Best Compact Cameras for Holiday and Travel in 2026

In the past, precious life moments—especially those that took place on holiday—would be captured on a small, pocketable camera that would accompany you everywhere. With improvements in smartphone camera tech, why carry a compact camera at all? 

Many photographers believe that ‘proper’ cameras can capture better images, encourage a more thoughtful photography process and are just more fun. Compact cameras are also known as ‘point-and-shoot’ or ‘everyday carry’ cameras. But, whatever you call them, they’re all still able to get better photos than smartphones, while being just as easy and convenient to use. 

Connor Redmond looks at the five best compact cameras (plus a few honourable mentions) for travel and holiday photography. Additional photography by Amy Moore, Jakub Golis and Ian Howorth.

What makes for a good compact travel camera in 2026?

First things first, by ‘compact’, we mean a camera with a fixed lens. You can’t change the lens, but compact cameras are much easier to carry, making them a great choice for travel. If you prefer using different lenses, the best mirrorless travel cameras are always there.

A good compact camera for travel photography depends on your needs and your budget. For most travel photographers, the holy grail is a cheap, full-frame and lightweight camera with a wide-aperture lens. But that camera doesn’t exist (yet). So, unless you have thousands to spend on a Sony RX1R III or a Leica Q3, you’ll probably need to compromise on a few things.

Usually, travel photographers consider the camera’s price, size, weight and sensor size. The lens is important, too (fixed or zoom?). Then there’s image stabilisation, autofocus, battery life, weather sealing and connectivity. Not sure which one’s right for you? I’ll cover a few options, each with different benefits and trade-offs, to help you make your decision.

Sony RX100 VII: Overall best compact camera for travel

Speed and accuracy in a tiny, tiny package. The Sony RX100 VII is the seventh iteration of the RX100 series, a line of ultra-compact ‘travel zoom’ cameras. While the sensor’s pretty small, and it’ll struggle in dim light, the Sony RX100 VII does everything else pretty well. 

Specs

• 20-megapixel 1-inch stacked sensor

• 24-200mm equivalent f/2.8-4.5 zoom lens

• 20 fps continuous shooting with autofocus 

• Pop-up OLED electronic viewfinder

• Slow motion video, up to 1000 fps

• 302g

Pros

• Plenty of features for its size

• Super versatile zoom lens 

Cons

• User interface unintuitive 

• Tiny buttons and slippery body

• Image quality and low-light performance are limited by the small sensor

Sony has managed to pack an incredible amount of features into the RX100 VII. So if you are a shooter who loves a camera that can do everything well and values customisation, then this camera might be the one to pick up for your next big travel adventure.

Let’s start with the best parts of this palm-sized camera. The autofocus rarely misses a beat. Sony has been killing it with its autofocus tech in the higher-end Sony mirrorless cameras. You’ll find the same magically fast autofocus in the Sony RX100 VII. 

The zoom lens is one of the best. You get an enormous 24-200mm range to use, covering all but the most telephoto or wide-angle cases. The pop-up electronic viewfinder is really handy, and the screen is of high enough quality to shoot in most scenarios.

The Sony RX100 VII has impressive 4K video with excellent stabilisation, minimal rolling shutter, even without steady hands. It's a great compact travel camera for video and stills, with good colour and detail in JPEGs, and the RAWs have decent dynamic range. The RX100 VII also features a 20fps burst mode for fast action.

The Sony RX100 VII's user interface can be frustrating, and its small 1-inch sensor hinders low-light performance. You might get some noisy shots. The small, slippery physical buttons are also a minor drawback. But it's still a phenomenal camera for its size, particularly in bright shooting conditions. If you’re heading somewhere sunny, the Sony RX100 VII is the one for you.