Best Cameras for Hiking and Backpacking

Have you made up your mind to explore the world and share your adventures on YouTube, Instagram, Tik Tok and everywhere else?

Yes?!

Congratulations! You’ve made the decision that most people would love to make but just a few actually do.

Of course, I understand that it’s quite a tough to do so. Filmmaking is hard enough on the ground, right?

So having the best hiking camera to capture those stunning natural landscapes and wildlife encounters is a must.

To help you in this process, I’ve created this list of the best cameras for hiking that can keep up with your passion and skill level.

What to look for in a Hiking Camera

Hiking is tough, and the camera you choose to record it needs to be as well. Because it is such a demanding sport, not any camera is cut for it.

Here’s what you’ll need to look for:

It needs to be lightweight

The longer the trip, the more important weight is. Remember that you’ll be carrying your bags and extra equipment for both taking the shots and for hiking itself.

Take into consideration the lenses you’ll need, if you need external stabilization then you’ll have to carry it as well.

So when it comes to backpacking cameras, the lighter the better.

Be aware of the size

The camera’s dimensions are super important. As said before, you’ll be carrying a lot of things. If you have to carry an extra bag for the camera, then you could be in trouble during your trip.

Look for good low-light performance

Wildlife is beautiful at night and diverse. If your camera can shoot good videos at night, you’ll miss amazing moments and regret it.

Long battery life will make your life easier

The number of photos and videos you can shoot depends on two things: storage and battery life.

Although I recommend you to buy some extra batteries for your trip, it’s important to have a energy-efficient camera.

The last thing you want is to be in the middle of nowhere with a dead camera. 

– Write down the goal of you camera

What is the purpose of using the camera? Do you wish to take pictures of landmarks, people, and photos for your memory? Or you just want to click professional-quality snaps?

– How much money do you have to invest on a camera?

You may get the tiny point-and-shoot cameras with a price tag of as low as 100 USD. Do you want to own a camera that has advanced features? It would help if you opted for a better lens or a more powerful zoom, which may cost you thousands of dollars.

So keep your budget in mind when choosing a camera for your hike.

Hiking cameras need to be durable

I can not stress this enough: durability is crucial!

There’s a big chance your camera will fall at some point, maybe it’ll hit a rock because of the way you’re moving or anything in between.

If your camera’s body isn’t strong enough, you’ll be better off buying a disposable one. 

11 Best Hiking and Backpacking Cameras

Now that you know what are you looking for and what did I take into consideration when building this list, let me show you the best cameras for hiking I’ve found so far:

1. Best Camera for Mountaineering: Sony A6500
2. Best Budget Camera for Backpacking: Canon SX730HS
3. Best for Fast-Moving Subjects: Sony RX100 M5
4. Best for Wildlife Photographers: Nikon D850
5. Best for Low-Light Shots: Canon SL2
6. Best Drone Camera for Hikers: DJI Mavic Air 2
7. Best Pocketable Hiking Camera: GoPro Hero 8 Black
8. Best for Nature Photography: Sony Alpha A5100
9. Best High-End Portable Camera for Backpacking: Panasonic DMC-ZS60K LUMIX
10. Most Sturdy Waterproof Camera for Hiking: Canon D30
11. Best Overall Camera for Hiking Vloggers: Canon PowerShot G7X Mark II

1. Best Camera for Mountaineering: Sony A6500

If you are looking for the best mirrorless camera for photos and videos, look no further. The Sony a6500 continues with the same fine technology its predecessors boasted of.

The camera comes with interchangeable lenses and a big 24mp APS-C sized sensor. Given its small size, the camera is ideal for trekking and hiking. 

The Sony camera features 425 focus points, shoots a maximum of eleven frames per second, and 4K video – all excellent features for taking wildlife pictures while hiking.

Its bigger sensor offers a larger resolution and offers a much-improved image even in low light.

Plus, the camera features a wide-angle lens and is suitable for clicking those stunning skies that can only be seen when you are far off from the city.

Best use case:

The Sony a6500 is most suitable for clicking landscapes, fast-paced wildlife pictures, and general travel photos because of its small size. 

2. Best Budget Camera for Backpacking: Canon SX730HS

The Canon SX730HS is regarded as the best compact camera at the entry-level.

This Canon camera features a 40x zoom and enables hikers to take close-up shots of wild animals without putting their cameras or themselves at risk. It also has a slip screen allowing the use of creative angles or clicking selfies.

Best use case:

The Canon SX730HS is a perfect camera for people who are looking for a sturdy and lightweight camera. It facilitates easy photo shooting for beginners or for all those people who want to migrate from their smartphone cameras. 

3. Best for Fast-Moving Subjects: Sony RX100M5

If you are looking for the best compact camera for photos and video, the Sony RX100M5 can be an excellent option.

It is unbelievable but true that the camera has a 20MP 1” sensor in such a small body and can produce a 4K video.

However, the most important feature of this Sony camera is its incredible frame rate. It is an unbelievable 24 FPS of still shooting. Such a capability makes it an ideal camera to capture fast-moving subjects while someone is exploring and hiking.

It has a bright screen that can flip 180 degrees and is an excellent option if you want to enhance your photos for your upcoming hike.

Best use case:

The Sony RX100M5 camera is suitable for fast-moving subjects, general travel videography, and landscapes.

4. Best for Wildlife Photographers: Nikon D850

The all-new Nikon D850 camera is undoubtedly the best high-end DSLR available on the market.

It features a 4mp full-frame sensor that offers extra-ordinary detail by capturing images at an unbelievable 9 frames per second courtesy of its D5 battery use.

The capability can offer some great results to wildlife photographers/videographers.

The Nikon camera features 4K video without cropping. From dreamy trails to lush landscapes, this Nikon camera is the ideal DSLR for you to pack in your backpack for those mesmerizing hikes. 

Best use case:

The Nikon D850 camera is a great choice from wildlife to daily travel images and landscapes. 

5. Best for Low-Light Shots: Canon SL2

This Canon SL2 camera is considered by many as the best entry-level DSLR. It features the company’s tested and tried 24mp sensor providing an excellent resolution and a superb performance in low light conditions.

The new focusing system of the SL2 is also one of the best seen in any DSLR camera. The Canon camera takes leverage from Canon lenses’ expansive catalog, especially some inexpensive choices. The feature makes it an ideal companion while hiking. 

Best use case:

If you love wildlife photography/videography or you’re keen on landscapes, you must own the Canon SL2. The camera is most suitable for low-light scenes and long hikes. 

6. Best Drone Camera for Hikers: DJI Mavic Air 2

Are you looking for the best drone on the market for hiking? Then the DJI Mavic Pro can be an excellent choice for you. After all, good videos are not restricted to the ground anymore. Drones have emerged as a versatile and popular tool for videographers and photographers. 

Tiny drones like DJI Mavic Air 2 have emerged as a trendy alternative hiking camera. As the camera has a small size, it is a great tool to carry on your long hikes. It has a flight time of 25 minutes and has a video capability of 4K at 60fps, and can add a new perspective to both the videos and photos. 

Best use case:

The DJI Mavic Air 2 is most suitable for including a fresh perspective to the hikes.

7. Best Pocketable Hiking Camera: GoPro Hero 8 Black

Is GoPro good for hiking? The lightweight camera is extremely suitable for hiking. The camera has seen massive improvements over the last few years: offering 4K video at sixty frames every second. Its body is waterproof and shockproof making it an ultimate choice for your hiking. 

The Hypersmooth feature makes it extremely easy to get great quality stable footage when you are walking, biking or doing other adventurous activities.

The camera is incredibly versatile, and hikers can shoot anything and anywhere, including below water.

There is a string of available accessories, making it a fabulous camera to capture your unique travel and hiking memories. 

Best use case:

The GoPro Hero 8 Black is a fantastic pocketable for shooting below and above the water. 

8. Best for Nature Photography: Sony Alpha A5100

This Sony camera is conducive for mountaineering, hiking, backpacking, and trekking, because of its light-weight.

The camera is apt for all those fond of taking superior quality pictures and do not care much about robustness.

The Sony camera offers fast and accurate autofocus and boasts fantastic performance even in low-light scenarios.

It makes full HD videos and twenty-four-megapixel high-resolution pictures. It comes in handy on trails because of its small size. The camera can easily fit in one hand and comes with a convenient zoom lever.

You will also find a flip-up touch LED screen so that taking selfies is accurate and easy.

As this Sony camera boasts an advanced networking technology, there is no need to carry the cables while backpacking. Instead, you can easily transfer the pictures to a Smartphone using the available Wi-Fi connectivity.

If you want to pair the camera and your Smartphone quickly, you may get Near Field Communication or NFC too. It is as simple as that.

Best use case:

The Sony Alpha a5100 is a fabulous camera and is ideal for all those people who give a preference to picture quality over robustness.

9. Best High-End Portable Camera for Backpacking: Panasonic DMC-ZS60K LUMIX

This is also a great camera for outdoor enthusiasts such as mountaineers and hikers.

It is also a conveniently sized and lightweight camera making it ideal for outdoor activities.

The Panasonic DMC-ZS60K camera features the Leica Lens with a capability of 30X Zoom. Its lens enables you to take stunning images even from a distance.

Low-light conditions are not an issue as the camera boasts the MOS sensor, which is highly sensitive. It enhances the quality of your pictures, as well as maintains low energy consumption.

Its optical image stabilizer offers great anti-blur touch. That is a handy feature as it is not so easy to keep your hand steady while hiking.

You can capture sharp and focused pictures of moving objects.

Its control ring is useful as it is placed on the lens. The placement enables the user to control focus, zoom, and exposure.

The camera also features a convenient live viewfinder when its LED screen is difficult to use, particularly in sunny weather.

Besides, the camera has an eye sensor, which automatically switches between the live viewfinder and the LED screen.

Best use case:

If you are looking for a compact camera for hiking with superior picture and video quality and price is not an issue, you can opt for the Panasonic DMC-ZS60K LUMIX camera.

10. Most Sturdy Waterproof Camera for Hiking: Canon D30

This robust Canon camera is ergonomically shaped and is suitable for outdoor enthusiasts and other adventure freaks.

You can use the Canon D30 below the water with equal ease. It is equipped with a sturdy casing that can withstand adverse conditions while you are on a hiking trail. The camera can work in icy conditions, thus proving its versatility.

If you do not wish to bother much about camera settings, the camera’s thirty-two predefined shooting scenarios for superior quality pictures can come in handy.

Its built-in GPS receiver can include location details in the pictures. However, this Canon camera lacks wireless connectivity, which is possibly its biggest drawback.

Best use case:

The Canon D30 is a fantastic option for those people who wish to own a budget camera to capture their hiking memories forever.

11. Best Overall Camera for Hiking Vloggers: Canon PowerShot G7X Mark II

It is an incredibly compact camera and will fit perfectly in your hand. The Canon PowerShot G7X Mark II is equipped with a DIGIC processor, 20.2 MP CMOS sensor, full HD videos, and 4.2x optical zoom.

Its DIGIC 6 processor and the CMOS sensor are among the most recent innovations of Canon. Together, they can create sharp, high-resolution pictures even when light conditions are poor.

Its optical zoom enables hikers to take clear pictures even from a distance.

This Canon camera also features an optical picture stabilizer, making it possible to take sharp pictures while the zoom feature is also used.

There is a built-in Wi-Fi modem so that you can share pictures easily.

If the camera is paired with your Smartphone, the self-timer, shutter, zoom, flash, and shutter of the camera can also be controlled from the Smartphone.

Best use case:

The Canon PowerShot G7X Mark II is a good camera for hiking as it can work well in poor light conditions and is compact.

Last Thoughts

Hiking is not simply a sport. It entails observing stunning natural phenomena, landscapes and exploring nature.

You’ll want to capture the memories of the fantastic subjects and places that you experience while embarking upon backpacking or a hiking trip. So, it makes sense to carry a good camera with you.

The market is full of different cameras. However, not all cameras are suited for hiking or outdoor activities.

Hiking cameras need to be compact and light so that they do not occupy much space in your backpack, and be durable enough to resist harsh environments.

Think on you destination and choose the camera that best suite your needs.

Have a fantastic trip!