Nowadays, you don’t have to sacrifice image quality for convenience. Mirrorless cameras are fully capable of delivering consistent results, making them a great option for street photography, landscape photographers, and action shooters.
Mirrorless cameras have become the new gold standard in digital photography, and especially in travel photography. Whether you’re a pro photographer, a budding amateur, or someone who’s hoping to capture all the best moments on your next trip, a mirrorless travel camera is now the obvious choice for anyone looking to purchase a new camera.
With more advanced features, state-of-the-art new technologies, and more compact dimensions, mirrorless cameras are becoming the premier choice for travel photographers all over the world. DSLR cameras have gone the way of the dinosaurs.
But with that said, choosing the best mirrorless camera for travel is no easy task. There are so many things to consider, like the feature set, ease of use, lens options, and most importantly—price.
Plus, ‘best’ is subjective, especially when it comes to reviews on the Internet. There is no right answer. There is only a right answer for you. So, if you’re looking for your best mirrorless cameras for travel photography, allow me to lend a hand.
Not every camera has the same features, so I’m going to take you through the ins and outs of the best mirrorless cameras for travel photography. I’ll also provide an in-depth look at the best mirrorless cameras as I give you product advice along the way. By the time we’re finished, you’ll have a better understanding of how each mirrorless camera works and which one will suit your travel needs.
If you don’t have the time to sift through this entire guide, I’ll give it to you straight. These are my top mirrorless travel camera picks based on performance, price, build quality and ergonomics:
What To Look for in a Mirrorless Travel Camera
The mirrorless camera market has a wide selection of cameras ranging from entry-level to professional—depending on your photography skills, you might need different specifications for your camera.
If you aren’t sure where to start, look no further! Here are some considerations for you to remember when looking at products online or at a store:
- Camera Sensors & Sensor Size – Choose between a full-frame sensor, APS-C sensor, or a micro four-thirds. If your camera has a smaller sensor, it won’t perform as well in low light conditions. This is one advantage to full-frame cameras.
- Camera Stabilization – Taking a shaky or blurry photo is a no-no—thankfully, mirrorless cameras usually come with either in-body image stabilization or optical image stabilization. IBIS usually performs better, but that typically only matters for pros.
- Autofocus System – You don’t always want to manually snap away when you’re multitasking! Older models used to have shaky focus points features that would defocus randomly, but new releases have improved this issue.
- Frames Per Second (FPS) – Continuous shooting is a must for travel photography, so the shutter speed is a crucial part of capturing a great image. The FPS burst rate is a good indicator of the camera’s processing engine, but unless you need high-speed shooting for sports, you can stick with lower frame rates for stills.
- Video Recording Capability – Most travel photographs double as vloggers on social media, so having video capability is an important tool to have in your travel cameras! Look for cameras with 4k video capabilities to get the most out of video shooting.
- Camera Body & Size – Form factor plays a huge role in choosing a good mirrorless camera. While some people want a more robust build that feels like a DSLR, others prefer a small handheld device for easier grip. It’s all a matter of preference!
- Megapixels (MP) – This tells you how many pixels go into each photo and how large your resolution can be when printing your photos. For the average traveler, a minimum of 12 megapixels is more than enough. 20+ megapixels is enough to print a poster. Beyond that is unnecessary unless you really need it for a specific reason.
- Weather Resistance – Having weatherproofing for your mirrorless camera is essential to protect it from damage, especially if you’re going to use it outdoors for landscape photography.
- Lens Options – While some brands provide a kit lens, you also have the option to hook up existing DSLR lenses to your camera using an adaptor from different manufacturers.
- Battery Capacity – Nothing is more important than battery life! Having to recharge constantly can be annoying, and older models weren’t as efficient. The latest models have resolved this with better batteries.
- Special Features: Touchscreen, voice commands, Bluetooth, and WiFi capabilities are definitely a plus. The more features, the merrier!
- Insurance: Warranty is an important part of making a purchase, so pick a camera that offers customer service and repairs for you as a consumer.
Why Go Mirrorless for a Travel Camera?
Instead of using an optical viewfinder, the mirrorless camera uses a large image sensor to transmit the light into the electronic viewfinder and onto the screen. The new sensor technology meant there was no need to use a flipping mirror mechanism that takes up space inside the body.
Thanks to modern-day innovation, we can enjoy more sights and sounds instead of fussing over equipment that weighs us down!
The Benefits of a Mirrorless Camera for Travel Photography
There are lots of benefits to owning a mirrorless camera, and the best part is you don’t have to be a professional photographer to use it! Mirrorless lenses are used in point and shoot cameras, smartphone cameras, and even action cameras.
However, mirrorless cameras takes things to the next level by producing quality images that rival those of high-end DSLR cameras. Imagine getting all the perks of a portable camera without having to compromise on image quality!
Mirrorless cameras have interchangeable lenses, are lightweight and provide added versatility for travel photographers, videographers, and enthusiasts. The advantages combine functionality, ease of use, and continuous shooting with minimal effort on your end.
The best part? The shutters can totally silent, making it easier for you to observe without being intrusive. However, mirrorless cameras do have their disadvantages, such as cost, decreased battery life and handling.
Types of Sensors for Travel Photography
The sensor size in your camera will affect the image quality and pixel count. It also dictates its ability to take good photos in low light conditions. A camera sensor works hand-in-hand with image processors to create the image data through dots in pixels.
Still confused? The differences between sensor terms can be confusing, so here’s a crash course on the kinds of sensors you’ll find in mirrorless cameras:
- Micro Four Thirds Sensor – The micro four thirds (MFT) system sensors are the smallest sensors with a sensor size of 17mm x 13.5mm, allowing users to shoot in the 4:3 aspect ratio. Olympus and Panasonic developed the micro four-thirds sensor for most of their mirrorless cameras.
- APS-C Sensor (CMOS or MOS) – This is a smaller sensor size for beginner-friendly and mid-range models, with most camera brands producing this to suit beginner-friendly budgets. The size dimensions are generally 24mm x 16mm and you can typically find them in Sony, Fuji, and Canon models.
- Full-Frame Sensor – This is the largest sensor size available for full-frame mirrorless cameras and it’s one of the best for taking 4k video or large format images. It’s more expensive than most since it measures 36mm x 24mm and can perform extremely well in all lighting conditions!
Mirrorless Cameras vs. SLR vs. DSLR Cameras
The precursor to the well-known DSLR is the SLR, which stands for ‘Single Lens Reflex’ and it has the same internal mechanism used by old school film cameras. The mirror mechanism reflects the image up into the viewfinder (so you can see it), and when you click the shutter, it moves the mirror out the way very quickly so that light can pass via the lens to the camera sensor.
While this worked like a charm for decades, technological advancements made way for electronics to take their place. As we developed into the digital age, newer technology gave us DSLR cameras or the ‘Digital Single Lens Reflex’ which allowed us to start writing images onto memory cards instead of film.
While the format has changed, the cameras pretty much used the same technology to flip the mirror with each shutter click.
You can see why, after all these years of using the same camera technology, it’s time to move on to the next generation.
Mirrorless Camera vs. Compact Camera
If you don’t think you’ve ever used a mirrorless camera before, it might surprise you that you’ve got one within hand’s reach—your smartphone uses the same mirrorless technology minus the high-resolution quality.
- Smartphones – While smartphones are great for snapping a quick pic for the ‘Gram, it doesn’t produce the same flawless look that we all know and love. That’s because your phone has a much smaller sensor than any “real” camera out there. And while it wins in portability, it’s still a far cry from being an ideal travel camera.
- Point-and-Shoot – The point-and-shoot (compact) camera has been around for decades, and they offer great value for most consumers. They’re ideal for people who want to start learning about the basics of photography without all the complicated controls. The collapsing lens makes them easy to stash in your pocket, but your depth of field won’t be that impressive. You won’t achieve any of those wondrous bokeh shots (blurry background), but they’re easy to use—hence the name.
- Action Cameras – The action camera (like a GoPro) is another competitor for photographers who want to capture fast-moving images or POV shots. Action cameras have risen in popularity for outdoor vlogging and sports coverage, but they aren’t ideal for taking photos and videos with your family and friends. While the GoPro is a crowd favorite for its easy to use features and sturdy build, there are restrictions in the photo modes—not to mention, they’re terrible for selfies!
Ready to Make The Mirrorless Switch?
Anyone can be a travel photographer with the right gear! You’ll enjoy making new memories and compiling all the highlights from your vacation with something that easily fits in your pockets. Just remember to pick the best camera that suits your lifestyle, budget, and photographic preferences.
Now that you’ve seen all the best mirrorless cameras for travel, you’re ready to see the world and your experiences through a better lens. The next time you’re packing for your upcoming adventures, I highly recommend taking your mirrorless camera along for the ride.