What's in my camera bag 2021 (travel edition)!

The one thing that resonated with me the most as a travel/portrait photographer is actually using the gear that you have to create powerful artwork. In this day in age so many people are caught up thinking about which lens or body to bring and in my mind, lugging around a 15lb bag full of glass never seemed too appealing. Don't get me wrong, your choice of gear does impact your ability to create great content, but that shouldn't stop you from using what you have, maxing out its potential and then upgrading when necessary. I see camera gear as an investment which is why I have taken the time too curate this list of equipment for the minimalists. 

Whether you're a hobbyist, looking to upgrade your gear or genuinely just curious about what I use, then keep reading below. I'll go over my entire gear list that gets packed into my bag on travel adventures. 

Camera Body

Sony A7iii

The tried and true Sony A7iii. This camera body doesn't need much of an introduction. This is the first full-frame camera that I got which really catalyzed my whole photography journey. It's my current workhorse and comes with me everywhere. Jumping from a crop sensor DSLR to a full-frame mirrorless camera was like trading in my Toyota Corolla for a Ferrari (not really... but sort of). This camera is an absolute beast in 2021 still with lightning fast auto focus, 24mp sensor and amazing lowlight capabilities. It's the perfect camera for hybrid shooters as it's equally as capable on photo and video shoots. 

Pros: This camera is great for the professional and the amateur photographers alike. It has great autofocus and lowlight performance making it capable in almost every situation. The 24mp sensor is great for taking sharp photos and is good enough to produce out large prints. 

Cons: This camera body is still pretty expensive as it has retained its value. It's a pretty big price jump if you are coming from a crop sensor DSLR. Sony native lenses are also expensive, but luckily there are a wide range of third party options that make great quality glass. One final thing to note is how poorly the menu system is set up. Might take a while to figure out where things are. 

GoPro Hero 7 Black

This GoPro Hero 7 is a recent addition to my kit. It's the perfect compliment as it can shoot very wide, is small and weather proof. I don't pull it out too often, but it's great for filming POV style videos and also gives you great stabilization. 

Pros: Great for adventures, small, compact and great stabilization.

Cons: More batteries to carry. Basic features. Don't expect it to be a replacement for an actual camera. 

DJI Mini 2

This is another one of those complimentary pieces of equipment that I highly recommend anyone get. I really never was interested in drone photography, but decided to give it a whirl. Now...I'm in love! It's amazing the unique angles you can get with a drone and really provides a whole different perspective to photography/videography. The DJI Mini 2 is the size of an iPhone which makes it incredible easy to pack in a bag. It surprisingly has a decent sensor and can handle high winds pretty well. This is also a great entry level drone as you don't need to have a license to fly. Rules are different wherever you go so do your research before you fly. 

Pros: Awesome new angles and buttery smooth aerial footage. Super compact and lightweight. Great entry level drone.

Cons: Battery only lasts 30 minutes. Steep learning curve. Highly regulated in certain areas. 

Camera Lenses

Sony 35mm F/1.8

Really can't say enough good things about this lens. It took me a while to take the dive and purchase a 35mm prime lens, but this definitely did a great job at filling the void. 35mm is easily one of my favourite focal lengths to shoot as it makes the perfect everyday lens. I've been falling in love with shooting portraits with this lens as well and the low aperture and compact size makes this a perfect travel lens. 

Pros: Small, lightweight and sharp. Versatile focal length that works for portraits and landscapes. Native Sony glass has amazing autofocus speed and has held up in a variety of weather conditions. 

Cons: Expensive. Heavy vignetting. 

Tamron 70-180mm F/2.8

This is a lens everyone needs in their kit. The versatility of a telephoto zoom is unmatched. Combined with the small form factor and light weight build, this is the ultimate lens for any minimalist kit. I've used Tamron lenses in the past and they provide great quality for the price. This lens may not be as sharp or weather-sealed compared to other telephoto zoom lenses, but the trade off is well worth it for the size and weight. Did I mention it's cheap (compared to Sony 70-200 F/2.8)?!

Pros: Light weight, compact size. Does have a weather sealing gasket. Fast autofocus. No brainer.

Cons: It is expensive for a hobbyist. Could be sharper. Tamron colors seem to be just ok. 

Accessories

Camera Bag - WANDRD PRVKE 31L

I LOVE this camera bag. First off, it doesn't look like a camera bag, the less attention the better. The 31L capacity allows me to hold all my gear and then some. The roll-top feature allows for extended storage if you're in a pinch. It's comfortable and has decent protection from the elements. 

Pros: Water repellant. Has space for camera gear and other essentials. Looks great!

Cons: It's heavy (3lbs). Camera cube is not included. 

McKinnon Cube Pack 21L - Nomatic

This thing is great. It's a camera cube that doubles up as a backup. All of my camera gear (minus the drone) fits in this cube comfortably. It folds up to fit into the WANDRD PRVKE to act as a camera cube, or you can unpack it and use it as a stand alone backpack. I love using this when I'm going out for an evening stroll and want to bring my camera along. It's perfect for occasions where you don't need to bring too much gear, but it's big enough to hold other things. 

Pros: Acts as a camera cube and backpack. Fits all my camera gear perfectly. Great build quality. 

Cons: No quick access to camera. Backpack feels a bit flimsy because of the compact design. 

Peak Design Capture Clip

If you don't have one of these...get one. Thank me later. 

Here's the link: https://ca.peakdesign.com/products/capture

Peak Design Travel Tripod

I may be biased here, but from what I've seen there's no tripod on the market with the same form factor as the Peak Design Travel Tripod. This thing folds up to the size of a water bottle and fits neatly onto the side of my backpack. I've had great experiences so far with Peak Design products and plan to keep using their stuff. This tripod comes in a carbon fibre and steel version depending on your budget. It's easy to set up and is compatible with the Peak Design Capture Clip. 

Pros: Small,  easy to set up, fun to use (I should probably use it more).

Cons: Expensive $$$ (especially for the carbon fibre version), ball head as limited movement compared to other tripods. 

Sandisk 128gb Extreme PRO SD Cards

These have worked great for me so far so I'll continue to use them. SD cards are essential, don't cheap out! 

Samsung T5/T7

Super small, thin and lightweight. Great read and write speeds so editing off of them is a breeze, no complaints here. I think they may have discontinued the T5 and moved on to the T7? Someone fact check me here. Either way, a great option for storage. 

Giotto Rocket Air Blaster

This guy works great for getting any pesky dust particles off your lens or sensor. Pretty powerful for a small form factor. 

There you have it! That's everything that I bring in my camera bag when I travel. If you have any questions, shoot me a message and I'd love to chat more.