Best Budget Camera for Travelling in 2022

If you don’t mind carrying something slightly larger than a pocket camera on your travels, the Sony A6100 arguably offers the best balance of size, shooting power, and value right now. It isn’t without its flaws, but it does tick most boxes for globetrotting photographers. Despite its compact size, this entry-level mirrorless camera offers a fleet of useful features – from customizable buttons and a microphone input to the flip-up touchscreen that, though limited in functionality, is ideal for framing far-flung selfies. Paired with a good lens, the 24.2MP sensor serves up decent images with plenty of detail, while the AF system – shared with the flagship A6600 – ensures reliably sharp focus and excellent continuous tracking, even on the move.

The A6100 can capture 4K footage at 30fps, too, though there’s no IBIS when shooting travel vlogs. Battery life is also pretty solid, as is the Wi-Fi, which works well with the partner app for rapid sharing of holiday snaps. Less impressive is the relatively low-res EVF & LCD and the Auto ISO, which can struggle with quick-moving subjects – so it’s best to go full manual for street action shots. It’s not perfect, then, but the A6100 comes close to travel perfection, offering good value, strong specs, and a satchel-friendly form.

This Best Budget Camera for Travelling is a great option if you like Nikon and are after your first ‘proper camera. It works well as a travel camera and has a very comfortable button layout. The 3.2-inch screen can also flip underneath the body to compose selfies of an altogether higher class, although it and the tripod mount compete for space. At this point, not many lenses have been made specifically for the Z50’s DX format, but the range will naturally grow larger over time, and you can use those made for the full-frame Nikons too. We prefer the Sony A6500 for high-speed action shooting, but this is a good-value camera and generally a joy to use.

Fujifilm’s second entry-level X series model is a major improvement to its predecessor. While it might not quite rival the pricier X-T30 (see above), the pared-back X-T200 is a versatile and accessible option for jet-setters. Both the APS-C CMOS sensor and processor have been upgraded, unlocking 8fps continuous shooting and the option to capture 4K footage at 30fps. There’s also a new ‘digital gimbal’ which deftly stabilizes video, but only up to 1080p. Physically, the X-T200 retains the retro style of the X-T100, while offering a beefier, more comfortable grip. The touchscreen has grown to a generous 3.5 inches, too, though at the expense of convenient joystick placement.

Viewfinder fans will welcome the sharp OLED EVF, even if an unreliable eye sensor often makes the screen a more appealing option for framing. As for image results, dynamic range is good and color reproduction excellent, aided by a 256-zone metering system, with plenty of detail and decent noise handling. Subject tracking isn’t available for video, but the hybrid AF system performs well when shooting stills, with spot-on face detection. Easy to use yet capable of delivering marvelous results, the X-T200 ticks a lot of boxes for travelers.

If you need a tiny, pocketable video camera that can handle pretty much anything your trip throws at it, then an action cam should be top of your list. And the most powerful, versatile one right now is the GoPro Hero 9 Black.

This model is the only GoPro that has a built-in color display on its front, which is very handy for framing your travel highlights. Compared to the more affordable Hero 8 Black (which is also worth considering), it also brings a larger battery and some nifty new software tricks.  

These include HindSight, which captures the action 15-30 seconds before you hit the shutter, along with HyperSmooth 3.0 stabilization, for smoothing out the most juddery of mountain bike footage. The 5K video mode captures more detail than any other GoPro too, while the Linear shooting mode helps correct the wide-angle distortion to make footage look like it’s been shot with a more traditional camera

Overall, the Hero 9 Black’s sensor is smaller than those found in premium compacts and mirrorless cameras, while its focus is more on video than stills. But if you mainly want to shoot video, its considerable benefits are the compact size, 10m-waterproofing and compatibility with a range of mounts that help you get shots that are simply impossible on other travel cameras.

This is the perfect Budget Camera for Travelling if you are a vlogger or an action travel photographer

This is the best entry-level DSLR Budget Camera for Travelling. Compared to the Canon EOS Rebel SLR/250D, it lacks a few features, notably a vari-angle rear screen and 4K video, but it’s a lot cheaper, and for many users, these differences won’t matter. If you choose the D3500, make sure you get it with Nikon’s excellent retracting 18-55mm AF-P VR lens (some dealers may offer cheaper, less desirable alternatives), and if you’re going traveling you might want to consider Nikon’s inexpensive and lightweight 10-20mm AF-P lens too – it’s brilliant for narrow streets, expansive interiors, and tall landmarks.  The Nikon D3500 is limited to full HD video rather than 4K, and its live view autofocus is a little less sophisticated than the Canon EOS Rebel SL3/250D’s, but if you’re mostly interested in stills and you use the viewfinder more than the rear screen, the D3500 is a real bargain.

Olympus cameras use the Micro Four Thirds format, which uses a sensor a little smaller than the APS-C format. The key advantage of this format is that both the cameras and the lenses are smaller – and the OM-D E-M10 III is a little gem and one of the best mirrorless cameras out there. Despite its small size, it packs in a twin-dial control layout that enthusiasts will admire, 5-axis in-body stabilization, 4K video and a wide selection of Olympus’s rather good. Art Filters – perfect for adding a little atmosphere and an Instagram-ready look to your photos. Make sure you get this camera with the 14-42mm EZ ‘pancake’ lens, though, not the cheaper but larger ‘regular’ 14-42mm kit lens.

The EZ lens offers a 3x zoom range in a super-slim barrel and is the perfect complement to the E-M10 III. With its combination of size, versatility, features, and image quality, this is the best travel camera right now.