Top pick · Sony£1,480
Sony Alpha A6700 + Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS
Body £1,150 + lens £330 (typical MPB used price where listed, otherwise new) · 27-203mm equivalent · 818g
Why: in-body stabilisation, 493g body.
Buying guide · updated 5 November 2026
Best camera for travel under £1,500
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 £1,500 or less, using real UK prices.
Quick answer
The best £1,500 setup for travel is the Sony Alpha A6700 with the Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS, about £1,480 with the body bought used. Why: in-body stabilisation, 493g body.
Best £1,500 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£1,500
Fujifilm X-E5 + Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD
Body £1,030 + lens £470 (typical MPB used price where listed, otherwise new) · 26-105mm equivalent · 970g
Why: in-body stabilisation, 445g body.
Best Panasonic option£1,480
Panasonic Lumix S5 II + Panasonic Lumix S 24-105mm f/4 Macro OIS
Body £980 + lens £500 (typical MPB used price where listed, otherwise new) · 24-105mm equivalent · 1420g
Why: in-body stabilisation, 740g body.
Best Nikon option£1,339
Nikon Z50 II + Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD
Body £640 + lens £699 (typical MPB used price where listed, otherwise new) · 26-105mm equivalent · 1075g
Why: 550g body.
Best Canon option£1,119
Canon EOS R50 + Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD
Body £420 + lens £699 (typical MPB used price where listed, otherwise new) · 26-105mm equivalent · 900g
Why: 375g 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 A7C + Sony FE 24-105mm f/4 G OSS | £1,450 | Why: in-body stabilisation, 509g body. |
| Fujifilm | X-T30 III + Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD | £1,210 | Why: 378g body. |
| Panasonic | Lumix S9 + Panasonic Lumix S 24-105mm f/4 Macro OIS | £1,140 | Why: in-body stabilisation, 486g body. |
Other systems worth considering
The best £1,500 setup we found from each remaining brand.
| Brand | Setup | Total | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| OM System | OM-3 + Panasonic Leica DG 12-60mm f/2.8-4 | £1,490 | in-body stabilisation, 496g body. |
| Leica | TL2 + Leica Vario-Elmar-TL 18-56mm f/3.5-5.6 ASPH | £1,140 | 399g 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 · Fujifilm£1,478
Fujifilm X-T30 III + Fujifilm XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4 R LM OIS
Body £829 + lens £649 (new) · 27-83mm equivalent · 688g
Why: 378g body.
Best OM System option£1,498
OM System OM-5 Mark II + Tamron 14-150mm f/3.5-5.8 Di III
Body £1,099 + lens £399 (new) · 28-300mm equivalent · 703g
Why: in-body stabilisation, 418g body.
Best Canon option£1,428
Canon EOS R50 + Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD
Body £729 + lens £699 (new) · 26-105mm equivalent · 900g
Why: 375g body.
Best Nikon option£1,088
Nikon Z50 II + Nikon Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR
Body £839 + lens £249 (new) · 24-75mm equivalent · 685g
Why: 550g body.
Best bodies for travel under £1,500
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.
Sony
Alpha A6700
2023Mirrorless
26MP
11fps max
≈20readout ms
32kmax ISO
Low light 493g · IBIS · sealed
New ≈£1,329
Used at MPB*£1,089–1,219
Small APS-C body with Sony's AI subject tracking. A favourite for hybrid photo and video.
Fujifilm
X-E5
2025Mirrorless
40MP
8fps max
≈55readout ms
12.8kmax ISO
Low light 445g · IBIS
New ≈£1,399
Used at MPB*£934–1,129
Rangefinder styling, a corner viewfinder and the 40MP sensor. Built for street and travel.
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.
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 £1,000. More to spend? Best under £2,000. Or read the full travel buying guide. Want one body and two zooms? See the best two-lens kits.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best camera for travel under £1,500?
Our top pick is the Sony Alpha A6700 with the Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS, about £1,480 buying the body used. If you only need a body, the Panasonic Lumix S9 scores highest at this budget.
What is the best £1,500 travel camera setup?
Sony Alpha A6700 + Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS (£1,480); Fujifilm X-E5 + Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD (£1,500); Panasonic Lumix S5 II + Panasonic Lumix S 24-105mm f/4 Macro OIS (£1,480).
Should I buy new or used for travel?
Buying the body used typically saves 30–50% and leaves more of the £1,500 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.