One of my favorite travel gizmos that I picked up in recent years is my semi-digital camera, called a Camp Snap.
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The camera works like an analog disposable film camera: It’s small, lightweight, mostly made from plastic, and has a little viewing slot so you can aim the shot. There’s no digital screen, no zoom, and no option to review the shot after taking it. Instead, I plug in the camera to my laptop later on and access the photos by downloading them.
It’s the best of both worlds, letting me capture images while traveling as I used to in the early 2000s, without actually requiring me to think about exposure, film, or other technical aspects. The camera has quickly become one of my favorite pieces of semi-analog travel gear.
The Camp Snap is one of several new digital, semi-digital, and ‘vintage’ style travel cameras that are ideal for explorers who think of themselves as amateur photographers. If you want to immortalize your trip while staying in low-tech territory, check out these travel cameras.
Best travel cameras for amateur photographers
Camp Snap
If you were intrigued by the digital-downloads-only camera I described above, check out more about Camp Snap. Like I mentioned, it’s lightweight, designed to let you capture moments without overthinking it, and lets you download your photos directly to a laptop. It feels like a film camera (without all the feature controls), digital camera, and disposable camera had a baby.
Paper Shoot
Paper Shoot is very similar to a Camp Snap. You get a lightweight camera that takes images that look like retro film shots, except you get to immediately download them onto a device—no prints necessary. The main difference is that the Paper Shoot is designed to have a stronger retro aesthetic, meaning you need to be into the ‘indie sleaze’ factor.
Rio GR IV
This compact digital camera has all the specs a budding photographer could want. It’s a 25.74-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor and a focus lens. There’s also a 5-axis image stabilizer and a touchscreen LCD setup. The Rio GR IV also has video features at 60/30/24 fps. Remember that you need to buy a microSD card for memory.
Olympus / OM System Tough TG-7
If you plan to venture out into the wild or otherwise go on rugged adventures, go with the TG-7. It’s a compact camera with a 12MP BSI-CMOS sensor, and it supports 4K video recording capabilities. You can also shoot videos with a vertical recording feature. In terms of rugged-ready features, the TG-7 is waterproof up to 50 feet, shockproof up to seven feet, and even comes with freeze-proof and dustproof features.
Kodak PixPro FZ255
Kodak makes a range of PixPro cameras that are small, compact, and lightweight enough to suit amateur photographers. I recommend going with a slim design like the FZ255. It’s a simple point-and-shoot camera with video capabilities and a wide-angle feature that lets you capture landscapes beautifully. If you like the experience, you can level up to a more advanced PixPro model whenever you want.
Kodak Charmera
The Kodak Charmera is a keychain travel camera. That’s exactly how it sounds—these teeny-tiny cameras are small enough that you can clip them onto your keychain. Despite their small size, you can still take photos. Like the Camp Snap and Paper Shoot, you can use a USB cable to download the images. However, some Charmeras actually come with MicroSD readers.
Leica Mini 2
If you’re an amateur photographer who wants a travel camera that uses film, I recommend the Leica Mini 2. It’s a point-and-shoot camera that takes 35mm film. Though it runs on film, this is still a small and semi-lightweight camera. It weighs just under half a pound and is small enough that it will fit in your palm. just know that this is a vintage camera that was released in the 1990s, meaning you might need to dig to find one for sale.
