Travel Photography Gear Guide: What’s In My Camera Bag?

Travel Photography

Travel Photography Gear Guide: What’s In My Camera Bag?

After 12 years of being a professional travel photographer and blogger, one of the most common questions I am asked is about the gear I use for travel photography. In this post, I’ll breakdown the contents of my camera bag to give you an idea of what I use. While most of you may only need a fraction of this gear, I’ve also included some kit suggestions for those who are just starting as a travel photographer. So, keep scrolling to find out more!

Camera Bodies for traveling

• Sony a7R III: Main Camera Body

For the past 7 years, I have relied on Sony mirrorless cameras and lenses for my travels, and they have proven to be incredibly durable. My primary camera is currently the Sony A7R III, and I also have a Sony A7R II as a secondary body. While I have yet to upgrade, my eyes are set on the Sony A7R IV as my next camera. Despite new releases, I find no need to upgrade annually, as my two current cameras are perfectly suitable for my needs.

Main Travel Camera Lenses

1-Sony 16-35mm F/2.8 GM – Wide Angle Lens

My go-to lens for travel photography is the Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 GM, which I use extensively. Thanks to its 16mm focal length, it’s ideal for capturing wonderful landscape and cityscape shots, along with wide interior shots that require an all-encompassing view. I’m astounded by the exceptional image quality produced by this lens.

2-Sony 24-70mm F/2.8 GM – Medium Zoom Lens

According to travel photographers, the Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 GM lens is an ideal all-purpose lens. Its range from 24mm to 70mm allows for stunning landscape shots at the wider end and beautiful portraits at the longer end.

Specialty Lenses

Travel Photography

• Sony 200-600 telephoto lens

I only keep these lenses in my bag for specific purposes and do not carry them around all the time. I include them in my photography kit only when I am going on a safari or will be shooting in low-light conditions.

• Rokinon 14mm F/2.8 – Ultra Wide Lens

While searching for an ultra-wide-angle lens suitable for astrophotography, the Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 lens caught my attention as it fulfilled all my requirements.

With its fast aperture, wide-angle view, and sharpness across the field, it was my top pick. For beginners, I highly recommend this lens as it allows you to test the waters without breaking the bank.

My Camera Bags

• Shimoda Explore 40 – Adventure Camera Backpack

Over the years, I have tried various camera bags in search of one that is comfortable, well-organized, and capable of accommodating all my camera gear.

Fortunately, my quest ended with the Shimoda Explore 40, as it possesses all the features I was looking for in a backpack.

My Camera Tripods

• Gitzo GT2532 Mountaineer Series 2 Carbon Fiber– Travel Tripod

Throughout my experience, I have realized that choosing a tripod is a highly personal decision, and a subpar and unstable option can potentially ruin the quality of your photographs. However, throughout a decade-long search, I have finally stumbled upon my ideal tripod – the Gitzo Mountaineer.

Constructed with lightweight carbon fiber, this tripod is not only easy to carry around but also boasts three sections per leg for enhanced stability. To top it off, Gitzo is regarded as one of the most trusted and renowned companies in the industry.

Camera Filters For Travel

• Formatt-Hitech Filter System – ND and GND Filters

From the moment I decided to take landscape photography seriously, acquiring a set of ND filters for my kit was a top priority. I yearned for the ability to capture the best possible image directly from the camera. My goal has always been to minimize the amount of time devoted to post-production, and achieving my desired results in-camera helps me to accomplish that.

Camera Accessories

Travel Photography

• Black Rapid Sport Breathe – Camera Strap

For several years, I’ve been relying on the Black Rapid strap as a necessary travel companion that I bring along wherever I go.

Its design is flawless, featuring a cushioned shoulder, an additional underarm strap for enhanced comfort and steadiness, and a quick-release locking carabiner.

Without a doubt, this camera strap is the most adaptable and comfortable one I’ve ever possessed.

• Vello Shutter Boss II – Intervalometer/Remote

The Vello Shutter Boss II is an excellent tool for capturing time-lapses, star trails, and long exposures.

It effectively eliminates camera shake when shooting with a tripod and is compatible with a wide range of cameras.

What sets it apart is its ease of use, convenient on/off switch that helps save batteries and affordable price point.

• Spare Batteries

My standard practice is to ensure that each camera I bring along has a minimum of 2 backup batteries. The last thing I want to encounter is a missed photo opportunity due to a dead battery. This of course applies to my collection of gear, namely the GoPro, the A7RIII and A7RII, RX100VI, and the Mavic Pro 2 drone.

• Memory Cards

From the start, I have relied on Sandisk Extreme Pro memory cards for their durability and reliability. However, after transitioning to the Sony system, I now use a combination of Sandisk Extreme Pro 64GB and 128GB cards due to the large storage capacity required for shooting raw files at 42 megapixels.

The Sony A7R III features two card slots, allowing me to use a card in each slot without worrying about running out of memory. These cards have fast read/write speeds of 300/mbs, making them able to keep up smoothly even when photographing fast-moving wildlife with minimal buffering.

• Card Reader

Typically, I employ the card reader on my MacBook Pro. However, since the latest model lacks a memory card reader, I now utilize the Sandisk Extreme Pro SD UHS-II USB-C reader. It boasts incredible speed, does not obstruct any other ports on my computer, and is highly dependable.

• Portable Hard Drive

I must back up my photos while traveling. I transfer all my photos to my MacBook Pro 15″ and further safeguard them by backing up to the Samsung X5 portable SSD. This compact, high-speed, and exceptionally dependable hard drive is precisely what I require for easy portability. Upon returning home, I upload them to my home storage, which comprises a multiple hard drive RAID system and a NAS system.

• Camera/Lens Rain Covers

If you seek to safeguard your equipment against harsh weather conditions, then the Op/Tech USA Rain Sleeves are an ideal choice. These sleeves can adapt to any camera and lens combination, and they are lightweight and compact enough to fit in the zipper compartment of my camera bag.

Unlike sleeves tailored to specific camera models, I prefer these universal ones because I can use them on all the cameras I carry. These sleeves proved extremely useful during my shoots in extreme climates such as Antarctica and Iceland.