Looking for the best compact travel camera to take on your next trip? That’s a tough call. Not because there are so few to choose from, but rather because there are so many. The best one for you comes down to a couple of important factors: how you intend to use it; and how you define “compact.” Any one of these models should do the trick.
Ricoh GR III
How often have you heard a camera described as “compact,” “lightweight,” “portable” and “pocketable,” only to discover that you’d have to have very large hands and very big pockets for the model in question to actually qualify? Weighing just 257g (with battery) and only 33mm thick, the Ricoh GR III ticks all of those boxes handily while delivering features, functions and performance that defy expectations.
It features a fixed 18.3mm f/2.8 wide-angle prime lens (35mm-equivalent focal length of 28mm), a 24.2MP APS-C CMOS sensor and GR Engine 6 with a generous 100 to 102400 ISO range, plus a 3-axis Shake Reduction System for handheld shooting. This is the kind of camera you can easily pull out of a jacket or pants pocket and quickly put to use the moment you need it, producing a level of image quality for both stills and video that never disappoints.
OM System TG-7
This tough little weather-resistant compact model is clearly designed for travellers with action and adventure on the agenda, boasting a unique set of features optimized specifically for those who intend to capture stills and video in challenging conditions beneath the water’s surface and beyond.
Waterproof to a depth of 15m, freezeproof down to -10°C temperatures, the TG-7 also delivers shockproof performance for drops of up to 2.1m. The lens features dual-pane protective glass to reduce fogging even when experiencing severe temperature differences. Underwater modes include snapshot, wide-angle, macro, microscope and HDR, as well as three separate white balance settings, from shallow to deep and anything in between.
Sony ZV-E10
Geared toward vloggers or anyone who prioritizes high-quality video capture with incredible ease, the ZV-E10 serves as a slimmed-down and more affordable APS-C alternative to the higher-end ZV-E1 full-frame model. It’s comparatively smaller and lighter, of course, but Sony went to great lengths to pack its diminutive dimensions with a hefty set of useful features that make it easy for content creators to shoot solo while on the move.
Apart from its ability to capture stunning 4K video with no recording limits, there’s also a handy flip-out vari-angle touchscreen LCD, plus a front tally lamp and red border frame on the LCD to provide a visual reminder when the camera is recording. The image-stabilization system helps you shoot smooth footage while walking, and a Face Priority Auto Exposure feature automatically brightens the lighting of your face, making automatic adjustments as you move from a dark environment to a lighter one, from indoors to outdoors.
Fujifilm X100VI
This list wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the new Fujifilm X100VI. It’s the latest installment in Fujifilm’s X100 series of classic rangefinder-style digital mirrorless cameras and a timely follow-up to the incredibly popular, impossible-to-find (and now discontinued) X100V. It retains many of the features that gave the previous version its near-cult status, while adding some new ones that should launch this model into the stratosphere.
Although not exactly pocketable, it’s still compact, lightweight and highly portable. It’s the perfect all-rounder for serious daily use and an ideal travel solution for anyone seeking to capture stellar 40MP images and stunning 4K video in rich 10-bit 4:2:2 colour at the push of a button. The fixed wide-angle lens now offers a generous f/2 maximum aperture, and the X100VI features IBIS to deliver six stops of shake reduction. You also get 20 cool Fujifilm film-simulation modes to play around with – including the newly added Reala Ace available for the first time in an APS-C format Fujifilm camera – not to mention a sleek and stylish travel companion guaranteed to turn heads.
