Find the Best Camera For Hiking
Looking for the best camera for hiking? We’ve put together a list of cameras that are perfect for hiking due to their portability, size and weight.
People always ask us about the travel photography gear we use when hiking so here’s our list!
In this article we share tips for how to choose the perfect camera for hiking.
Check out this list of the 10 cameras we recommend that are compact, lightweight and perfect for photographing the outdoors while hiking!
Camera Gear for Landscape Photography
- Tripod: take a look at these compact and lightweight travel tripods!
- Camera Bag: protect your camera from sand and water → We use Lowepro camera backpacks for outdoor photography.
- Neutral density filter: to compensate for variance of light you’ll need to use a neutral density filter. → Check out the Kase magnetic filters we use!
- Camera cleaning kit: remove dust or water that WILL get on your lens. NOTE: this is not for cleaning the sensor.
- Memory cards: purchase name brand memory cards since you’re trusting your images to the card! → We use Lexar and Sandisk!
- External hard drive: copy photos to a portable external hard drive ‘just in case’.
- Headlamp: use when taking sunrise and sunset photos!
Camera Gear at B&H Photo
How to Choose the Best Camera for Hiking
The best camera for hiking should be compact, portable and lightweight.
As you hike, you want camera gear to capture all the amazing things you see, but it needs to be small enough and light enough not to weigh you down.
The cameras we’ve listed will shoot high quality photos and video of your hiking adventures!
There are five things to consider when researching the best camera to add to your photography gear for hiking:
- Image quality
- Zoom range
- Size and weight
- Simplicity
- Price
Other cameras to consider:
- Best Compact Travel Cameras
- Best Cameras for Beginners
- Best DSLR Cameras for Travel
- Best Budget Vlogging Cameras
10 Best Cameras for Hiking
1
Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III Mirrorless Camera
Key Features
- 20.4MP Live MOS Micro Four Thirds Sensor
- TruePic VIII Image Processor
- 2.36m-Dot 0.67x-Magnification OLED EVF
- 3.0" 1.04m-Dot Vari-Angle Touchscreen
- DCI 4K/24p & UHD 4K/30p Video Recording
- 5-Axis Sensor-Shift Image Stabilization
- 10 fps Shooting, ISO 200-25600
- 121-Point All Cross-Type Phase-Detect AF
- Weather-Sealed Construction
2
Panasonic Lumix FZ2500 Camera
Key Features
- 20.1MP 1" High Sensitivity MOS Sensor
- Leica DC Vario-Elmarit f/2.8-4.5 Lens
- 24-480mm (35mm Equivalent)
- 0.74x 2.36m-Dot OLED Live View EVF
- 3" 1.04m-Dot Free-Angle Touchscreen LCD
- DCI 4K Recording at 24.00 fps & 100 Mbps
- CINELIKE Profiles; 4:2:2 10-bit HDMI Out
- Built-In Wi-Fi Connectivity; 4K PHOTO
- ISO 25600 and 12 fps Continuous Shooting
- Manual Control Ring & Built-In ND Filter
3
Olympus Tough TG-6 Waterproof Camera
Key Features
- 12MP BSI CMOS Sensor
- TruePic VIII Image Processor
- Olympus 4x Optical Zoom f/2 Lens
- 25-100mm (35mm Equivalent)
- 3.0" 1.04m-Dot LCD Monitor
- Water, Crush, Shock, Freeze & Dustproof
- 4K Video Recording and Full HD at 120p
- Built-In Wi-Fi, GPS, Field Sensor System
- ISO 12800 and up to 20-fps Shooting
- Pro Capture Mode & Variable Macro System
4
GoPro HERO9 Waterproof Action Camera
Key Features
- 23.6MP Sensor, 5K30 Video & 20MP Photos
- Live View Front Display/Rear Touchscreen
- Webcam Mode & 1080p Live Streaming
- HyperSmooth 3.0 Image Stabilization
- 33' Waterproof without External Housing
- PowerTools & Protune Feature Suites
- Time-Lapse & Night-Lapse
- 8x Slo-Mo
- Built-In Flip-Out 2-Prong Mount
- 30% Longer 1720mAh Capacity Battery
5
Nikon Z50 Mirrorless Camera
Key Features
- 20.9MP DX-Format CMOS Sensor
- EXPEED 6 Image Processor
- UHD 4K and Full HD Video Recording
- 2.36m-Dot OLED Electronic Viewfinder
- 3.2" 1.04m-Dot 180° Tilting Touchscreen
- ISO 100-51200, Up to 11 fps Shooting
- 209-Point Hybrid AF, Eye Detection
- Built-In Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
6
Sony ZV-1 Digital Camera
Key Features
- 20.1MP 1" Exmor RS BSI CMOS Sensor
- ZEISS 24-70mm-Equiv. f/1.8-2.8 Lens
- UHD 4K30p Video w/ HLG & S-Log3/2 Gammas
- 3.0" Side Flip-Out Touchscreen LCD
- Real-Time Tracking & Eye AF
- Background Defocus & Face Priority AE
- BIONZ X Image Processor & Front-End LSI
- Directional 3-Capsule Mic & Mic Jack
- Multi-Interface Shoe, Built-In ND Filter
- Product Showcase Setting
7
Canon PowerShot ELPH 180 Digital Camera
Key Features
- 20.0MP 1/2.3" CCD Image Sensor
- DIGIC 4+ Image Processor
- 8x Optical Zoom Lens
- 28-224mm (35mm Equivalent)
- 2.7" 230k-Dot LCD Monitor
- HD 720p Video Recording at 25 fps
- ISO 1600 and 2.2 fps Continuous Shooting
- Digital Image Stabilization
- Smart AUTO and Auto Zoom Settings
- ECO Mode and Help Button
8
Insta360 GO 2 Small Action Camera
Key Features
- Miniature 3K Action Camera
- Up to 2560 x 1440 Video and 9MP Photos
- Up to 1080p120 Slow-Motion Video
- FlowState 6-Axis Gyro Stabilization
- iOS/Android App with Auto-Editing
- Waterproof to 13', 32GB Internal Drive
- One-Tap Time-Lapse/Hyperlapse Videos
- Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, Charge Case
- Auto-Edit Feature, Easy POV Capture
- Lens Protection, Mounting Options
9
Google Pixel 6 Pro - 5G Android Phone
Key Features
- GSM/4G LTE + 5G Sub6/mmWave Compatible
- North American Variant
- Google Tensor with Titan M2 Security
- 50MP Wide, 48MP Tele & 12MP Ultrawide
- Front 8MP Selfie Camera
- Capture Authentic & Accurate Skin Tones
- 256GB Storage Capacity + 12GB of RAM
- 6.7" 3120 x 1440 120 Hz OLED Display
- Up to 48-Hour Battery / Water Resistant
- Android 12 Operating System
10
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VA Digital Camera
Key Features
- 20.1MP 1" Exmor RS BSI CMOS Sensor
- BIONZ X Image Processor & Front-End LSI
- Internal UHD 4K Video & S-Log2 Gamma
- Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* f/1.8-2.8 Lens
- 24-70mm (35mm Equivalent)
- Fast Hybrid AF System with 315 Points
- HFR Mode for Full HD Video up to 960 fps
- 0.39" 2.36m-Dot OLED Pop-Up EVF
- 3.0" 1.23m-Dot 180° Tilting LCD
- ISO 12800 and 24-fps Continuous Shooting
Hiking Resources
- Hiking Gear and Tips for Kids
- Tips for Hiking with Kids
- Winter Clothing for Hiking
- Winter Hiking Gear List
- Photography Gear for Hiking
