Top pick · Sony£1,000
Sony Alpha A6400 + Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary
Body £540 + lens £460 (typical MPB used price where listed, otherwise new) · 27-75mm equivalent · 693g
Why: 403g body.
Buying guide · updated 5 November 2026
Best camera for travel under £1,000
For travel and everyday shooting, size and weight decide how often the camera leaves the house. Look for a compact body with stabilisation and a versatile standard zoom. Here are the best complete setups (body plus the right lens) you can buy for £1,000 or less, using real UK prices.
Quick answer
The best £1,000 setup for travel is the Sony Alpha A6400 with the Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary, about £1,000 with the body bought used. Why: 403g body.
Best £1,000 setups for travel, brand by brand
The best setup we found from each major system, ranked on how well it suits travel. Bodies priced used where MPB lists them.
Best Fujifilm option£1,000
Fujifilm X-T4 + Fujifilm XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4 R LM OIS
Body £820 + lens £180 (typical MPB used price where listed, otherwise new) · 27-83mm equivalent · 917g
Why: in-body stabilisation, 607g body.
Best OM System option£940
OM System OM-5 + OM System M.Zuiko 12-45mm f/4 PRO
Body £580 + lens £360 (typical MPB used price where listed, otherwise new) · 24-90mm equivalent · 668g
Why: in-body stabilisation, 414g body.
Best Canon option£840
Canon EOS R50 + Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary
Body £420 + lens £420 (typical MPB used price where listed, otherwise new) · 27-75mm equivalent · 665g
Why: 375g body.
Best Nikon option£750
Nikon Z50 II + Nikon Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR
Body £640 + lens £110 (typical MPB used price where listed, otherwise new) · 24-75mm equivalent · 685g
Why: 550g body.
Cheaper alternatives from the same brands
Not every pick needs the top body. These cost noticeably less and still do the job well.
| Brand | Setup | Total | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sony | Alpha A6500 + Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD | £930 | Why: in-body stabilisation, 453g body. |
| Fujifilm | X-E4 + Fujifilm XF 16-80mm f/4 R OIS WR | £980 | Why: 364g body. |
| OM System | Olympus E-M10 Mark IV + OM System M.Zuiko 12-45mm f/4 PRO | £760 | Why: in-body stabilisation, 383g body. |
Other systems worth considering
The best £1,000 setup we found from each remaining brand.
| Brand | Setup | Total | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Panasonic | Lumix G97 (G90) + Panasonic Leica DG 12-60mm f/2.8-4 | £710 | in-body stabilisation, 536g body. |
| Pentax | KP + Pentax HD DA 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6 ED DC WR | £820 | in-body stabilisation, 703g body. |
Buying everything new
Top pick · Nikon£948
Nikon Z fc + Nikon Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR
Body £699 + lens £249 (new) · 24-75mm equivalent · 580g
Why: 445g body.
Best Canon option£878
Canon EOS R100 + Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary
Body £379 + lens £499 (new) · 27-75mm equivalent · 646g
Why: 356g body.
Best bodies for travel under £1,000
Panasonic
Lumix S9
2024Mirrorless
24MP
30fps max
—readout ms
51.2kmax ISO
Low light 486g · IBIS · no EVF
New ≈£999
Used at MPB*£529–749
Tiny full frame with no viewfinder and in-camera colour looks (LUTs). Great for creators.
OM System
OM-5 Mark II
2025Mirrorless
20MP
30fps max
—readout ms
25.6kmax ISO
Low light 418g · IBIS · sealed
New ≈£1,099
Used at MPB*£779–824
Small, IP53-sealed hiking camera with built-in ND and handheld high-res modes.
Sony
Alpha A7C
2020MirrorlessOlder model
24MP
10fps max
—readout ms
51.2kmax ISO
Low light 509g · IBIS · sealed
New ≈No longer sold new
Used at MPB*£894–969
The original compact full frame. Small viewfinder, but A7 III quality in a travel body.
Fujifilm
X-T30 III
2025Mirrorless
26MP
8fps max
≈30readout ms
12.8kmax ISO
Low light 378g
New ≈£829
Used at MPB*£739
Compact retro body with dials and film simulations at a starter price.
Canon
EOS R50
2023Mirrorless
24.2MP
15fps max
—readout ms
32kmax ISO
Low light 375g
New ≈£729
Used at MPB*£244–589
Tiny APS-C body with a viewfinder, flip screen and Canon's subject-detect AF.
Nikon
Z50 II
2024Mirrorless
21MP
30fps max
≈45readout ms
51.2kmax ISO
Low light 550g
New ≈£839
Used at MPB*£624–649
Deep grip, flip-out screen and Nikon's newest subject detection in an entry body.
What to look for
For travel and everyday shooting, size and weight decide how often the camera leaves the house. Look for a compact body with stabilisation and a versatile standard zoom.
Lens: A standard zoom covering wide to short telephoto (about 24–105mm equivalent).
Other budgets
Spending less? Best for travel under £500. More to spend? Best under £1,500. Or read the full travel buying guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best camera for travel under £1,000?
Our top pick is the Sony Alpha A6400 with the Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary, about £1,000 buying the body used. If you only need a body, the Panasonic Lumix S9 scores highest at this budget.
What is the best £1,000 travel camera setup?
Sony Alpha A6400 + Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary (£1,000); Fujifilm X-T4 + Fujifilm XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4 R LM OIS (£1,000); OM System OM-5 + OM System M.Zuiko 12-45mm f/4 PRO (£940).
Should I buy new or used for travel?
Buying the body used typically saves 30–50% and leaves more of the £1,000 for a better lens, which usually matters more. New gives a full warranty and the latest firmware.
What lens do I need for travel?
A standard zoom covering wide to short telephoto (about 24–105mm equivalent).
Prices checked 5 November 2026: used prices are the middle of the MPB price range for the body and the lens on that mount; new prices are typical UK prices. Picks are ranked from the specs in our database for this type of photography.