Top pick · Panasonic£470
Panasonic Lumix G80 + Tamron 14-150mm f/3.5-5.8 Di III
Body £300 + lens £170 (typical MPB used price where listed, otherwise new) · 28-300mm equivalent · 790g
Why: in-body stabilisation, 505g body.
Buying guide · updated 5 November 2026
Best camera for travel under £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 £500 or less, using real UK prices.
Quick answer
The best £500 setup for travel is the Panasonic Lumix G80 with the Tamron 14-150mm f/3.5-5.8 Di III, about £470 with the body bought used. Why: in-body stabilisation, 505g body.
Best £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 Canon option£470
Canon EOS M6 + Tamron 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III VC
Body £250 + lens £220 (typical MPB used price where listed, otherwise new) · 27-300mm equivalent · 850g
Why: 390g body.
Best Nikon option£500
Nikon Z50 + Nikon Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR
Body £390 + lens £110 (typical MPB used price where listed, otherwise new) · 24-75mm equivalent · 585g
Why: 450g body.
Best OM System option£490
OM System Olympus PEN E-P7 + Tamron 14-150mm f/3.5-5.8 Di III
Body £320 + lens £170 (typical MPB used price where listed, otherwise new) · 28-300mm equivalent · 622g
Why: in-body stabilisation, 337g body.
Best bodies for travel under £500
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.
Sony
Alpha A6100
2019MirrorlessOlder model
24.2MP
11fps max
—readout ms
32kmax ISO
Low light 396g
New ≈No longer sold new
Used at MPB*£439–549
Entry APS-C with the A6600's autofocus. A cheap way into Sony E-mount.
Panasonic
Lumix G97 (G90)
2019Mirrorless
20.3MP
9fps max
—readout ms
25.6kmax ISO
Low light 536g · IBIS · sealed
New ≈£649
Used at MPB*£369
Well-rounded Micro Four Thirds body with IBIS, mic input and a flip screen.
OM System
Olympus E-M10 Mark IV
2020MirrorlessOlder model
20MP
15fps max
—readout ms
25.6kmax ISO
Low light 383g · IBIS
New ≈No longer sold new
Used at MPB*£354–439
Tiny retro body with art filters and IBIS. Jessops' pick for creative effects.
Fujifilm
X-T30
2019MirrorlessOlder model
26.1MP
8fps max
—readout ms
12.8kmax ISO
Low light 383g
New ≈No longer sold new
Used at MPB*£229–659
Small retro body with the X-T3 sensor and film simulations.
Nikon
D7500
2017DSLROlder model
20.9MP
8fps max
OVFviewfinder
51.2kmax ISO
Low light 720g · sealed
New ≈No longer sold new
Used at MPB*£299–594
D500 sensor in a lighter, cheaper body. Excellent value APS-C.
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
More to spend? Best under £1,000. Or read the full travel buying guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best camera for travel under £500?
Our top pick is the Panasonic Lumix G80 with the Tamron 14-150mm f/3.5-5.8 Di III, about £470 buying the body used. If you only need a body, the Canon EOS R50 scores highest at this budget.
What is the best £500 travel camera setup?
Panasonic Lumix G80 + Tamron 14-150mm f/3.5-5.8 Di III (£470); Canon EOS M6 + Tamron 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III VC (£470); Nikon Z50 + Nikon Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR (£500).
Should I buy new or used for travel?
Buying the body used typically saves 30–50% and leaves more of the £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.