Best Lightweight Camera Gear for Travel Bloggers
What you might not know about me is that I was a professional photographer long before I started travel blogging. I got my first DSLR camera in middle school and have cycled through my fair share of photo gear.
But before launching my travel blog, I almost never brought my camera on my travels because it was so freaking heavy!
When I launched my travel blog, I needed a new camera setup that was both portable and professional-quality. Since then, I’ve tried out a variety of different mirrorless camera (and DSLRs) lenses, and other photo gear.
In this article I’m sharing my top 3 lightweight camera recommendations for travel bloggers, plus lenses!
Travel blog photos taken on my Sony Alpha 7R III with the 24-70mm lens
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DSLRs vs Mirrorless vs Point & Shoot
There are three main types of camera to choose from these days:
- DSLRs: What most pros have shot with for the past 20+ years. Problem is, they’re quite bulky because of their large sensors, and tend to be heavy as well. Great quality older DSLRs can be purchased used for a few hundred dollars, and most companies aren’t making new ones.
- Mirrorless: Probably the best option for most travel bloggers. Tend to be lighter and smaller than DSLRs but still offer interchangeable lenses. Expect to pay anywhere from $800-8,000 depending on the camera.
- Point & Shoot: These cameras come with one lens and usually don’t offer the same quality (megapixels, colors, etc) that mirrorless and DSLRs have, but are small and light!
In this article, I’m focusing on mirrorless camera bodies because DSLRs are on the outs, and point and shoot cameras don’t offer the same professional quality I look for as a photographer.
Warning: What to Know Before Purchasing a Camera
Some words of wisdom after 15 years of owning expensive cameras:
It will only ever decrease in value.
Cameras are like cars. They usually drop in value the moment you take them home, unless they can be sold as a barely used vintage goodie someday. So, I’d be thoughtful about what camera you choose so you won’t feel the need to go upgrade in a few years.
Good camera bodies last a LONG time, but they do lose their value. This also means that older DSLRs (and even some older mirrorless bodies) can be picked up used for a a fraction of the price of what they went for ten years ago. If you’re on a budget and aren’t as worried about your gear being lightweight, there are some exceptional DSLRs from ten years ago you could get used.
Lenses are a different story though, they tend to retain their value, thankfully! But still be thoughtful when choosing a lens as they are quite pricey and you’ll likely lose a few hundred dollars if you try to resell them soon.
Best Mirrorless Cameras & Lenses for Travel Bloggers
The options for mirrorless cameras seem almost endless, and choosing a new setup is genuinely overwhelming for me too, despite all the cameras I’ve owned over the past 15 years of photography.
But after trying out and analyzing a ton of different cameras, these are the ones I’d consider for your next purchase:
Fujifilm X-T30
26.1 megapixels | FILM-LIke Look and Colors | 0.844 Pounds
My sister in law is a pro photographer who lives in Belize and she just replaced her old DSLR with this Fujifilm! It’s reminiscent of a film camera, super cute, and insanely light. So much so that I’m considering getting one of my own after trying hers!
A really cool feature of this camera and other recent Fujifilm’s is the film-like presets that you can turn on inside the camera to make your photos feel more like film. Theoretically this helps speed up the editing process if you usually like to give your photos a film vibe.
Lenses for this camera:
- Best All Around Travel Zoom: FUJIFILM XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4
- My Favorite Prime Lens: Fujifilm XC 35mm F/2 or Fujifilm XF35mmF1.4 R
- Wide Angle: Fujifilm Fujinon XF 18mm f/1.4 R LM WR Lens
- Wildlife Lens: Fujifilm XF90mmF2 R LM WR
Sony Alpha 7C II
33 megapixels | My First Travel Blogging Camera | 1.13 Pounds
Sony’s line of Alpha mirrorless cameras are probably the most common cameras used by travel bloggers! The Sony Alpha 7R III is the one I’ve traveled with since I started travel blogging, it’s an older mirrorless camera that still preforms really well with 42 megapixels and a small body.
The newer Sony A7C II is what I’d go for if I was investing in a new Sony today, it’s only a few hundred dollars more but is more compact and more modern. It has less megapixels than my Sony Alpha 7R III, but I do think 42 megapixels is a bit overkill for most bloggers.
Lenses for this camera:
- Best All Around Travel Zoom: 24-70mm F2.8 DGDN II for Sony E
- My Favorite Prime: Sony SEL35F18 35mm f/1.8 Prime Fixed Lens
- Wide Angle: Sony E 11mm F1.8 APS-C Ultra-Wide-Angle Prime
- Telephoto Lens for Wildlife: Tamron 70-300mm F/4.5-6.3
Canon R8
24.2 megapixels | Gorgeous Canon Colors | 1.02 Pounds
Canon cameras are favored among many professional photographers (including myself) for the colors they capture. I would have never broken up with Canon, but Sony’s mirrorless camera options were better back when I started blogging… and I needed a lightweight mirrorless!
But now Canon is fully in the mirrorless camera game, with some exceptional options. The R8 is Canon’s smallest full-frame mirrorless camera, and it’s absolutely what I would have purchased had it been available back when I started blogging. And I’ve been considering switching over to it for a while!
Lenses for this camera:
- Best All Around Travel Zoom: Canon RF28-70mm F2.8 is STM
- My Favorite Prime: Canon RF 35mm F1.8 is Macro STM Lens
- Wide Angle: Canon RF16mm F2.8 STM Lens, Ultra Wide-Angle
- Telephoto and Wide Angle in One: Sigma 16-300mm F3.5 – 6.7 DC OS
The Best Camera Is…
The one you actually bring with you!
For us travel bloggers, that often means a lightweight mirrorless body paired with one versatile lens, or maybe a few lightweight primes.
Here are a few other guides for travel bloggers: