small, relatively inexpensive camera for this summer's Lippizan tour

Canon PowerShot SX410 IS Or Digital Elph.

I have this Nikon, which I bought in 2015, factory refurbished, and I've had zero problems. I got it specifically for traveling. It takes excellent photos and decent video, is light and easy to carry. I paid about twice this two years ago, if I recall, and the newer p900 goes for well over $500, so this is a good deal if you aren't so concerned with having the latest and greatest. Nikon and Canon both have a wide array of smaller, lighter cameras that might suit you.

https://www.amazon.com/Nikon-Coolpix-Digital-Certified-Refurbished/dp/B00P19NCLE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1487809738&sr=8-1&keywords=nikon+p530

I had a canon powershot which was great, but the lens jammed on a trip and would not open. I understand this was common problem because of the way the lens works. It was also bulkier than most - would not fit in a shirt pocket. I have a Nikon now, but in that <$200 price range, I don't think there is much significant difference between brands to an amateur like me. I picked the Nikon because it still uses AA batteries, so I don't need a charger.

Are you going to the Lippizan farm in Piber? You won't be allowed to take pictures during the performances and morning exercises in Vienna.

However, in 2015 we happened to be at the Hofburg Palace when the horses were being returned to the stable after a performance. A door was left open for a few minutes and thanks to a stroke of wonderful random luck, I was able to get some great pictures of the stallions looking out of their stalls with my phone.

Horsewoofie:

At any price level, the specifications and features will be very similar amongst the various brands. Then it just comes down to how the the camera looks and feels and the layout of the buttons. I prefer Canon because I am used to how a Canon works. Hand me a Sony or Nikon and I am scratching my head as to how to turn the flash on or off. But once the camera is set up properly, the image quality of similarly price cameras will be very close. There may be some colour differences in side by side comparisons in the respective standard settings of the different brands, but this is a matter of personal tastes and can be adjusted in-camera or in post processing.

Those $500+ cameras always come up in the "best travel camera" discussions because they are, imo, the sweet spot compromise between the small light cheap pocketable point-and-shoot and the large heavy expensive big-sensor DSLR's. And at those price levels, you can pick any brand and be perfectly happy.

Just go to the store and pick up the cameras in your hand. If one feels right or looks pretty, pull out your credit card.

Thank you everyone. I wasn't aware about the no-pictures rule at Piber and Lippizan performances. Maybe I'll be able to sneak a picture too. I have a Target gift card left over from Christmas so I'll go compare cheap cameras.

In case OP is unaware of these recent threads:

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/tech-tips/new-camera-suggestions

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/tech-tips/small-cameras-for-travel

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/tech-tips/camera-for-europe-trip-nikon-d3300-vs-canon-rebel-sl1

Regardless which camera you end up with, heed this advice:

http://www.zdnet.com/article/why-you-should-never-buy-a-new-camera-right-before-a-vacation/

Especially if this will be your first digital camera. I like to control the cameras, i.e. get off the auto modes. It was a steep and lengthy learning curve when I transitioned from film to digital bodies. The digital post processing and printing from working in a traditional darkroom was another huge hurdle.

If you're looking for reeely small, I suggest the Nikon Coolpix S3700. I call mine the "teeny-tiny camera." I carry it around all the time, just in case there's a target of opportunity. It doesn't have many options, but it does pretty well in automatic mode.