7 Best Camera for Travel Documentary: (2024 Guide & Reviews)

Last Updated on December 5, 2023 by Sharon Advik

Travel documentaries can provide a different perspective on the world.

Travel documentaries that look stunning often result from good camera skills and knowledge.

A camera captures events and provides images that trigger senses and emotions.

The definition of a travel documentary is difficult to pinpoint as there are many styles of documentaries and infinite ways that people use film to document their life experiences.

However, it is generally accepted by the film industry and others that a travel documentary shows exciting and unique aspects of other cultures through the eyes of its main characters who are traveling.

I’ve been in this industry for ten years straight, and here are my best cameras for travel documentaries.

Which is the Best Camera for Travel Documentary?

Here are my recommended top 7 Best Camera for Travel Documentary:-

Canon C300 MK II (Best Camera for Travel Documentary)

The documentary was shot in South Africa with Canon C300 MK II, where I got a unique glimpse into the lives of people living in one of the most diverse countries in the world.

In Cape Town, I met people who had lived there for years, some even for generations, and learned about their experiences and perspectives on living in South Africa.

I also traveled to Johannesburg, where I met with people who had recently moved there from other countries (or even other parts of South Africa).

I learned that for many of these new arrivals, Johannesburg is a place where they can start over with a fresh slate: no credit history, criminal record, or debt, just an opportunity to start over again.

Features:

• Model: Canon C300 MK II
• Effective Megapixel: 8.85-MP
• Image sensor type: Super-35 CMOS sensor
• ISO range: 100 – 102400
• Shutter speeds: 1/8000
• Storage Compatibility: SD, SDHC, SDXC Memory
• Viewfinder: Optical Viewfinder
• Image stabilizer: Image Stabilization System
• Dimension: 149 x 183 x 183mm
• Weight: 1770g

ISO/Shutter Speed:

Cape Town has a rich history, and I wanted to show off some of the culture and history of the city through my documentary with a high ISO range of 102400.

So, I visited several iconic sites, such as Table Mountain and Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years.

I also made sure to get up close and personal with some people who live in Cape Town at 1/2000 shutter speed, from artists and musicians to everyday residents who work hard every day just like everyone else.

Aperture/Field of View:

I shot a scene in the documentary in South Africa where I was standing on a hilltop, looking down into Cape Town.

The sun is setting, and its rays are hitting the city at an angle that makes you feel like you’re watching a painting come to life.

It was an incredible moment, but it wouldn’t have been possible without my aperture, an F/1.3 lens that lets in twice as much light as most other cameras.

White Balance/Frame Rate:

Johannesburg is a city that is constantly growing.

It’s a city that’s always changing.

But, if you look closely enough, you can find little serenity and quiet amidst all the hustle and bustle.

I wanted to capture those special moments in Johannesburg.

I used 59 high frame rates so that I could catch everything that was happening around me.

I also knew I wanted to get everything right in post-production, so I made sure to make the proper custom white balance settings before shooting started.

Why is this camera the best?

This camera also has some fantastic features that make it perfect for travel documentarians.

First, a built-in GPS receiver automatically tags your footage with location data. If you want to add maps or other location-specific information later, you can do so easily.

There is also a built-in microphone for capturing sound close up and far away, so you don’t have to worry about missing anything important during an interview or other scene that requires good audio quality and distance from the filmed subject matter.

Conclusion:

If you’re a filmmaker who wants to make travel documentaries, Canon’s C300 MK II is the best camera for a travel documentary.

Click here to buy yours!

Panasonic GH5 (Best Camera for Travel Documentary)

A travel company hired me to shoot a documentary of Portugal with Panasonic GH5.

I started in Lisbon and then went on to Porto and Sintra.

I started in Lisbon and interviewed locals who had lived there for many years.

I also visited the famous markets, which were very busy and full of people.

Seeing all the different food types they sell at these markets was great fun.

After visiting Lisbon, I visited Porto, known for its wine production.

I met up with the vineyard owner and got to know him better over dinner at his house.

They showed us around some places where they dance together daily during their free time from working there!

My next stop was Sintra, where I saw beautiful scenery such as waterfalls along with castles-built hundreds of years ago by kings during their reigns over Portugal when it was still under monarchy rule instead of democracy like today.”

Features:

• Model: Panasonic GH5
• Effective Megapixel: 20.3-MP
• Image sensor type: Digital Live MOS sensor
• ISO range: 400 – 12800
• Shutter speeds: 1/8000
• Storage Compatibility: SD, SDHC, SDXC Memory
• Viewfinder: Electronic Viewfinder
• Image stabilizer: In-Body Image Stabilization
• Dimension: 139 x 98 x 87mm
• Weight: 725g

ISO/Shutter Speed:

Lisbon is one of their most popular travel destinations.

Walking around the streets and seeing all the different buildings, people, and shops was a real treat.

I saw some beautiful sights there, including the famous Pasteis de Belém (Portuguese egg tarts), delicious St Jorge Castle, Rossio Square, and many more landmarks that made Lisbon unique.

I enjoyed exploring Lisbon with my camera set at 400 ISO and 1/8000 shutter speed!

Aperture/Field of View:

My trip to Porto started with a bang.

The first shot I took was of the city skyline from above.

I wanted to capture it all at once, and the entire city spread below me like a map printed on paper.

I chose Aperture Priority mode because it allowed me to get the perfect exposure for each image while maintaining a high level of detail throughout the entire shot.

The final shot I took that day was in front of an old church built over 500 years ago.

White Balance/Frame Rate:

The rolling hills and rocky cliffs of the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park are instantly familiar to anyone who’s ever played The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

But it’s not just the landscape that feels so familiar; the people there feel like your neighbors, too.

The 60-fps shooting speed with a beautiful color pallet recreated this beauty most exquisitely.

And the people I met were some of the most welcoming, generous people I’ve ever met.

They shared their food, homes, and stories with me.

Why is this camera the best?

It can shoot high-quality video but also has an automatic mode that makes it easy to use.

The GH5 is great for making travel documentaries because it shoots full 4K resolution (higher than HD) and can cause slow motion at 60 fps.

You can even record in RAW format, which gives you more flexibility when editing your footage.

It also has a flip-out screen that makes it easy to record yourself while filming in selfie mode.

Conclusion:

The Panasonic GH5 is the best camera for travel documentaries because it combines a professional and consumer camera.

Click here to buy yours!

Sony FS7 (Best Camera for Travel Documentary)

So, I was finally in Iceland.

It was everything I dreamed of; the landscape was stunning, the people were friendly, and it was a perfect place to shoot a travel documentary.

I saw some fantastic sights: glaciers, waterfalls, and black-sand beaches.

And I met some incredible people: one local told me about the legend of a giant who lived under a mountain near his hometown.

Another showed me how to make traditional Icelandic food; I highly recommend trying it!

But one thing that bothered me about being there: the shooting schedule was tight.

I had only one day to get all of my footage before I had to leave again.

But I had Sony FS7 with me.

Features:

• Model: Sony FS7
• Effective Megapixel: 8.8-MP
• Image sensor type: Full-frame 6K Sensor
• ISO range: 2000
• Shutter speeds: 1/9000
• Storage Compatibility: SD, SDHC, SDXC Memory
• Viewfinder: Electronic Viewfinder
• Image stabilizer: Available
• Dimension: 156 x 239 x 247mm
• Weight: 4.4 KG

ISO/Shutter Speed:

Iceland is a country of extremes.

It’s a place where the weather can change instantly, and you can find yourself wrapped in the fog one second, then basking in sunshine the next.

And this is how I found myself shooting the travel documentary there: one moment, I was surrounded by fog so thick that I could barely see my own hands; the next, I was soaking up the sun on a glacier, surrounded by crystal clear water and blue skies.

Thanks to the ISO range 2000 and 1/9000 shutter speed of FS7, I grabbed every shot with sheer clarity.

Aperture/Field of View:

It’s cold and windy, and many places are too remote to get to by car.

So, I had to get creative.

One of my favorite shots from the shoot was taken with a wide aperture on a camera mounted to the side of an airplane.

I flew over an ice cave in a helicopter, then shot downward as I circled it.

The result was a stunning shot that showed off this icy wonderland’s depth, making me feel like I was flying!

White Balance/Frame Rate:

The sun was coming up, and I was about to shoot my first day of the travel documentary.

I had been in Iceland for a few days but hadn’t seen any glaciers yet.

I’d been driving around, looking for the perfect location, when I found this one, it was like a postcard!

I set up my camera on the tripod and started filming.

It felt like magic: the pink light from the sun just behind me and this beautiful glacier in front of me.

My buddy seized this beauty phenomenally at 180 frames per second while adjusting the white balance automatically.

Why is this camera the best?

The camera is straightforward to use, as it has a touchscreen screen which makes it very easy to control the camera.

The screen also allows you to set up your shots without having to go through menus, which saves time and can make filming easier when you are on the move.

It has many different settings, including slow-motion recording and image stabilization options.

These are stellar for capturing smooth footage while traveling around different locations with different lighting conditions or when you have shaky hands!

Conclusion:

Sony FS7 is one of the best cameras for a travel documentary.

It can be used in any situation, and it has many features that are very useful for filmmakers.

Click here to buy yours!

Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K (Best Camera for Travel Documentary)

Mauritius is the world’s fifth-largest island, and it has a diverse landscape.

It is a popular destination for shooting travel documentaries.

I was there to shoot a documentary about Mauritius’ wildlife and heritage sites with Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K.

My first stop was at the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Gardens, where I saw various native plants and animals.

I then went to Grand Bassin Reserve Forest Park, where I saw many exotic birds, animals, and beautiful views!

After that, I visited Le Morne Cultural Landscape, which featured many historic sites related to slavery in Mauritius (French settlers once owned it).

It was an emotional experience that taught me much about this island nation’s history and culture.

Features:

• Model: Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K
• Effective Megapixel: 4096 x 2160 Resolution
• Image sensor type: 4/3 Image Sensor
• ISO range: 100 – 25600
• Shutter speeds: 1/5
• Storage Compatibility: SD, SDHC, SDXC Memory
• Viewfinder: Electronic Viewfinder
• Image stabilizer: Not Available
• Dimension: 177.8 x 96.52 x 86.36mm
• Weight: 1.5lbs

ISO/Shutter Speed:

The first thing I noticed when I arrived at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Gardens was how wonderful it was, especially for being in the middle of a city.

It seemed like such an unlikely place to find such a variety of plants and flowers, but there they were!

I started by shooting some close-ups of flowers to show off their beauty.

This is why I set my ISO at 25600 and used 1/5 shutter speed (the slowest).

This allowed me to ensure my subjects’ faces were correctly exposed.

Aperture/Field of View:

The Grand Bassin Reserve Forest Park is a protected reserve in Mauritius where the rare Pink Pigeon can be found.

The reserve was created to protect the bird from extinction and was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The reserve is located on the island’s southeast coast and is home to several different types of wildlife, including the Pink Pigeon, which is endemic to Mauritius.

Throughout the whole time there, my aperture was set at f/4.0.

White Balance/Frame Rate:

The first thing that struck me when I arrived at Morne Cultural Landscape was its size; it stretches over 10 kilometers and encompasses many ecosystems and geographical features.

I shot in 4K at 75 fps with an authentic white balance.

And recorded what I saw was preserved here, the remains of an ancient civilization before Europeans colonized the area; my jaw dropped.

Why is this camera the best?

This compact powerhouse is an excellent choice for travelers who want to get high-quality footage without lugging around a bulky rig.

Its excellent features make it ideal for this particular use case.

Plus, when shooting in RAW format, it can record up to 75 fps at 4K resolution!

Top off, it shoots high-quality footage with minimal noise and artifacts, even in low-light conditions such as indoor lighting or dim outdoor shooting locations.

With its simple controls and intuitive menu system, this camera makes filmmaking fun and accessible for everyone.

Conclusion:

If you’re looking for a camera to take on your next international adventure, look no further than the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K.

It’s the best camera for a travel documentary.

Click here to buy yours!

Canon Vixia HF G50 (Best Camera for Travel Documentary)

It was a warm, sunny day in Switzerland.

I was there to shoot a travel documentary with Canon Vixia HF G50, and my first stop was at a local cheese factory.

I was excited about learning about Swiss cheese-making processes, but none of us could have predicted what would happen next.

Walking through the factory, I saw workers making various kinds of cheese from cow’s and goat’s milk.

I saw them scooping curds into molds to make Swiss cheese wheels, pressing them into discs for fondue, and wrapping them in foil for sale at grocery stores worldwide.

The smell was incredible, and it reminded me of being back home in Wisconsin at my grandma’s house on Sunday mornings when she would make freshly baked loaves of bread with whole wheat flour and buttery cinnamon rolls dripping with icing sugar that melted in your mouth as soon as you bit into them.

Features:

• Model: Canon Vixia HF G50
• Effective Megapixel: 1280×720 HD Resolution
• Image sensor type: ½.3″ UHD 4K CMOS Sensor
• Gain System: Automatic
• Shutter speeds: 1/90
• Storage Compatibility: SD, SDHC, SDXC Memory
• Viewfinder: Tiltable Viewfinder
• Image stabilizer: Optical Image Stabilization
• Dimension: 109 x 84 x 182mm
• Weight: 735g

ISO/Shutter Speed:

I watched milk pumped into enormous vats and heated to just below boiling point; this is where it would be stirred or “cooked” for over an hour.

Then it would be cooled down and transferred into smaller vats to be aged for anywhere from a few months to several years before being sold on the market.

My camcorder was adjusting the gain automatically as the frame changed while I was using a shutter speed of 1/90.

Aperture/Field of View:

Next came the “lyophilization” process: freezing the milk to be transformed into curdles and then pressed into blocks for aging.

This freezing process would give the cheese its unique texture and flavor profile.

I adjusted my aperture at f/2.8 to record cutting the curds into small pieces to be placed in molds or boxes for aging or maturing (or both!).

Each region has special techniques for cutting and molding cheese into different shapes and sizes.

White Balance/Frame Rate:

Swiss cheese-making is one of the world’s most exciting and complex industries.

Companies like Emmi and Appenzeller have perfected their recipes over centuries, and it’s no wonder their cheeses are so famous.

To get the most authentic feel for these companies, I shot the travel documentary at a 30-frame rate and in custom white balance.

Why is this camera the best?

It comes with an external microphone jack, which makes it easy to connect an external microphone if you need to record better audio quality than what comes out of its built-in mic.

It doesn’t have a viewfinder, but its flip-out screen helps make up for it by giving you a clear view of what you’re shooting, so you don’t miss anything important while recording.

This camera also has some excellent features that make it easy to use while on the move, like its built-in wireless capabilities, which let you connect wirelessly to your phone or computer to transfer files from your camera to those devices.

Conclusion:

The Canon Vixia HF G50 is the best camera for travel documentaries because it’s a great travel camera that can also shoot professional-grade videos.

Click here to buy yours!

BMPCC 6K (Best Camera for Travel Documentary)

I arrived in Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia, on a cold and windy day.

At first glance, it seemed like any other European city, but when I walked around, it quickly became clear that this place was special.

It was so beautiful!

There were many green parks with beautiful trees and flowers everywhere you looked, and many people were sitting outside enjoying the sunshine.

When I got off the plane at Ljubljana airport (and after picking up my rental car), my first stop was Lake Bled, a lake surrounded by mountains with an island in the middle.

Features:

• Model: BMPCC 6K
• Effective Megapixel: 21.2-MP
• Image sensor type: High-Resolution Cinematic Digital Film Sensor
• ISO range: 100 – 25600
• Shutter speeds: 1/125
• Storage Compatibility: SD, SDHC, SDXC Memory
• Viewfinder: Electronic Viewfinder
• Image stabilizer: In-body Image Stabilization
• Dimension: 179.83 x 112.01 x 122.94mm
• Weight: 1238g

ISO/Shutter Speed:

It’s a charming mix of old and new, with plenty of parks and museums to explore.

You can walk through the old town and see all the sites or get out into nature by hiking up Mount Sneznik or biking along the river.

But what makes Ljubljana unique is the people; the locals are friendly and welcoming.

And when you think about it, they have every reason to be; they have much to be proud of!

I shot everything at an ISO range of 100 -25600 and 1/25 shutter speed.

Aperture/Field of View:

One shot was from inside St. Nicholas’ Cathedral; it’s not just any cathedral; it’s an Orthodox church with an Eastern Orthodox tradition that dates back over 1,000 years!

The inside looked like something out of an enchanted forest at f/1.8 aperture; tall trees grow up through metal shafts that lead up through the roof, creating an open-air feel that made me feel like I was inside an enchanted forest or maybe just in one of those old fairy tales where people fall asleep in forests and wake up again many years later having missed their entire lives.

White Balance/Frame Rate:

When shooting a documentary about Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia, it was essential to capture as much of the city as possible.

Ljubljana has seen it all, from its humble beginnings as a fortress-turned-capital to its modern-day status as a bustling metropolis.

Now, it was my turn to tell its story!

I used 60 fps and auto white balance.

This gave my film an extra dose of cinematic quality and ensured that your footage was smooth.

Why is this camera the best?

It’s small enough to fit in your pocket but still has a large sensor, so you can shoot in low light without worrying about grainy footage or losing detail.

Plus, its interchangeable lens system lets you adapt to any situation: from macro shots of tiny critters to wide-angle shots of sweeping landscapes, without changing your camera body!

The BMPCC 6K also has cool features like built-in sound recording (making life easier to get sound and pictures) and 4K video recording capabilities.

Conclusion:

If you’re looking to make a travel documentary or any documentary, you need a camera that can capture the beauty of your world in all its detail.

The BMPCC 6K is the best camera for a travel documentary.

Click here to buy yours!

Sony PXW-FX9 (Best Camera for Travel Documentary)

I sat in a Turkish café, sipping the finest Turkish coffee I’ve ever tasted and watching the sunset over the Bosphorus. It was a perfect night to be in Istanbul.

I had just finished shooting a travel documentary on Turkey with Sony PXW-FX9, which is why I was there.

The weather was beautiful; it was mostly sunny and clear.

I spent a couple of weeks visiting all kinds of different places.

There were incredible sights: The Blue Mosque in Istanbul, Bodrum Castle on the Aegean coast, and the mosaics at Sultan Ahmet Mosque in Konya.

And then there was Cappadocia!

It’s an area full of crazy rock formations that look like giant mushrooms or something out of Avatar or The Lord of the Rings movie series, and it’s so surreal!

Features:

• Model: Sony PXW-FX9
• Effective Megapixel: 3840 x 2160
• Image sensor type: Back-illuminated Full-frame 6K CMOS Sensor
• ISO range: 800 – 4000
• Shutter speeds: 1/8000
• Storage Compatibility: SD, SDHC, SDXC Memory
• Viewfinder: LCD Viewfinder
• Image stabilizer: Advanced Image Stabilization
• Dimension: 146 x 142.5 x 229mm
• Weight: 4.8KG

ISO/Shutter Speed:

I shot at different ISO settings from 800-4000 and shutter speeds of 1/8000.

The road was winding and steep, with sharp curves that made me hold my breath every time I passed by them.

As the light grew dimmer, I was surrounded by pine trees blocking most of the sunlight.

The scenery around me was beautiful, but it wasn’t what I had come to see: the sunset.

I wanted to capture it on camera, the warm glow of orange and pink spreading across the sky.

Aperture/Field of View:

It’s not just the color of the sky, the sea, or the buildings; it’s everywhere.

The Blue Mosque in Istanbul is a popular tourist attraction.

It houses one of the world’s most famous works of art: the six-foot-tall blue tiles that cover its dome and minarets.

To capture its beauty on film, I used an f/4 aperture and focused on its reflection in a nearby pool of water.

The result is a smooth focus that gives viewers an easy way to appreciate the mosque’s grandeur.

White Balance/Frame Rate:

I started the shoot at one end of the Bodrum castle’s long wall and worked around it until I had completed my footage of all four sides of the structure.

I shot at 60 fps with manual white balance to capture the full beauty of this historic landmark while ensuring they were properly exposed and color-balanced in post-production.

The castle is located in an area known for its beach, and this would be the perfect opportunity for me to showcase how beautiful it is.

Why is this camera the best?

It’s light and compact, so it’s easy to carry.

It has a variety of manual controls, so you can customize how you film your scenes.

The high-quality 4K video it produces is sharp, clear, and gorgeous, perfect for capturing the beauty of your travels.

And with its built-in 4K timecode generator and support for SMPTE 2022 timecode over HDMI output, you’ll never have to worry about syncing up your footage later in postproduction!

Conclusion:

This camera was designed with filmmakers in mind, but it’s also great for anyone who wants to capture their travels in cinematic style.

It’s the best camera for a travel documentary.

Click here to buy yours!

CONCLUSION:

Alright, guys, that concludes all the cameras we will discuss today in this article.

Do you guys have any experience with these cameras? What are your thoughts on them?

Which are your Best Cameras for a Documentary?

Is there a camera I didn’t mention in this article that you love using for macro photography?

Would you please leave your thoughts and comments below?

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