Photography is a huge passion of mine, and having the best travel camera equipment is key! I have created this travel photography gear guide to help those guide you in what I think are the must-have items while on the road. I am self-taught in this field, and I really enjoy sharing my tips and tricks that help me capture those picture-perfect moments.
I love that you can bring back endless family memories, all with a great picture. If you have your smartphone on hand, the good news is you will always have a way to capture these moments. We use my custom lightroom presets to help enhance the photos we take with our phones. You don’t have to buy prime lenses and tons of camera equipment to get great pictures. When it comes to photography, skills are more important than equipment.
When it comes to travel camera equipment, bigger doesn’t always mean better.
Although a big camera with lenses of different sizes will give you a great picture, you can go with a cheaper option and still capture beautiful moments. Plus, it helps to not have to carry around a big camera all the time. Sometimes the best moments are captured spur of the moment so having quick access to your phone will make it easier and still provide you with a good camera. The last thing you want is to miss out on that picture!
When it comes to using digital cameras, my biggest tip would be to learn to shoot your pictures in manual mode. This will allow you to be in charge of adjusting aperture and this is one of the most important elements to ensure the greatest image quality. This is located in the back of your lens and what it does is help control light and depth of the field. These are controlled with f-numbers so for example, if you are using a low f-number for a wider aperture, you will get more exposure in your picture. I will be bringing out another blog post that will dive deeper into this topic so stay tuned for that!
So now, let’s dive into some of the “must have” travel camera equipment that I believe will be a game changer for you with travel photography!
The Sunkissed Collection
Inspired by those sunny days, use this set of 8 mobile presets to edit your family photos (without compromising skin tones) with just a click! This set is especially great for everyday beach photos, travel photography, your days by the pool, and lifestyle photography. > More Details.My Favorite Travel Camera Equipment
iPhone
The best camera may just be the one already in your pocket- your phone! I use my phone more than anything else! When you use your phone, not only is it faster and easier to handle, you don’t have to worry about having to carry around extra things like camera batteries, camera backpack, camera lens, etc. It is easy to access and provides high-quality pictures and videos. In recent years I have realized my phone is the best option a lot of the time. With my lightroom presets, it’s easy to get amazing photos!
Canon EOS 6D Mark II Digital SLR Camera Body
With a megapixel full frame of 26.2 and a CMOS sensor, this camera has an optical viewfinder that gives you a 45 point all cross type AF system with compatible lenses. Not only does it have a vary angle touch screen, it also is dual pixel. There are other great features to this camera body such as the DIGIC 7 image processor.
Sigma 35mm Lens
This lens is one of my favorites because it has a large aperture that allows you to go to a maximum of F1.14 and has a minimum of F16. It also has an inner focusing system and a 35 MM focal length. The lens, however, is not zoomable.
Canon PowerShot Vlogging Camera [G7 X Mark III]
This is a great option to have in your camera bag if you are vlogging! The cool part about this camera is that you can actually turn it into a high-quality webcam. It also has a 20.1 megapixel and an optical zoom lens of 4.2x.
GoPro Hero 10 with accessory kit
With more power, more stability and more clarity, the must have for underwater, is the GoPro Hero 10. It is the most advanced stabilization ever with 8X slo-mo. It will capture 240 frames per second and you also have the option for time-lapse videos with liveburst. The screen size is a 2.27 inch LCD touch and it gives you a live preview. There are also several video functions with this device such as, live burst video, video loop, time lapse, live streaming, and even night-lapse video. There is a photo resolution of 23MP and a video quality of 5.3k.
Lightweight Tripod with Bag
It is always a great idea to travel with some type of tripod! This specific one is compatible with most video cameras, digital cameras, still cameras and more, this lightweight tripod is adjustable and weighs 3lbs, so it is great for travel! There is a quick-release mounting plate and two built-in bubble view levels. It also gives you a 3-way head that is great for tilting and swivel motions. Portrait and landscape options are both possible with this device! The maximum weight you can use for it is 6.6lbs and it extends from 25-60 inches when fully extended. The great part? There is a carrying case included!
TONEOF 60″ Cell Phone Selfie Stick Tripod
If you are going to be using your mobile phone a lot for pictures and videos, this is a must have in your travel bag! I love using my phone a lot of the time, it is right in my pocket and easy to grab! Having a tripod for it is great to capture photos of things like a big family picture! If you want a great combination of a selfie stick and a tripod, this is a great option for you! It is very portable and opens with just a press of a button. It is a great way to capture pictures and videos on your phone because it also works as a desktop tripod. It will capture shots from various heights and in a wider view because the height has a large range of 11.4-60 inches.
DJI Osmo
I love this tool because it helps you capture shots at a moment’s notice because of it’s quick-release phone clamp, and helps film stable video. Just be sure to read the instructions when you first get it, and once you do it will be super easy to use. The battery lasts about 4 hours if you’re using it on and off throughout your day.
Make Sure You Carry The Necessary Accessories
Although you don’t need a big, expensive camera to get that perfect shot, it is a good idea, if you are going to have one, to have the right camera accessories along with it! You always want to be prepared when you are doing a shoot with things like spare batteries, interchangeable lenses and different lenses, portable charger, phone case, tripods, case for go pro, SD cards, etc. Something you should always be sure to have extra of are portable chargers and keep them charged! You may not realize your battery life is low in your device so bringing a spare is very smart.
If you have spare accessories, it is best to have those packed as well. A shoulder strap for a larger camera would be something I would recommend purchasing since it can be hard on your body to lug a camera around for hours. Although these accessories are an extra cost, some things are worth it to make it easier and more convenient to get great photos on your trip!
Finally Purchased My Dream Travel Camera Equipment: A Drone
We recently got this drone which makes travel photography (and photography in general) even better. Imagine the shots you could get of different scenery, etc, with a drone! I’m so excited to be using this on upcoming trips to the beach, the mountains, on a hike, or anywhere that I can to get iconic shots. Having a drone takes travel photography to a whole new level. If you’ve traveled to any gorgeous places that you wish you could capture better through video, I am sure you can agree that this would be a great purchase.
Travel Photography Made Easy
I am confident that this post will help those that are looking for the best travel photography gear. From the best travel camera to just using your cellphone with lightroom presets, I am sure that you will have all you need to capture those special moments! You can click on the links above to see my favorites and, depending on your budget, purchase similar items at a reasonable price for what you’re wanting! Those trips are about to be even better and even more memorable to look back on!
More Travel Tips and Hacks:
Tips for Booking the Best Travel Deals
How to Book Flights for Free (only pay taxes)!
