National Geographic, that prestigious institution, has updated their annual list of recommendations as to which cameras make the best travel companions. Would you believe that you can find all of them at a Mike’s Camera near you? Take a gander at the list below, then make time to visit one of our stores and meet with an expert to pin down the perfect choice for you. Sometimes, you really need to hold it in your hand to be sure! Of course, if you are already fully decided, you can click on the links in each category to order from the comfort of home.
If you’d rather take it in video-style, check out our vlog.
Best overall
It’s a tie! These two cameras are great choices for the average person because they are both highly compact, well-featured, and offer the same Fujifilm film-simulation magic and analog-adjacent shooting experience beloved by photographers worldwide. They are also built around the same 40 MP APS-C X-Trans CMOS sensor. The choice essentially comes down to whether you’d prefer the SLR-style body of the X-T50 or the rangefinder rizz of the the X-E5.
Best for beginners
Nikon’s excellent entry-level mirrorless Z50 II is light, easy to hold, and has a relatively low learning curve—all important factors for someone looking to take the big step away from the smartphone. Plus, Nikon’s huge library of F-mount lenses are easily adaptable, making the step less expensive for someone who might have access to some old lenses kicking around. The positive grip will also reassure someone not used to carrying true imaging gear.
Best for vlogging
The PowerShot V1 features a power-zooming lens, a sensor that’s twice the sensor real estate of the popular 1″ sensor, and an upgraded microphone with integrated windscreen. Shoot in one of 14 different preset color modes or in 10-bit C.LOG 3 for maximum range in post. Obvious tally lights, vlog-informed body design, and more make this an easy choice for a serious vlogger! But it’s not just the features that exist: the PowerShot V1 is also purpose-built to capture vlog media so that there are as few impediments as possible. When you’re coming into a scene hot, you won’t need to tweak a bunch of parameters to start—no need to break your immersion, nor your viewers’!
Best for street photography
Despite packing a sizeable APS-C sensor, this fixed-lens camera is compact, discreet, and convenient when you need it. The Ricoh GR IV delivers high-quality, high-resolution images with intuitive, responsive, snapshot operation, making it an excellent choice for off-the-cuff street photography. The wide angle of view (28mm full frame equivalent) helps you catch the whole scene, without feeling overwhelmingly wide and removing you from the captured moment. Slip that slim profile into your pocket or handbag and never fear you’ll find yourself incapable of recording the splendor of everyday life. (There’s a very cool monochrome only version, too.)
Best for wildlife
Wildlife and waiting both start with “w,” and it’s no coincidence. A well-sealed, lightweight camera is essential—at least if you want to enjoy yourself. The OM-1 II is both of these, and also powerful enough to offer the speed, focusing accuracy, and beautiful image rendition necessary for this sort of delicate hunt. The Micro Four Thirds sensor means you get a lot more range in a smaller lens, and, as an OM System user myself, I often personally vouch for the exceptional performance of their sensors, despite their size.
Best for adventure
The OM-5 II is even smaller and lighter than the OM-1 II, but is still nearly as capable and fully weather-sealed. Hikers, travelers, and explorers of the most rugged outdoors will certainly appreciate this combination of portability and power in a turtle-tight frame. Give it a beating, and all that will happen is the paint at the corners will wear stylishly. Plus, the robust in-body stabilization system also enables breathtaking high-res composite photos… what better way to capture those rare, inaccessible vistas?
Best full-frame
The Sony α7C II manages to pack the feature set of one of its full-frame Alpha-series brethren into a frame closer to one in the α6000 series. If you’re already used to full-frame and wouldn’t consider a smaller sensor, this is a great option—essentially the “as compact as you can get” with a full frame sensor. That’s it! There’s no clearer way to explain the appeal here. For a more in-depth feature run-down, check out this blog from time of release.
Best for experimental photography
I feel like I only wrote about this camera last month, but apparently it’s been over a year. In any case, that should illustrate how striking Fujifilm’s unconventional half-frame camera is! This is for the people who want to have fun more than anything else, for people who love the way they create using inspirational limitations. The X Half, more than any other digital camera of which I am aware, offers the convenience of digital with the ability to simulate the experience of film photography. Check it out! Get a little wild!
Best budget option
Closing out the list with another Fujifilm body, the folks at National Geographic found the X-M5 to offer all the essentials without any frills that might bump up the price. Like with the others on the list, they prioritized portability as one of the most critical features, and the X-M5‘s bare-bones approach helped there as well as with the price. In many cases, the glass is much more important vis a vis image quality, so the X-M5 should be appealing to pros as well as newbies as an inexpensive, pocketable second body.