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What's in our Camera Bags? A Beginner Travel Photography Gear Guide
We have gone through an evolution of camera equipment over the past 5 years and finally we have a set up we love.
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One question we get asked by friends and family is what camera gear do we carry around with us to capture our travels. At the beginning we used a simple point and shoot camera and a GoPro; which worked well for us at the time. Now, 5 years later capturing our travels through photography and videography has become more of a passion for us; and we found a set up that works well for us.
Note: Your camera gear doesn't make the photographer, it only enhances it.
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Jocelyn's Camera Set Up
Canon EOS 80D* This is one of the best entry level DSLR cameras, for beginner photographers; it's also very budget friendly. Although it is not a full-framed camera, it meets our needs, and offers great image stabilization which turns out clear photos and video. When we were researching for cameras we wanted something that would enhance our photos, but still remain travel and budget friendly. A friend of ours who does photography work for her company recommended the Canon 80D, and it's been a perfect upgrade for us.
Lenses
Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 USM*
This is my everyday, go to lens. It's light weight, has good image stabilization, and can be used to capture multitudes of different settings we come across; because it has a variety of focal ranges, from wide to zoom, I can capture portraits and landscapes. If I could only carry one lens with me, this would be it.
Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM*
This is one of the more affordable compact telephoto L series lenses. We purchased it for our recent trip to Tanzania, and it was absolutely perfect for capturing everything from animals, people, and landscapes.
Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM*
This is my newest addition, it's an ultra wide lens that is great for capturing landscapes, architecture, and vlogging.
This lens has a fixed focal length but is still very versatile to use in any situation. I've been challenging myself to use this lens rather then my 18-135mm, it's forced me to be more creative with my composition. Many of our photos from our recent trip to the Everglades were shot with the 50mm.
This lens works well in lowlight settings and for capturing astrophotography! I don't use it a whole lot, but I take it with me everywhere just in case there are clear starry skies. It does not take up much space and is lightweight.
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Keith’s Camera Set Up
When we were looking into upgrading our point and shoot we wanted something that we could use for both photo and video without breaking the bank. We did find that the M50 works best for video, however it does take good quality photos as well. If you buy the content creator kits, it will come with a microphone and other useful accessories.
Lens
Canon EF-M 18-150mm f/ 3.5-6.3 IS STM*
We purchased the 18-150mm and it gives him a wide variety of focal ranges. It's pretty much the only lens he uses to shoot our video content currently.
Mount Adapter EF-EOS M* - This adapter allows EF and EF-S lens to be mounted onto M50. When we were in Africa this past summer Keith was able to attach our EF 70-300mm lens and a rented EF 100-400mm lens onto his camera.
We highly recommend having a GoPro in your bag, you can use them for a multitude of situations where having your expensive camera out would be risky; We also enjoy using the timelapse feature. GoPros have come along way and we are looking at upgrading to the GoPro Hero 11 when it comes out. We also recommend purchasing an accessories bundle that has a floaty and smaller gorilla grip tripod.
This is a great beginner level drone, it doesn't have all the bells and whistle of the bigger versions but still produces great photos and video. Our drone is no longer available but they have come out with the Mavic Mini 2.
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Our Camera Bags
Jocelyn's Camera Bag
The Runner by Brevitē
Keith's Camera Bag
The Jumper by Brevitē
We absolutely love our Brevitē camera backpacks! The bags are very functional and hold our camera equipment securely. The fabric holds up well in the rain too, which is important for us on our trips, as we come across all sorts of environments. Both bags have plenty of pockets and space for other travel essentials we may need. If you're wondering the difference between both of the bags, the only difference is the design of the top section of the bag. Other then that they are essentially the same in terms of functionality.
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Other Camera Essentials
Tripod
We purchased this tripod from amazon for a lot less then other premium tripods out on the market. Although it is not top of line it does get the job done, our only real complaint is that it's bulkier then we would like.
Camera Remote
This wireless remote system is a game changer. We usually use the canon app as our wireless remote, but we find that the connection gets dropped most of the time. With this wireless remote it comes with a receiver that connects directly onto your camera, and the remote communicates with the receiver to control the shutter. So far we have not had any issue with connection in even the most remote places, like the everglades.
Camera Clip
Peak Design Capture Camera Clip v3*
We have seen these clips advertised to us so many times on instagram and facebook, and we finally decided to invest. The camera clip allows you to attach your camera directly onto your backpack or belt, for quick access during your trip or to have your hands free so you can hike up the sides of mountains. They are quite expensive for what they are, but we read a lot of reviews that they are worth every penny; and we agree.
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