The world is catching up to us, even National Geographic.

I just read the article, Top 10 Compact Cameras for Travelers on NationalGeographic.com, and the list included much of the gear that we've been working with for some time. Some of my favorites on the list include the Fujifilm X-T1, Olympus OM-D E-M1, and the Sony Alpha a7 - all great cameras.

This list is meaningful for a few reasons. First, it's a stamp of approval for non-DSLR cameras. We didn't need this affirmation, but there are many photographers still on the fence about mirrorless bodies. This will help assure them that those cameras are worthy of serious work.

Beyond that, however, this list implies that you don't need a full frame sensor to produce amazing photographs. Yes, the Sony Alpha is full frame, but the other entries are Micro Four Thirds, APS-C, and in a couple cases, even smaller than those two.

For me, however, there are three more entries that I think should be considered. Here are my additions.

Olympus OM-D E-M10 ($649) - This body has most of the important features that an enthusiast would want, but at about half the price of the flagship OM-D E-M1 mentioned in the National Geo article. You do give up weather sealing, however. So if you plan on soggy adventures, you might want to look at the OM-D E-M5 as the other alternative. Otherwise, this body is a steal.

Panasonic LUMIX LX100 16.8 MP compact camera ($899) - Panasonic took a well-established, refined compact camera, and figured out how to replace its smallish sensor with a hefty Micro Four Thirds chip. Plus, you get an excellent Leica zoom. If you don't want to carry extra lenses, this could be your answer.

Canon PowerShot G7 X compact camera ($699) - Canon tries its hand at the 1" sensor compact, and seems to have created a wonderful little camera for the traveler. The G7 X features a f/1.8(W)-f/2.8(T), 4.2x optical zoom (24mm-100mm), flip-up touch-screen LCD, and 20MPs of resolution. I think it's going to be popular with discriminating shooters.

All of these cameras have a high nimbleosity rating, and will serve the enthusiast photographer very well...

Even when not on assignment for National Geographic.

-Derrick