The 5 Best Mirrorless Cameras For Travel - Spring 2023 Reviews

For the best combination of image quality and portability, the Sony α7C is hard to beat. It's one of the most compact full-frame bodies on the market, proving that portability and performance aren't mutually exclusive. While full-frame lenses are still bigger than APS-C alternatives, the compact body goes a long way in making a more portable kit. The camera's also weather-sealed, so you can go out and shoot, rain or shine. Its compact size does mean fewer custom buttons and an uncomfortably small viewfinder; however, these are small sacrifices to pay if you need portability but still want the best possible image quality.

Battery life is also fantastic, so it can easily last long days on the go. Plus, it has Sony's superb autofocus system, which can track moving subjects with ease. The real selling point, however, is its excellent full-frame sensor, which can capture beautiful images—from busy street scenes in European cities to breathtaking landscapes in the mountains of South America or anything in between.

Going with a Micro Four Thirds option like the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III can be a great way to save money, not just on the camera body but also on lenses. While a smaller sensor means a trade-off in low-light capability, you can still get excellent images from a camera like this, especially if you're only sharing your photos on social media. Plus, you get a more portable overall kit since the crop factor on the sensor means you can get more focal reach out of physically smaller lenses.

On top of that, the E-M5 is weather-sealed and ruggedly built, giving you some peace of mind while traveling. Plus, built-in image stabilization allows you to get clear shots at slower shutter speeds, and the camera has a pretty decent autofocus system, though it falls short of the Sony α7C's class-leading autofocus. Battery life is also a bit underwhelming, but if you're looking for a portable and feature-packed camera system that won't cost you a ton, this is a sure bet.

The Fujifilm X-T30 II doesn't offer a huge amount of upgrades over the original Fujifilm X-T30, but if something ain't broke, why fix it? As far as portable mirrorless cameras go, the X-T30 II is a fantastic mid-range option with a super portable body to boot. Not only does the camera's retro styling look good, but Fuji's old-school approach of using dedicated exposure dials gives you more hands-on control over camera settings on the fly.

Its APS-C sensor falls between the full-frame Sony α7C and the Micro Four Thirds Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III, giving you a nice balance of image quality and size. And while APS-C competitors like the Sony α6400 (or one of its α6x00 series siblings) might have better autofocus, the combination of physical controls and Fuji's film simulation profiles make the Fujifilm a blast to shoot with. Add a solid selection of fast prime lenses, and you've got a great camera for travel photography, particularly if you're interested in capturing people or street scenes.

If you're on a tighter budget, the small and mighty Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV offers a ton of value for its price. Like its higher-end sibling, the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III mentioned above, it uses a Micro Four Thirds sensor, making for a more portable and affordable kit overall. It's also a great option for beginners, with simple controls and plenty of creative shooting modes.

This is also one of the few cameras at this price point to have in-body image stabilization, which can help reduce camera shake in videos or make it easier to get clear shots at slower shutter speeds. That said, this model doesn't have the most reliable autofocus, so if that's important to you, the highly popular Canon EOS M50 Mark II is a good alternative with a larger APS-C sensor. Just be aware that lens options are a lot more limited for Canon's M-mount.

If you're more inclined to shoot videos while traveling, consider a vlogging camera like the Sony ZV-E10. It's small and lightweight, so it's easy to toss in a bag and take on the go. While it doesn't have a viewfinder like the Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV, its fully articulated screen is perfect for vlogging, allowing you to monitor yourself while shooting. Plus, it has vlogging-friendly features like a detachable windscreen to cut down on ambient noise, along with specialized focus modes and great battery life.

It's worth noting that the camera doesn't have built-in stabilization, and its e-stabilization feature introduces a distracting wobble effect, so you're better off keeping it disabled and using an optically stabilized lens if you want to keep the camera shake to a minimum. Otherwise, the ZV-E10's affordable price, convenient size, and solid video features make this the ideal camera for travel vlogging.