One Travel Camera

A good travel camera needs to do more than take good pictures. It has to be intuitive, durable, and compact enough to carry all day without getting in the way. It should be quick to start up, fast to focus, and able to handle changing light and weather without fuss.

Travel photography doesn’t always give you time to think. The right camera helps you stay present. It should work reliably in the background—whether you’re shooting in bright sun, low light, or wet conditions. Manual controls are essential for those who want them, but ease of use matters just as much. Autofocus that locks on quickly can make the difference between a missed moment and a captured one.

The one travel camera we think you should own is the Leica Q3.

The Q3 checks all the boxes: compact, full-frame, fast, and weather-sealed. It’s the most capable camera Leica has ever made in this category, and one of the few that blends high-end image quality with portability and ease of use.

At its core is a 60MP full-frame BSI CMOS sensor with Leica’s Triple Resolution Technology. You can shoot at 60, 36, or 18 megapixels while still using the full sensor area—useful for saving space or extending dynamic range without changing your workflow. The Q3’s ISO range spans from 50 to 100,000, and it handles high ISO better than the M11 thanks to its back-illuminated design and newer processing engine.

The fixed Summilux 28mm f/1.7 ASPH. lens is optically stabilized, sharp wide open, and versatile enough for almost any travel scenario. It includes an integrated macro mode that lets you focus as close as 17cm. This lens is one of the key reasons the Q3 stands out. It’s matched to the sensor, sealed against dust and moisture, and eliminates the need to carry multiple lenses.

The Q3 has the most advanced autofocus system Leica has ever made. It uses phase detection, contrast detection, and depth-from-defocus technologies together, along with subject recognition and eye tracking. In practical terms, this means the camera locks on fast and stays locked, whether you’re photographing people, animals, or objects in motion.

The rear screen tilts, making it easier to shoot at low or high angles. The OLED viewfinder is sharp and responsive. And like the Leica M, the Q3 supports full manual control—shutter speed, aperture, ISO, and focus—when you want it. But unlike the M, you can hand it to a beginner and they’ll still come back with sharp, well-exposed photos.

Where the Q3 really moves ahead of earlier models is in connectivity. It uses MIMO Wi-Fi for faster, more stable wireless transfers to the Leica FOTOS app. Tethered shooting is supported through Lightroom or Capture One, and the camera can charge wirelessly using the optional Leica Charging Pad and handgrip.

These features aren’t just nice to have—they make a real difference when you’re travelling and want to back up your shots quickly, shoot tethered in the field, or keep the camera ready without removing the battery.

The Q3 is compact compared to a Leica M or SL system and has far better weather sealing than the M series. With the lens integrated and perfectly matched to the sensor, there’s nothing else to carry and no room for dust to sneak in.

It’s not a cheap camera, but for a full-frame Leica with a Summilux lens, it’s excellent value. More importantly, it’s a camera you’ll actually want to take with you—and that makes all the difference.

Also Consider

If you’re looking for something more affordable but still want to stay in the Leica system, the Leica Q2 remains an excellent option. It shares much of the Q3’s DNA, including the same lens and a very capable 47MP full-frame sensor. The Q2 Monochrome offers a distinctive black-and-white shooting experience, while the Q2 Reporter has added durability features. If you’re after interchangeable lenses and don’t mind a slower pace, the Leica M11 is a superb camera—but it’s larger, more expensive, and not as well suited to fast-moving travel scenarios.

Outside of Leica, the Fujifilm X100VI is the Q3’s closest competitor. It’s smaller, lighter, and built around an APS-C sensor, with a sharp 23mm f/2 lens (35mm equivalent) and Fujifilm’s well-regarded film simulations. For something even more compact, the Ricoh GR IIIx offers a 40mm-equivalent lens in a pocketable body, making it one of the best minimalist options for street and travel photography.