Which small camera for travelling

[LemonTart]

Hi Folks

My daughter is doing a 3 month trip of Far East and Aus, she would like a digital camera to capture her trip on.

She has a modest budget ideally around £150 to £200 but if she can get something much better for £250 then I can top up, as she is back packing she wants a compact pocket sized one that doesn’t look too snazzy so it won’t attract attention and get pinched.

Could anyone in the know recommend something please?

Many thanks
Ed

[Tony1963]

Does she have a reason for not wanting to use her smartphone?

[LemonTart]

Tony1963 said:

Does she have a reason for not wanting to use her smartphone?

Not really she thought it might get better pictures via a camera?

She has iPhone X

[Mr Pointy]

If she takes a camera she will need a way to upload the pictures as the SD cards fill up: carrying a load of cards isn't a good idea. A phone with a good camera can upload them to cloud storage (Google or Apple), assuming she can get wireless access.

[LemonTart]

Mr Pointy said:

If she takes a camera she will need a way to upload the pictures as the SD cards fill up: carrying a load of cards isn't a good idea. A phone with a good camera can upload them to cloud storage (Google or Apple), assuming she can get wireless access.

That's a good point, hadn't thought of that, thanks

[andburg]

The Panasonic TZ range are a good option.

I have a tz100 but stupidly I have an issue with it, as a man it’s got the same problem as every other compact camera. It’s too big to trouser pocket comfortably. Be great for a handbag camera though.

Bit out of budget though and the lower models have much less zoom.

I carry a dslr in a bag or I use my phone, the tz is the middle ground I found just doesn’t work for me.

[sgrimshaw]

1. 1 - Sony RX100 whichever model fits in budget ... don't be afraid to go used from one of the reputable sources.

1. 2 - Sony DSC-HX60, DSC-WX500, WX-350

All very small and capable of great pictures.

Any on the #2 list are truly point and shoot, RX100's are but offer even more capability.

[Mr Pointy]

LemonTart said:

Mr Pointy said:

If she takes a camera she will need a way to upload the pictures as the SD cards fill up: carrying a load of cards isn't a good idea. A phone with a good camera can upload them to cloud storage (Google or Apple), assuming she can get wireless access.

That's a good point, hadn't thought of that, thanks

With a camera you usually end up with a battery charger (few are USB charging) & you'll probably want a spare battery as well. Whilst it's true the pictures & lens range might be a bit better she'll end up with a fair bit more stuff to carry around. I'd say look at spending money now on a phone with the best camera she can afford & learn how to use it well.

[andburg]

Charging and batteries is a great point.

A refurb iPhone 13 Pro with trade in should be about right for budget I reckon.

It’s memories and snapshots not about ultimate quality and massive prints.

[Hustle_]

I’m upgrading my phone and selling the camera I bought for travelling some years ago

[Bill]

Surely they're all USB charging and have WiFi for an upload these days?? Certainly my 3 year old TZ100 has. And a £30 128GB card will store all the photos you might possibly take.

But a phone is smaller and more convenient and only really lacking if you want a zoom or to print at a decent size.

[Not Ideal]

sgrimshaw said:

#1 - Sony RX100 whichever model fits in budget ... don't be afraid to go used from one of the reputable sources.

1. 2 - Sony DSC-HX60, DSC-WX500, WX-350

All very small and capable of great pictures.

Any on the #2 list are truly point and shoot, RX100's are but offer even more capability.

+1 on the RX100. Stupidly good.

[LemonTart]

Thanks for all the replies folks, really appreciate the advice.

We will have a look out for the TZ, Sony RX100 or upgrading the phone depending how she feels about all the leads and things that go with the camera..

Many thanks to all for dropping a post with your advice.

[andburg]

If she wants to go camera, I’d happily part with my tz100. If you’re in the South Yorkshire area drop me an email.

[LemonTart]

andburg said:

If she wants to go camera, I’d happily part with my tz100. If you’re in the South Yorkshire area drop me an email.

Thanks i have dropped you an email.

[sgrimshaw]

LemonTart said:

Thanks for all the replies folks, really appreciate the advice.

We will have a look out for the TZ, Sony RX100 or upgrading the phone depending how she feels about all the leads and things that go with the camera..

Many thanks to all for dropping a post with your advice.

Pretty much all Sony Compacts can charge with a USB charger, all the one's I mentioned certainly do.

[24lemons]

“The best camera is the one you have with you” as they say.

I have had large DSLR kits which I have downsized to a bridge camera, and I’ve got a small canon compact which barely leaves its drawer. The majority of photos I’ve taken over the last few years, of holiday and my baby daughter, have been taken on my iPhone 13 Pro, solely because it’s always in my pocket.

Unless I’m specifically going out with the aim of being a photographer for the day, the cameras stay at home as they are just one more thing to carry.

I’ve also found that despite hard drives full of photos of racing cars or aeroplanes or landscapes etc, the pictures I’ve come to treasure are actually the slightly crappy spontaneous snaps of friends and family which live in my phone.

[Julian Scott]

24lemons said:

“The best camera is the one you have with you” as they say.

I have had large DSLR kits which I have downsized to a bridge camera, and I’ve got a small canon compact which barely leaves its drawer. The majority of photos I’ve taken over the last few years, of holiday and my baby daughter, have been taken on my iPhone 13 Pro, solely because it’s always in my pocket.

Unless I’m specifically going out with the aim of being a photographer for the day, the cameras stay at home as they are just one more thing to carry.

I’ve also found that despite hard drives full of photos of racing cars or aeroplanes or landscapes etc, the pictures I’ve come to treasure are actually the slightly crappy spontaneous snaps of friends and family which live in my phone.

Echo that. I have a Leica Q2, it takes some amazing photos, but it only comes out when I am somewhere I specifically want to use it. The rest of the time it's my iPhone (15 Pro in my case). The picture quality is staggeringly good, to a point that before pushing through LR, I'd say a lot of the quick shots were preferable to the Q2, especially poor light. The Q2 allows for greater manipulation, but I'd say when you are looking at a £300 budget, you'd be hard pressed to find a camera that will take better memory snaps that the one she'll without question have within her phone.

[Hustle_]

Julian Scott said:

when you are looking at a £300 budget, you'd be hard pressed to find a camera that will take better memory snaps that the one she'll without question have within her phone.

Except she has an iPhone X and not an iPhone 15 Pro!

[Julian Scott]

Hustle_ said:

Julian Scott said:

when you are looking at a £300 budget, you'd be hard pressed to find a camera that will take better memory snaps that the one she'll without question have within her phone.

Except she has an iPhone X and not an iPhone 15 Pro!

Principle stills stands at that price point, but if she needs better, as mentioned above, spend the £300 on trading up to a newer phone?