Summertime is meant for travel. The suns out, work slows down, the kids are out of school, and your next excursion is calling. Your phone might be the easiest way to capture some of those memories, but there’s nothing quite like having a proper camera on hand to document the experience. If you’re not sure where to start and looking for some affordable options check out this list of Micro Four-Thirds cameras to capture all the summer vibes.
The cameras on this list have all been tested and/or owned by me personally at one point or another. If you decide to purchase a camera using the KEH links below, please note that I do receive a small commission that helps keep this blog going.
A Tiny 4K Powerhouse: The LUMIX GX85
I first purchased the Panasonic LUMIX GX85 back in 2016 – a fully decade ago. While it may seem a bit counter intuitive to pick up a camera that’s ten years old, I strongly encourage you to hold your reservations for a moment. The GX85 is the smallest camera on this list – it features a 16-megapixel sensor (more than enough for sharing photos with family and friends on your phone or social media) and it can shoot video in 4K/24 and Full HD/50. One modern feature that the LUMIX GX85 has is the 4K Photo mode, a kind of pre-shot burst mode, that allows you to capture 30 frames per second allowing ensure you get the shot – even when your subject is moving quickly.
You can pick up a LUMIX GX85 for under $600 on KEH.
A Photography Forward Option: The Olympus OM-D E-M10 IV
Although I hadn’t tested the Olympus OM-D E-M10 VI, I did test the previous iteration, the OM-D E-M10 III. The truth is that there is little difference between the two cameras with one major caveat – the 20-megapixel sensor. When I tested the E-M10 III, I found that it was capable enough for everyday and travel photography, delivering images that were ideal for sharing and even printing up to 11×17 inches. Unlike the E-M10 III, the E-M10 IV adds more video features, a faster burst mode, more AF points, and AF Tracking, making the E-M10 IV a much more capable camera than its predecessor.
KEH has multiple camera bodies in stock starting at $540.
For Chasing Waterfalls (and Other Harsher Environments): Olympus OM-D E-M5 II
The Olympus OM-D E-M5 II is a camera I’ve now owned at least twice in my life. I used this camera while on a press trip to Iceland where I was testing out the Olympus OM-D E-M1 II for ThePhoblographer. While the E-M1 had been the flagship model of the time, the E-M5 Mark II (which was released about a year earlier) was essentially the E-M1 just slightly smaller. This camera is still compact enough to work as a travel camera, yet rugged enough to not be babied – go to the beach (just cover the sensor if you’re switching lenses), make photographs in the rain, do it all with confidence. That’s what I loved about my own.
The Olympus E-M5 II is one of my favorite MFT cameras available due to its size and output performance. While it doesn’t boast as many megapixels as its younger counterpart, the OM-D E-M1 Mark II, I found that the E-M5 II is more than capable of a wide range of applications, including video in a pinch.
Best of all, the Olympus OM-D E-M5 II can be found for less than $500 on KEH.
What About Lenses
As I wrap this up, it’s important to note that all of the options above are body-only listings, meaning you’ll need to pick up a lens or two. Don’t fret, thanks to the (mostly) open Micro Four-Thirds Standard, you have a ton of options no matter which camera you choose. Whether you’re looking for a discrete pancake lens like the Panasonic 20mm F1.7 or pro-level do-it-all lens like the Olympus 12-100mm F4 PRO, there are options for just about every photographer and every budget.