National Geographic's Top 10 Compact Cameras for Travelers

Travelers. These are people who love to explore and capture moments in a photo. There are a lot of great compact cameras in the market but which is the best?

Top 10 Compact Cameras of 2018

National Geographic has listed 10 of the best compact cameras for travelers. Compact cameras are the way to go since they are portable, great for point and shoot and very handy. This is a great guide of you are looking for camera you can take anywhere!

Fujifilm X-T2

1. Fujifilm XT2 (USD 1,499)  - The best all-around model overall. It has a 24.3MP sensor, cinema 4K video, weather sealed body, and dual UHS-II SD card slots. It has a great combination of manual dials, fast image processing, large and amazing line of lenses lenses while the build quality make it the best overall!

Fujifilm X100F

2. Fujifilm X-100F (USD 1,299) - A street smart traveler camera. It has a 24MP X-Trans CMOS III sensor that is present in a lot of Fujifilm's flagships. It has a quicker autofocus system that makes it ideal for travel photography, street photography or even point and shoot scenarios. It even has a built in ND filter for added versatility!

Fujifilm X-T20

3. Fujifilm XT20 (PHP 50,990) - The best bang-per-buck camera for travelers. In cased you missed it, you can read our full review here! It also has the same 24.3 MP X-Trans III sensor but in a smaller and lighter form. It has nearly all the capabilities of the X-T2 but in a smaller body! You also can not forget about the large line up of lenses in the Fujifilm system!

Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II

4. Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II (USD 1,799)  - For the technologically demanding traveler. The E-M1 MK II is the best technologically sound camera in this line up. It has top of the line mechanical and electronic shutters with IBIS. It can record 60fps via the electronic shutter and 15fps via mechanical. It also has cinema 4K video recording capabilities.

Sony RX100 V

5. Sony RX100 V (USD 948) - For ultra-lightweight travels. This is an ultra compact point and shoot camera. It has 20.1MP sensor with a 1.0-inch type stacked CMOS. It has WiFi, a pop up viewfinder, 24fps burst shot, PDAF and 4K video.

Panasonic Lumix GH5

6. Panasonic Lumix GH5 (USD 1,997) - For the travelling cinematographer. The Lumix GH5 is the most impressive one from the GH line of compact high end video shooting cameras. It has dual image stabilization system with lens IS and sensor IS. It has 20.33MP Live MOS sensor, WiFi, weatherproof build and professional video formats.

Leica Q

7. Leica Q (USD 4,249) -  For the luxurious traveler. The Leica Q boasts excellent build and the great optical capabilities. It has a full frame 24MP CMOS sensor with superb manual focus control. It also has WiFi and a macro mode utilizing physical lens shift.

Olympus TG-5

8. Olympus TG 5 (USD 449) - For the water loving traveler. The TG5 is a rugged piece of camera hardware. It has a 12 MP, 1/2.3 BSI CMOS sensor that performs really well even in low light underwater situations. It has WiFi, advanced GPS, microscope-like macro modes, FHD video, interval shooting and underwater mode.

Sony a6500

9. Sony a6500 (USD 1,198) - For the Smartphone/Camera loving traveler. This is a camera that utilizes the Sony specific sensor technologies. It has a very compact and light build but yet it packs a lot. You need to download the Sony Playmemories app to fully utilize this camera's potential. It has a 24.2MP APS-C type Exmor CMOS sensor, a tilt touch screen, WiFi, electronic view finder, 5 axis IS, 425-point 4D autofocus and 4K video with S-Log.

Panasonic Lumix GX8

10. Panasonic Lumix GX8 (USD 997) - The most flexible travel camera. The Lumix GX8 has been one of the most popular compact cameras with enthusiasts and even pros as backup. It has a 20.3MP, micro 4/3, Live MOS sensor with WiFi, tilt electronic view finder, 5 axis IS, tilt and swivel OLED monitor. It is also splash adn dust proof as well.

These are the top cameras for travelers. Note that each of these cameras are geared towards a specific type of traveler. This simple lists that 10 cameras that are suited for different types of adventure. You may say that one should be higher than the other so we want you take note of the brief description for each.

Source: National Geographic