Traveling is a beautiful way to create new memories, and having the right gear to immortalize those memories can take your journey to a whole new level. But let’s be honest, the dilemma of wanting to take professional-quality photos without having to lug around a heavy camera bag is a universal struggle. Here is a guide to travel photography equipment that is both light and powerful, suitable for every travel style and budget.
The Budget Camera I’d Buy If I Started Again in 2025!
1. The ‘Shoot Like a Pro, Travel Light’ Setup
Heavy DSLRs are a thing of the past. Today’s best solution is a mirrorless camera, which offers the full power of a professional camera with a major advantage in size and weight.
- Why Mirrorless? They fit all the power of a DSLR into a smaller body. Ideal for travel photography, these cameras offer high image quality without causing neck and shoulder pain.
- Ideal Lens: If you don’t want to bother with changing lenses, opt for a versatile all-in-one zoom lens (e.g., 24-70mm). This way, you can easily capture both wide landscapes and portraits.
2. The ‘Minimalist and Spontaneous’ Setup
If you see photography as a hobby and capturing the moment is most important to you, advanced compact cameras that fit in your pocket are the perfect choice.
- Why Compact? These cameras offer far superior image quality to smartphones and are perfect for candid photos, thanks to their fixed lenses and small size. They are ideal if you’re looking for a camera you can always carry with you for street photography.
- Examples: Models like the Ricoh GR III, Fujifilm X100 series, or Sony RX100 series deliver incredible results despite their small size.
3. The ‘My Phone Is Enough’ Strategy
For many people, the best travel camera is the one they already have in their pocket. Modern smartphones can produce professional-level results when used correctly.
- Pro Tips: Learn to use your phone’s manual settings (pro mode). Use portrait mode to blur the background and add depth to your photos. You can also take your phone’s capabilities to the next level with accessories like a tripod or an external lens. Remember, the best camera is the one you have with you.
4. Essential Accessories (The Little Details That Save the Day)
These accessories make a huge difference but are often forgotten.
- A Lightweight Travel Tripod: Indispensable for taking great landscape photos in low light or for group shots.
- Extra Batteries and an SD Card: The camera’s battery dying at the moment you’re about to capture the perfect shot is one of the biggest disappointments on a trip.
- A Camera Bag: A lightweight, waterproof bag that allows you to easily access all your equipment will make your journey much more comfortable.
The best travel photography gear is the equipment that doesn’t weigh you down, allows you to focus on the experience, and most importantly, the equipment you enjoy carrying with you. The journey itself is always more important than the gear you use.
| Camera Body: Sony A7riii |
| Camera Backpack: Atlas Athlete Backpack |
| Wide Landscape Lens: Sony 16-35mm F4 |
| Favorite Hiking CameraLens: Sony 24-105mm F4 |
| Telephoto Camera Lens: Sony 100-40mm F4 |
| Portrait Lens: 55mm F1.8 Sonnar T FE ZA Prime Lens |
| Drone: DJI Mavic Air2S |
| Circular Polarizer: Hoya 72mm HRT Circular PL Polarizer |
| Action Camera: GoPro Hero 9 |
| 360 Camera: Insta360 One X2 |
| Selfie Stick: Sandmarc Pole Metal Edition |
| Camera Backpack Clip: Peak Design Clip |
| Phone Case: Lifeproof Phone Case |
| Waterproof Bag: Earth Pak Dry Bag |
| Powerbank: Anker Powerbank |
| Memory Card: SanDisk Extreme PRO SD |
| Travel Adapter: Worldwide Adapter |