How to choose a camera for travelling light ?
Every gram counts when preparing for a trip. You think about what to put in your bag, weigh up the options, and decide between what is useful and what will just take up space. And the camera often comes into this complex equation.
Travelling with a full-frame SLR and three lenses is a choice that few travellers are willing to make on a daily basis. It’s too heavy, too bulky, and too stressful to carry on public transport or in crowded places. And yet, leaving your phone to handle all your travel photos often means missing out on memories that you would have liked to capture better.
Between the two, there is the compact travel camera. Lightweight, discreet, capable of producing good images in a variety of conditions. It accompanies you without being noticed. But you still need to choose the right model for the type of trip you are planning and the situations you will encounter.
This guide helps you make that choice, with practical advice and a selection of Kodak cameras and accessories designed for travelling light.
What is the best lightweight camera for travelling?
There is no single best travel camera, but there are models that are more or less suitable depending on what you plan to do. A six-month round-the-world trip does not require the same compromises as a two-week road trip in Europe. Here’s how to choose the right camera for your type of trip.
What is the best inexpensive compact travel camera?
For a first trip with a dedicated camera, an entry-level compact is often the most sensible choice. It’s inexpensive, weighs next to nothing, and won’t cause you any anxiety if you take it out in a crowded market or in light rain.
What you want from an affordable compact travel camera is, above all, reliability. A camera that starts up quickly, focuses without hesitation and produces decent images in most situations. No need for complex settings or a powerful zoom. The most important thing is not to miss a moment. If you’re looking for this type of companion, the Kodak PixPro FZ45 is for you.
It weighs only 117g, fits in a jacket pocket and features a 4x optical zoom with 16 megapixels. For family holidays, city breaks or weekend getaways, it’s a very easy-to-use travel companion. It will deliver quality photo memories without taking up any space in your bag.
Which camera should you take on a round-the-world trip?
A round-the-world trip is a wonderful but unique experience. You can’t go home to recharge your batteries or change your camera if something isn’t right. The camera has to be durable. It also has to be able to adapt to a wide variety of conditions and remain enjoyable to use after several months of travel.
Three criteria are key in this context. Robustness, versatility and autonomy. You want a camera that can photograph a busy street in Bangkok as well as a natural landscape in Patagonia. Without fear of humidity, dust or everyday shocks.
The Kodak PixPro WPZ2 is the obvious choice for this type of trip. Its 176g weight and compact size make it discreet and easy to carry. And the icing on the cake is that it is waterproof to 15 metres, shockproof and dustproof. Whether in tropical rain, snorkelling in a lagoon or on a dusty hike, it takes it all in its stride. For a round-the-world trip where conditions are constantly changing, this resistance is a real peace of mind.
Which camera for a road trip?
Even a weekend road trip has its own constraints. You’re often on the move, stopping to photograph a landscape from the side of the road. You quickly grab your camera from the front passenger seat before the light changes. Responsiveness is just as important as image quality.
For a road trip, the ideal compact camera is one that can be taken out and put away very quickly, without having to take out a whole bag or dismantle anything. A lightweight, easy-to-use and ergonomic camera, such as the Kodak C1.
It adds an extra dimension with its swivel screen. This is particularly useful for selfies in front of a monument or for framing shots from unusual angles. Like from the window of a vehicle, from above or below, without having to contort yourself. Its 13 megapixels and 4x digital zoom make it a versatile camera for capturing the landscapes you pass through and moments of life on the road.
What technical criteria should you prioritise for a travel camera?
Choosing a camera for travel is a question of everyday practicality, resistance to field conditions and ease of transport. Here are the criteria that really make a difference once you’re there.
Weight, size and durability: what really matters in the field
Weight is often the first criterion mentioned, but it’s rarely the only one that matters. A lightweight but fragile camera quickly becomes a problem as soon as you stray from the beaten track. Conversely, a sturdy but bulky camera ends up staying at the bottom of your bag.
The ideal is to find the right balance between the three. A compact camera that fits in a trouser pocket or the front pocket of a rucksack is a camera that is easy to take out and use. As soon as you have to rummage around in your bag to find it, you start to miss moments.
The camera body also needs to be sturdy. When travelling, the camera takes knocks, scrapes against surfaces and sometimes ends up in damp or dusty conditions. A carefully constructed body with sturdy seals will last longer than an entry-level model made of overly flexible plastic. This is the case with the Kodak PixPro FZ55, which is a very well-balanced compact camera.
Weighing only 106g, it is one of the lightest Kodak compact cameras in the range. Its ultra-compact size means it can fit into any luggage without exceeding the weight allowance on aeroplanes.
Can I take my camera on the plane?
Yes, and it is even strongly recommended that you keep it in your cabin baggage rather than putting it in the hold. Hold baggage is sometimes handled roughly, subjected to significant temperature variations and at risk of theft or loss. A camera travels much better under the seat in front of you or in the cabin baggage compartment.
In the cabin, the rules are simple. A camera is considered a personal electronic device and passes through security checks without any problems. You will need to take it out of your bag when going through the X-ray machine, just like a laptop. There are no specific regulations limiting the transport of a camera in the cabin, regardless of the airline.
For batteries, however, there are rules to follow. Lithium-ion batteries, such as those in compact cameras, must travel in your cabin baggage and not in the hold. The maximum capacity allowed is generally 100Wh per battery, which is well within the limits of Kodak compact camera batteries.
What accessories should you take with you when travelling with your camera?
A good camera is a good start. But without the right accessories, you can quickly find yourself in avoidable situations. A memory card that’s full halfway through your trip, a flat battery at the end of the day, a scratched body after a week in your bag. A few well-chosen accessories can make all the difference in the long run.
How can I protect my camera?
When travelling, your camera goes in a bag that also contains clothes, chargers, toiletries and sometimes food. Without protection, it comes into direct contact with everything else. It is exposed to shocks, scratches and liquid spills if a container accidentally opens.
A dedicated case solves this problem easily. It protects the body and lens from abrasive contact, absorbs minor everyday knocks and allows you to find your camera quickly without rummaging through your bag. It’s an accessory you don’t notice when everything is going well, but you’ll sorely regret not having when you need it.
Kodak offers two options depending on the size of the camera. The mini Kodak case is designed for the smallest compact cameras in the range. It offers lightweight and compact protection, ideal for putting the camera in a bag or jacket pocket. The Kodak PixPro carrying case is a little more structured, with reinforced protection for slightly larger models. Both fit into any luggage without taking up space.
Memory card and spare battery: never run out
This is probably the worst situation you can find yourself in when travelling. Facing an exceptional sunrise with a battery at 2% and a full memory card. It happens more often than you might think. Especially on long days when you’re taking lots of photos without access to a power outlet.
The basic rule is to always take at least one spare battery and an extra memory card with you. Not because the originals are bad, but because the unexpected is part of travelling. A twelve-hour day of hiking, a long evening, a market that’s too photogenic to pass up. Battery life runs out pretty quickly in these conditions.
The 64GB Kodak Class 10 SD card offers enough capacity for several hundred high-resolution photos without having to sort through them along the way. For batteries, the Kodak PixPro FZ55 battery and the Kodak PixPro WPZ2 battery are the official references for the corresponding models. Taking a charged spare battery with you in your bag is a habit that saves a lot of frustration.
How do you transport your camera equipment when travelling?
It’s tempting to take too many accessories with you. A travel tripod, a polarising filter, several memory cards, three batteries. On paper, it seems reasonable. In your bag, it quickly becomes heavy and bulky.
An effective travel kit is a minimalist kit. The camera in its case, a spare battery, an extra memory card and a microfibre cloth to clean the lens. That’s all you need in 95% of travel situations. The rest can stay at home.
To organise this kit neatly, the ideal solution is to set aside a dedicated pouch or compartment in your travel bag. Everything is in one place, accessible in seconds. And there’s no risk of the camera getting stuck under clothes or against a hard object. This simple organisational approach really makes a difference to everyday comfort, especially on days when you’re switching between activities and taking the camera out and putting it away frequently.
Travel light, take better photos
A good travel camera isn’t necessarily the most expensive or the most technical. It’s the one you actually take with you, take out without hesitation, and use until the last day of your trip.
Kodak compact cameras have been designed with this in mind. Lightweight, reliable and easy to use, they are suitable for all types of travel without weighing down your luggage or complicating your daily life. Whether you’re going on a three-week backpacking trip or a weekend city break, there’s a model to suit your needs.
And with the right accessories, protective case, spare battery and suitable memory card, you can set off with peace of mind. No nasty surprises along the way, just the pleasure of photographing your experiences.
