Travelling the world is great fun and it’s something that I personally love to document through video blogging whenever I go anywhere new. It gives me something that I can look back on in the future and remind myself of the experience in a way that photos often miss.
I’ve been vlogging my trips for almost three years now, from London right through to Los Angeles and I’ve built up a bank of video memories that will be there for a lifetime.
Choosing the best camera for travel vlogging comes with a certain level of balancing practicality with quality, especially when you need to travel light or are backpacking around the world.
The size of camera is probably the most important camera feature to anyone looking for a good travel vlogging camera. There are other factors that make a great travel camera which I’ve covered in this post here, but for the sake of this post we’re only really going to worry about the size.
First up is probably the most portable camera on this list.
Contents
Go Pro Hero 6 – Waterproof Vlogging Camera
- HERO6 Black automatically sends your footage to your phone where the app turns it into a QuikStory-an awesome edited video
- With 4K60 and 1080p240 video,HERO6 Black delivers 2x the performance compared to HERO5 BlackWith an all-new GP1 chip optimized for GoPro capture, HERO6 Black delivers vastly improved image quality
- With our most advanced video stabilization yet, HERO6 Black captures super smooth footage, whether it's handheld or mounted to your gear HERO6 Black is waterproof to 33ft (10m) without a housing
- Now featuring touch zoom and an updated UI, the 2-inch display makes it easy to frame shots, change settings and play back footage
- Featuring 5GHz Wi-Fi, you can copy photos and videos over to your phone 3x faster than with HERO5 Black
One of the smallest cameras available on the market and comes with the ability to slot into a protective case that makes it waterproof. If you’re planning on spending a lot of time around waterfalls or in the sea then this is perhaps the best waterproof vlogging camera for you.
I would say that the Go Pro Hero 6 is maybe best suited for those looking to pack extra light or are backpacking and don’t want to carry a huge amount of kit around with them.
It’s compact, potentially waterproof, provides great video quality up to a 4K resolution and has built in image stabilization.
Definitely one of the most appealing options for anyone who is more inclined to an adventure rather than a city break.
Canon G7X Mark II
- 1.0-inch, 20.1 Megapixel* CMOS sensor with Canon's new DIGIC 7 Image Processor helps deliver exceptional image quality even in low light
- Features a bright f/1.8 (W) - f/2.8 (T), 4.2x (24-100mm), 9-blade iris diaphragm andBattery IS-equipped lens
- Capture impressively high resolution images with high-speed continuous shooting up to 8 fps in both RAW mode / JPEG mode
- Multi-angle capacitive 3.0" touch panel LCD with a screen resolution of 1.04 million dots and tilt option of 180 Degree up and 45 Degree down
- Capture stunning 1080p Full HD video in MP4 format with stereo sound. Focal Length-8.8 (W) - 36.8 (T) mm (35mm film equivalent: 24-100mm). Focusing Range- Normal/Auto: 2.0 inch- infinity (W), 1.3 feet - infinity (T), Macro/Underwater Macro: 2.0 in. - 1.6 feet (W), Quick: 5.0-65.6 feet (W), 5.0-65.6 feet (T)
Probably should be renamed as “The Vloggers Camera” as this is one of the main choice cameras for many large youtubers. In terms of features this camera has almost everything you would be looking for in a travel camera for video blogging.
The flip up screen allows you to see yourself when you’re talking directly to the camera from arms length, whilst the built in image stabilization helps balance your shaky hand and keep your footage looking steady.
The G7X captures video at full 1080p HD, so you can be assured that the video quality is going to be great and you’ll get around 70 minutes of recording time from one full battery charge which is pretty good but always carry a back up battery or two, especially if you’re travelling.
One of the main features missing from this camera is the ability to plug in an external microphone but if you’re packing lightly then that’s probably not a great issue. Many travel vloggers also opt to make their videos more cinematic and less about them talking to the camera, but it really depends on the style of video that you shoot whether this is going to be a big issue for you.
Overall one of the best cameras for vlogging in general and definitely makes my list for best choices for travelling too.
Want to know more? Read the full review of the G7X Mark II.
Sony RX100V
- ELECTRONIC VIEW FINDER: retractable Tru-Finder EVF provides sharp resolution, bright self-illumination, and high contrast to view shots and adjust settings through a ZEISS T* coated eyepiece.
- AUTO FOCUS: World's fastest (0.05 sec.) hybrid AF system (contrast + phase) which is great for action and wildlife photography
- AF DETECTION: The most comprehensive phase detection coverage in a compact camera utilizing 315 Auto Focus points
- SHOOTING SPEED: World's fastest continuous shooting speed at 24fps3 w/ autofocus and auto exposure tracking to ensure exceptional high-speed photography
- IMAGE SENSOR: 20.1 megapixel 1" Exmor RS stacked back illuminated CMOS sensor w/ DRAM for outstanding image quality and continuous shooting
Coming in at the more expensive end of the list is the Sony RX100V and it’s a camera that has some of the best video specs and camera features on the compact camera marketplace at the time of writing this guide.
With the ability to shoot up to 4K video, the RX100V is one for travel vloggers who are serious about investing in their equipment.
This camera like the Canon G7X Mark II has a flip up screen to let you see yourself when filming as well as built in wi-fi to let you transfer your video files to your phone or laptop quickly and easily.
The reason that this camera is slightly more expensive is it’s ability to perform in both video and photography so if you’re looking for a camera that does both whilst still being pretty compact then this is probably one that you should look to consider.
Battery life on this camera isn’t the most impressive, especially if recording at the highest 4K resolution, but you can expect around 40 minutes of video recording from a single battery charge shooting at 1080p. So definitely invest in and remember to pack some spare batteries if you go for this video camera.
Want to know more? Read the full review of the Sony RX100V.
Sony A6300
- FASTER AUTOFOCUS: Shoot up to 11fps with 425 phase detection auto focus points and 0.05 sec AF speed
- INCREDIBLE PHOTOGRAPHY: Advanced 24.2 MP Exmore CMOS sensor expands sensitivity and minimizes noise
- ELECTRONIC VIEWFINDER: Cameras feature a high resolution XGA OLED Tru-Finder for enhanced viewing
- 4K & HD RECORDING: Record professional content with multiple movie functions and full pixel readout
- LENS INCLUDED: Sony E-Mount 16-50 mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS retractable zoom lens shoots in stunning detail
Another Sony camera to add to the list is the Sony A6300. This is a bit bigger than the other options but still pretty compact as it’s a mirrorless digital camera meaning it’s got a smaller sensor and overall smaller size to the camera body.
This camera also features the ability to change lenses which gives it a bit more opportunity and variety compared to the rest of the recommended cameras in this post. Quickly allowing you to switch from a normal lens to a telescopic lens if you wanted to get some really zoomed in shots of far away objects.
The A6300 can capture footage up to 4K 30fps which is up there with some of the best cameras on the consumer market at the moment.
The screen doesn’t flip around but does tilt up and down if you wanted to use it to get some high up or down low shots whilst still being able to see what you’re shooting.
Battery life on this camera is ok and it’s definitely recommended that you carry some back up battery packs if you’re on the move as you’ll probably go through quite a few if you’re recording at the top settings on this camera.
All in all it’s a great alternative to some of the compact digital cameras on offer and it’s size and abilities are the main reason that I included it in this list.
Want to know more? Read the full review of the Sony A6300.
Canon EOS M50 – Best Mirrorless Camera for Travel
Another one that we’ve added to our list is the Canon EOS M50 mirrorless camera with built in 4K functionality.
Rather than rewrite everything here, why not check out the full product review of this fantastic camera right here.
So these are the top choices on my list at the moment and they will definitely give you the best bang for your buck when it comes to choosing a travel video camera, whether you’re aiming for the more budget friendly travel cameras or if you want to splash out on one with more features and 4K video. If you have any questions then as always leave them in the comments below and I’ll be happy to answer them.
Happy travels!
Last update on 2018-09-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
