Cracking travel cameras
If you’re travelling somewhere specifically to take photos, it’s natural to take your existing camera set-up. But if you’re on a family holiday or business trip, you may not want to lug around a heavy bag of kit, or hold up your travel companions by continually switching between lenses. Instead, it may make more sense to carry something smaller and lighter, and use a single general-purpose zoom most of the time. There’s also a lot to be said for having a high-quality compact camera that’ll fit in a pocket or small shoulder bag.
So what features might be most desirable for a travel camera? Small size and light weight are a given, and we’ve assumed that most users will prefer using a zoom lens, quite probably with an extended range. This could be complemented by a couple of small primes, for shooting in low light or going out in the evening. It might also make sense to add an ultra-wideangle zoom for architecture, landscapes or interiors.
In general, the cameras we’ve chosen in this guide also include fully manual control, a built-in viewfinder and raw format recording. In order to attain a certain level of image quality, they also use sensors of the 1-inch type or larger. The exception is the Olympus Tough TG-6, which is the best bet for a waterproof camera.
Read on for our choice of the best travel cameras that are available right now, including both high-end pocket cameras and lightweight mirrorless models teamed up with versatile zoom lenses.
Olympus Tough TG-6
● £369 ● www.olympus.co.uk
At a glance
● 25-100mm f/2-4.9 lens
● 12MP 1/2.3in sensor
● ISO 100-12,800
● 20fps continuous shooting
● 3in, 1.04m-dot screen
The TG-6 is different from the other cameras included in this round-up, as it employs a relatively small sensor, which means it won’t give anywhere near the same image quality. It also does without a viewfinder, relying solely on
