Every study abroad student should have a camera. You’re going to be seeing and experiencing some pretty cool stuff while you’re abroad, and having pictures of it all will let you look back years from now and remember every little detail. Plus, posting great photos on Facebook and on your travel blog help your family and friends at home see all of your travels and keep up with everything you’ve been doing!
If you’re in need of a great new camera, we’re here to help– we’ve put together a short list of our favorite cameras for study abroad. We’ve actually had our hands on each of these cameras and tested them while traveling, so they’re The Abroad Guide-approved. And no matter what you’re looking for, there’s a camera just for you.
1. Canon PowerShot ELPH 180
Easy to Use and Around $160
The perfect camera if you: tend to lose or break things, aren’t camera-savvy, don’t want to spend a lot
Why we like it:
• It’s cheap-ish, so if you lose it or break it, you won’t be out hundreds of dollars
• The camera is super simple to use and takes crisp and colorful photos
• The small size makes it easy to stash in a clutch or in your front pocket
Get it on: Amazon
2. Olympus TG-870 Tough Waterproof Digital Camera
Withstands beach visits, spilled beer and drunken tumbles
The perfect camera if you: are a klutz, often find yourself soaked in Franzia, are always at the beach or on the ski mountain
Why we like it:
• It will make it through the spring break beach parties, cold days of skiing on the Swiss Alps, and all kinds of drops and falls
• It’s waterproof, and underwater photos and videos are the coolest things EVER!
• It has a flip-up screen for selfies and vlogs and built-in wifi connectivity for quick photo transfers to your smartphone
Get it on: Amazon
Read next: 11 Gift Ideas for Travelers Who Love Photography
3. Olympus E-PL7 Mirrorless Digital Camera
Stunning photos in a small package
The perfect camera if you: are an aspiring photographer, want some great photos for your blog, need something smaller than your massive DSLR to travel with
Why we like it:
• It takes high quality, beautiful photos thanks to compact mirror-less technology
• You can shoot on manual or automatic– you decide
• It looks vintage (fun!)
• It’s smaller and weighs a bit less than a typical DSLR, making it a great travel camera
Get it on: Amazon
Read next: 15 Items You’ll Be Glad You Purchased Before Going Abroad
4. GoPro
Capture videos and photos absolutely anywhere
The perfect camera if you: want to mostly take video, will be doing a lot of extreme sports and activities while abroad, need something small that can get wet and dirty
Why we like it:
• We couldn’t choose just one model since they range in price and ability– go for the inexpensive GoPro Hero or opt for the super-small GoPro Hero5 Session
• You can attach one to your helmet when quad-ing in Greece, take it swimming on Bondi Beach, and ultimately capture video from angles you couldn’t with any other camera
• The wide-angle lens means you’ll get way more in your shots
Read next: Great Gift Ideas for Students Studying Abroad
5. Nikon D3400
Get semi-professional images without actually being a pro
The perfect camera if you: want an easy-to-use DSLR that packs a punch, want your travel photos to be absolutely stunning, want to use a camera in manual mode
Why we like it:
• Once you get a handle on using the manual settings, you’ll see a difference in the quality of your photos
• You can purchase a wireless adapter, sending photos to your iPhone and making your Instagram shots look professional
• It’s relatively cheaper than many other DSLRs (gotta love that)
Get it on: Amazon
Read next: How to Keep Your Valuables Protected When Studying Abroad
*This post contains some affiliate links (this doesn’t affect the price you pay).
Thank you for this post. I am studying abroad for two semesters. One in Costa Rica and the other in South Korea and I am looking for a camera that is great for documenting my travels and this has helped a lot.
Glad we could help !