Choosing a Lightweight Travel Photography Setup for Machu Picchu

Planning a photography setup for travel can be challenging, especially when balancing image quality, versatility, and portability. In 2026, I’ll be heading to Machu Picchu, and I’ve been carefully considering the best lightweight photography solution for the trip. My key criteria are:

Lightweight: The gear shouldn’t be cumbersome to carry.
Compact: It must fit easily in my travel bag
Versatile focal range: A broad zoom range to capture everything from vast landscapes to distant details.

After evaluating different options, I decided on the Nikon Z30 as my camera body due to its compact size and excellent image quality. However, choosing the right lens was more complicated. Here’s a breakdown of the lenses I considered and why I ultimately chose the Nikkor Z 18-140mm.

Lens Options Considered

Nikkor Z 16-50mm

Pros: Extremely small and lightweight, making the Z30 feel like a compact camera.
Cons: Limited focal range (24-70mm full-frame equivalent), restricting flexibility for capturing distant subjects.

Nikkor Z 24-50mm

Pros: Lightweight, inexpensive, and has some weather sealing.
Cons: Designed for full-frame cameras, meaning an equivalent focal range of 36-75mm on the Z30—not ideal for wide-angle shots or telephoto reach.

Nikkor Z 24-200mm

Pros: Excellent zoom range (36-300mm equivalent), great for capturing a variety of shots.
Cons: The largest and heaviest option on the list, taking up too much space in my bag.

Alternative body option

I also included the option of taking a Sony RX100 VII. This compact camera would have been the most optimal solution for my trip, including a zoom lens with an equivalent focal range of 24-200mm. I was very close to going with this option, however I decided against it because I prefer the controls and ergonomics of Nikon cameras, and it would have also been the most expensive option at around £1000 here in the UK.

Final Decision: Nikkor Z 18-140mm

After weighing all the factors, I chose the Nikkor Z 18-140mm as the best lens for my Machu Picchu trip. Attached to the Z30, it provides a 27-210mm full-frame equivalent focal range—a perfect balance between wide-angle and telephoto capabilities. It will allow me to capture epic landscapes while still being able to zoom in on distant details.

Additionally, this lens is relatively compact at 90mm in length and lightweight compared to other superzoom options. This makes it an ideal travel companion, offering the versatility I need without adding unnecessary bulk.

Conclusion

For a lightweight, travel-friendly setup that doesn’t compromise on focal range or image quality, the Nikon Z30 with the Nikkor Z 18-140mm is my ideal choice for Machu Picchu. It strikes the right balance between portability and versatility, making it perfect for capturing everything from sprawling mountain landscapes to intricate architectural details.

If you’re planning a similar trip, I highly recommend considering this fantastic little superzoom. Here’s a video of my Nikkor Z 18-140mm lens review.