An adventure travel gear guide for the hobbyist (aspiring pro) photographers out there.
If you’re new to photography, please don’t think you have to purchase everything on this list all at once. It took me a few years to save enough money to purchase everything here. You certainly don’t need all of this to take beautiful travel photos. They say the best camera is the one you have and I’d like to add that the best camera is the one you can afford. It’s not worth breaking your budget to acquire gear, especially if you’re just starting out.
Every adventure requires different gear, so I pack from the list below according to the needs of the shoot.
Disclaimer: This post contains some affiliate links, which means if you buy something my blog will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Phew, all that being said, let’s get to the good stuff 😈
Camera Gear
Sony A6300
Sony A6300 (APS-C)
Three years into using this camera body, I’m consistently impressed with how well it handles photos and videos. The reason I love the Sony mirrorless system is due to its technical capabilities and lightweight frame. It’s a great APS-C camera to start with, and it will become my backup camera when I upgrade to a full-frame camera.
Unfortunately, this camera body is discontinued, so while you can’t purchase this exact model, you can get the Sony A6400 for photos, vlogging, or travel videos. Look up which one is best for your needs.
This is an APS-C camera, which is a fancy term that means the sensor in the camera is smaller than what you’ll find in a full-frame camera body. Because the sensor is smaller, the image itself is cropped in. This doesn’t mean you have fewer pixels than a full-frame camera but instead a smaller field of view. If you’re curious to learn more you can read on or skip ahead to lenses!
Pros: Tiny body, 4K, 120fps at 1080p, and electronic viewfinder
Cons: Discontinued. No in-camera stabilization.
APS-C vs Full-frame: Simply put, the sensors in the APS-C cameras are physically smaller. Because of the smaller sensor size, these ‘crop sensor’ cameras are smaller in size compared to the full-frame cameras and cheaper since the sensor is easier to manufacture. The image itself appears cropped in due to the smaller sensor size. Because of this “crop factor,” the same focal length on an APS-C camera body may look different on a full-frame camera body. If you want to learn how to calculate the full-frame focal length equivalent, see the steps below:
First, you’ll need to know the ‘crop factor’ for the body. You can quickly figure this out with a Google search. For the A6300, the crop factor is 1.5x.
Second, you’ll do some basic math to determine the full-frame focal length equivalent based on your crop.
[Focal length] X [Camera crop factor] = Full-frame equivalent focal length
Example: APS-C Lens 16 – 35mm
16 x 1.5 = 24mm
35 x 1.5 = 52mm
Full-frame equivalent = 24 – 52mm
Lenses
Tokina AT-X 116 PRO DX-II 11-16mm F2.8 Lens – Canon Mount
Tokina 11-16mm F2.8 w. Adapter
Primary use: Wide angle for landscapes and astrophotography
Due to the crop factor on the A6300, I use this wide-angle lens to get the equivalent of the 16-24mm (ish) focal lengths on a full-frame. This lens is sharp from end to end and I love using it to fit an entire landscape in the frame. It has an infinity focus which is perfect for astrophotography. Tamron doesn’t make this lens for the Sony E mount system, so you’ll need to get an adapter to use this.
Pros: Wide field of view for landscapes. F2.8 is great for bokeh and astrophotography.
Cons: Not a native Sony lens. Will need an adapter which can reduce autofocus capabilities. No in-body camera stabilization.
*If you’re looking to invest in a native Sony equivalent, I’d recommend the 10 -18mm as it’s wide enough to capture vast landscapes.
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Sony FE 70 – 200mm F4.0
Primary use: Shoot things far away. Compressed layer shots. Tiny people, big landscape shots.
The long lens beast. This lens is quickly becoming my favorite lens to use. Between the compression in a landscape to the impressive depth of field, it’s well worth its weight in versatility. Usually, I opt to leave this one at home for longer hikes or backpacking trips where I am concerned about weight. However, I’m training my body to bring this lens with me everywhere I can because of how much I love it.
Pros: Full-frame & APS-C lens. Layers on layers shots. OSS Lens (Optical SteadyShot) aka in-lens stabilization which can remove micro shakes when shooting handheld.
Cons: A bit heavy for a beginner. A tinge softer (not as sharp) than it’s F2.8 equivalent but also not as pricey.
Sony 16 – 70mm F4 (E Mount)
Primary use: Literally everything.
This lens completes my kit and includes the mid focal range to connect the dots between my first two lenses. It’s lightweight and always finds its way into my pack to make sure I’m covered if anything happens to my other two lenses. If you’re looking for an affordable option to replace your kit lens, this is it.
Pros: Good range of focal lengths. Small. OSS lens (in-lens stabilization). Good focal range for price.
Cons: APS-C lens only. A bit soft at longer focal lengths. Can’t be put on a full-frame camera.
Drone
DJI Mavic Air
Primary use: Aerial photography and videography
Perfect entry-level drone for anyone who wants to start dabbling in the art of drone photography or videography but doesn’t want to break the bank while doing it. While drone regulations continue to become more complicated, it’s smart to invest in a good piece of gear to figure out if you even LIKE shooting aerial photography before dropping serious cash on the fancy smancy stuff.
Pros: Small and portable. Price.
Cons: Range. Due to its size, it can’t handle crazy winds (but you shouldn’t take your drone up in crazy winds anyway).
*Note I recommend checking out the newer version of this drone. The DJI Mavic Air 2
Backpacks
Wandrd Prvke 21L Camera Bag
Primary use: Every day carry and traveling
My go-to camera bag for traveling. The open back system makes me feel safe since all the important (and expensive) things are against my back. The bag has a bunch of compartments making it easy to fit all the necessities including a 13’’ laptop. The rolltop can expand for more space and allows quick access to items like a puffy, headlamp, or headphones. The bag itself is constructed with high-quality materials, has a durable water-resistant finish, and comes with a rain cover.
As a female photographer who is pretty short, I want to keep a low profile and not tell the world, “Hey Look! She’s carrying a huge camera bag full of expensive stuff!” The Wandrd Prvke 21L has a slim profile and doesn’t make me feel like a turtle walking through airport security. Can’t forget, huge bonus points for aesthetics 👌🏽
Gregory 28L Hiking Backpack w. Tenba BYOB 9
Primary use: Hiking with camera gear
While hiking, I like to keep my backpack equipped with minimal gear and the 10 essentials. This bag has an internal support system so it’s easy to take on heavier loads without sacrificing my shoulders. Plus, it has all the bells and whistles of a backpacking bag such as a hip belt, deep pockets, and an area for a water bladder. Due to its 28 liter capacity, I never worry about carrying additional layers or snacks.
Other bags to look into: Shimodo Designs, & F-Stop Gear Kashmir and Loka UL Bags.
ONA The Bowery Messenger Bag
Primary use: Minimal city travel
A great option if you’re looking for a minimal and trendy bag to keep one camera body + one lens while traveling through a city for the day. This bag forces me to keep a minimal kit without screaming to everyone that I’m carrying a camera bag.
Other bags to look into: Vinta Type II Bag or the Peak Design Everyday Backpack.
Camera Accessories:
Peak Design CapturePRO Camera Clip
Overall, this is the best product I could have invested in for myself. If you ever see me hiking with my camera on my shoulder, this product is how I do it. This attaches to my backpack strap and enables me to take images easily and store my camera away without taking off my backpack. My camera is easily accessible and gives me the mobility to use my hands freely for rock scrambles or trekking poles.
If there’s one thing you should pick up for your camera bag for you outdoorsy hiking with your camera types, this is it!
*There is an updated version but mine works perfectly fine so I’m going to continue using it.
Peak Design Cuff Camera Strap
A cuff camera strap for extra protection to save my camera from myself in case I drop it. (No judgments here! Accidents happen to everyone.) I don’t tend to use a traditional camera strap (even though I have one 👇🏽) so this stays on my wrist 99.99% of the time.
Peak Design Slide Camera Strap
A light weight camera strap for when you don’t want to bring a backpack to carry your camera. I stuck with a Peak Design strap since the entire ecosystem uses quick-release anchors that make it easy to switch between the camera strap to the cuff strap.
Tripod
A light and durable travel companion to take crisp photos. While I am quick to abandon tripods while shooting, having one is necessary for taking your own adventure selfies and shooting during low light conditions like astrophotography. This carbon fiber tripod is great to keep with you on the go.
Joby GorillaPod
This little bendy tripod has saved me in a pinch when I didn’t want to bring a regular tripod with me in order to save weight. It’s easy to use and setup and is a fraction of the weight compared to regular tripods. Can’t recommend this one enough!
SanDisk 128GB Extreme Pro SD Cards
As a photographer or videographer, you’ll need fast SD cards to shoot images and record videos. These cards give me the peace of mind that I won’t run out of space. If you don’t need as much space, you can grab the 64GB card instead. I carry them in this SD cardholder to keep myself organized and for extra protection.
Tiffen Circular Polarizer
I have a circular polarizer for every lens I own. They help cut down on reflections from the sky when taking photos of waterfalls or glacial lakes and add an extra umph to every shot.
Moment 18mm Wide Angle
Moment makes some of the best phone lenses I’ve used and it fits in your pocket! Note, you’ll need to have a Moment phone case to easily add the lens to the front of your phone.
Intervalometer Remote Shutter
Using an intervalometer (big word 😶), you can set up time-lapses for astrophotography or use the remote shutter to get your own travel selfie for when you’re by yourself.
Rocket Blower & Lens Cleaning Wipes
For every photographer on the go, you’ll need to carry a few essentials to keep your gear clean. At a bare minimum, I keep a rocket blower and lens cleaning wipes to safely remove dust from the lens. The last thing you want is to realize while you’re editing is that you’ve had a big dust spot on your lens during the entire trip. 🤦🏽♀️ Speaking from experience.
Photography Essentials
2015 Macbook Pro 13’’
The laptop I use to edit photos and videos, write blog posts, and meander on the interwebs. The beautiful 13’’ Retina display assures that I’m viewing my images in the best way possible. Also, I can’t let go of my ports and SD CARD READER!
Adobe Photography Suite – Lightroom + Photoshop
For $10 USD a month, this is everything a girl could ever ask for to edit beautiful photos. I start in Lightroom and finish in Photoshop to give them an extra punch and/or clean up any distractions.
Adobe Premiere Pro
Used to edit videos for Instagram stories, a non-existent (but one day will exist) YouTube channel and other projects.
Logitech MX Master 2S Mouse
A bluetooth ergonomic mouse for editing on the go. A mouse is an essential tool for me that I use all day, every day, so spending a bit of extra money to get one that feels nice in my hand and gets the work done is an easy decision to make.
Rugged Lacie 4TB Hard Drive
Hard drives are necessary for me to store and edit my images and videos. This one was durable and has plenty of space for my huge files.
Sony WH100MX3 Noise-cancelling Headphones
Good noise-canceling headphones are now mandatory for me to get any work done. The noise-canceling feature allows me to drown out any outside distractions and get laser-focused on my work.
RavPower Battery Pack
This battery comes with me on every trip. My phone is my secondary camera and my link to the outside world. I use tons of apps like PhotoPills to plan shots for sunset and edit with Lightroom mobile or VSCO. This means my phone needs to be ready to go at a moments notice and this battery pack allows me to do just that.
Travel Journal – Moleskin
For anyone traveling constantly, I highly recommend bringing a light notebook with you to record your thoughts during your adventures. I take notes of which camera gear I use, how the weather impacted my shoot, and reflect at the end of each day.
If you made it to the bottom of this post, you must love gear as much as I do! 😅
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Disclaimer: This post contains some affiliate links, which means if you buy something my blog will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.