The best travel camera to capture Australia (for all levels of budget)

Travelling Australia – or anywhere in the world – with a good quality camera is one of the best ways to appreciate your surroundings and capture some special memories to share with family and friends for years to come. But what are the best travel cameras in 2019 for capturing the land down under in all its glory? Compact? Mirrorless? DSLR? When you factor this in with how much budget you have to spend on a new camera or lens, things can get tricky.

Generally speaking, we all want the same thing from a travel camera. We want a compact and lightweight digital camera that can quickly and easily capture the variety of landscapes, wildlife, buildings, and people that we encounter on our travels – and all within budget.

To help you determine the best travel camera for your price range, the travel-loving team at Ted’s Cameras have put together a handy guide of their top 4 recommended travel cameras, each tailored to a different budget, starting from under $500 to over $1,500.

Here are their picks for the best travel cameras, for all levels of budget, in 2019:

Under $500: Panasonic Lumix TZ90

In terms of compact cameras, the Panasonic TZ range could make its claim as the undisputed king. For years, this range of cameras has been overwhelmingly popular thanks to their standard features of a long-ranging zoom and portable pocket-size.

The Panasonic Lumix TZ90 has all of this, with a Zeiss branded 30x optical zoom lens and 20.3MP CMOS sensor to help you capture stunning travel images near and far. It combines all this with built-in 5-Axis image stabilisation, 4K resolution video and a 3-inch touch-sensitive, tilting LCD screen for excellent usability. With such a long list of functionality, the Panasonic Lumix TZ90 is the best compact camera for travel under $500.

Under $1000: Canon EOS M100

If you have a little more to spend, you can start exploring the mirrorless territory, which is where you will find the Canon EOS M100. We love the EOS M100 due to its perfect blend of still image and video functionalities, which has made it a huge success amongst content creators and will ensure your Aussie adventures look as crisp, clear and colourful as a Sydney Harbour morning.

Although not exactly pocketable, this mirrorless model from Canon is decidedly portable, being light enough to carry for long periods of time without ever being cumbersome. In terms of quality and usability, this camera excels, with a 24.2MP APS-C sized image sensor, Full HD 1080P video and 3-inch tilting, touch-sensitive LCD screen to compose your stills and videos. When you factor-in compatibility to a growing list of Canon EOS M lenses, this is a capable travel photography tool for beginners and enthusiasts alike.

Under $1500: Olympus E-M5 Mark II

Another Mirrorless entry on our list, the Olympus E-M5 Mark II is a retro-styled camera that produces images that are even more attractive than its classic design. Although lightweight, the E-M5 Mark II is no push-over, featuring dust and splash-proof construction. It’s compatible with a wide-range of MFT lenses, which are a perfect match for the camera with their impressive size to performance ratio.

As well as being touch-sensitive, the LCD screen at the rear of this camera can be flipped and tilted at will, which is great for taking some selfie travel photos – especially if you’ve come across an adorable quokka in Western Australia! There’s also a high-quality EVF for those that prefer a more traditional approach to their image composition.

With built-in WiFi making it easy to share your travel photography results from almost anywhere in the world, this is a stunning camera that is fuss-free, dependable and versatile – just what you want from a travel partner!

Over $1500: Sony A6500

With the A6500, Sony has ticked all of the necessary boxes in order to make this Mirrorless model the best camera for travel photography over $1500. The camera has functionality that can compete with high-quality DSLR cameras but in a much more portable package. Image quality from the 24.4MP Exmor CMOS sensor is spectacular – a quality which is extended over to the 4K resolution videos that this camera can record.

The built-in Image Stabilisation and class-leading Autofocus performance really allow the camera to make the most of its capturing abilities, so if you put quality first, this is the right camera for you. From sailing around Far North Queensland to bushwalking in Tasmania, you can feel confident you’re capturing every adventure at its best – plus, with its lightweight magnesium alloy construction and dust and moisture-resistance, the A6500 is easy-to-carry and tough as nails. This camera is packed and ready to go, wherever you are.

A travel souvenir like no other

So there you have it! Any of these four cameras will be a great addition to your next Aussie adventure, giving you a stunning photographic collection of travel souvenirs you’ll cherish forever.

For more information, check out Ted’s Guide to The Best Digital Cameras for Photography in 2019, or get in touch with the expert team at your local Ted’s Cameras today!