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Finding the best mirrorless camera for travel is not an easy task due to the vast offer these days.
There are many factors we need to understand to know which is the best mirrorless camera for our travel needs.
For us, the best mirrorless cameras for travel should have great image quality, be light and not too bulky, weather-sealed and support 4K video.
On this list, we are going to help you to understand your needs better and provide you with the top mirrorless cameras for any travel photographer in 2021.
Let’s dive in to find the best travel camera for you!
Last updated: Jan
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Best mirrorless cameras for travel: Editor’s Choice
PROS
- 4K video at 60fps.
- Weather-Sealed
- Best stills/video hybrid.
CONS
- In-body stabilization needs to improve
- Sync with the phone is not good
Mirrorless cameras definition
A mirrorless camera is a type of camera that works without a reflex mirror. The light passes through the lens directly to the digital sensor, which then displays your image on the camera’s LCD screen, allowing you to adjust settings and preview your image before its shot.
A mirrorless camera is similar in many ways to a larger DSLR without the mirror.
In a mirrorless camera, the imaging sensor is exposed to light directly when the shutter is open. This allows you to have a digital preview of your image through an electronic viewfinder and/or a rear liquid crystal display (LCD) screen. This allows you to see on the screen exactly what the image you capture will look like.
Understanding the mirrorless: camera sensor sizes
Sensors inside a digital camera is an important component.
An image sensor is an electronic device that translates an optical image to an electrical signal. The sensor receives the light coming in via the lens into the camera and then turns that into an image. The individual pixels on the sensor are light-sensitive elements which record the light that hits them. This is a very simplified version of how an image sensor works
Sensors come in a variety of sizes, from the tiny image sensors inside a smartphone, through to the larger sensors inside professional-level mirrorless and DSLR cameras.
Generally, the larger the sensor, the better the camera will perform in low-light, as it is able to capture more of the available light. A larger sensor also allows for greater depth of field effects. However, a larger sensor also requires a larger camera.
In mirrorless cameras, there are three main sensor sizes. These are, from smallest to largest: Micro Four Thirds, APS-C, and full frame sensor.
Are mirrorless the best cameras for travel photography?
The good thing about mirrorless cameras is that they offer about the same features as a DSLR but in a smaller format. They provide great image quality and the ability to change lenses. It does not mean a mirrorless is the best camera for travel. But it makes a perfect travel camera since they take less space and still almost all the benefits that a DSLR would offer.
Is not the smaller format though, since you can still opt for compact cameras or even smartphones, although the results won’t be as good. Price-wise, a mirrorless camera can also be very expensive. Like everything, the price will depend on many different factors.
In my case, I would go for mirrorless cameras for travel photography because of the quality they deliver in a still manageable format to carry.
Advantages and disadvantages of different types of cameras.
Since we are talking about cameras, an image is worth a thousand words. So we want to use this useful infographic we created with the main advantages and disadvantages of mirrorless cameras.
Click to zoom in
Some of the images used for the infographic are from freepik and rawpixel
Related: 10 Tips to Quickly Improve your Aerial Drone Photography
Review of the best mirrorless cameras for travel in 2021
Fujifilm XT-4
Best Overall
| Weight (body) | Weather Sealed | 4K Video | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Approx 526g | Yes | Yes | $1,699.00 |
In its compact, lightweight and robust body, the FUJIFILM X-T4 delivers everything you need.
A large, high definition EVF, easy to use dials, high-speed AF, compatibility with an extensive range of high-performance interchangeable lenses, film simulation modes that inherit the legacy of Fujifilm colors, unparalleled image quality and outstanding 4K movie recording, made possible by the latest sensor and processing engine.
The viewfinder is a pleasure to use to make sure you get the right exposure regardless of the light. It also has a really useful boost mode for top performance and speed whenever you need it.
It also offers a weather-resistant structure. And now, it also features in-body stabilization. A feature that previous versions did not have. However, some people claim small issues with the camera stabilization resulting in weird effects.
This is the one we use and in our opinion is the best mirrorless camera we have tried so far. It is the best stills/video hybrids on the market and with the right set, it can make a portable and great mirrorless camera for travel. Personally, I find this the best travel camera.
Nikon Z6
| Weight (body) | Weather Sealed | 4K Video | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Approx 585g | Not Clearly Stated | Yes | $1,996.00 |
The Nikon Z6 is perhaps the most adaptable full-frame mirrorless ever created. The Z6 is the more budget option compared to the more expensive Z7, but it still a solid choice
It’s at the sweet spot of speed, resolution and low-light performance. All combined with the advantages of a lightweight mirrorless design, a revolutionary new full-frame lens mount with matched lenses and seamless integration with Nikon’s DSLR system. It is said to be one of the best for video, being able to shoot 1080p video at up to 120 fps and 4K at 30 fps.
As a downside, the autofocus tracking can be a bit slow, and the single XQD card slot is unfortunate.
Canon EOS RP
| Weight (body) | Weather Sealed | 4K Video | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Approx 485g | Yes | Yes | $1,299.00 |
The EOS RP mirrorless camera is the lightest and most compact full-frame EOS camera to date. It comes with a high-quality RF lens with a versatile zoom range of 24-105mm.
With the EOS RP you get a 26.2-megapixel full-frame sensor, 4,779-point Dual Pixel CMOS autofocus, 4K video, and a really useful fully-articulating rear screen. The CMOS sensor helps capture phenomenal images with rich detail and color
Also, the aggressive pricing makes the EOS RP the least expensive full-frame camera on the market.
Canon EOS M200
| Weight (body) | Weather Sealed | 4K Video | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Approx 539g | No | Yes | $549 |
The Canon EOS M200 is a great mirrorless for beginners and provides the best value budget entry-level.
Similar to the Fuji, this camera gets you the camera body along with a practical 15-45mm lens, as well as a 24.2-megapixel APS-C sized sensor, 6.1fps burst shooting, relatively fast autofocus speeds, and WiFi + Bluetooth connectivity.
This new version also features vertical 4k video, perfect for bloggers. It also includes an in-touch LCD screen and a silent mode
What we like a lot apart from the price, is that is a really portable camera and the lightest on this list.
But there is also a disadvantage. The lack of image stabilization. It also does not have a viewfinder, so you can only use the tilting touchscreen screen for composition, which might be an issue on bright days.
Sony Alpha A7 III
| Weight (body) | Weather Sealed | 4K Video | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Approx 650g | No | Yes | $1,998.00 |
The Sony Alpha A7 III is a brilliant choice for the enthusiast travel photographer.
With a mix of the best bits of Sony, this camera offers a fantastic balance of performance and image quality. The full-frame 24.2MP sensor is excellent in a range of lighting conditions.
Its autofocus and continuous shooting performance is simply brilliant.
This is one advanced camera that’s at a great price considering the features and performance on offer. If you know what you do, this is probably the best camera for travel due to its power.
Panasonic Lumix G9
| Weight (body) | Weather Sealed | 4K Video | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Approx 658g | Yes | Yes | $1,298.00 |
The Lumix G9 is a confident high-performance camera that’s a joy to use.
The tough weatherproof body feels great in your hands with excellent controls, there’s an enormous viewfinder image, a fully-articulated touchscreen with an excellent user interface, fast autofocus and burst shooting that can track action, very effective built-in stabilisation, and great image and video quality from the 20 Megapixel Four Thirds sensor that rivals 24 Megapixel APS-C sensors at all but the highest sensitivities.
It is a great choice for 4K video at 60fps and things like fast-action sports and wildlife photography.
Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV
Best Mirrorless Camera For Beginners
| Weight (body) | Weather Sealed | 4K Video | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Approx 381g | Yes | Yes | $499 |
Olympus has refined and tweaked a powerful and portable mirrorless camera to make it an even more tempting proposition for travel photographers.
Even lightest and cheaper than its antecessor, makes a great mirrorless camera for beginners with a tight budget. The handheld 4k video is perfect for those adventure travelers.
It comes with a 14-42mm lens, which also very versatile.
Despite the small size of the Micro Four Thirds sensor, the effect on image quality is minor and it means that the lenses are as compact and lightweight as the camera itself. Sporting a 5-axis image stabilization system, decent electronic viewfinder, an impressive 8.6fps burst shooting speed, and 4K video, it makes the E-M10 Mark III a pretty decent camera at a very competitive price, which makes it one of the best travel mirrorless cameras for beginners.
Sony Alpha A6500
| Weight (body) | Weather Sealed | 4K Video | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Approx 453g | No | Yes | $1,198.00 |
The SOny Alpha A6500 makes a great choice for enthusiasts looking for an alternative to big, heavy DSLR, showing you don’t have to go full-frame to get the benefit of Sony’s great camera technology.
One of the main challenges for mirrorless cameras is to have autofocus systems as good as the ones in DSLRs. The A6500’s comes very close, especially in bright light; it’s able to track moving subjects around the frame and as they move towards or away from the camera.
There’s also an excellent electronic viewfinder that makes it easy to see when the subject is sharp and correctly exposed. Image quality is very high and there are built-in Wi-Fi and NFC connectivity to allow to share images via a connected smartphone.
Sony A6100
| Weight (body) | Weather Sealed | 4K Video | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Approx 396g | No | Yes | $598 |
If you are a beginner and want to introduce yourself to the mirroless camera world, the Sony 6100 is a solid pick.
This camera works perfect for either for your travel videos and photography due to its excellent tracking capability. The pictures quality is more than acceptable and is important to mention that battery life it is also great.
It also comes with a touch screen, which makes it easier to handle, making this mirrorless camera a powerful tool for beginners.
10 Quick tips to take better pictures
- The composition is key. Make sure you understand the rule of thirds
- Lighting is an important factor. Take advantage of the golden hours
- Get closer to the subject in your picture
- Look for elevated positions for better landscape pictures
- Use a tripod for low light conditions
- Be patient and observe the details for a different photography
- Lines in photography are beautiful
- Do some research on the place you are going to make sure you don’t miss anything worth capturing
- Shoot in manual to have full control over your photography
- Post-processing will indeed take your photography to the next level
It doesn’t matter you get the best travel camera. If you don’t practice and learn the basics, you’ll find it hard to improve.
I suggest you also check these travel photography tips for beginners.
Best Mirrorless Cameras For Travel: Conclusion
Choosing the best travel mirrorless camera is not an easy task since there are many good options. But an important thing to consider is thinking about how you want to use it short and long term. Also, you will need to take a look at the accessories and make sure it makes a good fit for your travel gear and your necessities.
Finally, make sure you read some photography books to keep learning and improving your skills. In photography, you never stop learning.
If you want to take amazing pictures, check out the photography bundle which is now on a big sale.
Let us know which camera is your favorite in the comments below!
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