These Are Our Two Favorite Travel Cameras. Which Should You Buy?

Some days travel is idyllic. It's an Aperol spritz on the terrace, golden light that makes you look like you actually got your eight hours, and the kind of casual glamour you secretly hope someone captures on film. Other days it’s pure chaos. Boarding gates feel like rugby scrums, your kids decide they're training for the 100-meter, and unless you're at the world's best hotels, it's not going to look like it does in the website marketing.

And yet, we try to record it all. For years, I let my phone camera shoulder this burden. Phone photos are fine until you compare them to a proper camera. Then they look flat, noisy, and lean more wannabe influencer trip than beautiful vacation with the family.

This summer I decided to up my game. Not with matching luggage or noise-canceling headphones (though, yes, those would have worked). I actually tested cameras. The Nikon Z 30, the lightest mirrorless in Nikon’s lineup and Canon’s cult-favorite PowerShot G7 X Mark III went head to head. Both promise to be ideal for travel. Both delivered, but in very different ways. Below, the breakdown: the good, the bad, and the “please don’t make me use my phone again.”

Nikon Z 30 Camera

The Nikon Z 30 is a bit like the friend who shows up at the airport having already checked in, downloaded three maps, and booked the dinner reservation for your arrival. It's reassuring, it’s competent, and it makes you feel a little more put together than you really are. At 12.4 ounces, it’s barely heavier than a paperback, and it’s shockingly easy to carry. That portability alone makes it tempting for anyone who doesn’t want to lug serious gear or pack a separate Pelican case.

The good news? The performance more than matches the convenience. The 20.9MP sensor produces images that feel alive with rich textures, vivid color, shadows that look intentional instead of accidental. Autofocus is sharp and unflappable; it locks onto faces when my children are moving at unpredictable speeds or a dog who refuses to sit still for portraits. Video is equally strong with crisp 4K with smooth motion and plenty of detail. Add the articulating screen and you’ve got a setup that handles vlogging, selfies, and the occasional “we were definitely here” family photo without fuss.

The catch? There’s no viewfinder. You’re stuck using the screen, which feels a little less serious and a little more tourist-y. Purists will miss the intimacy of pressing a camera to their face; pragmatists will shrug and enjoy the bright, responsive display. If you think of it as a point-and-shoot, it can work well, but it's a little too serious to be a quick-snapping camera.

The other downside is that, as a mirrorless, the Z 30 requires lenses. That’s a pro if you like the flexibility—wide-angle for landscapes, zoom for details, portrait glass for your partner sipping wine and smoking like they’re in a Fellini film. But it’s also a con if you just want to throw something in your bag and go.

In short: The Nikon Z 30 is compact, versatile, and capable of growing with you. It's great if you want to grow as an amateur shutterbug. If if you hate the idea of carrying even one extra lens, you might find it fussy. If you want to be fussy and use a viewfinder, it'll fall short.

Canon G7 X Mark III Digital Camera

The Canon G7 X Mark III is the opposite kind of travel buddy. This is the friend who never checks the flight details but is always blessed with an upgrade and makes great use of the unlimited in-flight cocktails that come with it. It’s pocket-sized, lightweight, and relentlessly flattering on you, your food, and that charming bar tabac sign you stumble across on a rainy Paris side street.

What makes the Canon so irresistible is its immediacy. Pull it out, point, shoot. The photos have that warm, cinematic glow. Skin looks smoother, colors look richer, even the chaos of summer travel takes on a kind of golden-hour polish. The flash, in particular, works miracles. It doesn’t wash you out; it makes you look like you belong in a campaign shoot. If you do a TikTok search, you'll realize aspiring influencers adore it because it makes everything look better without effort. After using it, I completely understand.

The video features are where Canon quietly flexes. 4K resolution, vertical shooting for social feeds, even livestreaming directly to YouTube if you’re inclined. Most travelers won’t actually broadcast live from their balcony (rest assured, I did not), but just knowing you could gives the camera a certain swagger. Add Bluetooth and Wi-Fi for seamless sharing, and you’ve got a gadget that’s designed for the social age.

But the Canon isn’t perfect. Unlike the Nikon, there are no interchangeable lenses. What you see is what you get. That’s fine for cafés, street corners, and family dinners, but less ideal if you’re staring down the Grand Canyon. And while it’s beautifully compact, the battery life can feel underwhelming on long days, especially if you’re shooting a lot of video. It’s the definition of “brilliant, but not built for marathons.”

The other thing is the price. At well-over $1,000, and often out of stock, the Canon prices out a lot of its market. If you are an inspiring influencer, stop reading; it's perfect for you. If you're a traveller worried about the price, take solace in its resale value. This camera is so popular, that if you decide to grab something more serious or a vintage film camera you can get a decent amount back. This newer Mark III resells for close to retail on eBay. The older Mark II can still command $500, so don't be worried about a hypothetical Mark IV release; those rumors have been around for a while.

In short: The Canon G7 X Mark III is the ultimate “make me look good, quick” camera. It's charming, forgiving, and pocket-friendly. In every way it's an upgrade on a phone camera. But it sacrifices some flexibility, endurance, and long-term growth for its compact appeal and social-first mindset.

• In airports, the Canon wins. It slips into a pocket and doesn’t draw attention.
• In city streets, Nikon pulls ahead. Its bigger sensor and lens flexibility capture atmosphere with more depth and texture.
• For landscapes, it’s Nikon again. Mountains and oceans deserve interchangeable lenses.
• For family chaos, the Canon shines. Auto mode handles motion and mess with aplomb.
• For evenings out, Canon takes it with flattering flash, compact body, and the ability to make a glass of wine look like art.

My politically correct answer is that the Nikon Z 30 and Canon G7 X Mark III aren’t competitors so much as complements. The Nikon is an entry-level over-achiever that can grow with you if you develop a more serious hobby. The Canon is the social-focused, pocket-sized star that will serve you well as an endlessly flattering point and shoot.

But here are my definitive answers: If you want to learn, experiment, and develop a shutterbug hobby, go Nikon. If you want something to replace a film or disposable point-and-shoot for scrapbooks and social media, go Canon.

Either way, your summer memories will come out sharper, richer, and infinitely more satisfying than anything your phone can muster. And really, isn’t that the whole point?