| 1. Panasonic | 2. Olympus | 3. GoPro |
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Clicking photographs while traveling helps in keeping your memories cherished, and you relieve the moments every time you go through those clicks. But to click high quality clear photographs, you need a good camera that you can rely upon.
You must have come across many branded cameras in the market that claim to click high resolution pictures better than the others, but most of them come with a high price tag. If you are a casual traveler who does not want to spend a fortune on buying a high-end camera, here we have given you complete information on how to buy the best travel camera under $500.
CHECK THE TOP TRAVEL CAMERAS UNDER $500 NOW!In this comprehensive guide, we have enlisted a few different types of travel cameras, what factors you should consider while buying one, and some of the best options available in the market. The travel cameras we have included in this guide are priced below $500, and they deliver best quality for their price.
What Is Travel Photography?
Every place that you visit, whether domestic or international, has its own culture, tradition, ambiance and specific look. Even when you come back from the place, you want to relive those moments, but you can’t go back there every time you feel like. Travel photography refers to simply taking photographs of the place and capture all the things while keeping the essence of the place, its culture and the people.
Travel photography has been very popular in the recent years, because even if you are not a professional photographer, you want to capture the best of pictures so that you can proudly post them on the social media sites. There are many things that are important for travel photography, but one most important thing without which travel photography cannot be done is a travel camera.
You should have a good quality camera for travel photography, but it does not necessarily need to be an expensive one. Surprisingly, you can easily buy the best travel camera under $500. The high quality photographs you click with these cameras can successfully trigger the lost memories and help one to keep the experience cherished forever.
Types Of Travel Camera
There are many different kinds of travel cameras available in the market. All of these cameras have different features and prices. One can buy an expensive camera as well as a cheap one, depending on the budget and need of the camera. Here are some types of travel cameras mentioned below:
1. Compact Digital Camera (Point And Shoot)
If you want an easy to use camera that is light in weight and is not very expensive, then you should go for a compact digital camera. This kind of camera is ultra-lightweight and is easy to carry too. You can keep it in your bag and carry it along in your pocket as well.
It is the least expensive and easy to use. You do not need to struggle with its settings and controls either. You can find a point and shoot camera to take great pictures at any place.
2. Advanced Compact Digital Camera
These cameras are very similar to the point and shoot cameras, but they come with some added benefits. These cameras are more advanced and they consist of built-in lenses. They also have manual settings along with the auto mode, that you can adjust as per your personal preferences and needs.
These cameras can even click the pictures in RAW format, which is very effective if you want to do any post-processing and editing in the picture. They are a little bit more expensive than the normal compact cameras, but less expensive than the mirrorless and DSLR cameras.
3. Mirrorless Camera
If you want a camera for travel photography, then mirrorless would be a great option. The best part is that you can get the best travel camera under $500 under this category. These cameras have great image quality, so if you are looking for a camera with great picture quality, then mirrorless cameras are totally in.
These cameras are very different than the DSLR cameras, as they do not have a mirror reflect optical viewfinder. They are perfect for people who are looking for an interchangeable lens with less weight. Unlike a DSLR camera, mirrorless camera is the electronic viewfinder, and you can always view the ISO adjustments and real-time effects of the aperture with this one.
4. DSLR Camera
DSLR is the most advanced type of camera. These cameras are feature-rich and are perfect for any kind of photography. They have great manual settings and are best suited for professional level travel photography.
They are great options for photography in any setting, including wildlife, sports, action, etc. They have a changeable lens, but are a bit heavier than other cameras. DSLR cameras vary in price and features, and you can even find some within $500.
As far as DSLR cameras are concerned, the higher price you pay, the more features you would get. Apart from that, you can also get many different lenses and accessories with these cameras. Choosing DSLR simply means you get more lens options, better picture quality, and longer battery life.
5. Go Pro
Go Pro, popularly known as the action camera, is the greatest option for any avid travel photographer. They are small in size, they have great battery life, and they are feature-rich too. One of the greatest features that would make you drool over it is its water resistance level, which means that you can also do underwater shooting with this kind of camera.
Factors To Consider When Buying The Best Travel Cameras Under $500
There are several factors that you should look for when choosing a travel camera. Buying a camera is not an easy deal, as there are so many great cameras available in the market, and buying the right camera at the right cost can be an even more tricky task.
So, here are a few factors to consider when buying a travel camera:
1. Budget
Well, this is the basic and the most important factor to consider when you are looking a travel camera under $500. The first question you should ask yourself is how much money you can spend on this equipment. Cameras vary in price from a hundred dollars to thousands of dollars.
Be realistic, think about why you need a camera, and then think about how much can be spent on it. It’s better not to get influenced by the trend, know your specific needs and expectations, and then finally choose a travel camera that can suffice your photography instincts within budget.
If you are looking for the best travel camera under $500, always look for the one that fits your needs and budget at the same time. Since a camera doesn’t work without a memory card, spare batteries, lenses, and tripod, you should consider the price of these too while making a purchase. Make a budget and accordingly buy a camera along with all these accessories.
2. Weight
Weight is another important factor that you should not skip when buying a travel camera. It is because you will be carrying it around everywhere you travel, and many times you may need to walk and even climb with it. So, weight is a very important factor to consider, and know how much weight you can carry easily and comfortably.
If you want to carry light, then you should not consider buying a bulky DSLR camera. Even a mirrorless camera will not be a great option if you want to carry a camera in your purse or pocket. But if low light performance and image quality is more important for you, then you should definitely go for a DSLR or mirrorless camera.
3. Usage
Another important factor that you should consider before buying a travel camera is the intended use of it. You should be very clear about how you are going to use it and how often. Also be clear about the type of photography you are going to do with the camera that you buy.
If you just want to click a few pictures for your experiences and post them on social media, then any low-end camera within budget would be fine. But if you are into action photography, then you need to get a camera that is strong and waterproof, something like GoPro that fits best for such photography.
On the other hand, if you are more interested in astrophotography, then consider getting a camera with a bigger sensor that would allow enough light to enter in.
If you simply want to capture people, places and food, then any mirrorless camera will work, as it is not heavy and you can easily get one within $500.
4. Sensor Size
Sensor size is something that you should definitely look at. The larger the sensor size is, the more light can be captured in the photographs. Sensor plays a very important role if you are planning to capture some low light photographs.
The larger sensor will get great images in low light, whereas a small-sized sensor can get grainy pictures. So, always look at the sensor size of the camera you are buying, and try to get a largest sensor sized camera possible in your budget.
5. Aperture
Aperture also plays an important role when it comes to capturing photographs in light. Basically, aperture controls the light and brightness of any image. it is measured in F-stops like (f/2.8, f/12 and more).
The larger the number of apertures, the less the hole turns in the camera and lesser light enters it. Look for the best travel camera under $500 that comes with the lower number of aperture. As it will help you to click pictures and create great shots even in low light.
6. Megapixels
Megapixel creates the size of the picture. One megapixel refers to one million pixels, and they work for the resolution of the picture.
The higher number of pixels means clearer picture even when zoomed in. The pixels are very important when one zooms the pictures and prints them. If you want a high-quality picture without any blurring when zoomed, then consider buying a camera that supports larger pixel count.
7. Focal Length
Focal length refers to the optical zoom of the camera. It is the distance between the sensor and the lens when the object is focused.
The focal length is measured in millimeters. A lower focal length gives you the option to take wider shots. In the case of zoom lenses, both the maximum and the minimum focal length are mentioned, like 18-55 mm.
You should choose higher focal length if you want to fill the frame. The different focal lengths are used for different purposes. So, you should be clear about how much focal length you are looking for.
8. OIS Or EIS
Optical Image Stabilization is commonly known as OIS, and Electronic Image Stabilization is commonly known as EIS. These play an important role in correcting small movements when you take the pictures, as it eliminates and controls the blur. It is a great feature for fixing little things and improving low light photographs.
9. Zoom
Optical zoom and digital zoom are two main zooms that most cameras have. Optical zoom zooms the picture without reducing the image quality. It only zooms and does not crop anything. Whereas the digital zoom can also crop what you don’t want in the frame, but it reduces the image quality.
10. Video
Almost all the cameras that are available in the market these days are capable of shooting videos as well. Buying a camera that can record a video is always beneficial. So, it is important to check the video quality of the camera as well before buying it.
Don’t forget to consider the number of frames it can capture in a second. Ideally, 24-30 frames per second is a normal range, but having more frames like 60 FPS will give a smoother playback.
11. Other Features
The camera industry is growing and cameras are becoming more advanced day by day. So, with this, there are many brands and many different styles of cameras available in the market.
Latest cameras these days come with many extra features, including built-in GPS, touchscreen features, Wi-Fi connectivity, pivoting screens, weather resistance, and many other amazing features. While buying a travel camera, you must not ignore these features, as they can actually make things easy while photographing.
Top 15 Best Travel Cameras Under $500 2022
1. Panasonic Lumix ZS50
Panasonic Lumix ZS50 Camera features 12.1 megapixels sensors that delivers high-resolution photos in best quality. It is designed beautifully and it is not a big sized camera. It has a lens mounted control ring that helps to get control over the manual settings easily.
The zoom, exposure, and focus can be controlled with this ring without making a lot of effort. Easy control provides better shots without struggling with the settings. The camera comes with a 30x zoom LEICA lens that provides a clear and closer subject focus.
The camera has a Leica 24mm DC Vario-Elmar lens and a durable 30x optical zoom. The camera has high sensitivity MOS sensor that provides stunning pictures and video shots even in dark and low light conditions. This provides detailed photographs with less noise and grain, as larger pixels have better control over light and the shots and images are very stunning even in the low light.
The camera has a live viewfinder that provides help in getting perfect shots. It is great for image framing. It delivers superb visibility and image framing in every light.
The manual settings are easy to navigate and understand, which helps one to use it very easily. The camera can also record high-speed videos at 100 FPS in HD resolution for any speed and action video. It is also great at creating crystal clear and detailed slow-motion videos.
Pros
- Can capture photos as well as create videos
- Easy to use
- Easy to handle
- Comes with great manual settings
- Portable
- Comes with digital zoom
- Built-in viewfinder
- Great for shooting in low light as well
- Very inexpensive
- Can shoot 100 frames per second
- Great battery life
Cons
- Manual settings are not possible in certain modes
2. Olympus TG-5
Olympus Red TG-5 Water Resistant Camera is durable and tough. It is waterproof, crushproof, shockproof, dustproof, and freeze-proof. All these features are perfect for capturing photographs in any type of adventure trip, like swimming, hiking, trekking, paragliding, etc.
The Olympus TG-5 is feature-rich and is fully packed with the pro shooting features, such as 20 fps burst shooting in RAW, F2.0 high-speed lens, and anti-fog dual pane glass for stunning pictures anytime. The camera has an F2.0 lens that is great for any adventure or action. You may shoot detailed videos and can shoot blur-free and bright images even when the object is moving fast.
The low light is not a problem, as this camera is a great option for shooting at dusk, dawn and any time when light is low. It is designed with specialized sensors that are great for shooting in any light without dropping the image quality. The pictures shot in low light will also be bright, clear and detailed.
This can shoot ultra HD videos in 4K. The video resolution is great. The camera features Full HD 120 frames per second for slow-motion videos.
It can also create 4K times lapse that allows you to create a short video in great resolution. It has inbuilt action track sensors, and it also comes with GPS, temperature sensors, a manometer for measuring the water depth and altitude, and a compass for direction.
The camera has a great macro mode for detailed pictures of flowers, insects and any other wildlife.
Pros
- Comes with action tracker sensors
- Easy to use
- Waterproof, shockproof, and dustproof
- Strong build
- Can capture stunning pictures even in low light
- Powerful macro modes
- 12-megapixel image sensors
- Wi-Fi connectivity
- Attractive look in red color
Cons
- Battery life is not very great
3. GoPro Hero 7
GoPro Hero7 is the perfect camera for people who love adventure. It’s built tough and waterproof, and is smooth for capturing amazing WDR photos and 4K videos. It has inbuilt GPS and intuitive touch screen, and it is designed beautifully with tough, strong, and tiny body.
It is light-weight, portable, and waterproof. This GoPro camera comes with a touchscreen too that makes it easy and comfortable to use. One can simply tap the screen and get great quality desired shots. The GoPro Hero 7 comes with voice control as well, with which you can simply command and control the camera using your voice. Don’t worry, voice recognition of the camera is very strong.
The camera can take a really high-quality picture full of beauty and vibrancy. It has great speed of clicking 15 photos in one second by switching to burst mode. It also comes with video stabilization, so that you can create videos even when running and doing adventures without getting them blurred.
It has the option of vertical shoot as well, which gives perfect videos for Instagram stories. It has a timer that makes a great shot, as the timer works according to the settings.
Pros
- Comes with a touch screen
- Waterproof
- Stylish look
- Hyper smooth video stabilization
- Voice control features with great voice recognition ability
- Comes with live streaming option
- 8 x slow-motion video
- Easy to use and carry around
- Easy to navigate
Cons
- Not compatible with Windows 10
4. GoPro Hero 5
GoPro Hero5 is a well-designed action and travel camera that is waterproof up to 33 feet. It is designed to balance performance and convenience while being easy to use and feature-rich at the same time. It comes with 4K video, easy to use touch display, and voice control features.
It has its own app, Quickstories, that gives the option of automatically sending pictures and videos to the phone and transforming them into amazing edited videos. The GoPro Hero 5 is a combination of pro qualities photos, stabilized videos, and automatic upload to the clouds. It makes shots great and easy setting helps the photographer to take shots quickly.
The camera has a 12 megapixel picture and 4K video option, all of which can be done in a single shot. The time-lapse is detailed and great with GoPro Hero 5. The design is tough, durable and waterproof, and it is strong enough to not break easily.
The camera comes with a 2-inch touch display that provides the facility of changing the setting, trimming the footage, preview, and playback the shots. The camera features voice control as well, so it can be used handsfree. Just register your voice once and it will recognize it every time. This is a great feature, as you can easily click your photographs with voice commands, especially when you are doing something else like cycling.
Pros
- Great voice control feature
- Comes with the Quickstiories Enabled
- 12 MP camera for pictures
- Stunning 4K videos
- Great for time-lapse
- Durable design
- Tough body and waterproof
- Preview and playback feature
- Easy to navigate
- Comes with single one-button control
Cons
- Low battery life
5. Panasonic Lumix FZ80
This touch enabled digital camera from the house of Panasonic is a perfect point and shoot camera for any traveler. It is a combination of all the features that any travel photographer looks for, including an exclusive combination of 4K videos and 4k pictures. This digital camera has 18.1-megapixel sensors, and features a super long 20-1200 mm LUMIX DC VARIO lens with a super bright F2.8-5.9 aperture range.
High resolution video features enable you to capture fast access action videos in great quality. This camera has great sensors and megapixels that is great when it comes to printing pictures. It also features post focus and focus stacking, which allows change in the depth of field, and also after taking a picture, the focus point can be changed.
It comes with USB charging and Wi-Fi connectivity to the mobile phone, which makes it highly convenient to use. This is a great choice for any professional photographer, as it comes with a long zooming lens. The 60x zoom is amazing to capture all the landscapes and far away things.
It has impressive low light performance and is great for clicking pictures and shooting videos even in the dark without the need of a flashlight. The ultra HD 4K photo features are very innovative and are highly appreciated even by professional photographers for clicking high-quality images. It has a 4k video option at superfast 30 frames per second.
Pros
- Ultra 4K pictures and 4K videos
- Impressive low light performance
- High-resolution viewfinder and LCD display
- USB charging and Wi-Fi connectivity
- Comfortable grip
- Easy to use
- Great battery life
- Worth the cost
Cons
- The features may be a little difficult to understand for beginners
6. Panasonic Lumix ZS100
PANASONIC LUMIX ZS100 is a digital camera that features 20.1 megapixels to product great picture quality. The Venus Engine in the device is Panasonic’s premier processor, which enables speed signal processing and high-quality images at the same time. It has superior noise reduction for better sensitivity, resolution, color and gradation performances.
It features 20.1 megapixels MOS sensor that allows shooting 24/7 in the day or night. It allows shooting at night with a large 1-inch, 20 megapixels MOS sensor for better details, more color and clarity even when the light is very low.
This is a digital point and shoot camera with 10x zoom LEICA DC VARIO-ELMARIT lens, and it also features HYBRID O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer) that delivers brighter and colorful photos. It also features an eye-level electronic viewfinder and LCD Display that makes it more convenient to use for the photographer. The touch-enabled 3-inch LCD display, high-resolution 1,166 k-dot viewfinder and rear can be seen clearly even in bright sunlight.
The camera is designed while keeping in mind the needs of travelers, so it is feature-rich and ultra-lightweight and is easily portable. Raw format images can be developed easily in the camera with the adjustment for the color space settings. The tilt correction helps in eliminating the blur, and this feature of the camera makes it stand out of the crowd.
Pros
- Advanced Image Processing for improved performance
- 20.1 Megapixel MOS Sensor
- Eye-level viewfinder
- Captures high-resolution 4k videos
- Lens mounted control ring
- Wi-Fi connectivity and USB charging to the mobile phone
- Optically stabilized 25-250mm (10X) LEICA DC VARIO-ELMARIT lends
Cons
- Settings are overwhelming, can be tough for the beginners
- Not great packaging
7. GoPro Hero 8
GoPro Hero 8 is a versatile and strong action camera that is designed very classy and can be fitted into the pocket easily. The entire package comes with all the necessary pieces of equipment, including the GoPro Hero 8 Black camera, curved adhesive mount, rechargeable battery, USB Cable type C, and thumbscrew with the mounting buckle.
The classy design is another reason to choose it. The elegant small camera in black looks extremely classy. The folding fingers at the base let you swap the mounts faster.
It also has an updated side of batteries, with which batteries can be changed quickly and easily. The update makes lens 2 times more impact resistant. The HyperSmooth 2.0 works with all the frame rates and resolutions equally. This provides the smoothest of videos and widest of views.
It also features TimeWarp that captures stabilized times lapse videos when one is performing some tasks or activities. TimeWarp 2.0 has the ability to improve and adjust the speed based on motion, lighting, and scene detection.
This provides a feature of slowing down the effect to the real-time. The camera features four different lenses: including the narrow, distortion-free linear, SuperView and wide.
Pros
- Streamlined design
- Hypersmooth 2.0
- Highly durable
- Portable design
- Looks extremely classy
- Easy to use
- TimeWarp 2.0
- Live burst
- Touch screen enabled
- Improved HDR
- Detailed and blur-free shot
- Image stabilization
Cons
- Less Battery life
8. Canon ELPH 190
The Canon PowerShot ELPH 190 Digital Camera is a slim and small, yet stylish looking camera. It is designed beautifully and is portable and easy to fit in a purse or pocket. This is the perfect camera to shoot adventure, wedding, vacation or just everyday happenings.
This camera can capture all the precious moments in great quality with its 20.0-megapixel sensor. It creates clear and detailed images. The high-resolution pictures it delivers are great for printing and the post-processing and editing will not ruin the picture and will not degrade the picture quality. It has 10x optical zoom, which is great for capturing the close-ups and anything from far away.
The Intelligent IS helps to reduce the blur and the picture comes out clear and not shaken. It also has built-in Wi-Fi connectivity feature, which makes it more convenient for you to share the pictures quickly and easily. The shots are always with minimal noise and grain because of the 20.0-megapixel sensors.
It provides great shots with fine details and minimum grain. It works great even in low light and captures great images even without using the flashlight. The looks are very stylish and the camera is very slim.
The design is very classy and it is a lightweight and small camera. The camera also records videos in 720p HD, and it has its own app that is compatible with Android smartphones, IOS versions and tablet versions too. The Canon Camera Connect app can be downloaded free of cost just with some minimum data charges.
Pros
- Comes with 10x optical zoom
- Great picture quality
- Comes with built-in Wi-Fi
- Easy to use
- Looks classy
- Portable and lightweight
- Captures the little details very clearly
Cons
- Not that great at shooting videos
9. Akaso V50 Pro
AKASO V50 Pro is an advanced action camera with great battery life. The image quality is superb, as it is able to capture every little detail while capturing adventure and outdoor shoots. As it is an action camera, it is tough and strong, along with being waterproof, dustproof, and shockproof.
It comes with the built-in EIS (electronic image stabilization) with 6 axis gyroscope that detects position and motion changes. The best part about it is even if the camera tilts, shakes or moves, it will continue producing stable videos. It comes with adjustable view angle that allows you to adjust the view angle accordingly.
With this feature, the view can be adjusted to the wide, super-wide, narrow or medium. The camera comes with some great accessories, including the remote control, wrist band, two rechargeable batteries, charger, and more in the kit. The kit is fully packed with all the necessary pieces of equipment including AKASO V50 Pro Action Camera, waterproof case, remote control, 1 battery charger, two 1100mAh Battery, 1 USB cable, 1 lens cloth, 1 quick reference guide, and 2 helmet mounts.
Pros
- Built-in Wi-Fi
- Great battery life
- Captures the details
- Great for shooting adventure and outdoor
- Highly stable
- Supports external microphone
- Comes with the diving mode
- Distortion calibration
- Can be used for creating time-lapse videos
- Able to create high-quality slow-motion videos
- Winds the noise reduction
- Long exposure
Cons
- The remote is not waterproof
- The video quality is not very high
10. Canon PowerShot G9
The Canon PowerShot G9 Compact Digital Camera is an updated version of the Canon’s G9 X “entry-level” premium compact camera. It is very slim and looks very gorgeous and vintage. The camera is lightweight and clicks great pictures.
It comes with 1.0-inch 20-megapixel sensors with high sensitivity. The Digic 7 image processor is compatible with the tablet versions 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 5.0, 5.1, 6.0, 7.0, 7.1, iOS versions 8.4, 9.3 and some Android smartphones. It is very small in size and can be easily carried along in your pocket or in the purse.
It has a touch screen panel that makes it very updated with time. It is easy to use and is a very simple and basic camera. It has great picture quality and the settings are not overwhelming.
It comes with built-in Bluetooth, and it can be used to capture videos as well. The Digic image processor reduces the noise even when the ISO is high. It will help to capture sharp and detailed images without so much grain even in low light. It can also make time-lapse videos in great quality.
Pros
- Built-in Bluetooth
- Digic 7 Image processor
- Great picture quality
- Works well even in low light
- Can be used for creating videos
- Easy to use
- Has autofocus
- Not very expensive
- Available in two different colors
Cons
- Little expensive
11. GoPro Max
The GoPro MAX is a classic camera, with which you can create hyper smooth videos and capture very clear and detailed pictures. The camera also features immersive 360 footage. To create three different types of videos, this on-camera is enough to produce them in good quality.
The camera features horizon leveling that provides a smooth cinematic look to the videos. It is very stabilized, and the PowerPano captures 270° Panasonic shots without any distortion. This camera captures beautiful selfies and professional motion shots.
The camera also features premium 360 and stereo audio that provides great stereo sound from a GoPro. It shoots very high quality and stabilized time-lapse videos. It comes with max TimeWarp, which controls the speed of the video based on light, motion and scene detection.
Enjoy capturing your favorite landscapes from 4 different lenses including max superview, linear, narrow and wide. The camera kit comes with all the features and required accessories, which include a rechargeable battery, Go Pro Max camera, 2 protective lenses, 2 lens caps, curved adhesive mount, mounting buckle with thumbscrews, microfiber bag, and USB type C cable.
Pros
- Unbreakable stabilization
- High-quality pictures
- Videos in 360 degree
- Great panoramic shots
- Six mics onboard
- Records great sound
- Four digital lenses
- Records hyper smooth videos
- Comes with all the necessary pieces of equipment
Cons
- Doesn’t work with Windows
- Does not work so great in the night
12. Fujifilm XF10
Fujifilm XF10 Digital Camera is a lightweight and pocket-sized camera, yet it is packed with features. The high-quality components and easy functionality make it stand out from the crowd. The camera comes with the renowned FUJINON lens with the 24.2-megapixel APS-C sized sensor, which creates sharp and detailed pictures.
The camera delivers natural skin tones and colors with lesser grains, even when the light is low. The camera provides 11 different modes that replicate classic film styles. The camera features many advanced filters that give pictures very creative touch and the photos look more artistic.
The camera has wireless communication capability so it can be connected with the smartphone or tablet which is compatible with Bluetooth. The camera comes with touch screen as well, which makes it convenient for the user.
Pros
- Easy to operate
- Easy to manage the settings
- Great for both the beginning as well as for the professional photographers
- Provides high-quality pictures
- Small and portable
- Feature-rich
- Advanced filters
- Comes with advanced SR auto modes
Cons
- The packaging is not very protective
13. Akaso EK7000
This action camera is a professional grade, multi-function camera that can also be used as a professional dashcam. The package comes with all the valuable accessories, including two batteries, and a USB dual charger. The battery life is great and can record up to 90 minutes of video in one go.
It also has a 2-inch touch screen that makes it super convenient for previewing, adjusting settings, and shooting. The IPS display takes control of this powerful action camera. The camera has impressive video quality, which features 4K videos at 25 frames per second and 30 frames per second for 2.7k videos.
The 16 megapixels sensor is enabled to capture the beauty clearly and with sharp details. Apart from that, the camera is equipped with an upgraded waterproof case, so that the camera can dive in up to 131 feet of water. This makes the camera perfect for adventure and water sports enthusiasts, making it a great device to click pictures during surfing, swimming, diving, etc.
The camera is designed in a very technical yet classy way. It is strong and tough, yet looks very elegant. It is light weighted, portable and easy to carry. It creates hyper smooth videos and can shoot fast-moving objects very sharply.
The camera kit comes with one action camera, one battery charger, 2 batteries 1050 mAh, waterproof case, helmet mounts, lens cloth, cable, quick reference guide, remote control, and other valuable accessories.
Pros
- Comes with a touch screen
- Electronic image stabilization
- Comes with remote control
- Features an adjustable view angle
- Easy to operate
- Can be used for adventure shoots as well as for time lapse
- Multi-function action camera
Cons
- The remote control is not waterproof
- The sound may not be recorded when the camera is on the waterproof case
14. Suntak HD Mini Point
The HD Mini Digital Camera is a great camera with 2.7 TFT LCD display. It comes with 8 times digital zoom and built-in flash. The 18 megapixels sensor is good for quality pictures and the resolution is great for picture printing and post-processing.
The 720p resolution for video is amazing and creates nice videos. The camera is equipped with some really cool features, like smile capture, continue shots, selfie timer, face detection, portrait, auto and night mode, scenery modes, beach mode, and high sensitivity. It can capture high-quality pictures even in the night, and the flash of this camera is also amazing.
The package comes with one camera, 1 USB cable, 1 camera bag, 1 camera strap, user manual, and Li-ion battery rechargeable. It is a mini digital camera, so it looks small and is very easy to carry around. It can be carried in purse and pocket easily.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Affordable
- Comes with different scene modes including Night, auto, scenery, and portraits and more
- Captures high-quality pictures
- Comes with 8 x zoom
- Comes with CMOS sensors
- ISO can be changed
- Features basic manual setting
- Comes with one-year customer support
- 18 Mo camera for capturing clear and detailed pictures
Cons
- Does not work that great at night
15. Kodak PIXPRO FZ53-RD
The Kodak PIXPRO FZ53-RD Friendly Zoom is a pocket-sized camera that that has great design, slim body, and light weight. It comes with 28 mm wide-angle lens that is great to find in this size camera. The camera is capable enough to capture great pictures even if the size is small.
The camera features 5 times optical zoom. It is great for kids and teenagers and for beginners in photography. The settings are easy, so it can capture great shots within seconds.
The camera can also record videos, and it is very easy to switch from photos to video mode. It features one-touch system that does not require a lot of effort, which means that HD videos can be recorded just by one touch. It can record video in 720 p, and it also features an LCD screen in 2.7 inches.
Pros
- Slim and compatible
- 2.7 inches LCD screen
- Easy to operate
- Can record videos
- 5x optical zoom
Cons
- The FZ53 is not compatible with Ultra plus, extreme plus, Micro SD, ultra, extreme, micro/adapter, Extreme Pro, or SDXC cards.
FAQs on Travel Cameras under $500
1. Why Should I Buy A Travel Camera When I Have A Camera In My Smartphone?
Although the camera in your smartphone is good enough to capture a few random photographs in your daily life, if you want to capture best quality photos that you can even enlarge and print out, then you will need a good quality travel camera. The quality of smartphone photos cannot match that of camera photos in terms of resolution.
2. What Sensor Size Is Good?
The larger the sensor size is, the more light it would be able to capture in the photographs. If you are clicking pictures in low light conditions, then a better sensor size would play a very important role in getting quality photos. The best travel camera under $500 would usually come with 6.7 x 4.55 mm sensor, while a high-end camera would have a 7.6 x 5.7 mm sensor.
3. What Does Weight Matter In A Travel Camera?
If it is for traveling purpose, then the camera should be light weight, but it may lack some of the basic features that add some weight. High-end cameras are a little heavy in weight, but they may not be that easy to carry around.
4. What Other Pieces Of Equipment Can I Expect With My Camera?
The package of your camera also comes with a number of other valuable equipment and accessories, such as reference guide, waterproof cover, remote control, battery charger, Battery, USB cable, lens cloth, reference guide, etc.
Think Before Investing Money In A Camera
Photography plays a very essential role in every trip. It not only captures the memories of people and places, but it can also be a great source of earning money for some. Travel photography is one of the most popular forms of photography.
These days, travel cameras are turning very affordable. You just need to know your need and budget, and find the best travel camera under $500 from the list mentioned above. Many brands are manufacturing different types of cameras, and you need to choose the one depending on how much you are going to use it, for what, and what’s your budget.
The smartphones these days are also capable of clicking high-quality pictures, but it is always a better option to own a camera, as it offers many other features that can be very helpful for anyone who is interested in photography. There are several features and many other factors that you have to keep an eye on while buying a camera.
The above list of 15 best travel cameras 2020 is compiled together to make it easier for you to choose the right camera.
