The Best Travel Zoom Digital Cameras

Zoom can get you images that you can't snap with any other camera. Travel zooms are small point-and-shoot cameras with at least a 15x zoom, though many of them reach 20 and 30. These cameras have all the benefits of a point-and-shoot, including a compact size, with the added benefit of a big zoom. Their size and capabilities make them popular for travelers, but they are just well-rounded cameras overall and are suitable for a variety of different consumers. The best travel zoom digital cameras won't just have a compact size, they'll have solid image quality too.

Canon PowerShot G3 X

Just a few years ago, consumers had to choose between an advanced compact or a camera with a big zoom, but that's certainly not the case anymore. Joining the likes of the Olympus Stylus 1, Sony RX10 II and Panasonic FZ1000, the Canon G3 X impr...

Grade: A Price: $849.00

Panasonic Lumix ZS60 (DMC-ZS60K)

The Panasonic ZS50 is a nice travel camera with solid image quality throughout the zoom range--Panasonic just upped the ante with the ZS60, however, adding 4K video onto an already solid camera.The Panasonic ZS60 still sports the nice 30x optical ...

Grade: A Price: $448.00

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50

More megapixels isn't always better—that's the motto Panasonic is taking with the compact zoom ZS50 camera. While there's a lower number of megapixels on the ZS50 from the older ZS40, that move is designed to bump up the low ligh...

Grade: A Price: $323.00

Canon PowerShot SX280 HS

The Canon SX280 is truly a feature packed compact zoom, with a 20x optical zoom, wi-fi and GPS. Canon upgraded their processor over the previous model--a big change meaning better low light images and a faster burst speed of 14 fps (up to seven sh...

Grade: A- Price: $359.00

Panasonic Lumix ZS100 (DMC-ZS100)

The Panasonic ZS100 is a versatile advanced compact with a 10x optical zoom packed in front of a large 1" sensor. But perhaps even more enticing is the 4K capability. Panasonic is one of the leading manufacturers when it comes to finding 4K o...

Grade: A- Price: $548.00

Nikon COOLPIX A900

The Nikon COOLPIX A900 is a small camera with a big zoom and even big video capabilities with 4K.While the A900 looks like a typical point-and-shoot and uses the standard 1/2.3" sensor, the 35x optical zoom is hiding in a pretty small camera....

Grade: A- Price: $340.00

Sony WX350

The compact zoom category is competitive and packed full of decent shooters, so where does the Sony WX350 sit? The WX350 is one of the fastest options when considering burst speed with a nice 10 fps. The 20x optical zoom isn't the best in clas...

Grade: A- Price: $268.00

Nikon Coolpix S7000

At the time of it's release, the Nikon Coolpix S7000 is the lightest camera sporting a 20x zoom. Weighing in at just 5.9 ounces, the S7000 is a tiny camera that looks to still stand its ground.The highlighting feature in the S7000 is that 20x ...

Grade: A- Price: $260.00

Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS70

The Panasonic ZS70 is a compact camera with a big zoom and big 4K photo capabilities.The camera uses the basic 1/2.3" sensor found on most point-and-shoots, but the resolution is bumped up slightly from the older model to 20.3 megapixels. The...

Grade: A- Price: $397.00

Canon PowerShot SX700 HS

This Canon hits the right specs for the price point with a nice 30x optical zoom and a 8.5 fps burst mode that beats the Nikon S9700. With the ability to focus as close as .4 inches from the front of the lens plus the long zoom and manual modes, t...

Grade: B+ Price: $469.00

Sony HX90 (DSCHX90V/B)

Viewfinders have long been sacrificed for the sake of space--not so with the Sony HX90. Sony is claiming yet another the "smallest" title, this time for the smallest compact 30x zoom with a viewfinder. That's a lot of qualifiers to c...

Grade: B+ Price: $448.00

Olympus SH-1

Basic point-and-shoots are compact and travel easily, but often lack zoom and speed. Enter the Olympus SH-1, a compact camera that packs in a pretty solid zoom along with excellent speed, wrapped up in a sturdy, retro-styled body.Because the Olymp...

Grade: B+ Price: $199.00

Nikon Coolpix S9900

Zoom is a big deal—but it also makes for a big camera. The Nikon Coolpix S9900 doesn't offer the 83x optical zoom of their P900 superzoom, but it packs a nice 30x optical zoom in a package that travels easily.The S9900 is a bit faster th...

Grade: B+ Price: $297.00

Sony WX500

We thought the Sony HX90 was a bit pricey at release--the Sony WX500 answers that with a bit more palatable price, but axes a lot of the usability features. Selling for about $410 at its first release, the Sony WX500 offers a big 30x optical zoom,...

Grade: B Price: $348.00

Canon PowerShot SX730 HS

The Canon PowerShot SX730 is all about zoom, portability, and connectivity. Boasting a nice 40x zoom lens, the camera is still a compact 10.6 ounces.The SX730 uses a 1/2.3" sensor, a pretty standard size for a compact camera, with 20.3 megapi...

Grade: B- Price: $399.00