How To Choose The Best Backpacking Cameras For YOU | 2024

Choosing from the hundreds of backpacking cameras is not the easiest thing in the world, especially if you’re not in the know! Check out the best for every situation here.

Short Version

If you’re the average backpacker then you are going to want a decent point and shoot. You cannot go wrong with the following 3 cameras!

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If you’re about to hit the trail or disappear into the world on an epic adventure then the chances are you’re going to want to get your hands on one of the best backpacking cameras to capture every moment. But you don’t need to spend a pretty penny to get one! Of course, there are plenty of cameras out there running into the thousands but what do you actually NEED?

Don’t waste your time looking at cameras you’ll never use. Firstly you have to decide who you are, and not in the hippy sense! Just decide which of the following you mostly relate to and skip straight to the section for you.

A Normal Backpacker: An Average Joe Or Joanna

The vast majority of people heading out into the world just want a good solid camera to capture their memories. You’re not looking to get on the cover of National Geographic but at the same time, you don’t want it breaking within the first few months.

Zoom straight to budget backpacking cameras here.

Adrenaline Junkie

Are you going to be jumping out of planes into an Australian bay? Paragliding over the Brazilian mountains? Diving with humpback whales? Then you’re going to need a camera that attaches to your body! You probably already know that but you’ll be surprised at my top recommendation.

Snap to the best action cameras for backpacking here.

Enthusiast Or Blogger

Are you the type of person who spends hours researching the latest lenses, cameras and techniques in order to maximise your photography skills on the road? Are your pictures your pride and joy when you get home? Or do you need it for a professional reason, like a blog, and need them to be fantastic quality to blow away your audience?

Shoot down to the best mirrorless & DSLR cameras for backpacking here.

Straight Up Clumsy Or Diver

Come on, you know who you are – you’ll just drop everything in the first few days/hours of owning it. The rugged, waterproof, solid backpacking cameras may not be the most beautiful but when you drop them down the toilet or they fall out of the plane (maybe) then you’ll still have a camera at the end of it.

On the other hand, these cameras will perform the best out of this list underwater so divers should definitely check them out.

Flash down to the best rugged and waterproof backpacking cameras here. I don’t know if the flash pun really works but I was running out!

Read More: Loads Of Thoughtful Gifts For The Backpackers In Your Lives

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Budget And Reliable Backpacking Cameras – Point & Shoot

Budget point and shoots have taken a huge hit recently due to camera phones becoming better and better. If you want something that is better than what you already have in your pocket the choices are no longer less than $200. With that being said, if you want something that can perform that bit better than your phone then look no further.

I have only recommended cameras that I know will offer great results but also have a great price. The top 3 budget and reliable backpacking cameras are as follows:

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Canon PowerShot SX740 HS

This is a direct competitor for the Panasonic Lumix ZS70k below but in my mind the best budget backpacking camera you can buy.

It just has everything you would need. Image stabilisation (which you will need at 960mm!), low light performance, rotatable selfie screen, portability, gorgeous sharp images AND 4k Video.

What’s not to love.

At 299g it is also very slightly less weight than the Panasonic Lumix ZS70 / TZ90 which is an added bonus. This will fit into your pocket and produce better images than any smartphone will be able to offer.

The reach on this thing is also spectacular. There will be nothing out of your range with 960mm optical zoom so you’ll never have to worry about not getting the shot.

The built-in wifi and Bluetooth allows you to get all of your images off of your camera and onto your phone in next to no time at all which is a must for all backpacking cameras in this list. No one wants to be out backpacking and have to lug around a laptop to be able to get the images off later in the day.

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Panasonic Lumix ZS70k

The Panasonic ZS70k is a great little camera for the price and will handle any everyday situation perfectly. 

As with all 3 of the cameras in the budget section, it will fit in your pocket no problem and weighs a tiny 322g.

To put this in perspective, a typical smartphone will be around 150g to 200g, so it’s not going to be weighing you down at all.

A great addition to the ZS70K is the 180° flippable screen. We all love to take a selfie so having the main screen facing you to get the shot perfect is a must nowadays.

The zoom on the ZS70K is ridiculous at 720mm focal length. Putting it lightly, if you ever feel the need to zoom in more than that then I have no idea what you’re trying to photograph but surely it isn’t THAT scary and you could always move closer.

Lastly, the ZS90K connects effortlessly with your phone so you can take pictures directly from the camera wirelessly. Some social media, for example, Instagram, does not allow you to add pictures directly from a computer so, being able to put them straight on your phone is literally a necessity with a good backpacking camera.

Otherwise, you would have to take a laptop around with you which is simply not an option for many lightweight backpackers.

Overall, the Panasonic ZS70K is a great point-and-shoot which you will hardly know you are carrying.

Click here to have a look at prices on Amazon now.

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Canon PowerShot Elph 190

This is by far the cheapest option in this list but don’t let that put you off too much. Yes, you will get less features but at less than half the price that’s exactly what you’d expect. 

Its main selling point has to be the fact that it does exactly what it says on the tin. It will capture great images and average video that your camera phone may not be able to capture, especially at long range.

It is also incredibly light, weighing in lower than most phones! At this price, you’ll forget about it in your pocket and love the fact that you have it when you need it.

The Elph 190 comes with built-in wifi connectivity so you can easily transfer images from the camera to your phone which makes it very simple to upload all of your images to social media if you wish.

You cannot compare the Elph 190 with the other cameras in this list due to the price but if you are on a budget then this is hands down the best backpacking camera you can buy. If you can stretch a little further then keep looking because there are some extremely good options below.

Click here to have a look at prices and reviews on Amazon now.

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Action Cameras For Backpacking

Let’s be honest, the vast majority of backpackers are going to be doing some sort of water-based activity: for example diving, snorkelling or even white water rafting. And the ones that are somehow allergic to water will be jumping out of planes, skiing in the Rockies or biking through the mountains.

You are going to need a strong, waterproof camera that has various ways of attaching to different parts of your body. The sensors inside action cameras are small so the sheer quality of the picture is not going to be the same quality as the other cameras in this list.

However, as a backpacker, you’ll find the small size and ruggedness means you’ll have your action camera in your pocket more often than not.

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Go Pro Hero 8

The Hero 8 is my top recommendation for the best backpacking camera for thrill-seekers. You might be wondering why not the Hero 10 and that’s because of the price and limited consumer improvements between the two.

Let me explain. The Hero 8 has 4k video and super slow-mo at 1080p. It has world-class image stabilization to give you gimbal-like video footage whatever you may be doing. It has exceptional photography capability for a camera in this class and it uses the exact same mounting method as the Hero 10

All of this for hundreds of dollars less.

If you are a professional action videographer, you’re not on this site looking for recommendations which mean that you don’t need to spend the high price point to get very small increases in performance that you will probably not actually make use of.

If you need the best of the best then scroll down then order the Hero 10 here. If you want to save money and have no regrets then order the Hero 8 here!

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Go Pro Hero 10

As I said above, the best of the best right now is the Go Pro Hero 10. And if you need this level of quality in your life then check out the prices here.

Basically, everything about the Hero 8 is very slightly improved with the Hero 10. Video resolution is higher, image stabilisation is slightly better, photos are slightly better resolved, etc.

However, the biggest single difference is the inclusion of the front-facing screen which gives selfie-takers and vloggers a much easier time. If you think you’ll be using the action cam for vlogging or selfies a lot of the time then you should seriously consider the Hero 10.

The Hero 10 is such a powerhouse, however, that it does tend to rocket through battery power if you have it using the highest of settings. I recommend picking up 2 spare batteries and a charging dock if this is the option you are going for. no one wants to run out of battery in the middle of an adventure.

Click here to have a look at prices on Amazon now.

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Osmo Action 2

It looks like the original Osmo Action 2 did not hit off as well as DJI wanted it to because they are back with a complete redesign and shift in the tried and tested action camera category.

And to be fair to them it does look very impressive at first glance. You only have to see the weight (56g) which is nearly a third of the Go Pro Hero 10, to see that this is special.

So let’s look at the good first. It’s tiny, it has 4k slow-mo, waterproof up to 10m, incredible image stabilisation, and a really cool reusable adhesive mount.

The mount for me is strangely the biggest selling point, I think, over the Go Pro Hero series. It’s a really cool idea to be able to stick the action camera on any surface, really quickly to get interesting points of view that are impossible (without single-use adhesive pads) with the Go Pros.

However, don’t be thinking you’ll be attaching this to bikes and speedboats etc, as the hold is not good enough for that.

Also, the battery life of the main body of the camera is quite small so you will definitely be needing the power add on. And if you want a front-facing screen for vlogging and selfies then you will also need the front-facing camera add on. This all gets quite expensive.

I like the Osmo Action 2 but I am sticking with my Hero 8 for now.

Click here to have a look at prices on Amazon now.

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Rugged & Waterproof

This is a bit of a niche section of my list. These cameras are similar to both the action cameras and the budget backpacking cameras above. They are waterproof and durable yet they have bigger sensors and take decent quality images.

You might be asking: what’s the catch?

Well, the trade-in with versatility means they aren’t quite as good as a dedicated action camera or a dedicated backpacking camera. The zoom ranges are going to shorter and the cameras are bigger which makes them slightly more difficult to use as an action camera.

Who are these for then?

If you don’t want to have 2 different cameras for everyday use and adventure activities then these will handle both of those to a decent level. Also, if you know you are a particularly clumsy person and prone to breaking tech then these are a very good substitute for the budget cameras listed above.

Finally, these cameras can be exceptionally good for diving. The larger sensors and flash capability gives them vastly more options and quality than the action cameras above.

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Olympus Tough! TG-5

The Olympus Tough! TG-5 is the most expensive in this list and for good reason – it is the best all-round rugged backpacking camera you can buy. It’s waterproof to 15m, dustproof, has GPS, WiFi and is shock resistant. You’re really going to have to have a serious incident to break this camera.

Quite surprisingly the TG-5 has an aperture of 2.0 at the wide end which is absolutely brilliant for capturing images in low light. This will come in very handy if you are looking for a good all-round diving camera.

It is the only camera in the rugged section to feature 4k video capture. This is almost certainly the main reason for its much higher price range. For some 4k video is an absolute must so I highly recommend the TG-5 if this is one of your parameters.

The Tough! TG-5 also has a separate dedicated underwater housing for anyone looking to go under 15m depth, all the way to 45m. The housing will set you back considerably but it is good to know that the accessory exists for open water divers and above.

Click here to have a look at prices on Amazon now.

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Ricoh WG-60

The Ricoh WG-60 is another fantastic all-round rugged performer. It is waterproof down to 14m, shockproof and can withstand 100kg of force. I don’t know what you would be doing to put 100kg of force into this camera but if you did then it would be fine.

The WG-60 is considerably cheaper than the TG-5 above and this is because its specifications are slightly lower across the board.

For example, it can only shoot at 1080p, its low light performance is not as impressive and there is no housing to get deeper than 14m. However, you have to ask yourself whether the additional cost is worth these few extra features.

In my opinion, you would have to be a serious adrenaline junkie or explorer to warrant the TG-5 above.

One of the coolest features that the WG-60 has is the LED ring around the lens. Now, they have done this in order to be able to get nice and close to subjects without casting a shadow.

However, if you are a diver then this is fantastic news. Coupled with the WG-60’s underwater capture mode, this LED ring gives brilliant accurate representations of underwater life by irradicating the blue washout you get from being underwater.

All in all the Ricoh WG-60 is perfect for divers up to 14m and anyone not willing to shell out the additional cost for the TG-5 above.

Click here to have a look at prices on Amazon now.

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Fujifilm FinePix XP130

The Fujifilm FinePix XP130 is the go-to rugged backpacking camera for all beginners out there. If you don’t ever set your camera to the manual setting and don’t like to experiment with exposure, depth of field or manual focuses then this is the cheapest and best for you.

By removing a lot of the fancy manual setting and using a slower lens, the XP130 manages to maintain a very affordable price which is very good value. At this point, however, decent camera phones will start to outperform the XP130 is a number of situations.

Fear not though as you definitely won’t want to be taking your expensive phone into saltwater or in precarious situations so there is still a very good reason to purchase the XP130.

I won’t go into a lot of detail about the individual specification on this camera as if you are interested in that sort of thing then the Fujifilm XP130 is probably not for you.

If you are a beginner and want a tough camera that will handle every situation to a decent level then this is the camera for you.

Click here to have a look at prices on Amazon now.

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Mirrorless & DSLR – Quality Images

The first question you have to ask yourself when buying a backpacking camera is should you look at a mirrorless or a DSLR.

Mirrorless cameras are definitely taking over the world right now and for very good reason. In the old days, the processors were not fast enough and the lag on the viewfinder was a real pain.

However, nowadays mirrorless’ are perfectly smooth and offer more features and speed that a DSLR will ever be able to compete with. So why would you consider a DSLR? Mainly the cost but also the entire catalogue of lenses to choose from.

Yes, you can now get some absolutely incredible lenses for the top mirrorless cameras but wow they are expensive.

Either way, this isn’t a guide on whether to choose mirrorless or DSLR and I’m sure you have already decided on what you want, so here are my top 3 quality backpacking cameras right now.

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Sony Alpha a6400

As far as cropped sensor cameras go, the Sony Alpha a6400 has got to be the best backpacking mirrorless there is. You could argue that the a6500 is better because of the in-body stabilisation but at that price point, you may as well be looking at full frame alternatives.

The a6400 comes with Sony’s e-mount which means you will have access to their entire range, even the lenses designed for their full-frame counterparts. In the beginning, the e-mount range was quite limited but now it features a complete range of pro-grade lenses to suit any need.

The new a6400 now features a 180° flippable screen which is perfect for any vloggers out there. Even the A7III doesn’t have this feature so it is worth looking into if vlogging is going to be up on the agenda.

You get 4k video with one of the best autofocus and subject tracking software on the entire planet. You won’t look back at your images or video and realise that you missed focus even once.

Let’s talk about the major drawbacks of going cropped over the full-frame Sony A7III.

Firstly, the image quality of full-frame will always be better due to the lower density sensors. It does have to be said that the difference in quality between full-frame and cropped is reducing though.

Secondly, if you are going to be taking a lot of portrait images, for example, Instagrammers, then you will not be able to get the shallow depth of field that is possible with a full-frame camera.

The weight, quality and features of the Sony Alpha a6400 make this my personal choice for backpackers in need of something of a much higher standard.

Click here to have a look at prices on Amazon now.

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Nikon D5600

The Nikon D5600 is, in my opinion, the best backpacking DSLR available right now. It’s small, lightweight, extremely good value and produces extremely good images. It may not have all the features of the a6400 above but the price point is nowhere near as high!

To put that in perspective, you can pick up a D5600 with the 18-50mm kit lens AND the 70-300 telephoto for significantly less than just the a6400 body.

You’ll then have access to the world-class f-mount Nikon lenses where you can find some incredibly good deals to get any lens for any situation.

There are a few things that would make this camera even better – time-lapse and panorama being the top two – but I have to say that at this price point you really cannot go wrong.

If you are an enthusiast and do not have any sort of business associated with your photography then the Nikon D5600 is a no brainer. To get the same set up with the a6400 above it’ll cost you enough to buy a small car.

Click here to have a look at prices on Amazon now.

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Sony A7III

The Sony A7III is the best all-round mirrorless camera in the world right now. You get every single feature that you could ask for in a small compact package: full-frame sensor, in-body stabilisation, incredible autofocus and access to the incredible g-master lens line up, to name only a few.

If you are looking for pro-grade optics, image quality and video all in one compact camera ideal for backpacking then this is it. To warrant the money you really do have to be using it for some sort of professional use but if you have some savings and are a serious enthusiast then why the hell not, treat yourself.

On a side note, the Nikon Z6 is also an absolutely brilliant mirrorless full-frame camera and may have actually beaten the A7III to this spot. However, the lens line up for the Z-mount is still in its infancy so I still think the Sony A7III is the one to invest in right now.

Click here to have a look at prices on Amazon now.

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Camera Phone

Cameras phones are getting better and better every year and now with the top of line models, you can actually get better quality images with the phone than a dedicated camera.

The only real downside between a top range camera phone and a dedicated camera is zoom range. Obviously, for professionals, it is a lot more than that but for the average user, this is all that will change.

If you don’t think being able to zoom in is that big of a deal, you won’t be diving or doing any other extreme sport, then simply having a trusty phone in your pocket may be the best option. The following 3 phones are not the cheapest in the world but they certainly pack a punch when it comes to image quality.

I haven’t written too much about them because the specs don’t really matter. What matters is the operating system you want to be on, Android or Apple?

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Buying Tips For Backpacking Cameras

If you are struggling to choose a backpacking camera that entirely suits your needs, have a look at all of the things you need to be thinking about below. There are a lot of situations where you might feel 1 particular camera will not cover all the bases. I myself have a DSLR and an action camera. You just have to weigh up what you can afford and your priorities.

Weight & Size

This has got to be the most important parameter for a backpacking camera. You will be travelling around great distances and walking for many miles on your trip and you don’t want something that is unnecessarily big and heavy. A typical camera phone weight from 150g to 200g, so try to compare to that base point when deciding which camera is best for you. Of course if image quality is your number one priority then you will have to sacrifice some of the portability.

Remember, the smaller the camera the smaller the sensor inside. A smaller sensor is not as good in low light situations. If you think you’ll be taking a lot of pictures during the day on sunny beaches then this shouldn’t be an issue, if you are going underwater or take a lot of nightlife pictures then a larger sensor size is for you.

Durability

If you know you will be doing activities that put fragile tech in danger then you would be mental to take your phone or standard compact into these situations. An action camera or durable camera will suit these situations much better and ensure that you still have a camera at the end of it.

On the other hand, if you don’t think you will be doing any adventure activities then it is quite easy to keep the fragile tech intact. You can easily find hard cases for many of the cameras above which will significantly increase their life at the bottom of your bag.

One thing you should 100% be purchasing is a screen protector for your backpacking cameras. People without screen protectors on their phone or other tech make me a very sad person indeed.

Waterproofing

Think about what sort of watersports you will be doing. If it’s your standard snorkelling, water parks, surfing and swimming then you won’t need a waterproof housing for any of the waterproof cameras in this list. However, if you will be going diving then you may have to look into a waterproof housing that increases the maximum depth of the camera.

Before you shell out a lot of money though, really think about how deep you will be going. Furthermore, don’t accidentally go too deep with a camera that isn’t rated at that depth. I went down to 13m with my Go Pro 5 and all sorts of weird things started happening. Don’t be like me.

Focal Length / Zoom Distance

People often neglect focal length because they don’t think they will be taking pictures of anything too far away. And to be fair this is usually the case. However, if you are planning on safaris or any other sort of animal-based activity then a nice long focal length is exactly what you need.

I would suggest going 500mm and above if you are thinking about a compact camera for safari and 300mm and above for APSC and full-frame cameras. The longer the better for animals!

Mobile Connectivity

If a camera you are looking for does not have mobile connectivity, DO NOT buy it. I cannot stress this enough. You should already be thinking of every way to cut down on the amount of stuff you are taking on your trip. There is no need to take a laptop (unless you are travelling for business).

It isn’t just because of the space-saving either. Many apps, like Instagram, do not allow you to upload images from desktop devices. Therefore, it’s an absolute pain in the ass if you are trying to share on social media and your camera just isn’t cooperating. Luckily, every single camera in this list comes with a mobile application for phone connectivity and transfer.

Price

Don’t be that person with all the gear and no idea. If you buy a Sony A7III and never take it off automatic mode then you will anger the camera gods no end. All jokes aside, an open water diving certificate might knock you back around $300 in some places in the world. It’s easy to overspend that on camera equipment so don’t regret your decision.

Read More: Hand Luggage Essentials You Should Never Forget

Image Quality

Let’s be honest, all of the cameras in this list have the potential to produce fantastic quality images in various situations. The only people who should be concerned about this should be pros and people who need it for their business.

If you are one of those people then do not go smaller than an APSC sensor. Any lower than that and you start to significantly lose low light performance and speed. Obviously, you are limited in the action camera department but if you think you will be doing underwater photography then consider a 1inch sensor compact with waterproof housing. You can buy waterproof housings for the larger cameras but you will also start to shell out some serious dough.

Battery Life

All of the cameras in this list will keep going for at least 2 hours of complete video or 300+ pictures. However, if you think you will be needing more than that then just pick up some spare batteries for the camera. They tend to be relatively cheap and they fit into the smallest of spaces.

Available Accessories

Before you buy your camera, look into the accessories that it can come with. For example, the Ricoh WG-60 does not have waterproof housing currently available. Therefore, if you will be diving lower than the 14m limit then you should not buy this camera.

That goes for all of the different cameras in this list. Some might not come with the correct mounts that you require or cases for protection, etc.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What Are The Main Things To Look For In A Backpacking Camera?

Weight, phone connectivity and durability.

Should I Get An Action Camera Or A Compact For My Backpacking Trip?

If you will be doing anything involving water then go for an action camera. Action cameras don’t perform as well in everyday life as normal compacts so consider getting both if you need quality images.

What Kind Of Camera Should I Buy For Backpacking?

• Adrenaline junkie = action camera.
• Day to day = compact.
• Diver = 1inch sensor and waterproof housing.
• Bit of everything = action camera & compact.
• Digital nomad = action camera & APSC camera or above.

What Professional-Quality Camera Should I Buy If I Want To Take It Backpacking With Me?

If you want the best in image quality and durability then the Sony A7III is the best option. It has a full-frame sensor and is smaller as it is mirrorless. If you already have a Nikon setup then get the Nikon Z6.

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