The Best Travel Cameras: How to Buy a Camera

Index to this page: Best Camera Reviewers & Sellers , Camera Style Overview , Table of Best Travel Cameras , How to Prioritize Features , Maximum print size?

For travellers, I suggest a digital camera which is compact, lightweight, and high-quality. The separate Buy Photo Gear page gives the short list of best travel cameras. Below, I support these conclusions with lengthy research.
Over 30+ years I chose various equipment to photograph my online portfolio. Separate pages describe How to Take Better Pictures and compare Digital versus Film. Thanks for supporting my photography by buying camera gear or images.

South Africa photo workshop October 2010 with Photoseek.com and the Adventure100.com

Best camera reviewers

My Table of Best Travel Cameras further below lists the travel cameras and features which best meet my quality standards. Buy them here.
dpreview.com [external link] is my favorite camera review site. Camera features are described in excruciating detail and compared to selected contemporary cameras. For the best summary, read the "Conclusion" on the last page of the Review for each camera.
imaging-resource.com [external link] conveniently compares image quality of two cameras side by side, using 100% pixel view of identical images at ISO 400 or 800 for compact cameras, and at ISO 1600 and higher for larger cameras--one of the best ways to distinguish quality. All camera features are described.
steves-digicams.com [external link] lists "best cameras" by type. All camera features are described.
dcresource.com [external link] compares competing cameras by battery life, camera bulk/volume, and weight. All camera features are described.
Consumer Reports (CR) magazine [external link] gives concise, well organized reviews of consumer digital cameras, from compact to SLR. For example, in the July 2007 issue, the camera tables list relative ratings for the most important camera features: "Picture Quality", battery life, shutter lag, next shot delay, and price. The tables list which cameras support the following often-desireable features: image stabilization; zoom starting at 28mm wide angle; manual controls; and AA size batteries. They update their camera reviews at least once a year. Your local library may carry this respected independent magazine which accepts no advertising.

Best Camera Sellers

B&HPhoto [special link supports my site if you buy anything] = Tom Dempsey recommends B&H's reliable service and excellent prices on a huge inventory of cameras and electronic gear, with no sales tax if you live outside of New York state. Buy from Tom's short list of top travel cameras.
Amazon.com [special link supports my site if you buy anything] = Reliably find and purchase anything under the sun (books, cameras, electronics, computers, software, tools, household consumer items). Review the inside of many books before buying. Read customer reviews.

Image above right by Carol Dempsey, using the shirt-pocket-sized Canon SD700 IS: This demon is at the bottom of a gilded chedi (or stupa), at the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew), which is a shining complex of buildings within the grounds of the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand.

An Overview of Camera Styles

Below, I survey most camera types, starting with best image quality at #1 and ending with most compact camera at #5. As an active outdoor photographer who wants big print quality for a reasonable price, I use a DSLR style camera with a lightweight body (#3). Despite the ability of big professional cameras (#1 and #2) to make larger sharper prints, most consumers will be satisfied with 12-inch prints from small cameras (#4 or #5).

Professional Medium & Large Format cameras: capture the best quality images; but are very expensive and heavy, with slower workflow.

Advantages: At poster size (larger than 24 inches, or 61 centimeters), the prints can be noticeably sharper than from the smaller camera types (#2-5 below). The big sensor on "Medium format" digital cameras gathers at least twice as much light versus digital "full-frame sensor" SLR cameras (#2 below).

Disadvantages: The massive equipment, including heavy tripod, is difficult to carry on the trail away from a car. Medium/large format film costs dearly to develop and scan. And you will only notice a quality difference versus DSLR style cameras (#2-3 below) when examining the print closer than its longer dimension. You can also skip the film and mount an expensive digital back on your medium or large format camera for quicker workflow. These highly specialized cameras cannot capture movies or record sound.

Full-frame sensor DSLR cameras: capture excellent quality images with fast workflow; but are expensive and bulky.

"SLR" style cameras have a moveable mirror letting the viewfinder see through the lens. The following Digital SLR (DSLR) cameras capture amazing image quality:

Nikon D3 (FX format), or D700

Canon EOS 5D, or pricier Canon EOS 1D.

In place of a digital sensor, older SLR cameras used 35mm film, which I no longer recommend for travel.

Advantages: DSLR work flow and feedback are much quicker than for film cameras. Full frame sensors measure about 36 x 24 mm, and gather light in twice the area of APS-C size sensors (#3 below).

Disadvantages: These very expensive cameras easily exceed 64 ounces (or 4 pounds / 1.8 kilograms) with lens -- a heavy commitment to quality when hiking all day with weight on your shoulders. The full frame sensor requires much bigger, heavier & more expensive lenses, especially for telephoto, versus smaller APS-C cameras (#3 below). Most models do not capture movies or record sound.

APS-C size sensor DSLR cameras: take great quality images using lighter weight bodies and faster workflow.

As of June 2009, the best value, lightweight DSLR camera systems for me are:

Nikon D5000, or Nikon D60 (or earlier Nikon D40X), used with Nikkor 18-200mm VR lens, or Tamron 18-270mm VC Di II.

Canon EOS 500D / Digital Rebel T1i or Canon EOS 450D / Rebel XSi (or earlier 400D/XTi) used with Canon 18-200mm IS lens, or Tamron 18-270mm VC Di II.

Advantages: These 16-ounce DSLR cameras are a great value for travel, backpacking and general use. They can make great poster sized prints that impress most people (see "maximum print size discussion"). A DSLR with an APS-C sized sensor (about 22 x 15 mm) costs less than "full frame" sensor cameras, and supports lighter-weight lenses "designed for digital APS-C", preferably with image stabilization, for example:

Nikon/Nikkor DX lenses with VR vibration reduction.

Canon EF-S lenses with IS image stabilization.

Tamron DI II lenses with VC Vibration Control. For example, the Tamron 18-270mm VC Di II has very good image stabilization and sharpness on par with Canon's 18-200mm IS.

Sigma DC lenses with OS Optical Stabilization).

Image stabilization has greatly reduced my tripod use and jump-started my creativity. My Nikon D40X DSLR system (38 ounces including the versatile Nikkor 18-200 mm VR lens) captures better quality images than my former Nikon N70 camera system shooting excellent 35-mm Fujichrome Velvia 50 film.

Disadvantages: Most consumers consider the above DSLR style cameras as too large and expensive (despite their gain in focus speed and low light performance), and prefer smaller cameras, below. Before 2009, DSLR cameras did not capture movies or record sound.

If you are willing to sacrifice just one ISO stop in image noise versus the above Canon and Nikon DSLR cameras, you can a much lighter weight system: Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 (below), which gets my vote for best travel camera.

Non-SLR style cameras (mirrorless): can take very good images, from bodies cheaper and smaller than DSLR cameras; but usually focus slower, and perform worse in low light.

The best non-SLRs:

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 or G2: Panasonic may have started a revolution in smaller, lighter weight cameras by eliminating the clumsy DSLR mirror, keeping a large sensor, adding an excellent EVF (Electronic Viewfinder), and including a flip out & twist live view, high-res 3" LCD (great for macro, hip-level and overhead shots)! The GH1 is new in March 2009 and weighs only 30 ounces including 14-140mm equivalent kit lens (28-280mm equivalent), great for travel. For capturing wildlife, add 45-200mm (90-400mm equivalent). The sensor measures 17.3 x 13.0 mm, almost as big and sharp as APS-C size. Here's the clincher: the GH1 records full HD movies with continuous autofocus and Dolby stereo sound (no DSLR does that). With its compact Micro Four Thirds lens system, the Panasonic GH1 bests the image quality of the Olympus E-520 and Fujifilm FinePix S100FS, and rivals the image quality of Canon EOS 450D / Rebel XSi up to ISO 800, in a smaller size and weight.

Fujifilm FinePix S100FS camera (new 2/2008) is much cheaper than a DSLR and offers an "all-in-one solution" in just 34 ounces, with 28-400mm equivalent 14x zoom, with lens-shift image stabilization (improving handheld shooting in 1.3 stops dimmer light); 1 cm focus Super Macro; flip down 2.5 inch LCD; RAW mode; and excellent 2/3-inch Super CCD HR sensor. You can correct its bad chromatic aberrations using third-party software on the RAW files. Otherwise the camera offers impressively sharp images, surprisingly similar up to ISO 800 compared with the Nikon D60 or Canon Rebel XSi DSLR.

Advantages: Non-SLR cameras offer a compact, all-in-one photography solution. They can make respectable 18 inch or smaller prints, can capture movies and nice macro shots, and display a live view on the LCD.

The "best" 18x superzoom camera:

In compact cameras, an "18x optical zoom" hurts image quality versus cameras having smaller zoom ranges such as 12x or 6x.
That being said, the Panasonic FZ18 (28-504 mm lens with IS [Image Stabilization]; 15 ounces) is the best 18x superzoom camera as of March 2008. Or get the 2009 successor Panasonic FZ35 (buy at B&H) or FZ28 of 2008. The Panasonic FZ18 beats the competing Fujifilm FinePix S8000fd (27-486 mm IS lens; 18 ounces), which in turn beats the Olympus SP-560UZ. For 15X zoom as of 2008, consider the Kodak EasyShare Z1015 IS (28-420mm lens; 3" LCD; 1/2.33" sensor), or 12 X zoom Kodak EasyShare Z1012 IS [external link]. Check Consumer Reports ratings.

For compact cameras, a 6x to 12x zoom camera captures better quality than one with an 18x zoom. Instead of an 18x zoom, consider the 13-ounce Panasonic FZ8, which offers a great value 12x IS zoom lens. The Panasonic FZ8 is not only physically smaller and cheaper than the 18x superzoom cameras, but captures better image quality. Simply crop images to extend the telephoto range.

Also consider the 13-ounce Canon PowerShot G9, which has a shorter zoom of 6x with IS and costs more, but captures significantly better image quality than the Panasonic FZ8, mostly due to a larger sensor. Small cameras generally must trade off image quality to pack a bigger zoom into a small box. As of 2008, the 13-ounce Canon PowerShot G9 wins the quality sweet spot, versus any 6x (or greater) zoom IS camera of up to 18 ounces.

Small cameras from 7 to 13 ounces fit into your pocket or purse and can capture surprisingly good quality still images, movies and macro:

Best tiny camera: Canon PowerShot S90 (buy at B&H), which has the guts of the PowerShot G11 at half the size and weight, including RAW file support. The breathtaking advance of the Canon S90 camera puts quality like home-scanned 35mm film in your shirt pocket.
Alternatives:

The best tiny cameras (from 7 to 13 ounces) are in the Canon PowerShot series with Image Stabilization (IS), or in the Fujifilm FinePix F series.
For best absolute image quality in a subcompact size, try the inexpensive 7-ounce Fujifilm FinePix F series:

FinePix F100fd (new 1/2008) or F200EXR (new 2/2009) which has a stabilized 5x zoom 28-140mm "equivalent"; 5 centimeter macro; great 1/1.6-inch Fujifilm SuperCCD HR VII sensor; new wide dynamic range; and image quality rivalling the larger Canon G9.
Or consider the earlier Fujifilm FinePix F50fd (with 35-105mm "equivalent" zoom and 1/1.6" sensor; with image stabilization; equals image quality of Canon G9), or the equally good F31fd earlier version (without stabilization), which rivals the image quality of the larger Canon G7 at a much lower price.

Canon PowerShot G11 zooms 28-140mm and captures sharp images, with less noise than the G9 or G10, extending the practical ISO range by one or two stops. For longer telephoto lens in one of the best 13-ounce cameras, try the Canon PowerShot G9, which can fit in a large pocket; has a 6x zoom with IS, 35-210mm equivalent; RAW mode; good 1/1.7" CCD sensor. Alternatively, to save money, consider the 13-ounce Canon A650 IS (with a handy flip-out LCD; the same 1/1.7" sensor & 6x zoom captures the same JPG quality; but lacks RAW mode).

Best image quality in a superzoom subcompact camera: If you mostly shoot outdoors in bright light and rarely make prints bigger than 6 inches, consider the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3/TZ7 (buy at B&H), or newer ZS7/TZ10 (with one stop better image stabilization claimed in terms of slower handheld shutter speed). The image quality and low light performance from this tiny 1/2.3" type sensor won't match other cameras on this page, but the fun factor is very high in a shirt-pocket-sized box of only 7 ounces. Features: 12x optical zoom, 25-300mm equivalent, optically stabilized lens. 720p HD video (AVCHD Lite), 60 fps. Nice 3.0-inch LCD with 460,000 dots resolution.
The top rated 2009 Canon PowerShot S90 effectively replaces the 2008 Canon PowerShot SD990 IS/IXUS 980 IS.

Canon PowerShot SD990 IS/IXUS 980 IS introduced a larger 1/1.7" sensor to the SD series, plus manual controls for aperture & shutter speed. The SD990 IS has 3.7x zoom 36-133mm equivalent, 2.5” PureColor LCD II with wide viewing angle, optical viewfinder; DIGIC 4; and i-Contrast in shooting or playback mode increases the gain in dark areas without blowing out correctly-exposed parts of the image.

Older cameras: A good price value at 7-ounces is the Canon PowerShot A720 IS, or earlier A710 IS. A slimmer camera, also in the 7-ounce class (with slightly lower quality images), is the Canon PowerShot SD850 IS (35-140mm "equivalent" zoom). If you want a wider angle zoom, with a 28-105mm "equivalent", try the sibling camera Canon PowerShot SD870 IS (external review) or earlier SD800 IS.

Table of Best Travel Cameras

At the time of their release, the following cameras were among the best for travel and outdoor photography. Cameras are in order of descending image quality rank (at ISO 400), with some bumped higher on the list due to compelling features such as better optical zoom range. All offer exceptional performance within their size class (except that cameras in uncolored boxes are "antiquated classics", beat by newer models mentioned under the "Disadvantages/Recommended Upgrades" column). Support Tom's work by buying equipment through the B&H links seen here in Photoseek.com.

Best Travel Cameras: Listed generally from best image quality at top, to most compact at bottom.

Advantages

Disadvantages / Recommended Upgrades

WEIGHT with battery oz=ounces / g=grams

SIZE. Volume in cubic inches.

megapixels

0-100 image quality rank at ISO 400.

shutter lag

Lens Wide (as 35mm equivalent field of view)

Lens Telephoto (as 35mm equivalent field of view)

Lens f/# aperture, brightest Wide - Tele

Zoom range. IS = optical Image Stabilization.

Macro / close focus distance

LCD size & dots

Flash maximum range

Battery life # max images

RAW file mode

Sensor size

Memory
card

1. Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 new in June 2009 (or Panasonic G2 new in 2010)

Flip out & twist live view, high-res 3" LCD and best EVF! Records full HD movies with Dolby stereo sound. The Panasonic GH1 rivals image quality of Canon EOS 450D / Rebel XSi up to ISO 800, in a much smaller size & weight. Beats image quality of competitors Olympus E-520 & E-510 and Fujifilm FinePix S100FS. Most functions within two button presses.

EVF hard to use in low light. Lens selection limited but right for travel.

Alternative: Canon EOS 450D / Rebel XSi is larger & heavier but captures much less noise at 1600+ for low light shots.

30 ounces with 14-140mm kit lens (28-280mm equiv). For wildlife, add 45-200mm telephoto (90-400mm equiv). 400 grams body only.

124 mm x 84 mm x 45 mm body (4.8 x 3.3 x 1.8 in), +3.3 in for 14-140mm lens. Very compact!
81 cubic inches including lens

12 mp

4000 x 3000
and
4128 x 2752 pixels

97/100

0.37 sec (or <0.1 if you prefocus)

28mm (kit lens actual focal length 14-140mm Micro Four Thirds).

280mm kit lens

Micro Four Thirds lenses: 14-140mm f/4.0-5.6 OIS. Or use this pair: 14-45mm f/3.5-5.6 OIS & 45-200mm f/4.0-5.6 OIS.

10x, IS. The OIS improves hand held sharpness by 2 stops of slower shutter speed, especially at telephoto.

( 98 x 73mm coverage / 3.86 x 2.87in )

Flip out and twist live view LCD 3.0" with 460,000 dots. EVF 480,000 pixels, best yet for this camera class.

10.5 m / 34 feet @ ISO 100

350 shots CIPA standard.

RAW (12 bit)

17.3 x 13.0 mm, 4/3" type LiveMOS. Supersonic Wave Filter dust reduction. (2x field of view crop factor conversion from Four Thirds to 35mm)

SD / SDHC / MMC

2. Nikon D5000 DSLR (new 4/2009), used with Nikkor AF-S DX VR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED lens (new 2006)

Nikon D5000 is a good upgrade from D60, adding: 720p movies (with fixed focus; mono sound); 2.7" Live View LCD with 180 degree tilt/swivel. Better highlights and high ISO vs Canon EOS 500D/T1i. Nikon's 18-200mm (27-300mm equivalent) lens with VR stabilization reduces tripod use by 3-4 stops. Image quality exceeds Nikon D60, D80, D200 or Canon Rebel XTi.

Pricier alternative 8/2008: Nikon D90 12 mp; same image quality; LCD 920,000 pixels; shoots movies; but body weighs 26 oz (8 oz heavier than D5000, D60 or D40X).

41 oz (21 oz body + 20 lens) / 596 + 567 gr

127 x 104 x 80 mm (5.0 x 4.1 x 3.1 inches, plus 3.8" for VR 18-200mm lens )

117 cubic inches including lens

12 mp

4288 x 2848 pixels

100/100 with Nikkor lens

less than 0.1 sec

27 mm
(plus many other lens options)

(1.5 = Nikon field of view crop factor conversion from APS-C to 35mm)

300 mm
(plus many other lens options).

Great travel lens: Tamron 18-270mm VC Di II (29-432mm equiv)

f/3.5 - 5.6 Nikkor
(plus many other lens options)

11x, IS
(plus many other lens options). The VR vibration reduction gives 3 to 4 stops hand held sharpness improvement.

46 cm throughout 11x zoom (useful 93 x 62 mm coverage at 200mm, ie 300mm equivalent, sharpest at f/11, but corners still soft).
Or attach a real macro lens

LCD 2.7" with 230,000 dots

GN = 56 feet / 17m @ ISO 200. Wide enough for 18mm lens.

510 shots; excellent

RAW (12 bit)

23.6 x 15.8 mm CMOS, DX, APS-C sensor. Dust removal system. Crop factor 1.5x to 35mm equivalent.

SD , SDHC

Nikon D60 DSLR (new 1/2008), with Nikkor AF-S DX VR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED lens (new 2006)

Nikon D60 (or earlier D40X) was Tom's favorite camera for travel until the superior D5000. Nikkor's all-in-one 18-200mm (27-300mm equivalent) lens with VR stabilization reduces tripod use by 3-4 stops. D60 adds a good anti-dust self-cleaning sensor; & VR kit lens 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G. Nikon D60 or D40X image quality equals Nikon D80, D200 & Canon Rebel XTi.

Upgrade 5/2009: Nikon D5000 12 mp; live view; 720p movies with fixed focus, mono sound; 2.7" LCD with 180 degree tilt/swivel; 21 ounce body

38 oz (18 oz body + 20 lens) / 522 + 567 gr

126 x 94 x 64 mm (5.0 x 3.7 x 2.5 inches, plus 3.8" for VR 18-200mm lens )

117 cubic inches including lens

10 mp

3872 x 2592 pixels

98/100 with Nikkor lens

less than 0.1 sec

27 mm
(plus many other lens options)

(1.5 = Nikon field of view crop factor conversion from APS-C to 35mm)

300 mm
(plus many other lens options).

Great travel lens: Tamron 18-270mm VC Di II (29-432mm equiv)

f/3.5 - 5.6 Nikkor
(plus many other lens options)

11x, IS
(plus many other lens options). The VR vibration reduction gives 3 to 4 stops hand held sharpness improvement.

46 cm throughout 11x zoom (useful 93 x 62 mm coverage at 200mm, ie 300mm equivalent, sharpest at f/11, but corners still soft).
Or attach a real macro lens

LCD 2.5" with 230,000 dots

GN = 12 m / 39 ft @ ISO 100 (3.4 m wide)

520 shots; excellent

RAW (12 bit)

23.7 x 15.6 mm CCD, DX, APS-C. Dust removal system.

SD , SDHC

3. Canon EOS 450D / Rebel XSi used with Canon 18-200mm EF-S IS lens (new 2008)

Sharpest lightweight DSLR system (with better real resolution than Nikon D60 & Canon EOS 40D). 14-bit RAW; DSLR with unusual live view 3" LCD & live histogram. Good all-in-one travel lens like Nikon's VR version: Canon 18-200mm EF-S IS 1:3.5-5.6 new in 2008; or Tamron 18-270mm VC. Or use two lenses: Canon EF-S 17-85mm 1:4-5.6 IS USM (or kit lens 18-55mm IS); plus the EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS.

XSi is larger & heavier than Panasonic Lumix GH1 (but XSi captures one stop less noise in terms of ISO than GH1 at ISO 1600+).

Upgrade April 2009: Canon EOS 500D / Digital Rebel T1i: 19 oz body weight; adds 1080P/20fps and 720P/30fps movies with mono sound; 4 times sharper LCD (but doesn't flip out like Nikon D5000); & has most features of pricier 50D.

40.2 oz (19 oz body + 21.2 lens) / 521 + 600 g

129 x 98 x 62 mm (5.1 x 3.8 x 2.4 in) plus 4" for IS 18-200mm lens.

124 cubic inches including lens

12 mp

99/100

less than 0.1 sec

29 mm equivalent

(1.6 = Canon field of view crop factor conversion from APS-C to 35mm)

320 mm equivalent

Great travel lens: Tamron 18-270mm VC Di II (29-432mm equiv)

f/3.5 - 5.6 (plus many other lens options)

11x, IS
(plus many other lens options)

34.5 cm (73 x 49 mm coverage), but not sharp in center

LCD 3" with 230,000 dots, with live view image & histogram!

Guide Number = 43 ft./13m @ ISO 100

500 shots; excellent

14-bit RAW (four times more color accuracy than standard 12-bit; helpful in poster sized prints)

22.2 x 14.8 mm CMOS APS-C sensor. Dust removal system. Crop factor 1.6x to 35mm equivalent.

SD , SDHC

Canon EOS 400D Digital Rebel XTi DSLR (new 7/2006), used with Canon 18-200mm EF-S IS lens (new 2008)

Canon Rebel XTi image quality equals Nikon D40X & D200. Canon IS lenses reduce tripod use.

Good all-in-one travel lens comparable to Nikon's VR version: Canon 18-200mm EF-S IS 1:3.5-5.6 new in 2008. Or use two lenses: Canon EF-S 17-85mm 1:4-5.6 IS USM (or kit lens 18-55mm IS); plus the EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS.

Versus a compact camera, this DSLR is bulky; records no movies or sound. DIGIC II. No live view.

Upgrade 1/2008: Canon EOS 450D / Rebel XSi has better real resolution than Nikon D60 and Canon EOS 40D; 12 mp; 14-bit processor; DSLR with unusual live view 3" LCD & live histogram.

41.5 oz (20 oz body + 21.5 lens) / 556 + 610 g

127 x 94 x 65 mm (5.0 x 3.7 x 2.5 plus 3.9" for 18-200mm lens)

118 cubic inches including lens

10 mp

3888 x 2592 pixels

93/100 with Sigma lens

less than 0.1 sec

29 mm
(plus many other lens options)

320 mm
(plus many other lens options)

f/3.5 - 5.6 Canon
(plus many other lens options)

11x, IS
(plus many other lens options)

45 cm throughout the 11x zoom.
Or attach a real macro lens

LCD 2.5" with 230,000 dots

GN = 13 m / 43 ft @ ISO 100 (3.7 m wide)

500 shots; excellent

RAW (12 bit)

22.2 x 14.8 mm CMOS APS-C sensor

CF I, II

Fujifilm Finepix S100FS (new 4/2008),
in the Fujifilm S Series

Fujifilm Finepix S100FS was one of the best non-SLR cameras until the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1. But versus APS-C DSLR systems, the S100FS is much cheaper, has a less-bulky 28-400mm IS 14x zoom, and equals DSLR low-noise image quality up to ISO 800. New image stabilization helps hand-hold shots in 1.3 stops dimmer light. New expanded dynamic range captures more highlight detail simultaneously with shadows. Live view.

S100FS shutter lag is slow compared to DSLR. Its bad chromatic aberrations are correctable using third party software during RAW file conversion.

Superior alternative: Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1

34 oz (968 grams)

133 x 94 x 150 mm (5.3 x 3.7 x 5.9 ")

116 cubic inches including lens

11 mp

4032 x 2688 (3:2), or 3840 x 2880 (4:3)

85/100

half and full press 0.6 sec. (No penalty for using the fast RAW.)

28 mm

400 mm

f/2.8 - 5.3

14.3x. IS helps hand-held shots in 1.3 stops dimmer light.

1 cm Super Macro. 10-90 cm wide-tele.

LCD 2.5" TFT with 200,000 dots; articulated. EVF 200,000 pixels.

7.2 m - 3.8 m wide - tele @Auto ISO

230 shots; below average

RAW (12 bit)

2/3" Type Super CCD, eighth generation sensor

SD/SDHC; xD-Picture Card

Fujifilm FinePix S9100 (S9600 outside USA) (new 8/2006)

Fujifilm S9100 has better quality up to ISO 800 than any camera below except Sony R-1.

No "IS". Shutter lag & flash poorer than earlier FinePix S6000fd. JPEG quality similar to earlier S6000fd.

S Series Upgrade 1/2008: Fujifilm FinePix S100FS.

25 oz / 700 g

128 x 93 x 129 mm (5 x 3.7 x 5.1")

94 cubic inches including lens

9 mp

3488 x 2616

80/100

slower than S6000fd

28 mm

300 mm

f/2.8 - 4.9

11x, excellent manual zoom & focus (but no image stabilization)

1 cm Super Macro (27 x 36 mm). 10-90 cm Macro wide-tele.

LCD 2" with 235,000 dots. Tilts for high or low shots. EVF 235,000 .

5.6m-3.0 m wide-tele @Auto ISO

320 shots; 4xAA

RAW (12 bit)

Super CCD HR V 1/1.6" type sensor

CF; xD-Picture Card

Fujifilm FinePix S6000fd / S6500fd (new 7/2006)

Better quality up to ISO 800 than any camera below except Sony R-1. ISO 200 can make big prints. Zoom during movies. Better flash & less shutter lag than its successor FinePix S9100/S9600 (above).

No "IS". RAW is better than JPG at ISO 200+. xD-Picture card is slow and harder to buy cheaply.

S Series Upgrade 1/2008: Fujifilm FinePix S100FS above. Or 8/2006: FinePix S9100/S9600 above.

21 oz / 600 g

131 x 98 x 128 mm (5.2 x 3.8 x 5.0")

99 cubic inches including lens

6 mp (better large prints than most 6-10 mp cameras below)

2848 x 2136 pixels

80/100

half press 0.3 sec, full 0.35

28 mm

300 mm

f/2.8 - 4.9

11x, excellent manual zoom & focus (but no image stabilization)

1 cm Super Macro (27 x 36 mm). 10-90 cm Macro.

LCD 2.5" with 235,000 dots. EVF only 115,000.

8.3-4.6 m wide-tele @Auto ISO

400 shots; 4xAA

RAW (12 bit)

7.6 x 5.7 mm Super CCD HR VI, 1/1.7" type sensor

xD-Picture Card (slow, uncommon)

Panasonic DMC-FZ50 (similar to Leica V-LUX 1) (new 7/2006)

Panasonic FZ50 shoots with low noise to ISO 200.

Alternative: In this weight/size class, consider the superior Fujifilm S series above.

26 oz / 734 g

141 x 86 x 142 mm (5.5 x 3.4 x 5.6")

105 cubic inches including lens

10 mp

3648 x 2736 pixels

75/100

half press 0.2 sec, full 0.4

35 mm

420 mm

f/2.8 - F3.7

12x, IS

5-200 cm (41 x 55 mm)

LCD 2" with 207,000 dots. Flip-down and twist.

7-5.3 m wide-tele @Auto ISO

360 shots; Above average

RAW (12 bit)

7.2 x 5.3 mm CCD 1/1.8" type sensor

SD, SDHC, MMC

Canon PowerShot Pro1 (new 2003). Tom's favorite compact travel camera from 2004-07.

Great Canon "L series" lens. Quality at ISO 50 matches 6-megapixel SLRs. Great f/3.0 Supermacro at 90mm zoom. Digital 3-stop ND filter.

"Antiquated classic": Noisy at ISO 100+; no "IS"; often needs tripod; fixed-exposure movies. Its relatively noisy DIGIC I processor is now outdated.

Alternative: In this weight class, see the superior Panasonic GH1; or Fujifilm FinePix S series above (S100FS; S9100; or S6000fd). Also consider the much smaller Canon G10, G9 or G7, for ISO 400+ performance superior to Pro1's.

23 oz / 640 g

118 x 72 x 90 mm (4.6 x 2.8 x 3.5")

45 cubic inches including lens

8 mp

3264 x 2448 pixels

20/100

half press 0.25 sec, full 0.4 w/ firmware ver 1.0.1

28 mm

200 mm

f/2.4 - 3.5

7x, no stab

3 cm Super Macro (25 x 34 mm), 5 mp. Macro 75 x 100 mm @63mm zoom.

LCD 2" with 235,000 dots. Flip-out and twist. EVF 235,000.

5-3.5 m wide-tele @ISO 100

160 shots (actual); Poor

RAW (12 bit)

8.8 x 6.6 mm CCD 2/3" type sensor

CF I, II

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-R1 (new 11/2005)

The quality of image, lens, & big sensor outclass any other non-SLR camera. Good at ISO 800. 24mm equivalent lens is great for interiors. Live histogram. Midtone noise rivals Canon Rebel XT SLR.

"Antiquated classic": No image stabilization. Poor LCD resolution. Shadow noise worse than SLRs. No movies or sound. Unusually large RAW files, 20 MB.

Alternative: Get a superior DSLR, such as Nikon D60 or D40X mounted with Nikkor VR 18-200mm lens (or Canon Rebel).

35 oz / 995 g

139 x 168 x 97 mm (5.5 x 6.6 x 3.8")

138 cubic inches including lens

10 mp

3888 x 2592 pixels

88/100

half press <0.1 sec, full 0.33-0.5

24 mm

120 mm

f/2.8 - 4.8, stops down to f/16

5x (but no image stabilization)

35 cm (64 x 97 mm)

LCD 2" with 134,000 dots. Flip-up and twist (top mounted). EVF 235,200 pixels.

8.5-5.0 m wide-tele @Auto ISO

500 shots

RAW (12 bit)

21.5 x 14.4 mm CMOS, an APS-C size sensor in a non-SLR camera

CF I, II

Below are excellent compact cameras weighing 13 ounces or less

Advantages

Disadvantages / Recommended Upgrades

WEIGHT with battery

SIZE. Volume in cubic inches.

megapixels

0-100 image quality rank at ISO 400.

shutter lag

Lens Wide (as 35mm equivalent field of view)

Lens Telephoto (as 35mm equivalent field of view)

Lens f/# aperture, brightest Wide - Tele

Zoom range. IS = optical Image Stabilization.

Macro / close focus distance

LCD size & dots

Flash maximum range

Battery life # max images

RAW file mode

Sensor size

Memory
card

Canon PowerShot S90 (buy at B&H) new 10/2009

Best 7-ounce camera of 2009, with image quality of larger G11. DIGIC IV. One stop less noise than G9 makes ISO 800 useable. (Better than Canon SD990 IS, the first SD ELPH with 1.7" sensor, 2008.)

Rear dial subject to accidental rotation. Only VGA video. Expose carefully because JPEG and RAW highlights are clipped in high contrast shots.

7.2 oz

(or 6 oz / 175 g without battery)

100 x 58 x 31 mm

10 mp

3648 x 2736

60/100

okay for non-active subjects

28 mm

105 mm

unusually fast wide angle f/2.0, with typical f/4.9 brightest aperture at telephoto

3.8x, IS

5 cm

3.0 inch PureColor II LCD with 461,000 dots

Weak. 50cm - 6.5m wide / 2.5m tele @Auto ISO

decent

RAW (12 bit)

7.6 x 5.7 mm Sony CCD
1/1.7"

SD, SDHC, MMC, MMCplus, HC MMCplus

Canon PowerShot G11, new 10/2009

Articulated LCD, and longer telephoto than Canon S90. DIGIC IV. One stop less noise than G9 or G10 makes ISO 800 useable.

Only VGA video.

13.4 oz / 380 g

112 x 76 x 48 mm

10 mp

61/100

half press 0.5 sec, full 0.4

28 mm

140 mm

f/2.8 - 4.5

5x, IS

1 cm (23 x 31 mm) at wide. Distorted.

LCD 2.8" TFT Purecolor LCD II with 461,000 dots

50cm - 7.0m wide / 4.0m tele @Auto ISO

good

RAW (12 bit)

7.6 x 5.7 mm Sony CCD
1/1.7"

SD, SDHC, MMC, MMCplus, HC MMCplus compatible

Canon PowerShot G9 (new 10/2007)

Canon G9 is one of the best 13-ounce cameras, with quality similar to the Canon G10 (28-140mm) or to an 8-mp DSLR at ISO 80, and sharper than the G11 up to ISO 400, but G11 is better in low light & ISO 800+. Good 5x7 prints at ISO 400. DIGIC III. If you want to save money for similar JPEG quality, try the Canon A650 IS (which adds a flip-out LCD but no RAW). G9 takes better picture quality than Canon A720 IS.

Alternative: Consider the Canon S90 or G11; or Fujifilm F Series with equal image quality in a smaller 7 ounce much cheaper camera: Fujifilm F200EXR, F100fd, F50fd, or earlier F31fd.
G10 equals G9 sharpness.

13.4 oz / 380 g

106.4 x 71.9 x 42.5 mm
(4.2 x 2.8 x 1.7 in)

20 cu in

12 mp

4000 x 3000 pixels

62/100 = big print quality from small camera

half press 0.4 sec, full 0.6

35 mm

210 mm

f/2.8 - 4.8

6x, IS

1 cm (17 x 22 mm) at wide. Excellent

LCD 3" TFT wide view angle Purecolor LCD II with 230,000 dots

4-2.5 m wide-tele @Auto ISO, weak

240 shots

RAW (12 bit)

7.6 x 5.7 mm CCD
1/1.7"

SD/SDHC, MMC, MMC Plus, HC MMC Plus

Canon PowerShot G7 (new 8/2006)

Canon G7 is similar quality to an 8-mp SLR at ISO 80. ISO 400 makes good 5x7 prints. DIGIC III. G7 image quality is similar to the cheaper Canon A650 IS with flip-out LCD; and both are superior to Canon A710 IS.

"Antiquated classic": G7 has no RAW.

Upgrade: the great Canon PowerShot G9 supports RAW, bigger LCD, and slightly better resolution.

13.4 oz / 380 g

106.4 x 71.9 x 42.5 mm (4.2 x 2.8 x 1.7")

20 cu in

10 mp

3648 x 2736 pixels

60/100 = big print quality from small camera

half press 0.45 sec, full 0.7

35 mm

210 mm

f/2.8 - 4.8

6x, IS

1 cm (17 x 22 mm) at wide. Excellent

LCD 2.5" with 207,000 dots

4-2.5 m wide-tele @Auto ISO, weak

220 shots; Below average

7.2 x 5.3 mm CCD 1/1.8"

SD, SDHC, MMC

Fujifilm FinePix F200EXR (new 4/2009)

Best wide 5x optical zoom quality in a camera this small.

7.2 oz
(or 6 oz / 175 g without battery)

98 x 59 x 23 mm (3.8 x 2.3 x 0.9 in)

7.9 cu in

12 mp

4000 x 3000 pixels

59/100 big print quality from tiny camera

half press 0.4 sec, full press 0.5 sec

28 mm

140 mm

f/3.3 - 5.1

5x, IS (CCD-shift)

5 cm at wide

LCD 3" with 230,000 dots

4.3 m

230 shots

1/1.6 " Super CCD EXR: superb sensor

SD, SDHC.
xD-Picture Card is slow.

Fujifilm FinePix F31fd (new 10/2006),
a classic in the Fujifilm F Series

Fujifilm F31fd performs better in low light than any other shirt-pocket-sized camera through 2008: superb ISO 400, good 800 (rivalling Canon G7 & G9 image quality at half the price and half the weight). F31fd has 2-3 stops of ISO advantage over Canon SD800 IS.

But only 3x zoom; no optical viewfinder; "purple fringing"; slow xD card.

Upgrades: Fujifilm F200EXR or F100fd with 28-140 mm stabilized 5x zoom, 1/1.6" sensor, wider dynamic range. Fujifilm F50fd takes SD/SDHC cards, has great 1/1.6" sensor, & rivals Canon G9 image quality at half the price. Or try Canon SD990 IS with 1.7" sensor, 3.7x zoom 36-133mm.

7 oz
(or 5.5 oz / 155 g without battery)

92.7 x 56.7 x 27.8 mm (3.6 x 2.2 x 1.1 in)

9 cu in

6 mp

3024 x 2016 or 2848 x 2136 pixels

63/100 big print quality from tiny camera

half or full press 0.3-.5

36 mm

108 mm

f/2.8 - 5.0

3x (low noise at ISO 400 & 800 compensates for lack of image stabilization)

5 cm at wide

LCD 2.5" with 230,000 dots

6.5-3.5 m wide-tele

580 shots

7.6 x 5.7 mm 1/1.7" Super CCD HR: superb sensor in average camera

xD-Picture Card (slow)

Panasonic DMC-LX3 (new 11/2008)

Exceptionally large sensor & fast lens f/2.0 - 2.8, starting at nice 24mm equivalent; usable to ISO 1600. HD movies 1280x720 pixels 24fps. Much less noise than LX2 predecessor.

But zoom range is only 2.5x, with telephoto reaching only 60mm equivalent.

9.3 oz / 265 g

108.7 x 59.5 x 27.1 mm

10.1 mp

3648x 2736 or
3968 x 2232...

64/100 big print quality from small camera

half press 0.4 sec, full 0.9

24 mm

60 mm

f/2.0 - 2.8

2.5x IS (about two stops)

1 cm at wide (20 x 27mm coverage at 24mm)

LCD 3" 460,000 dots

8.3-5.9 m wide-tele @Auto

380 shots (CIPA standard)

RAW (12 bit)

1/1.63" sensor

SD, SDHC, MMC

Panasonic DMC-FZ8 (new 1/2007)

Panasonic FZ8 offers a good value 12x IS zoom in a small inexpensive body.
[ FZ8 image quality exceeds 18x superzooms, such as Panasonic FZ18 (28-504 mm with IS, 15 oz). FZ18 exceeds Fujifilm FinePix S8000fd (27-486 mm IS, 18 oz). All 3 beat Olympus SP-560UZ. ]

Alternative: In the 13 ounce weight class, the Panasonic FZ8 captures worse image quality than a Canon G9 or G7, mostly due to the FZ8's physically smaller sensor size.

13 oz / 360 g

112.5 x 72.2 x 79.0 mm (4.43 x 2.84 x 3.11")

39 cu in

7 mp

3072 x 2304 pixels

50/100

half press 0.3 sec, full 0.7

36 mm

432 mm

f/2.8 - 3.1

12x, IS

5 cm (30 x 40 mm) at wide angle, to 100cm

LCD 2.5" with 207,000 dots

6.0-5.4 m wide-tele @Auto ISO

380 shots

RAW (12 bit)

5.8 x 4.3 mm CCD 1/2.5 "

SD, SDHC, MMC

Canon PowerShot A710 IS (new 8/2006)

In 2007, Consumer Reports magazine rated the Canon A710 "Best Buy" for most consumers. Nice manual control options. DIGIC II. (Captures superior images for the same weight as the more compact Canon SD850 IS or earlier SD700 IS.)

Upgrade 9/2007: Canon A720 IS, with DIGIC III.

7 oz / 210 g

97.5 x 66.5 x 41.2 mm

16 cu in

7 mp

3072 x 2304 pixels

40/100

half press 0.3 sec, full 0.5

35 mm

210 mm

f/2.8 - 4.8

6x, IS

1 cm (17 x 22 mm) at wide. Excellent

LCD 2" with 235,000 dots

3.5-2.5 m wide-tele @Auto ISO, weak

360 shots, 2xAA

5.8 x 4.3 mm CCD 1/2.5 "

SD, SDHC, MMC

Panasonic DMC-LX2S (LX2 new 7/2006) (similar to Leica D-LUX 3)

Excellent landscape photography at ISO 100, using RAW. Attach a Leica Televid scope for birding.

But slow Full-press shutter lag 0.75 sec.

Alternative: Panasonic LX3. For image quality better than LX2 at a cheaper price, get the Fujifilm F Series above (Fujifilm FinePix F31fd, F50fd, or F100fd).

7.6 oz / 215 g

105.7 x 55.8 x 26.3 mm (4.16 x 2.20 x 1.04 in)

9.5 cu in

10 mp

4224 x 2376 pixels

36/100

half press 0.35 sec, full press 0.75

28 mm

112 mm

f/2.8 - 4.9

4x, IS

5 cm

LCD 2.8" with 207,000 dots

4.9-2.2 m wide-tele @Auto ISO

300 shots

RAW (12 bit)

16:9 CCD 1/1.65 "

SD, SDHC, MMC

Canon PowerShot SD850 IS (new 6/2007)

SD850 IS: at ISO 800, make prints up to 8x10. DIGIC III. LCD now shows shutter speed & aperture during shooting. Time lapse movies. (For wide angle, get sibling SD870 IS.)

But lacks some manual controls.
Upgrade in SD series: Canon PowerShot SD890 IS (5x IS). Better: Canon SD990 IS introduces 1.7" sensor, 3.7x zoom 36-133mm.
Alternative to SD850: For better image quality at same weight: Canon A710 IS or A720 IS.
Superior upgrade: Fujifilm FinePix F31fd, F50fd, F100fd, F200EXR "F series" above.

7 oz / 192 g

90 x 57 x 26 mm

8 cu in

8 mp

3264 x 2448 pixels

33/100

35 mm

140 mm

f/2.8 - 5.5

4x, IS (2-3 stops)

2 cm (23 x 30 mm) very good

2.5" with 230,000 dots. PureColor LCD resists glare & scratch

3.5m-2.0m wide-tele @Auto ISO, weak

230 shots

5.8 x 4.3 mm CCD 1/2.5 "

SD, SDHC, MMC

Canon PowerShot SD700 IS (new 2/2006). (Wide angle sibling SD800 IS has 28-105mm zoom.)

SD700 IS: Canon's first subcompact with "IS". Impressive up to ISO 400 (better than Panasonic FX01 or TZ3). DIGIC II. Underwater case. Autofocus, dynamic exposure, & digital zoom during movies.

"Antiquated classic". Lacks some manual controls.

Upgrade: SD850 IS (or wide angle sibling SD870 IS).

Alternative to SD700: get better quality images & value from Fujifilm FinePix F31fd, F50fd, F100fd, F200EXR "F series" above.

7 oz / 195 g

90.4 x 56.5 x 26.4 mm (3.56 x 2.22 x 1.04 in)

8 cu in

6 mp

2816 x 2112 pixels

30/100

half press 0.3 sec, full 0.3

35 mm

140 mm

f/2.8 - 5.5

4x, IS (2-3 stops)

2 cm (23 x 30 mm) very good

LCD 2.5" with 173,000 dots

3.5m-2.0m wide-tele @Auto ISO, weak

240 shots

5.8 x 4.3 mm CCD 1/2.5 "

SD, MMC

Table of Best Travel Cameras

Advantages

Disadvantages / Recommended Upgrades

WEIGHT with battery

SIZE. Volume in cubic inches.

megapixels

0-100 image quality rank at ISO 400.

shutter lag

Lens Wide (as 35mm equivalent field of view)

Lens Telephoto (as 35mm equivalent field of view)

Lens f/# aperture, brightest Wide - Tele

Zoom range. IS = optical Image Stabilization.

Macro / close focus distance

LCD size & dots

Flash maximum range

Battery life # max images

RAW file mode

Sensor size

Memory
card

Notes for the above table: What I call "The Best Travel Cameras" cameras above are also all "Highly Recommended" at dpreview.com, except the Panasonic LX2, Canon PowerShot Pro1, and Fujifilm FinePix S100FS are just "Recommended".
AA battery life assumes 2500 mAh batteries (CIPA standard). Shutter lag info comes from dpreview.com "Timings & Sizes". Other specifications above come from the "Best Camera Reviewers & Sellers." I determined the subjective "0-100 image quality rank at ISO 400" by comparing the quality of pairs of cameras at 100% pixel enlargement, images supplied by the above Camera Reviewers. To put digital sensor sizes in context, note that 35mm film measures 36x24mm.

How to Prioritize Camera Features

No single camera does everything well. If you primarily photograph children, pets, people, action, sports or indoors, then look for a camera with fast response (low shutter lag). SLR cameras are quickest on the draw, but are usually large, heavy, and harder to carry everywhere. Compact cameras are easier to carry, but usually focus more slowly, and record "noisier" images than DSLRs in low light. If you want bigger prints, look for a bigger camera with a good combination of lens, sensor, and processing that captures the best quality and least "noise". Look for a camera small enough that you will carry it everywhere to get the shots you want.

As an example, my personal priorities are as follows: Since I mainly shoot landscapes and subjects which don't move fast, avoiding shutter lag is much less important to me than excellent image quality in balance with a small and lightweight camera body, with a 7x or more zoom lens starting at 28mm, at a reasonable price. Next most important is good performance in low light, gained through image stabilization, and low noise at ISO 800 and higher. Over the years, I have gone from an SLR film camera, to two compact digital cameras, to a lightweight DSLR with image-stabilized 11x zoom (18-200mm), supplemented by a good 70-300mm lens for wildlife. (See Tom's cameras over the years.)

When shopping for a camera, consider the following features:

Newer technology is usually better: For an example, Canon's DIGIC I processor in the 2003 PowerShot G5 captured images better than my Nikon LS-2000 scanner digitized my 35mm Fuji Velvia film. A later inexpensive Minolta scanner beat the G5 camera, but the Canon Pro1 camera equaled the new film scanner. Later, DIGIC II cameras captured images much faster with less noise, probably better than Panasonic's Venus III engine. Then in 2006, Canon's DIGIC III bested the others. In 2006, the best sensor chip for its size was the 1/1.6" Fujifilm SuperCCD found in the excellent compact Fujifilm Finepix S6000fd camera.

Computer savvy not required: Comfort with computers is no longer a barrier to owning a digital camera, since many home printers support printing directly from the camera or memory card. Print shops everywhere will print from any memory card. (However, choosy photographers like me prefer to adjust each image before printing.) Sharing images is easier than ever with LCD playback on the back of the camera. Or simply connect a wire from your camera to your TV (S-video cable) or PC (USB cable). If you do know computers, digital photography offers astounding possibilities for storage, editing and presentation.

Camera size & type: See "compact" versus "SLR". Look for a high-quality camera that is small enough that you are willing carry it everywhere.

Low shutter lag: For high focus speed, look for 0.3 seconds or less from button-press to image-capture; best in the newest cameras, even in subcompacts. An SLR is best if you need instant click, but the best compact cameras in 2007 have mostly eliminated shutter lag. Also, read here how to get instant click on any camera.

Resolution in megapixels: (such as 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, or 12) roughly determines how large you can print and how much you can crop (or digital-zoom), when comparing within a given quality class of cameras. Beware that recent "megapixel marketing" of compact cameras has put memory-hungry 10 megapixel sensors into small cameras in which a 6 megapixel sensor would make the same size print. To find the best optimized cameras, read reviews and see my Table of Best Travel Cameras below.

Lens: (Note: below I express lens millimeter "mm" sizes in their equivalent to traditional 35mm-film camera lenses.)

Good optical zoom range & quality: Look for a very useful 28 mm wide angle lens (equivalent in terms of a 35mm-film camera), and at least 7x "optical zoom" telephoto (28mm to 200+ mm), with proven high-quality images. However, if you accept 35mm as the widest, you increase your number of camera choices. Shop for "optical zoom", not "digital zoom".

Macro ability = a surprisingly good close-focusing ability is built into most compact digital cameras. Look for the ability to focus as close as possible or focus on the smallest area, without distortion. SLR cameras require a separate macro lens or diopter filter for the best close-ups (adding extra bulk & inconvenience to your system, but rewarding you with excellent quality).

Optical image stabilization lets you shoot sharp telephoto shots in significantly lower light, by 2 or 3 f/stops, decreasing your need for a tripod. Optical stabilization is also known as "Anti-Shake", or "IS" for Canon, or "VR" for Nikkor/Nikon. Optical image stabilization is most useful if the lens zooms longer than 120mm and you don't use a tripod. As of 2007, optical image stabilization has become a must-have feature on good compact travel cameras with big zoom ranges.

DSLRs can also have image stabilization:

For Nikon DSLRs only, the following 27-300 mm equivalent zoom lens gives a good 4 stops of Vibration Reduction: f/3.5-5.6G Nikkor AF-S DX VR 18-200mm IF-ED lens (20 ounces, plus camera body); 11x zoom. It focuses to 18 inches / 0.5 meters throughout, giving good closeups of subjects measuring 67 x 100 mm at maximum telephoto. Mount this lens like I do on the Nikon D40X (18 ounces; released 2007), the lightest and smallest SLR camera, great for travel. Reviewers say this Nikkor 18-200mm VR is one of the best lenses ever invented for travel: 1) Ken Rockwell's review, 2) Thom Hogan's review, 3) Cameralabs.

Cameralabs says the Nikkor/Nikon lens captures noticeably better quality than the competing Sigma and Tamron 18-200mm lenses.

For Canon DSLRs, the Canon 18-200mm EF-S IS lens (new 2008) gives a solid image stabilization of 4 stops. Many shooters like the workhorse Canon EF 75-300 mm f/4-5.6 IS USM lens (5.4 inches/137 mm long; 22.5 ounces / 650grams; close focus 4.9 feet/1.5 meters).

For most DSLRs: Sigma 18-200 mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS (manufacturer link) lens with Optical Stabilization ("OS" new in August 2007) weighs 21.5 ounces (610 grams); has a diameter of 3.1" (79mm ), length of 3.9" (100mm); 11x zoom, and focuses as close as 45cm (17.7") throughout, 1:3.9 magnification. Zoom lock switch prevents lens creep. (Lens creep is a problem on the Nikkor 18-200mm VR). Check reviews before buying. Nikkor is probably a better value. You could mount this Sigma lens on a the lightweight 20-ounce Canon Digital Rebel XTi / EOS 400D (which has a 1.6x lens zoom multiplier, due to sensor smaller than 35mm, which gives this Sigma lens a 29-320 mm equivalent). This Canon XTi camera + Sigma 18-200mm OS lens weighs 41.5 ounces. Or mount this Sigma 18-200mm OS lens on the lighter Nikon D40X, or other SLRs.

Sony "Alpha" A100 introduces the first anti-shake sensor in an SLR, which works around the expense of anti-shake lenses. However, Nikon D40X and Canon XTi capture less noiseat high ISO, thus eliminating the 2-stop advantage of Sony A100's anti-shake sensor, plus you can add stabilized lenses to Canon and Nikon cameras for further 2 to 4 stops handheld shooting advantage.

DSLR advice:

For SLR cameras, I suggest mounting a good "all-in-one" 18-200mm Nikkor VR, Canon IS or Sigma OS lens for travel. Because excellent quality "mega zooms" are now available, you no longer need to swap lenses (unless you are a professional photographer requiring the absolute best quality enlargements to poster size). If you travel with friends or family like I do, changing lenses can be slow and cumbersome. Lens swapping can hinder creativity for travelers on the go, and lets dust enter SLRs.

To save weight on DSLRs: On a lightweight camera such as the Canon Rebel XTi DSLR, get Canon "EF-S" lenses which are specifically designed for the "APS-C" digital sensor size (educational link) (which is smaller than a 35mm film frame). Similarly for Nikkor/Nikon, use lightweight "DX" lenses. For Sigma, use their "DC" lenses. [ Pre-digital lenses are heavy with enough glass to focus on a full 35mm-sized film frame. When used on digital SLR cameras, only this lens's center or "sweet spot" is used (which can have the advantage of eliminating edge distortions, if any). However, modern lens quality is generally excellent, and you can save a lot of weight by getting a lens optimized for the digital sensor size. ]

High ISO can also "stabilize" images: The following non-SLR cameras can shoot well in lower light due to excellent noise-free performance up to ISO 400: Sony DSC R-1; and Fujifilm FinePix S9100, S9000 or S6000fd (but these cameras are still hindered by lack of image stabilization, when compared to competitors). Beware shooting at overly high ISO speeds, where contrast increases and random noise detracts from big prints. DSLR cameras can capture good images at 2 to 5 stops higher ISO than compact cameras.

Battery life: Look for high number of shots per recharge (150 is okay; 250 is better; 400 is much better; beware manufacturer's claims - only believe independent testing). dcresource.com often gives a battery life table comparing competing cameras.

LCD: Look for large size: 2 inches is okay, but 2.5 inches or bigger is much better (especially for people over 40 years old or who can't see close objects well). 200,000+ pixels in the LCD will look sharp. Look for an LCD viewable in harsh sunlight and at extreme angles of view. An LCD with flip-out & swivel ability is great for overhead, low-to-the-ground macro, or people shots, with the camera held at arms length. You can prompt better smiles and reactions from human subjects without a camera in front of your face.

Viewfinder: An Electronic Viewfinder (EVF) is superior to a rangefinder view, and shows the actual digital image obtained through-the lens, plus informative histogram and shot settings. An EVF lets you easily spot over- or under-exposed areas, white balance problems, and so forth. But many SLR users prefer the focus accuracy and extra detail seen non-digitally through an SLR lens. All digital camera users can simply check the LCD for image problems after shooting. I like both EVF and SLR viewfinders equally well.

Dedicated buttons are better than menus for frequently used features such as exposure compensation, white balance and ISO. Avoid cameras requiring complicated menus to access common functions. Don't be distracted by cameras with more features if you will never use those features.

Memory card type: Compactflash and Secure Digital (SD) are the most common standard formats for future compatibility with multiple devices. Compactflash currently offers the highest capacity, but SD HC now offers 4 gigabytes at a good price. Look for good reliability and long warranty, such as SanDisk Ultra II with lifetime warranty; or Lexar; or Panasonic.

Water resistance: If you do water sports such as kayaking, rafting or even walking in the rain, I recommend using a water resistant camera. Or, use a waterproof housing designed for your existing camera, allowing use of all camera buttons under water ($150-$800).

Image Quality and Maximum Print Size

A higher quality image can be printed bigger than a fuzzier one. The following online tools let you compare image quality between different cameras:

Seeing is believing -- conveniently compare the image quality of two cameras side by side, using 100% pixel view, at www.imaging-resource.com
Image quality at ISO 400 can push the limits of many small cameras, so I have used it as a comparison criteria in my Table of Best Travel Cameras, above. For example, based on review sites dpreview.com and imaging-resource.com, I rate the following lightweight travel cameras on ISO 400 quality, starting with best first, and worst last:

Nikon D5000 > Canon EOS 450D / Rebel XSi > Nikon D40X, D60, or D80 or Canon PowerShot G11 or Canon EOS 400D Rebel XTi SLR > Fujifilm FinePix S6000fd > Panasonic DMC-FZ50 > Canon PowerShot G7 > Panasonic DMC-FZ8 > Canon PowerShot A710 IS > Panasonic DMC-LX-2 > Canon PowerShot SD700 IS > Canon PowerShot Pro1 (which requires ISO 50 to best the G7).

Maximum print size:

Image quality directly affects maximum print size. Improving image quality depends upon many factors, such as: shooting with good focus; proper exposure; lower ISO settings to reduce noise; good lens quality; larger total sensor area; larger sensor receptor at each pixel; better sensor noise handling; better RAW optimization (in-camera JPEG conversion versus superior external RAW conversion), and so forth.
Buying a camera with more megapixels is not the best way to maximize print size. Instead, pick a camera with a larger diameter lens and physically larger sensor which is better optimized than its competitors, as judged when 100% pixel views are compared (reviewer site), such as at ISO 400 or higher. Beware that exceeding about 6 to 8 megapixels in small cameras (subcompacts less than 10 ounces; as of 2007) usually does not help increase effective print size, due to limitations of lens & sensor.

Maximum print size is subjective, depending upon viewing distance and standards. Compare only within a given standard or reviewer.

Surprising billboard example: A 20-foot-wide billboard produced from a good 3 megapixel camera can look great viewed from 40 feet away, but can look fuzzier when viewed closer. Different observers will judge the "fuzziness" differently, subjectively. A typical 3-megapixel image measures 2000 pixels wide x 1500 high. When you print the same image 8 inches wide (at 250 ppi / pixels per inch) and view it 16 inches away, it will look equally sharp as the more distantly viewed billboard. Stand 40 feet from the billboard and hold the print 16 inches from your eye, and they will line up perfectly. Both have the same viewing angle relative to your eye and both have 3 megapixels of information, so they will look equally sharp, theoretically.

Maximum print size is unlimited for a good 3+ megapixel or larger camera, as long as you view the print at a distance of at least twice its longer dimension. But when viewed closer, at some point you can define a standard for maximum print size. This rule is subjective.
An excellent 8 to 10 megapixel camera (circa 2007) can create printed images perceived as sharp when viewed at a distance equal to the print's longer dimension (or further away). For example, for most people, a 20x30 inch print from an 8-10 megapixel SLR camera looks sharp viewed at 30 inches. This rule is subjective.

For best prints of up to 48 inches on an ink jet printer, resize the file's resolution in the range of 240 to 300 ppi (pixels per inch), at your desired length and width. Adobe Photoshop's "bicubic" resizing works great; or use Adobe Lightroom. If more than doubling a dimension, resize in steps, to avoid imperfections. For example, to increase an image from 16 inches to 48 inches high, resize height to 32 inches first, then resize again to 48. Maintain image proportion of height to width. After resizing, sharpen (or Unsharp mask) the image as the last step before printing.

Clarification: Setting the file's resolution to 240 ppi is unrelated to setting the printer's dpi for laying down ink, which is a different topic -- for final prints, simply choose the printer's "Highest Quality" setting, which will automatically optimize the printer's dpi.

The following subjective viewing distance formula for the human eye is for well-printed images, from any high quality camera of any megapixel size:
Optimal viewing distance in inches ____ = 3500 divided by ( ____ optimal image file pixels per inch or ppi )

Example A: A 240 ppi print can look sharp when viewed at 15 inches or greater, which is about the closest that most people look at prints. (14.6 inches = 3500 / 240 ppi)
Example B: The 10 megapixel Nikon D40X captures 3872 x 2592 pixels native size. Take the longer dimension of 3872 pixels, and divide by 240 ppi, which equals a 16 inch print, which should look sharp when viewed at 15 inches or further from your eye. Enlarging this image, doubling its long side to 32 inches, will look sharp when viewed at least 30 inches from your eye (twice as far away).
This formula is subjective, meaning your judgment of image sharpness may differ from mine.

Above: I photographed this striking cicada insect with my compact Canon PowerShot Pro1 camera, on the Queen Charlotte Track in South Island, New Zealand. I exposed at f/6.3, 1/10th second, using a 23mm lens (90mm equivalent angle of view in terms of 35mm film cameras).
Small cameras can sometimes outclass SLR cameras (for ~10% of my shots). The Pro1's Super Macro can capture an area as small as 25 x 34 mm (1 x 1.3 inches) at 5 megapixels. An SLR would require the inconvenience of a special lens or diopter filter to achieve the same affect.

Glossary (external link):

To demystify digital camera terminology, see www.dpreview.com/learn/?/Glossary/

I am independent photographer and I welcome your comments -- Tom Dempsey

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