These cameras are the largest (and heaviest) of the bunch because the camera’s body houses a mirror inside, which reflects the light that comes in from the camera’s lens into the viewfinder (where one looks when taking a photograph). They do tend to be expensive, but we have lined up options at the top and bottom of this scale.

Mirrorless cameras

Mirrorless cameras also produce high-quality images. They’re smaller and lighter than DSLR cameras, but they usually have a much shorter battery life. You might have to carry around an extra battery depending on how long your trip is.

Mirrorless cameras tend to be slightly more affordable than DSLR cameras, and the ones we’ve listed below are all less than £500.

Point-and-shoot/compact cameras

Point-and-shoot cameras offer pretty standard image quality in general. If you’re looking for a camera that will take a clear, simple photo, a point-and-shoot is a solid option. Some smartphone cameras have surpassed the image quality offered by a point-and-shoot camera, although the options listed below both capture higher quality images than most smartphone cameras. In addition, some point-and-shoot cameras are built to withstand underwater submersion or a couple of falls, so if you’re going on a particularly rugged vacation, a point-and-shoot might be the right option.

Point-and-shoot cameras are often referred to as a “compact” camera, and they are lighter and smaller than mirrorless and DSLR models. They tend to be cheaper than or priced similarly as mirrorless cameras.

Instant cameras

The image quality on instant film cameras is low compared to the other choices on this list, however many enjoy the novelty of the simple, nostalgia-inducing photos taken by film cameras. 

The camera itself is a manageable size, but keep in mind that when carrying instant film cameras around, you’ll also want to bring film and have space to safely store the photos you take. Instant film cameras are the cheapest of the bunch, however film is sold separately at about £10 a pack.

GoPro cameras

GoPro cameras are primarily used for capturing first-person video footage and can withstand harsh conditions. GoPros aren’t as fit for traditional photography as the other types of cameras on this list, but if you want to capture an outdoors-focused vacation on video, a GoPro is easily the best choice.

GoPros are the smallest of all the cameras listed and are so light that users can easily wear the cameras on their heads using a head strap (sold separately). The GoPro in our list below is cheaper than most of the cameras listed here.

Those are the details on each type of camera on offer, and now it’s up to you to decide which travel camera suits you best. These are the best cameras for travelling in 2020.