Camera Gear

My Travel Photography Equipment

What camera gear should I use?

With a slew of endless cameras, lenses, and additional equipment, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Throw on the hefty price tag, and the task of taking professional-level photos can seem down right impossible.

I’m here to say that with the proper amount of research and practice, photography is an absolutely fulfilling endeavor, well worthy of your efforts. It’s important to note that I’m an entirely self-taught photographer, learning from the best resource available at our fingertips: the Internet.

Nowadays, my work focuses on travel, landscape and underwater images, and often reflects the use of magical elements to highlight global concerns. I try to capture vivid, fantastical images that expose deeper issues around the world, and particularly under the sea.

From what equipment to use, to what software to edit with, below is a crash course to my camera gear, and how you can achieve professional-level photos. Additionally, as a smaller girl who generally hates lugging around heavy luggage and/or drawing unwanted attention, I place additional emphasis on lighter, more discreet equipment.

Camera Gear: Camera Bodies

  • Canon 5D Mark III — This is my go to camera body. It’s a sturdy full-frame DSLR with terrific ergonomics, and has survived intense photography trips to Iceland, Antarctica, underwater worlds, and more!
  • Sony A7R II — This Sony mirrorless camera delivers the power of a normal full-frame DSLR, without the large size and weight. While I do prefer the Canon’s ergonomics, the Sony’s lightness definitely helps when doing any intensive hiking/traveling!
  • Sony RX100 — When I don’t want to lug around a DSLR, I slip this tiny Sony into my pocket or purse, and am able to get incredible quality images despite its discreet size. It also performs well in low light, which is always a plus!
  • GoPro — No camera equipment list would be complete without a GoPro! For any adventure lover, or someone seeking a tiny, portable, durable camera, a GoPro is a must add to their arsenal of gear. I personally recommend the GoPro Hero 6 Black.


Camera Gear: Lenses

  • Canon 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM — A wonderful walkabout lens when shooting with a Canon DSLR. I always appreciate the zooming capabilities on this one, and its size makes it portable for everyday situations.
  • Canon 24mm f/1.4 L II USM — A perfect prime lens for when you really need a wide aperture for letting in lots of light. A favorite for shooting the northern lights and stars, or doing any other photography in low light.
  • Canon 16-35mm f/2.8 L II USM — My favorite landscape lens! Compared to a regular fixed prime lens, this one gives a little bit more flexibility in framing, while still having terrific aperture capability.
  • Canon 70-200mm f/4 — This is a stable, powerful zoom lens, perfect for a safari trip or photographing wildlife. It’s definitely larger than your average compact lens, but remains a relatively portable zoom lens compared to other heftier ones.
  • Canon 1.4x teleconverter — for those times you need the extra zoom power: think safaris and wildlife photography.
  • Sony 24-70mm f/4 — An extremely versatile, wonderful walkabout lens! It’s usually what’s on my Sony Alpha camera, and has wonderful range for everyday and travel use.
  • Sony 35mm f/2.8 — Talk about portability! This is an extremely compact, almost pancake-style lens that produces beautiful images. It’s perfect for when you want a super light set up, and also shoots lovely portraits.
  • Moment Lenses — On days I’m too lazy to carry around a big camera, I pop a Moment lens or two in my pocket! These little gems snap on to your iPhone, and help make any phone photography a little better. Available lenses include wide angle, macro, and fish eye.


Underwater Camera Gear

  • GoPro Dive Housing — A must for any scuba diver or sports enthusiast.
  • Nauticam housing — When it comes to underwater photography, Nauticam truly is the gold standard. Reliable and extremely ergonomic, you can breathe easy underwater knowing your expensive equipment is in good hands.
  • Sea&Sea strobes — Preserve the colors in your underwater photos with strobes! These are powerful, not TOO pricey, and user-friendly.

P.S. Buy underwater gear at Mozaik UW Cameras and get a free light (up to $200 value) on your first order!

 


Camera Gear: Tripod

  • Manfrotto Compact Action — This is my go to tripod. It’s perfect for when you don’t want to sacrifice height and versatility, but still want something that’s relatively lightweight and portable.
  • Gitzo GT1542T — Alternatively, a light carbon fiber tripod for those who like mobility but don’t want to sacrifice strength.
  • Manfrotto 055XPROB — This sturdy, weighted tripod provides supreme stability. It definitely comes in handy during windy days, or when you don’t want any camera shake during long exposures when shooting the northern lights!
  • JOBY GorillaPod — For those hiking trips, a GorillaPod is terrific for attaching your camera to weird set ups — think branches, trees, and more! It also has the added benefit of being super light, and is a must for any outdoor enthusiast.


Camera Gear: Filters


Drones

  • DJI Spark — For those starting to dabble in aerial photography, the DJI Spark is a user-friendly, entry-level drone. Particular fun with families and kids, the Spark is extremely portable – around the size of an iPhone!
  • DJI Mavic Air — If you can only get one drone, I’d recommend the DJI Mavic Air. It has the power of the Mavic family, but is lighter and more portable than other models.
  • DJI Mavic Pro — The Mavic Pro is truly top tier for those looking to go pro without sacrificing weight and portability. It’s larger and heavier than the Mavic Air, but way smaller than any other professional alternative.


Camera Bags

  • ONA Bowery Bag — This is my go to camera bag for city trips! Stylish yet practical, the Bowery is perfect for balancing photography with fashion. It comes in various colors, fits a DSLR camera + 1 lens, and can be converted for regular everyday use.
  • f-stop Camera Bags — These are hands-down my favorite camera bags for hardcore photography trips! The best part is the unique internal packing system that’s removable and customizable for all your specific needs.


Software

  • Adobe Lightroom — For any photographer who wants to take their images to the next level, Lightroom is the gold standard for editing software. You can also use presets from other photographers for quick editing, or build your own.

Pier Nirandara Antarctica Photography