Start by asking whether you need a camera at all. A modern phone covers most of what a nomad shoots. A camera earns its weight when low light, zoom, shallow depth of field or paid work keep letting your phone down. If that's you, here's what I'd buy for each job.
By use case
- Best all-rounder for most travellers: Fujifilm X-S20. APS-C, in-body stabilisation, strong stills and 6K video.
- Lightest good entry point: Fujifilm X-M5. Affordable, very small and made with vlogging in mind.
- Video and vlogging first: Sony ZV-E10 II. A 26 MP APS-C reference for creators, at around USD 999 for the body, with 4K at 60 fps and 10 bit. It has no viewfinder, which matters in bright sun.
- Low light and shallow depth of field: Sony A7C II. A 33 MP full frame body at about 429 g, and among the smallest full frame options on the market. The lenses are where the weight and cost add up.
Choose your lens first
The most common mistake is buying three lenses and carrying none of them. Pick one versatile zoom that lives on the camera. Add a small prime around 23 or 35 mm equivalent only if you know you'd carry it every day. If you'd leave it in the room, don't buy it.
Before you buy
- Hold it in a shop. A camera that feels wrong will stay in your bag.
- Check the weight with your lens, not the body alone.
- Check it charges over USB-C, so it fits your charger setup.
- Add a spare battery and a fast card to your budget.
- Look at used prices. Cameras hold up well, and a used body leaves more for lenses.
Protecting it
Get your gear listed on your insurance before leaving, since many travel policies have low limits per item. Health cover usually won't help, so ask about gear separately. Keep backups in a different bag from the camera, and be discreet with the strap in crowded places.
Still undecided? Read phone or camera for travel, because the answer for many people is a phone plus better technique.
Sources
Prices and rules change. Check the figures against the source before you act on them. Checked November 2026.