Top pick · Sony£2,900
Sony Alpha A7C R + Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II
Body £1,620 + lens £1,280 (typical MPB used price where listed, otherwise new) · 24-70mm equivalent · 1210g
Why: in-body stabilisation, 515g body.
Buying guide · updated 5 November 2026
Best camera for travel under £5,000
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 £5,000 or less, using real UK prices.
Quick answer
The best £5,000 setup for travel is the Sony Alpha A7C R with the Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II, about £2,900 with the body bought used. Why: in-body stabilisation, 515g body.
Best £5,000 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 Panasonic option£2,890
Panasonic Lumix S1 IIE + Panasonic Lumix S 24-70mm f/2.8
Body £1,630 + lens £1,260 (typical MPB used price where listed, otherwise new) · 24-70mm equivalent · 1735g
Why: in-body stabilisation, 800g body.
Best Fujifilm option£1,370
Fujifilm X-E5 + Fujifilm XF 16-80mm f/4 R OIS WR
Body £1,030 + lens £340 (typical MPB used price where listed, otherwise new) · 24-120mm equivalent · 885g
Why: in-body stabilisation, 445g body.
Best Canon option£2,610
Canon EOS R8 + Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8L IS USM
Body £850 + lens £1,760 (typical MPB used price where listed, otherwise new) · 24-70mm equivalent · 1361g
Why: 461g 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 A6700 + Sony E 16-55mm f/2.8 G | £1,860 | Why: in-body stabilisation, 493g body. |
| Panasonic | Lumix S9 + Panasonic Lumix S 24-70mm f/2.8 | £1,900 | Why: in-body stabilisation, 486g body. |
| Fujifilm | X-T30 III + Fujifilm XF 16-80mm f/4 R OIS WR | £1,080 | Why: 378g body. |
| Canon | EOS R50 + Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD | £1,119 | Why: 375g body. |
Other systems worth considering
The best £5,000 setup we found from each remaining brand.
| Brand | Setup | Total | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leica | SL2-S + Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 24-90mm f/2.8-4 ASPH | £3,370 | in-body stabilisation, 931g body. |
| OM System | OM-5 Mark II + OM System M.Zuiko 12-45mm f/4 PRO | £1,160 | in-body stabilisation, 418g 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 · Sony£4,698
Sony Alpha A7C R + Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II
Body £2,599 + lens £2,099 (new) · 24-70mm equivalent · 1210g
Why: in-body stabilisation, 515g body.
Best Panasonic option£3,998
Panasonic Lumix S1 IIE + Panasonic Lumix S 24-70mm f/2.8
Body £1,899 + lens £2,099 (new) · 24-70mm equivalent · 1735g
Why: in-body stabilisation, 800g body.
Best Fujifilm option£2,198
Fujifilm X-E5 + Fujifilm XF 16-80mm f/4 R OIS WR
Body £1,399 + lens £799 (new) · 24-120mm equivalent · 885g
Why: in-body stabilisation, 445g body.
Best Canon option£3,628
Canon EOS R8 + Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8L IS USM
Body £1,229 + lens £2,399 (new) · 24-70mm equivalent · 1361g
Why: 461g body.
Best bodies for travel under £5,000
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.
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 £3,000. 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 £5,000?
Our top pick is the Sony Alpha A7C R with the Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II, about £2,900 buying the body used. If you only need a body, the Panasonic Lumix S9 scores highest at this budget.
What is the best £5,000 travel camera setup?
Sony Alpha A7C R + Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II (£2,900); Panasonic Lumix S1 IIE + Panasonic Lumix S 24-70mm f/2.8 (£2,890); Fujifilm X-E5 + Fujifilm XF 16-80mm f/4 R OIS WR (£1,370).
Should I buy new or used for travel?
Buying the body used typically saves 30–50% and leaves more of the £5,000 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.