These are the best compact digital cameras for travel

Camera technology is improving at seemingly lightning speed, with new models giving travelers more options than ever. To find the best compact digital cameras for the money, we turned to National Geographic’s in-house photo engineering team, Tom O’Brien and Eric Flynn.

For this year’s camera guide, they spent four months testing 26 cameras, weighing everything from ease of use and size to shutter speed and video features. The result? Nine best digital cameras for every kind of traveler, from beginners who want to memorialize family vacations to pros looking to elevate their next travel project.

Why you should trust us

Together, Tom O’Brien and Eric Flynn have nearly 15 years of photo engineering experience and build cameras for National Geographic photographers all over the world. Now they’re sharing their expertise with you, so you can find the best camera for your next trip. Scroll on for their full breakdown.