This week we are talking about a few pieces of gear I find critical to doing travel and adventure photography. We won't talk about specific cameras or lenses, but give you recommendations for you to go and look at. Because buying gear is a highly personal choice that comes down to what you are shooting, what you want to carry and your budget.
Lenses
- A semi-wide to semi-telephoto lens like the 24-105mm.
- One of the reasons I love the 24-105 focal range for a walk around travel lens is that you can photograph most subjects in most situations you will come across. The other reason I love this focal length is the lenses aren’t too big and heavy, meaning they aren’t really a burden to carry around for a day.
- An ultra-wide and fast prime lens like a 14mm f/2.8
- They give you a sweeping look of the world around you with about a 115-degree field of view.
- The low light capabilities, let you take photos inside buildings without worrying about needing to crank your ISO or drop your shutter speed.
- These ultra-wide angle lenses are great for getting photos inside cathedrals and other old buildings as well as landscapes and cityscapes.
Carrying System
- A proper daypack
- This means a backpack with an internal frame, waist strap, and proper shoulder straps.
- The size you need will vary depending on what you are doing. I need a 35L for day-hikes but only a 15-20L for city explorations.
- Get rid of your over the neck camera strap. It hurts the body, throws your posture off, and is generally terrible for you.
- The Peak Design Capture Camera Clip
- Carry your camera on a belt or on your backpack strap, taking the weight off your body
- Easier and more secure than a strap
Accessories
- A Tripod
- Look for something lightweight and easy to move that gives you some flexibility.
- I use a Vanguard VEO and a Joby Gorrilapod.
- Check out this amazing new, lightweight travel tripod from Peak Design. It's one of my new favourites.
- Polarizing Filter
- Circular polarizers are filters that mount to the front of a lens.
- They allow you to reduce reflections in water and on glass and make the sky more or less blue.
- Neutral Density Filter
- Dark filters you put on your lens (typically on the front) that block light from entering your camera. This allows you to decrease your shutter speed and drag out the way time and light enters your camera.
- Smooth out water and clouds, but also blur away tourists in popular tourist destinations.
- Do not buy cheap ones, they will reduce your image quality drastically.
- Microfibre Cleaning Cloths and Cleaner
- Keep your lens free and clean from grime so you don't miss any photos.
- Memory Card Holders
- Get two of them to be able to keep your cards in two separate spots.
- Really helpful if your camera can shoot to two differ
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Find all the show notes and connect with Robert:
Website: robertmasseyphotography.ca
Instagram: @robertmasseyphotography