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emilyzh2019-blog · 5 years

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Travel Photography Gear Guide

Travel Photography Gear

I’ve been working as a travel photographer & blogger for 9 years, so I get a lot of questions about what kind of travel photography gear I use. Take a peek inside my camera bag!

Now, when you’re reading through this list, please keep in mind that I’m a working professional. I carry a lot of gear these days. More than I started with.

Most travelers don’t need backup cameras, drones, and multiple lenses.

If you’re just interested in a good portable camera for traveling, make sure to check out my complete guide to the best travel cameras for every budget.

I also share some more budget-friendly gear options at the end of this post. Enjoy!

My Travel Photography Gear (2019)

Shooting in Italy with my Sony A7R III

Sony A7R III – Main Camera Body

I was a Canon fanboy for years and started my backpacking adventures back in 2010 with the Canon 7D. However, when Sony came out with their smaller (and superior) mirrorless A7 line, I made the switch.

Since then I’ve been using Sony cameras & lenses for the past 4 years.

Sony’s camera & sensor technology is often ahead of its competitors these days — in fact, even Nikon uses Sony sensors in their cameras!

The Sony A7R III is built for high-end landscape photography with a massive 42.4-megapixel full-frame sensor. This sensor is HUGE! But the camera body isn’t, which is pretty incredible.

Frankly, this is far too much camera for most travelers though.

If you’d like examples of more budget-friendly options, make sure to read my tips for choosing the perfect travel camera.

My Travel Camera Lenses

Sony 16-35mm F2.8 – Wide Angle Lens

The 16-35mm F2.8 is the lens that’s on my camera 75% of the time. As a landscape photographer, I love shooting wide to capture as much of a big landscape as possible.

But you can also get decent portraits out of it zoomed in to 35mm and stopped down to F2.8. This lens works well for night and star photography too.

There is a less expensive version of this, the Sony 16-35mm F4 which is another decent option too.

Sony 24-70mm F2.8 – Medium Zoom Lens

Occasionally I need a little more reach. Or, I only have space for one lens (like on bigger hiking trips), and want the best of both worlds.

The 24-70mm F2.8 isn’t quite as wide, but often wide enough for most landscapes. With the added ability to zoom in to small subjects far away, or to compress the background making mountains “look” bigger.

This is also my go-to portrait lens for taking photos of people!

Sony FE 70-200mm F4 – Telephoto Zoom

The 70-200mm F4 is my wildlife photography lens. I don’t use it that often, and don’t bring it along on every trip either. If weight is an issue, it’s usually the first to be left behind.

But if I have a particular shot in mind that requires a telephoto, I’ll bring it.

By adding a Sony 2X extension on it, I can up the range to 400mm (which is great for safari photography).

My Backup Camera: Sony A6500

Sony A6500 – Backup Mirrorless Camera

For a long time, I only traveled with one main camera. But as I began working professional photography gigs, I realized that a backup camera was a wise investment.

When you’ve been hired for a photography project that pays 5-figures, the last thing you want is an accident or malfunction to leave you without any useable images for the client!

The Sony A6500 works with all my other Sony lenses, plus I use it as a portable vlogging camera.

It has a cropped (smaller) sensor, but has many of the same functions as my larger A7R III.

I also use it for shooting time-lapses while I’m working on other things, with help from Sony’s internal time-lapse software.

Sony 10-18mm F4 – Wide Vlogging Lens

The 10-18mm F4 is a cropped sensor lens that stays attached to my Sony A6500 body. It’s nice and wide for shooting selfie-style vlogging video, with fast autofocus.

Capture the Action with a GoPro!

GoPro Hero 7 – Action Camera

I’ve been using a GoPro since I started traveling 9 years ago. I’ve owned almost all the models! Currently, I travel with the GoPro Hero 7.

GoPro cameras are great at capturing hands-free action or “b-roll” and you can attach them to almost anything. Plus, they are waterproof and shockproof!

I use my GoPro for surfing, mountain biking, hiking, snowboarding, snorkeling, scuba diving, cliff jumping, interior and exterior moving-vehicle footage, and more.

GoPro Camera Accessories

Just owning a GoPro is not enough to get great images and video. The magic of these cameras is in the multitude of accessories that are available for them!

Handheld sticks, suction cups, clamps, head straps, mouth mounts — so many unique ways to attach a GoPro to something and get amazing footage.

Check out my complete guide to the best GoPro accessories for travel.

Traveling with a Drone

DJI Mavic 2 Pro – Flying Drone

The perfect tool for capturing aerial photography and video, while costing much less than renting a helicopter! Drones have really come a long way.

I couldn’t be happier with the new DJI Mavic 2 Pro (read my full review here).

It flies super fast, is extremely reliable, and shoots some very high-quality photos and video. Not to mention it folds up to fit in my carry-on bag!

The 360-degree sensors help stop you from running into things while flying, so you can concentrate on the shot. Active track and intelligent flight modes can do a lot of the work for you.

Remote Controller Sun Shade

I don’t own a bunch of accessories for my drone, but one important one is the DJI Mavic Sunshade. This allows me to see what I’m shooting on my iPhone screen, even in bright sunlight.

DJI Car Charger

Another drone accessory I bring with me on road trips is the car-charging adapter for DJI Mavic batteries. This ensures I always have a fresh battery ready to fly during epic travel photography road trips!

Peek Inside My Camera Backpack!

My Camera Bags

LowePro Whistler 350 – Camera Backpack

It took me a while to find a great camera backpack that I really loved, and I went through many different ones.

I finally found a winner in the LowePro Whistler 350. It holds everything I need it to, sits comfortably on my back, and has the perfect amount of weatherproofing and gear straps to tackle my typical outdoor adventures.

You can strap on a tripod, snowboard, hiking poles, ice-ax — anything really. While it comes with a rain cover, you really don’t need it because the bag itself is so water-resistant anyway.

There’s a dedicated laptop pocket, room for a jacket and snacks, plus it opens from the back for easy access on the ground. When the bag is fully loaded, it weighs about 24 lbs (11kg).

LowePro TopLoader Pro – Small Camera Bag

This is a smaller top-loading shoulder bag that’s large enough for a single full-size camera with a zoom lens.

You can also cram a 2nd lens into the side pocket if needed (or a GoPro, etc.).

I use this bag specifically for long-distance trekking adventures, where I need to carry a regular hiking backpack filled with food, clothing, and camping gear.

This little camera bag attaches up front to the backpack straps on my chest, for easy access to my camera and a balanced load for hiking long distances.

I use this setup when I need to travel light with a minimum amount of camera gear in the backcountry.

Lightweight Travel Tripods

My Camera Tripods

RRS TQC-14 – Full-Size Tripod

As a landscape photographer, a solid yet lightweight travel tripod is a key piece of my photography equipment.

I use my RRS TQC-14 to stabilize the camera in low light situations and with high f-stop settings (for maximum focus range). It allows me to get shots I just can’t achieve hand-held.

Sunsets, sunrises, the northern lights, star photography, and motion blurred waterfalls are just some of the situations where having a tripod is important.

I also use it to film myself for vlogs, as well as to shoot travel selfies when I’m hiking on my own. There are cheaper tripods out there though too, which I share in my guide to the best travel tripods.

Joby Gorillapod – Mini-Tripod

If I need to travel super light, for example on a long-distance camping & trekking adventure that will last multiple days, then I sometimes pack the Joby Gorillapod 5K instead of my full-size tripod.

At only 1.55 lbs, this thing is tiny. But the bendy legs allow you to attach it to objects for a higher perspective too. It’s strong enough to hold my large camera and works great as a “selfie stick” for shooting video too.

L-Bracket

This piece of metal attaches to the bottom of my large camera and allows for very quick changes from a landscape angle to portrait mode (long photos to tall photos) on my tripod.

In today’s Instagram world, where the 8×10 ratio is important, I try to shoot images of key locations in both landscape and portrait perspectives. I use the landscape style in my blog posts, and portrait style for social media (because they display better on smartphones).

Some of my Camera Accessories

Important Travel Camera Accessories

Peak Design Capture – Camera Clip

I love this thing so much! Basically, the Peak Design Capture Clip allows you to “clip” your camera onto your belt, or on the shoulder straps of a backpack, for easy access (and to keep your hands free).

I use it constantly for day hiking, walking around cities, and basically, anywhere I know I’ll want quick access to my camera. While I still use a camera strap sometimes, this is the primary way I carry my camera. You can even run with it!

HINT: If you have a larger camera, the Peak Design Pro Pad makes carrying it on your belt MUCH more comfortable.

Peak Design Leash – Camera Strap

When I’m not using my Peak Design camera clip mentioned above, I snap on this Peak Design Leash Camera Strap and sling it around my shoulders it like you’d wear a rifle.

The Peak Design system allows me to quickly remove the strap if it’s getting in the way, or snap it back on. Adjusting the strap length is also super fast. It’s pretty minimal and doesn’t take up much room in a bag.

External Microphones

For video, the internal microphones on cameras just aren’t very good. In fact, they’re pretty terrible. Because audio is SO important for creating a good video, I pack two different external microphones.

One is the Sennheiser MKE 400 Shotgun, which goes on the top of my camera. Great quality, and very small.

The other is the Tascam DR-TL Lavalier. This goes on my body, so I can get great audio even if the camera is far away, the room has a lot of echoes, or if it’s super windy out.

Hotshoe Flash

I own a Sony F43M flash, although I rarely take it with me on trips unless it’s for something very specific. Like maybe cave photography or nightlife.

LED Video Light

This tiny but powerful Aputure ALM9 LED Light mounts to the camera’s hot-shoe and allows me to shoot video at night. It takes up almost no space and can be recharged via USB cable.

Camera Lens Filters

Lens filters help you achieve certain photography effects that just aren’t possible with software yet. Think of them as sunglasses for your camera.

I carry a Hoya Fusion One Polarizing Filter to help reduce glare & reflections on water, glass (like through helicopter windows), and to darken up the blues and clouds in a sky.

I also carry a Tiffen Variable ND Filter (neutral density) which cuts down the amount of light going into the camera to different degrees, depending on how much you spin it. Why? To create special effects like motion blur in a waterfall, even when it’s sunny outside.

Wireless Intervalometer/Remote

One of my favorite pieces of gear is the Pixel TW-283 Wireless Remote & Intervalometer. This allows me to shoot time-lapses, or take photos of myself from up to 100 ft away from the camera.

You can set the timer to take photos all night while you sleep if you want to! They make different versions for different brands of camera.

Memory Cards

Because I shoot in RAW, with very large camera files, I use very fast memory cards. I own a mixture of Sony High-Performance 64GB and ScanDisk Extreme Pro 64GB class 10 cards which read/write at around 300 mb/s.

Spare Batteries

There is nothing worse than running out of battery power during an epic photography moment! That’s why I always carry spare batteries for my cameras.

I pack 3 batteries for my Sony A7R III, 2 for the A6500, 2-3 for the Mavic Pro, and 2 for my GoPro.

Portable Hard Drives

I travel with an Apple Macbook Pro 13″ with a 1TB SDD, which is usually plenty of room for the images & video I shoot on any given trip.

To back that up, I also pack a super small 2TB Scandisk Extreme Portable SSD. Once I get back “home”, I move everything over to a larger desktop RAID system.

Camera Rain Cover

Have you ever shot photos under a waterfall? Your camera will get soaked! While my Sony A7R III has decent weather sealing, in super bad weather, or under waterfalls, I throw on my Peak Design Shell Rain Cover.

Cold Weather Protection

I bought a cold-weather jacket for my camera last year, for a few winter projects I was working on. One camping on the ice in Manitoba, and the other snowmobiling through Russia.

It keeps your camera, batteries, lens, and your hands nice and toasty while shooting outdoors in below-zero temperatures.

Clear Accessory Pouches

I own a few Think Tank Camera Accessory Pouches to keep all my cables, battery chargers, and GoPro Accessories organized. The clear sides allow me to quickly figure out what’s inside.

Camera Maintenance Stuff

Camera Cleaning & Maintenance

Microfiber Lens Cloths

There’s nothing worse than a foggy or smudged camera lens! I pack no less than 3 of these 3M Microfiber Lens Cloths on every trip. Two go in my camera bag, one goes in my pocket for easy access.

I always end up losing them too, so it never hurts to have more than you need laying around.

Air Blower

The problem with changing your lenses on mirrorless cameras is that the mirror is exposed to the elements, and they’re a magnet for dust. Dust on your sensor leaves you with “dust spots” on your photos (or worse, video).

A few quick bursts of air with this Camera Air Blower on your sensor can help clear that dust away.

Sticky Sensor Stick

When the air blower doesn’t work, and the dust on my sensor is too stubborn to blow away, I break out the big guns, my Eyelead Sensor Stick. It’s kind of like a gummy bear on a stick that pulls the dust away.

Budget-Friendly Camera Kit Examples

Yes, I own a lot of camera gear now. But that wasn’t always the case.

When I first started traveling, all I used was a Canon 7D, a wide angle zoom lens, a tripod, and a GoPro.

If you are still new to travel and adventure photography, don’t get discouraged by this giant list of gear-porn that I’ve accumulated over the years!

I do this professionally and make decent money, so I can afford to go a little crazy.

For those of you traveling on a tighter budget, I’ve put together my ideal “starter travel photography kits” below — which won’t cost you an arm and a leg.

The Minimalist Backpacker Kit

Sony RX100 VA – Compact Point & Shoot

Joby Gorillapod 3K – Compact Tripod

Travel Photography Enthusiast Kit

Sony A6500 – Compact Mirrorless

Sony 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 – Travel Zoom Lens

Manfrotto BeFree – Aluminum Travel Tripod

LowePro Slingshot Edge – Mirrorless Camera Bag

Improving Your Travel Photography

Ok! That was a big post. But people kept asking about my gear, so there you go. :)

However please remember that gear isn’t everything.

The best way to improve your travel photography is to practice as much as possible and learn new skills.

Even after 9 years doing this, I’m still constantly learning techniques to get better.

First, if you don’t already edit your photos using software like Adobe Lightroom, I highly recommend you start.

For more quick and cheap ways to improve your travel photography, no matter what gear you use, make sure to read my full article here. ★

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isoufianelmoussaouius · 5 years

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DaVinci Resolve Studio 16.1 Portable +Multilanguage +Setup (v16.1.1.5)

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With Blackmagic RAW you can shoot, edit and grade projects all from a single file format. Picture adjustments and settings that you make in the camera will come into DaVinci Resolve via metadata and are completely editable. You can even make changes to the RAW settings in DaVinci Resolve, open the files in other applications that support Blackmagic RAW and automatically see the settings. You get a consistent look and controls between software applications, even on different platforms. Blackmagic RAW is the world’s fastest and highest quality RAW format.

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DaVinci Resolve includes everything professional editors need to cut blockbuster films, television shows, and commercials. It’s perfect for both offline and online editing. The high performance playback engine makes editing and trimming incredibly fast, even for processor intensive formats such as H.264 and RAW.

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DaVinci Resolve has been used on more feature films and television shows than any other grading system! You get the industry’s most powerful primary and secondary correction tools, advanced curve editor, tracking and stabilization, noise reduction and grain tools, ResolveFX and more.

Fairlight Audio

With Fairlight audio built in, you get a complete digital audio workstation with professional mixer, automation, metering, monitoring, sample level editing, new ADR tools, a sound library database, native audio plug-ins and more! You can even mix down and master to multiple formats, including 3D audio space formats such as 5.1, 7.1 and even 22.2!

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DaVinci Resolve Studio

for even more creative tools and options!

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New High PerformancePlayback Engine

Fly through edits and colorcorrection with up to 10x the performance!

DaVinci Resolve features an incredible new video playback engine with CPU and GPU optimizations, lower latency, faster UI refresh, support for Apple Metal, and more! These upgrades combine to make DaVinci Resolve faster and far more responsive than ever. Working on long timelines with thousands of clips is incredibly fluid and editing is even more precise. Scrubbing and playback are instant, often starting before you lift your fingers off the keyboard! Powerful acceleration for processor intensive formats, like H.264, makes it possible to edit 4K material on a laptop in realtime! Whether you’re working in HD or 4K, with ProRes, H.264 or even RAW images, DaVinci Resolve is completely responsive and fast enough to keep up with your every move!

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Unique YRGB 32-bit float image processing!

DaVinci Resolve’s Emmy™ award-winning image processing technology features deep 32-bit float processing combined with unique, patented YRGB color science that processes luminance independent of color. This allows you to adjust the luminance of video without rebalancing the color of your highlights, midtones, or shadows! The massive internal color space is also perfect for the latest HDR and wide color gamut workflows.

This is a multi-package portable.

I can add updates/plugins via .svm files, just request plugins or notify me about new updates.

FILES:

- DaVinci Resolve Studio 16 Portable.exe = main program and data file

ADDONS:

Addons can be added via .svm files by me, or via normal files by you.

Show how .svm files work and how to add plugins

Sandbox folder: "\Sandbox\DaVinci Resolve\roaming\modified\@PROGRAMFILES@\Blackmagic Design\DaVinci Resolve\"

Languages:

Multilanguage version! All available languages included. Change in settings. English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Russian, Chinese, Japanese (I guess).

Portable features:

No installation required

No Admin rights needed

Pre-activated

100% Offline, completely safe to use, no firewall needed

Sandbox folder containing modified settings, delete to reset

portable

setup

Just run it and enjoy!

via Blogger https://ift.tt/2r4hVg8

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marymperezga · 5 years

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

Travel Photography Gear Guide

Travel Photography Gear

I’ve been working as a travel photographer & blogger for 9 years, so I get a lot of questions about what kind of travel photography gear I use. Take a peek inside my camera bag!

Now, when you’re reading through this list, please keep in mind that I’m a working professional. I carry a lot of gear these days. More than I started with.

Most travelers don’t need backup cameras, drones, and multiple lenses.

If you’re just interested in a good portable camera for traveling, make sure to check out my complete guide to the best travel cameras for every budget.

I also share some more budget-friendly gear options at the end of this post. Enjoy!

My Travel Photography Gear (2019)

Shooting in Italy with my Sony A7R III

Sony A7R III – Main Camera Body

Since then I’ve been using Sony cameras & lenses for the past 4 years.

Sony’s camera & sensor technology is often ahead of its competitors these days — in fact, even Nikon uses Sony sensors in their cameras!

The Sony A7R III is built for high-end landscape photography with a massive 42.4-megapixel full-frame sensor. This sensor is HUGE! But the camera body isn’t, which is pretty incredible.

Frankly, this is far too much camera for most travelers though.

If you’d like examples of more budget-friendly options, make sure to read my tips for choosing the perfect travel camera.

My Travel Camera Lenses

Sony 16-35mm F2.8 – Wide Angle Lens

The 16-35mm F2.8 is the lens that’s on my camera 75% of the time. As a landscape photographer, I love shooting wide to capture as much of a big landscape as possible.

But you can also get decent portraits out of it zoomed in to 35mm and stopped down to F2.8. This lens works well for night and star photography too.

There is a less expensive version of this, the Sony 16-35mm F4 which is another decent option too.

Sony 24-70mm F2.8 – Medium Zoom Lens

Occasionally I need a little more reach. Or, I only have space for one lens (like on bigger hiking trips), and want the best of both worlds.

This is also my go-to portrait lens for taking photos of people!

Sony FE 70-200mm F4 – Telephoto Zoom

The 70-200mm F4 is my wildlife photography lens. I don’t use it that often, and don’t bring it along on every trip either. If weight is an issue, it’s usually the first to be left behind.

But if I have a particular shot in mind that requires a telephoto, I’ll bring it.

By adding a Sony 2X extension on it, I can up the range to 400mm (which is great for safari photography).

My Backup Camera: Sony A6500

Sony A6500 – Backup Mirrorless Camera

For a long time, I only traveled with one main camera. But as I began working professional photography gigs, I realized that a backup camera was a wise investment.

When you’ve been hired for a photography project that pays 5-figures, the last thing you want is an accident or malfunction to leave you without any useable images for the client!

The Sony A6500 works with all my other Sony lenses, plus I use it as a portable vlogging camera.

It has a cropped (smaller) sensor, but has many of the same functions as my larger A7R III.

I also use it for shooting time-lapses while I’m working on other things, with help from Sony’s internal time-lapse software.

Sony 10-18mm F4 – Wide Vlogging Lens

The 10-18mm F4 is a cropped sensor lens that stays attached to my Sony A6500 body. It’s nice and wide for shooting selfie-style vlogging video, with fast autofocus.

Capture the Action with a GoPro!

GoPro Hero 7 – Action Camera

I’ve been using a GoPro since I started traveling 9 years ago. I’ve owned almost all the models! Currently, I travel with the GoPro Hero 7.

GoPro cameras are great at capturing hands-free action or “b-roll” and you can attach them to almost anything. Plus, they are waterproof and shockproof!

I use my GoPro for surfing, mountain biking, hiking, snowboarding, snorkeling, scuba diving, cliff jumping, interior and exterior moving-vehicle footage, and more.

GoPro Camera Accessories

Just owning a GoPro is not enough to get great images and video. The magic of these cameras is in the multitude of accessories that are available for them!

Handheld sticks, suction cups, clamps, head straps, mouth mounts — so many unique ways to attach a GoPro to something and get amazing footage.

Check out my complete guide to the best GoPro accessories for travel.

Traveling with a Drone

DJI Mavic 2 Pro – Flying Drone

The perfect tool for capturing aerial photography and video, while costing much less than renting a helicopter! Drones have really come a long way.

I couldn’t be happier with the new DJI Mavic 2 Pro (read my full review here).

It flies super fast, is extremely reliable, and shoots some very high-quality photos and video. Not to mention it folds up to fit in my carry-on bag!

The 360-degree sensors help stop you from running into things while flying, so you can concentrate on the shot. Active track and intelligent flight modes can do a lot of the work for you.

Remote Controller Sun Shade

I don’t own a bunch of accessories for my drone, but one important one is the DJI Mavic Sunshade. This allows me to see what I’m shooting on my iPhone screen, even in bright sunlight.

DJI Car Charger

Peek Inside My Camera Backpack!

My Camera Bags

LowePro Whistler 350 – Camera Backpack

It took me a while to find a great camera backpack that I really loved, and I went through many different ones.

You can strap on a tripod, snowboard, hiking poles, ice-ax — anything really. While it comes with a rain cover, you really don’t need it because the bag itself is so water-resistant anyway.

There’s a dedicated laptop pocket, room for a jacket and snacks, plus it opens from the back for easy access on the ground. When the bag is fully loaded, it weighs about 24 lbs (11kg).

LowePro TopLoader Pro – Small Camera Bag

This is a smaller top-loading shoulder bag that’s large enough for a single full-size camera with a zoom lens.

You can also cram a 2nd lens into the side pocket if needed (or a GoPro, etc.).

I use this bag specifically for long-distance trekking adventures, where I need to carry a regular hiking backpack filled with food, clothing, and camping gear.

This little camera bag attaches up front to the backpack straps on my chest, for easy access to my camera and a balanced load for hiking long distances.

I use this setup when I need to travel light with a minimum amount of camera gear in the backcountry.

Lightweight Travel Tripods

My Camera Tripods

RRS TQC-14 – Full-Size Tripod

As a landscape photographer, a solid yet lightweight travel tripod is a key piece of my photography equipment.

I use my RRS TQC-14 to stabilize the camera in low light situations and with high f-stop settings (for maximum focus range). It allows me to get shots I just can’t achieve hand-held.

Sunsets, sunrises, the northern lights, star photography, and motion blurred waterfalls are just some of the situations where having a tripod is important.

Joby Gorillapod – Mini-Tripod

If I need to travel super light, for example on a long-distance camping & trekking adventure that will last multiple days, then I sometimes pack the Joby Gorillapod 5K instead of my full-size tripod.

L-Bracket

This piece of metal attaches to the bottom of my large camera and allows for very quick changes from a landscape angle to portrait mode (long photos to tall photos) on my tripod.

Some of my Camera Accessories

Important Travel Camera Accessories

Peak Design Capture – Camera Clip

HINT: If you have a larger camera, the Peak Design Pro Pad makes carrying it on your belt MUCH more comfortable.

Peak Design Leash – Camera Strap

When I’m not using my Peak Design camera clip mentioned above, I snap on this Peak Design Leash Camera Strap and sling it around my shoulders it like you’d wear a rifle.

External Microphones

One is the Sennheiser MKE 400 Shotgun, which goes on the top of my camera. Great quality, and very small.

The other is the Tascam DR-TL Lavalier. This goes on my body, so I can get great audio even if the camera is far away, the room has a lot of echoes, or if it’s super windy out.

Hotshoe Flash

I own a Sony F43M flash, although I rarely take it with me on trips unless it’s for something very specific. Like maybe cave photography or nightlife.

Camera Lens Filters

Lens filters help you achieve certain photography effects that just aren’t possible with software yet. Think of them like sunglasses for your camera.

I carry a Hoya Fusion One Polarizing Filter to help reduce glare & reflections on water, glass (like through helicopter windows), and to darken up the blues and clouds in a sky.

Wireless Intervalometer/Remote

One of my favorite pieces of gear is the Pixel TW-283 Wireless Remote & Intervalometer. This allows me to shoot time-lapses, or take photos of myself from up to 100 ft away from the camera.

You can set the timer to take photos all night while you sleep if you want to! They make different versions for different brands of camera.

Memory Cards

Spare Batteries

There is nothing worse than running out of battery power during an epic photography moment! That’s why I always carry spare batteries for my cameras.

I pack 3 batteries for my Sony A7R III, 2 for the A6500, 2 for the Mavic Pro, and 2 for my GoPro.

Portable Hard Drives

I travel with an Apple Macbook Pro 13″ with a 1TB SDD, which is usually plenty of room for the images & video I shoot on any given trip.

To back that up, I also pack a super small 2TB Scandisk Extreme Portable SSD. Once I get back “home”, I move everything over to a larger desktop RAID system.

Camera Rain Cover

Cold Weather Protection

I bought a cold-weather jacket for my camera last year, for a few winter projects I was working on. One camping on the ice in Manitoba, and the other snowmobiling through Russia.

It keeps your camera, batteries, lens, and your hands nice and toasty while shooting outdoors in below-zero temperatures.

Clear Accessory Pouches

I own a few Think Tank Camera Accessory Pouches to keep all my cables, battery chargers, and GoPro Accessories organized. The clear sides allow me to quickly figure out what’s inside.

Camera Maintenance Stuff

Camera Cleaning & Maintenance

Microfiber Lens Cloths

There’s nothing worse than a foggy or smudged camera lens! I pack no less than 3 of these 3M Microfiber Lens Cloths on every trip. Two go in my camera bag, one goes in my pocket for easy access.

I always end up losing them too, so it never hurts to have more than you need laying around.

Air Blower

A few quick bursts of air with this Camera Air Blower on your sensor can help clear that dust away.

Sticky Sensor Stick

Budget-Friendly Camera Kit Examples

Yes, I own a lot of camera gear now. But that wasn’t always the case.

When I first started traveling, all I used was a Canon 7D, a wide angle zoom lens, a tripod, and a GoPro.

If you are still new to travel and adventure photography, don’t get discouraged by this giant list of gear-porn that I’ve accumulated over the years!

I do this professionally and make decent money, so I can afford to go a little crazy.

For those of you traveling on a tighter budget, I’ve put together my ideal “starter travel photography kits” below — which won’t cost you an arm and a leg.

The Minimalist Backpacker Kit

Sony RX100 VA – Compact Point & Shoot

Joby Gorillapod 3K – Compact Tripod

Travel Photography Enthusiast Kit

Sony A6500 – Compact Mirrorless

Sony 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 – Travel Zoom Lens

Manfrotto BeFree – Aluminum Travel Tripod

LowePro Slingshot Edge – Mirrorless Camera Bag

Improving Your Travel Photography

Ok! That was a big post. But people kept asking about my gear, so there you go. :)

However please remember that gear isn’t everything.

The best way to improve your travel photography is to practice as much as possible and learn new skills.

Even after 9 years doing this, I’m still constantly learning techniques to get better.

First, if you don’t already edit your photos using software like Adobe Lightroom, I highly recommend you start.

For more quick and cheap ways to improve your travel photography, no matter what gear you use, make sure to read my full article here. ★

Enjoy This Post? Pin It!

READ MORE TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY ARTICLES

How To Choose The Best Travel Camera Ultimate Adventure Travel Gear Guide Best GoPro Accessories For Travel DJI Mavic Pro Drone Review

Have any questions about my travel photography gear? What do you pack in your camera bag? Drop me a message in the comments below!

This is a post from The Expert Vagabond adventure blog.

from Tips For Traveling https://expertvagabond.com/travel-photography-gear-guide/

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lisabisciglia10-blog · 6 years

Conversation

Audience Studies (3P18) Blog Post #3

Hello my lovely readers and welcome back to another COMM3P18 blog! It is with great sadness that I inform all of you that this will be my last time writing to you as this semester has come to an end. This means that media audiences has also come to end…BUT…someone once told me that every ‘blog’ has an end, but in life every ending is a new beginning. With that being said I have the privilege of taking COMM3P17 instructed by the famous Jennifer Good herself and I am thrilled to find out what that class will bring me…maybe more BLOGS!!:)Diving right in to these past three weeks I learned a lot about Reception & Contexts, Media Fandom & Audience Subcultures and Online, Interactive Audiences in a Digital Media World. That doesn’t sound entertaining does it, I know most of you are probably thinking about how Christmas is 28 days away, and the new iPhoneXS Max just recently released… perfect for you to indulge in more media. My phone is my alarm clock, so from the last thing in my hand at night and the first thing in my hand in the morning is my phone. I always start and end my day along with all the spare time I have in between that, surfing my Instagram, Facebook, Snap Chat or texting my friends and family. These are all the platforms that came to my head as of this moment but I don’t even want to think about the amount of things I google, GPS, YouTube or watch on Netflix. Just today alone I spent a total of 48 minutes being a part of an audience on Instagram. Thank you to Instagram for providing me with this information, unfortunately Facebook, Snapchat, Netflix, YouTube, Google Chrome texting/iMessage, WhatsApp, Outlook and all the other wonderful apps I have such as banking and photography, do not provide me with my daily consumption, but God only knows and its probably best it stays that way. As you can tell I am closely integrated with technology and I generally access these technologies alone but when I am with a friend or family member and see a funny video or post on one of my platforms I will share it with them as well. Now I know when you’re in the movie theater you’re not supposed to be a “Tommy Texter” but I do admit to pulling out my phone or at least quickly glancing at the screen if I hear a buzz go off. I also multitask and watch videos or movies at home while scrolling through my Instagram feed. I’m also guilty of going to the back room at work and sending a quick text to my friend. Furthermore, my best friend could be telling me about her worst or best day ever and I might sneak a peak at my phone depending on how boring or entertaining his/her story is. Now that I’ve confessed all my sins lets dig a little deeper into each of the three chapters mentioned above.

Reception Contexts and Media Rituals

In this day and age, we live in a world where media is at our fingertips more than it has been in any other time in our history (Sullivan, 2013, Pg.163). According to Sullivan “our media experiences occur during specific times and in particular physical spaces, and these contexts can play a powerful role in shaping our understanding of media content” (Sullivan, 2013, Pg.162). Thankfully I do not live in the era where I had to adapt to a specific schedule in order to watch a TV show that was broadcasted at a specific time. I have the freedom to time-shift my media exposure to the time I want, wherever I want and on which ever device I chose. For example, I have been fascinated and extremely addicted to the show “This is us”, but it only plays on Tuesday nights on CTV. I am a student and do not live at home, therefore I do not pay for cable TV. Not to worry because I have access to the magical web which puts me into contact with websites such as Putlocker that stream this show for me %100 free but also illegal, so that people like me are able to watch their favourite shows whenever they want and on whichever device is most convenient for them instead of sitting infront of the TV at 8pm. With reference to the article I read in relation to this chapter, it talked mainly about how experiences of viewing sports content in a movie theater differ from typical television viewing conditions at home (Kim,K.,Cheong,Y.,&Kim,H.(2016). Personally, I do not keep up with sports but I do enjoy watching the world cup for soccer every four years that it is on, and cheering on my country. There are times where the games are playing and I am unable to watch them due to other circumstances and I have the option of watching the recaps or reading apps such as sports net to keep me in the loop. When I do have a chance to watch a game and all my friends and family are cheering for the same team it would be a better audience experience to go out to an environment such as a pub or somewhere where there is a larger group of people who are all there for the same reason. It makes my audience experience more enjoyable and one to remember. The cheering atmosphere, being able to dress up in my country’s attire, watching the game on a bigger screen and in higher quality, as well as being able to stay as long or as little as I want at a pub and not worry about having to entertain guest are all factors as to why viewing sports content in a different space rather then at home would be more ideal for me. Taking it back to earlier when I mentioned my favourite show “This is us,” I would prefer to be in the comfort of my own home, in my bed and watching it on my phone or laptop. According to Livingstone this is known as “bedroom culture”. Watching television for me is not really a social experience. That being said Sullivan states “television viewing has become (a) more ubiquitous given the proliferation of small-screen TV viewing via mobile phones, computers, and MP4 players, and (b) more individualized. Robinson and Martin (2009, p.83) argue that since “more sets in the home became available and more people live alone, more viewing is done alone- producing a more individualized experience””( Sullivan, 2013,Pg.172). When I watch “This is us” it is definitely an individualized experience for me and something I do alone, on my own time and at my own leisure. I can pause and resume the show at my own freedom without having anyone else complain about me doing so and have the flexibility to go on my phone without distracting anyone else watching the show with me. I do however discuss what happened in the show amongst my friends who also keep up with this show on their own time. This can be seen as conversion because although I am watching the show alone and in my own home, I am able to communicate via text or in person outside of my home what happened in the episode I watched and what I liked or disliked about it.

Media Fandom and Audience Subcultures

First thing I entered into google was “what are different types of fans”? Results were “there are three basic types of fans” propeller, tubeaxial, and vaneaxial” (CanadianCentreforOccupationalHealth&Saftey,1997-2018). This was deffinetly not the answer I was looking for, so instead of searching google I searched my handy textbook. What is a fan Sullivan? Well according to Sullivan, “… fan audiences are deeply engaged in their favourite media texts. Fans often reinterpret media context and create their own culture productions in response” (Sullivan, 2013, Pg.193). Hold on, it gets a little more complicated. Just when you thought being a fan of yourself was that simple Sullivan has something else to throw at you, better known as a “super fan”. What is that you may ask? Sullivan uses a term called “fandom” which is “associated with the culture tastes of subordinated formations of the people, particularly those disempowered by any combination of gender, age, class and race” (Sullivan, 2013, Pg.193). “This is us” first aired on television September 20th, 2016. No I do not watch it ritually, infront of the TV every Tuesday night because I never heard about the show until recently, but I do binge watch it ritually, because I am a fan of the show and chose to invest my time and energy into consuming this show. I have an attraction to the show, in the sense that I show my support and fandom though following the actors such as Milo Ventimiglia and Mandy Moore on Instagram as well as following the shows “thisisusbc” very own Instagram page that gives me behind the scenes footage, highlights, updates, bloopers, and even spoilers. These actions can also be seen as patronage, which is “the support of a fan audience (which) boosts the artistic and authorial credibility of a creator” (Navar-Grill, 2018, Pg.222).

Online, interactive Audiences in a Digital Media World

Depending on how high speed your internet or data is, we can see or find anything we want to know in the matter of seconds. According to Sullivan “media audiences today have come expect the ability to provide instant feedback to media producers and to other audiences” (Sullivan, 2013,Pg.215). Every media outlet/platform has a different way of displaying or interpreting media and thus depending on what media pages we follow we will also interpret that media differently then someone else. As stated in the textbook, “…looking toward the future of media audiences by considering some of the newest forms of online, interactive media and how they complicate our understanding of media audience” (Sullivan,2013, Pg.216). Moving into digitalization, fragmentation, and the rise of audience autonomy, a term known as “convergence “allow me to display my favourite show “This is us” on any device I chose. According to Sullivan “simple reproduction of these media into computer file formats that can be easily distributed via the internet, leading to widespread privacy of copyright material” (Sullivan,2013,Pg.217). As previously stated, I do not watch “This is us” via cable TV, or in other words the legal way, which only leaves me with one other way to watch this show, and it is by streaming it online. People have the power and accessibility to go to the movie theater and video tape the whole entire movie and post it online for others to see without having to pay the money to do so. Some websites are a little tricky to find an actual good quality movie, for various reason, one being that the movie is still in theaters and has not yet been released on DVD. With this being said, a little bit of hunting and browsing through several streaming websites is needed in order to find the substantial quality of video you are looking for. O’Reilly states that there are two important parts of the internet. The first aspect is “technological, because the internet exists as a series of interconnected servers that are continually exchange data. Secondly, the internet is social because the technology allows for easy information exchange, users will begin to leverage the technology to interact with one another in ways that mimic traditional forma of conversation and cooperation found in the “offline” world” (Sullivan, 2013,Pg.219). If you stop for a minute and just think about how much information you phone or computer takes from you, it will blow your mind. You wonder why people cover the cameras on there laptops, because it is already bad enough how indivduals are basically being spied on every letter they type and every click they make. Do you ever wonder why something you just googled will suddenly pop up on the side of every other website you look at? Or when you go to open your Instagram/Facebook app it just so happens that there is an advertisement for that exact pair of jeans you were searching for online? It’s not a coincidence that you keep seeing advertisement for things you were just talking about or googling about. Media has expanded immensely as well as the digital age to the point where us human beings cannot keep up with it. With reference to an article I read “How Social Media Editors Frame the News and Interact with Audiences via Twitter” Wasike designed a study to examine how social media editors use their Twitter accounts to interact with audiences and how they shape and frame the news via the articles they link to their tweets, and whether these trans vary depending on the media format” (Wasike,B.(2013). SME’s can be both beneficial and not, depending on how you interpret it. News recourses now a day will post fake news or their own version of news just so they can have their information out there first. With this being according to Wasike (2013), you must be aware of SMES’s this way you be fully knowledgeable on how they interact with an audience and what there framing patterns on based on the things they post on there media platforms.

Conclusion

NOW THAT YOU HAVE READ ALL THIS … it is time for me to say my goodbyes. It was a pleasure writing to you all about my audience experience in COMM3P18, and I hope you all enjoyed reading my blogs just as much as I enjoyed writing them.

References

Sullivan, J. (2013). Media Audiences: Effects, users, institutions and power. Sage Publications Inc., New York, NY.

Kim, K., Cheong, Y., & Kim, H. (2016). The influences of sports viewing conditions on enjoyment from watching televised sports: An analysis of the FIFA World Cup audiences in theater vs. home. Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, 60(3), 389–409.

Navar-Gill, A. (2018). Fandom as symbolic patronage: Expanding understanding of fan relationships with industry through the Veronica Mars Kickstarter campaign. Popular Communication, 16(3), 211-224.

Wasike, B. (2013). Framing news in 140 Characters: How social media editors frame the news and interact with audiences via Twitter. Global Media Journal - Canadian Edition, 6(1), 5-23.

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touristguidebuzz · 7 years

Text

How To Choose The Best Travel Camera (Plus Win A Free GoPro!)

How to Choose a Travel Camera

Travel Photography

After 7 years as a professional travel photographer & blogger, I keep getting asked what’s the best travel camera. There are so many to choose from! Here’s what I would pick, and why.

If you’re into photography, traveling the world with a good camera can help you bring back images that will stand the test of time — memories to share with family and friends for years to come.

Amazing travel photos are some of my most treasured souvenirs!

But what’s the best travel camera for capturing these special moments on your journey? There’s no easy answer to this question. Different people will have different requirements and budgets.

My goal with this digital camera buyers guide is to help you narrow down the overwhelming choices that are out there — and pick the perfect travel camera for your next trip.

Norway’s Lofoten Islands

Travel Camera Features

Size & Weight: Gone are the days when a bigger camera means a better camera. If you want to travel with your camera, you’ll want something small & lightweight.

Manual Settings: Photography professionals want the ability to fully control the settings of their camera so they can dial in the perfect shot in all kinds of different situations.

Megapixels: Many people assume that more megapixels is better. This isn’t always true. However more megapixels will give you higher detail, and allow you to “crop” your image without reducing quality.

Fast Lens: Lens aperture is measured in f/numbers, like f/1.4, f/2.8, f/4, etc. The lower the number, the better it will perform in low-light situations.

Zoom Range: A zoom lens lets you get closer to the action, especially for wildlife or people. But the bigger the zoom the bulkier a camera gets. How much zoom you want is a personal preference.

HD/4K Video: Most quality travel cameras will shoot video in HD 1080p. Some even have 4K capabilities — which honestly most people won’t need unless you’re doing professional work.

WiFi/Bluetooth Enabled: Some cameras have their own wifi network, allowing you to upload your photos instantly to your computer or smartphone.

Interchangeable Lenses: High-end mirrorless and DSLR cameras have interchangeable lenses, allowing you to pick the perfect lens for different situations.

Ridge Hiking in Hawaii

What Do You Want To Capture?

When choosing the best travel camera for your needs, you must define what those needs are. Different cameras have strengths and weaknesses depending on what you’re using them for.

Are you looking for portability? Weatherproofing & ruggedness? Professional high-end image quality? Something reasonably priced? Are you going to be shooting more landscapes, wildlife, adventure activities, or people?

You often can’t have it all when it comes to travel cameras.

Keep reading below to learn the pros & cons for each type of camera, and which types of travel photography they work best for.

Point & Shoot Cameras

Point & shoot cameras have come a long way. As technology has improved, companies have managed to pack these pocket-sized cameras with tons of features. Some shoot 4k video and have manual settings, just like the more expensive ones in this list.

The big difference is the camera sensor is a bit smaller, and they don’t have interchangeable lenses.

In my opinion, a mid-range to high-end point & shoot is the best option for 75% of amature travel photographers. They combine the perfect mix of portability, power, and budget-friendliness.

Sony RX100 Series ($700 – $1000)

Sony RX100 V

The Sony RX100 V is my favorite point & shoot travel camera. It’s what I’d call a “professional” point & shoot. While it fits in my pocket, it has many of the same features as my larger primary mirrorless camera.

It’s a bit pricey at $1000, but you can also pick up older models like the RX100 III ($700) and RX100 IV ($850) for less. They also make reasonably priced underwater dive-housings for this line.

Check Price For Sony RX100 V Here

Canon PowerShot G7 X ($650)

Canon G7X II

The Canon G7 X is another fantastic point & shoot that’s great for travel photography. A bit less expensive than the Sony, it has fewer high-end features, but shoots great video with better on-board audio than the Sony. It’s a favorite for many YouTubers and Vloggers.

Check Price For Canon G7X Here

Best Action Travel Cameras

Action Cameras

Action cameras have really transformed the travel photography & video world over the years. These tiny, waterproof, indestructible cameras can go anywhere & record anything!

If you plan on hiking, mountain biking, surfing, kayaking, snorkeling, scuba diving, or even swimming under waterfalls during your travels, an action camera can create epic video & photos that you can share with others.

GoPro Hero 6 ($500)

GoPro Hero 6

The GoPro Hero 6 is GoPro’s best camera yet, with improved video stabilization, color, and 60p slow-motion 4k footage. It’s waterproof case and touch-screen will handle any adventures you can think up.

Check Price For GoPro 6 Here

GoPro Hero Session ($200)

GoPro Session

The GoPro Session is GoPro’s smaller & cheaper model. Without a screen, this tiny cube can fit just about anywhere. On your helmet, in a glass of beer, even in your mouth! All kinds of ways to get creative.

Check Price For GoPro Session Here

Best Mirrorless Travel Cameras

Mirrorless Cameras

Larger than a point & shoot, but smaller than a DSLR, mirrorless digital cameras are all the rage right now. Even professional photographers are starting to switch over due to their small size and ability to produce high-quality images.

I use a mirrorless camera as my main travel camera. They offer more features than a point & shoot, like the ability to use interchangeable lenses, and a larger sensor with better low-light capability and detail.

Sony A7 Series ($1300 – $3200)

Sony A7ii

The Sony A7 II is one of the best travel cameras money can buy. Sony is on the cutting edge of camera technology lately, and other brands are having trouble keeping up. There are a few different models available.

The Sony A7S II is geared towards videographers, with extremely good low-light capabilities. The Sony A7R III is geared for professional photographers who want super-fast focusing and a giant full-frame sensor.

Check Price For Sony A7ii Here

Fujifilm X‑T2 ($1500)

Fujifilm X‑T2

Check Price For Fuji X-T2 Here

Sony A6500

Check Price For Sony A6500 Here

DSLR Cameras

Digital SLR Cameras (DSLR) wouldn’t be my first choice for a travel camera. I’ve included a few here, because some people still prefer the larger body.

However personally I think most people would be better off with a mirrorless camera these days. Especially if you are trying to keep your travel gear weight to a minimum.

Nikon D3400

Check Price For Nikon D3400 Here

Canon 80D

Check Price For Canon 80D Here

Using Your Smartphone

Can you use your smartphone for travel photography? Of course you can! You’ll sacrifice a bit of quality due to the super small camera sensor in phones, but if you’re only publishing to the web, most people won’t notice.

Some smartphones can even shoot in RAW format these days. I travel with an iPhone 7+, but the Galaxy S8 and Google Pixel 2 also take amazing photos & video. Smartphones are also great backup cameras too.

What About Camera Lenses?

You honestly don’t need a million different camera lenses. When I first started, I only used a single general-purpose lens while I was learning.

If you have money to burn, then get two: a wide angle zoom and a telephoto zoom.

These two lenses will allow you to capture a mix of landscapes, portraits, and wildlife from a distance. However lugging around multiple lenses and changing them back & forth can be annoying if you’re new to photography.

To keep things easy, I’d recommend only one lens at first. Something with a decent focal range, around 18mm – 70mm.

When looking at a lens aperture, the lower the number, the better it will be in low light. F2.8 or F4 should cover you for most situations. If you want to shoot star photography, go with F2.8 or lower.

Flying my DJI Mavic Over Hawaii

Drones For Travel Photography

Drones are incredible tools for capturing images & video in a totally different perspective. But this probably isn’t the most important travel camera for the average person.

Many places have restrictions on flying personal drones, for example US National Parks, and even entire countries. So you need to do your research to avoid heavy fines or confiscation.

If you REALLY want a drone, I’d recommend the DJI Spark for beginners. It’s tiny, pretty affordable, and very easy to use.

If you eventually want to make money from your drone photography, and have a larger budget, than you’ll completely fall in love with the more professional DJI Mavic Pro. You can see my review video here.

All My Camera Gear

What Travel Cameras Do I Use?

I actually travel with 4-5 different cameras on my adventures around the world. This is a bit overkill for most people.

However travel photography is how I make my living, so I invest in gear to help me accomplish my job. When I first started 7 years ago, all I used was a Canon 7D and a GoPro Hero.

Sony A7Rii – My main travel camera.

Sony RX100 V – This is my backup camera.

GoPro Hero 6 – Action camera for extreme sports.

GoPro Session – Backup action camera & B-roll footage.

DJI Mavic Pro – Drone for aerial photography & video.

The camera backpack I use is called a LowePro Whistler 350. It’s got room for a 15″ laptop, jacket, and incredibly fits all 5 travel cameras, lenses & some accessories if I need it to — great as an airplane carry-on.

Travel Photography Tips

I want to let you in on a little travel photography secret. Even if you have a top-of-the-line $10,000 camera, your photos aren’t going to be spectacular if you don’t know how to use it.

And I don’t mean pressing the shutter — I mean:

Learning how to shoot in manual mode

How to expose images properly

Adjusting your white balance

Framing shots for maximum impact

Paying attention to light

Post-processing your images with software

You don’t become a good photographer because you have a nice camera, your photography improves over time through practice, patience, and skills you learn from others.

So sure, invest in a new travel camera if you think you need it, but remember to invest money & time into learning new photography skills if you really want to create those jealousy-inducing images for your Instagram feed!

Here are some of my favorite beginner travel photography tips.

Who Wants to Win a GoPro?

Free GoPro Session Giveaway!

If you don’t have an GoPro action camera yet, but want one, here’s your chance to win a GoPro to use on your next travel adventure!

I’m giving one lucky reader their very own GoPro Hero Session 5 (along with some accessories).

I love my GoPro, and travel with it everywhere. It’s great for capturing water sports, hiking trips, epic selfies, and hands-free video from my travel adventures around the world.

I’ve been traveling with a GoPro of some kind for the last 7 years!

Here’s an article I wrote about my favorite GoPro accessories for travel, along with examples of how you can use it to capture amazing footage.

OFFICIAL RULES

ELIGIBILITY: Ages 18+ Promotion is open and offered to residents of any country. However the winner will be responsible for their own country’s customs fees.

CHOOSING A WINNER: A winner will be selected at random from the list of entries, and notified by email. If the winner does not respond within one week, an alternate winner will be chosen at random.

PRIZE: The winner will receive (1) GoPro Hero Session, (1) GoPro Backpack, and (1) GoPro Selfie Stick. Prize value worth $450. Prizes are shipped to winner’s chosen address. Local customs fees are not included in the prize.

How To Enter Contest

Enter your name and email address below and follow the instructions.

You’ll have the option to earn extra contest entries (and more chances to win!) by completing certain tasks.

Good luck, and I look forward to congratulating the winner! ★