The ultimate new lightweight cameras for travel photography
A new generation of compact cameras with full manual controls and super-zoom lenses do almost everything a bulky DSLR can, but weigh far less, making them perfect for travel
Relying only on a smartphone for taking photos can be liberating, especially when travelling. Not only is there less to carry – especially for those who are used to lugging around a bulky DSLR camera – but being able to instantly share your photos is irresistible. But have you noticed something? Your photos aren’t as good as they used to be. They’re not as sharp or as colourful, nor are they as creative. You may also discover while swiping through your phone that you have virtually no decent photos taken at night, or in the low light of dusk and dawn in what photographers call the “golden hour”.
In the past couple of years there has been a collective realisation that the DSLR camera still has a lot going for it, but if only it could be shrunk to pocket size. That demand has given birth to a new generation of lightweight compact cameras with full manual controls and super-zoom lenses. They do almost everything a bulky DSLR can, but weigh far less for easier travel.
For amateur photographers wanting full control of their images, there is no substitute for manual settings. The latest luxe compact manuals from Sony, Canon and Panasonic offer full control over exposure, aperture and shutter speed, though all have their individual quirks.
So what should you look for? Consider the lens, which is fixed. Can it manage a wide-angle 24mm shot? How about optical zoom? If it reaches over 70mm you will get reasonably close to your subject, but anything less than 100mm isn’t trying hard enough. Forget megapixels, which can be misleading and don’t compare well across sensor sizes and different technologies, and instead consider whether you need to film in Ultra HD 4K video resolution. It boasts four times the detail of Full HD, and if your current television can’t display it, your next almost certainly will.
If you plan to travel, always look for a built-in viewfinder. As well as being easier in strong sunlight, looking through a viewfinder instead of at a glaring LCD screen will save you so much battery power, which could be crucial if you’re in a remote destination. It also helps do away with nightly recharges. However, the priority features with all of these cameras are that they have adjustable manual controls, and an easy-to-use design that puts dials and shortcut buttons within easy reach. The three frontrunners are all different, but difficult to split.
The highlight is a pop-up electronic viewfinder that helps save battery while on the move, and uses a superbly clear OLED screen inside. All of this weighs a mere 298g.
Which one of these three reborn manual compacts will suit your travel style best depends on what you like to photograph, but they all have one thing in common; after a decade of being a slave to your smartphone, they put you back in control.
