When you’re going on vacation you’re going to want to take a camera too, and the one in your smartphone probably won’t cut it because it doesn’t have a decent zoom.
In fact zooming is the key, because you won’t know what you want to shoot until you get there and quite often the things you want to photograph will be off in the distance. Now is not the time to find out your zoom isn’t powerful enough.
This is why the ‘travel camera’ genre is so popular. These are compact cameras barely larger than a regular point-and-shoot model, but with massive 20x or 30x zoom lenses. You get the portability of a regular camera, but with much more scope for shooting different kinds of subjects.
You’re not going to get the same kind of quality you’d get from a DSLR or a mirrorless camera because the only way to make cameras with big zooms small enough to go in a pocket is to use a smaller sensor. But the picture quality is still pretty good, and perfect for sharing with friends and family.
If you’re not sure this is the kind of camera you need, check our step by step guide: What camera should I buy?
Otherwise, keep reading, because here’s our list of the top compact travel cameras you can buy right now.
1. Panasonic TZ70/ZS50
Panasonic practically invented the travel camera and this is its best yet
Sensor: 1/2.3-inch, 12.1MP | Lens: 24-720mm, f/3.3-6.4 | Monitor: 3-inch, 1,040K dots | Viewfinder: EVF | Continuous shooting: 10fps | Movies: 1080p | User level: Beginner/intermediate
See the best Panasonic Lumix DMC TZ70 deals
Electronic viewfinder Manual controls and raw No touchscreen Not cheap
Panasonic’s TZ-series cameras kicked off the whole big-zoom travel camera genre, and they still lead the field. The TZ70 is the latest and best, with a big 30x zoom, auto and manual controls and the ability to shoot raw files – a big bonus for keen photographers who want the best quality from a small camera. The TZ70 even squeezes in an electronic viewfinder. It’s the Swiss Army Knife of travel cameras, combining convenience, quality and control. There are lots of imitators, but this is the original.
2. Sony HX90V
The HX90V matches the TZ70’s zoom range and adds GPS to embed location data
Sensor: 1/2.3-inch, 18.2Mp | Lens: 24-720mm, f/3.5-6.4 | Monitor: 3-inch, 921K dots | Viewfinder: EVF | Continuous shooting: 10fps | Movies: 1080p | User level: Beginner/intermediate
See the best Sony HX90V deals
Tilting screen GPS built in Can’t shoot raw Tricky pull-up viewfinder
The HX90V shares the same 30x optical zoom range as the TZ70 but has a few neat tricks of its own. These include built-in GPS, so that you’ll be able to check the location of your photos, and it also has a pop-up electronic viewfinder – a big bonus in the glare of harsh, bright light, when regular LCD screens can be hard to see. There’s even a 180-degree tilting screen, and while you can’t shoot raw files the HX90V does put your pictures on the map – literally – by recording the location using its built-in GPS receiver.
3. Panasonic TZ100/ZS100
Panasonic’s premium travel camera has a larger sensor than the rest of the range
Sensor: 1-inch type, 20.1Mp | Lens: 25-250mm, f/2.8-5.9 | Monitor: 3-inch, 1,040K dots | Viewfinder: EVF | Continuous shooting: 10fps | Movies: 4K | User level: Beginner/Intermediate
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1-inch type sensor 4K movies Limited 10x zoom lens No touchscreen
With the rise of high-end compacts stealing the thunder from compact travel zooms, Panasonic needs to do more to attract buyers. Its response has been to keep the camera body about the same size as earlier TZ-series cameras but to squeeze a much larger sensor into the TZ100. This enables the pixels to be about 2.4x bigger than they are in models like the TZ70 and this helps the TZ100 produce much higher quality images. The zoom lens isn’t quite so extensive though, but you still get an electronic viewfinder that makes it easier to compose images in bright sunny conditions and in addition to 4K video recording, there’s Panasonic’s 4K Photo mode to help capture 8MP images of fleeting moments. It all adds up to be a powerful, if pricey option.
4. Canon SX710 HS
The SX710 HS can take your movies and stills and turn your travels into story
Sensor: 1/2.3-inch, 16MP | Lens: 25-600mm, f/3-6.9 | Monitor: 3-inch, 460K dots | Viewfinder: No | Continuous shooting: 11.5fps | Movies: 1080p | User level: Beginner/intermediate
See the best Canon SX710 HS deals
30x optical zoom Interesting movie options Doesn’t shoot raw files No viewfinder
The Canon SX710 offers a 30x zoom, just like the Panasonic TZ70, and costs less – but you don’t get raw format shooting or an electronic viewfinder. What you do get is 5-axis image stabilisation and a neat set of movie options, including full HD at 60p for slow-motion playback and a Hybrid Auto mode that captures both stills and movies – you can then create a Story Highlights movie in-camera. The SX710 HS shoots movies just like other travel cameras, but takes them a whole lot further to make them an easy and fun way to capture your travels.
5. Panasonic TZ80/ZS60
The update to the TZ70, but actually not quite as good
Sensor: 1/2.3-inch, 18.1MP | Lens: 25-750mm, f3.3-6.4 | Monitor: 3-inch, 1,040K dots | Viewfinder: EVF | Continuous shooting: 10fps | Movies: 4K | User level: Beginner/intermediate
Great set of features Touchscreen Image smoothing at high ISOs Loss of detail at end of zoom
You might be wondering why the TZ80 comes lower down our list than the camera it replaces, the TZ70. The answer’s simple – the jump from 12MP to 18MP has seen image quality suffer in low light thanks to the increased pixel count. That said, there’s the welcome addition of 4K video capture and the return of a touch-sensitive display. Unless these are deal-breakers though, save a bit of cash and get the TZ70.
6. Nikon S9900
Slim and solidly made, the S9900 delivers a big zoom at modest cost
Sensor: 1/2.3-inch, 16MP | Lens: 25-750mm, f/3.7-6.4 | Monitor: 3-inch, 921K dots | Viewfinder: No | Continuous shooting: 7fps | Movies: 1080p | User level: Beginner/intermediate
See the best Nikon S9900 deals
Slim but solid feel Vari-angle screen Average quality No viewfinder
There’s a lot packed into the S9900 but the combination of its slim build and 30x optical zoom range are the key attractions. Handling is good on the whole, and the vari-angle screen and GPS are well implemented. The Wi-Fi system works well too. The image quality from this camera isn’t the best, but it is good value for money.
Source: techradar.com
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My Panasonic TZ100 DOES have a touch screen… does that alter the rating?
TZ60 here, the last one to still have GPS. Shooting RAW helps to get better photos, because it is the on board JPEG creator is way too good at smoothing the image, and produces quite low quality final pictures. The viewfinder is a boon at times. Disappointed with the focus; far too often I get photos where the background is in focus, not the object in the middle of the image. It is as if the focus area is too large .
Great images in good light.
I came here to post the same thing.