The best travel cameras of 2024

When you're on your travels, the Powershot G7 X MkII is a reassuringly solid piece of kit. Not so small that you're in danger of it slipping out of your grasp, but not so large that it's a pain to carry. The large tiltable touchscreen will make framing things up a lot easier too - handy for those times when you're in cramped environments. With 20.1 megapixels to play with and fast and accurate autofocus, the G7 X will really capture the scene.

Aspiring beginners and professionals aren't left behind either, as there's RAW support for those who want to edit and enhance their images once they get home. An automatic feature that really shines here is the 58-scene Smart Auto mode. Considering the average holiday will take you into all sorts of light and environments, this feature will work out the scene and help things turn out the way you want them to. Add to that the incredible 5-axis internal stabilisation system for smooth and level shots, and you have a seriously high-quality camera at your fingertips. At the moment this also comes as a bundle with a handy case and a 16GB SD card.

The Olympus Tough TG-6 Series really does live up to its name. This little armoured tank of a camera boasts more protection than most on the market. Designed to the strict IPX8 rating, it's waterproof to 15 metres, can withstand crushes of 100kg, is shockproof and also freezeproof to -10 degrees. It's certainly not the highest resolution camera here, at just 12MP, but what you lose in pixels you gain in its ability to survive almost anything.

The 25-100mm f/2-4.9 zoom lens plus 20 fps high shoot rate will really see you snapping away as you venture out too. High-quality video is included, which allows you to shoot Full HD in 4k at 30fps too. You could also shoot 120fps for super-slow motion. A four-mode macro system also comes in handy for snapping any small creatures and the like while you're under (or over) water. This really does tick a lot of boxes when it comes to action cameras too. Brilliant for adventurous types.

When we reviewed the Canon EOS M50 MkII, we set out to prove that you really can find highly capable kit in the sub-£1000 bracket. This EOS 250D is a prime example, but it also ticks all the right boxes when it comes to a self-contained DSLR that you can pack up and travel with. This one comes with a EF-S 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6 III lens, which means your wide-angle cityscapes and landscapes are well catered for.

If you're a pro or beginner who likes their DSLR but doesn't want to risk taking it on holiday, choosing this camera means you'll still have access to all of the tactile controls and features you're used to; manual focusing, f-stop and ISO control, plus in-camera adjustments. And let's not forget that, despite the price, this is actually delivering excellent 24.1MP stills and 4K video. Amazing, especially as this is a Canon.

Sometimes less is more - and if you're travelling super-light this is as compact as you'll ever need to go. When we reviewed the GoPro Hero 9 we found this 5K resolution action cam to be extremely versatile and practical. Of course, video is the king of the castle here, but also works as a 20MP stills camera. It's ready for almost anything that your holiday will throw at it too - as it's waterproof to 10m and can shoot 4K video at 60fps. Super-slow-motion mode will capture your adventures at 240fps, and HyperSmooth 3.0 Video Stabilisation will keep things nice and smooth too.

Naturally, you'll sacrifice things like zoom lenses compared to other compact cameras, but this does come with a wide-angle lens. The handy front-facing additional touchscreen makes things easier while shooting on your own. Plus it accepts voice commands for hands-free use. Pack this tiny lightweight 5K wonder into your hand luggage and take off to capture those holiday adventures with ease.

So, you're going to the Great Pyramid at Giza, or braving the Grand Canyon - how best to capture the wonder and spectacle of these sights for posterity? Well, this Fujifilm X100V Mirrorless Digital Camera is squarely aimed at serious photographers who want all of the quality but less bulk and fuss. It's not cheap, but it is a mirrorless compact option with a prime lens. And it's that 23mm prime lens (another term for a non-zoom lens) means that this camera is the ideal choice for landscape or cityscape photographers. There's no better way to capture the size and scale of sweeping vistas. Thankfully, if you're feeling flush, you can modify the lens with others using adapters, rather than swap the lens completely.

Quality-wise, you have a 26.1MP APD-C CMOS image sensor and X-Processor 4. Working together, this camera delivers beautiful scenic images and 4K 30fps video quality. The 3-inch rear-tilting touchscreen, advanced Hybrid Viewfinder and 425-point autofocus round off the feature set nicely. This is a truly stunning piece of photography gear from Fujifilm - just be sure to protect your investment and upgrade your camera bag to match.

Another video-centric camera on this list, the DJI Osmo Pocket can cope with all manner of movements as you explore the world. It captures 4K video at 60fps, but can also shoot 16MP still images in RAW or JPG format. Once again, this has such a slim profile means it can slide right into your pocket - perfect for the more active holidaymakers.

The key to Osmo's success is the 3-axis mortised gimbal - technology that DJI are renowned for. It can smooth out the bumps to produce incredibly smooth footage. Imagine walking through the cobbled streets of an old Spanish town or the Great Wall of China with this little gem at the end of your arm. There's a one-inch rear touchscreen that's easy to reach, but of course, you can attach your phone via an app and take advantage of the larger screen. DJI even provide a fully-featured editing app for quick and easy editing. A real all-in-one solution for any traveller who likes to keep things small, simple but very effective at capturing the scene.

If you're a traveller who is as serious about video as they are about stills, Sony's Alpha ZV-E10L is the fully-loaded travel camera for you. A seriously capable stills camera to boot, Sony has jammed as much of their photographic know-how into the compact body of the E10L. And if you're serious about compact but full-featured kit, Sony has its own interchangeable lens system offering maximum choice for creative shooters. There are over 60 different lenses available too.

The ZV-E10L has lightning-fast autofocus that's best-in-class. While it clearly isn't priced for beginners on a budget, the video capabilities and image quality are professional-grade. We have 4K (up to 30p) and Full HD slow motion (up to 120P) but the combination of the 16-50mm lens and Sony's reputation for stellar image quality is what propels this into its own category. Part mobile filmmaking tool, part stills camera to rival some DSLRs, this is probably the most well-rounded camera here.