A Peek Inside My Camera Bag: My Favorite Travel Photography Gear
On average, I get at least one comment or email per week asking the same question: What camera do you use when you travel?
I've answered this question on my FAQ page, but decided that today I would take my answer one step further and give you a peek into everything that's currently in my camera bag.
So here we go with my favorite travel photography gear!
CURRENT CAMERA
Sony a7III
Back in late 2018, I finally jumped ship from Olympus cropped-sensor mirrorless cameras and switched over the Sony a7III, a full-frame mirrorless camera.
This was not an easy decision since Olympus makes great travel-friendly cameras, but ultimately the lure of better photo quality and more potential in my photography convinced me to switch. This was an *investment* in my photography for sure, but so far I've been extremely happy with this camera.
I went with the Sony a7III over other iterations of Sony's Alpha series because I don't do a whole lot of video work, and don't sell very many photos for print. The a7III seemed like a great intro to the Sony family of cameras, and so far it's been just that.
Sony a7III accessories
My lens: I'm using the Sony FE 24-105mm F4 G OSS lens as my all-around lens for this camera. It's not a small lens, but it performs well in a variety of situations.
I've also rented the Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS Super Telephoto Zoom Lens to use with this camera (for a safari trip to East Africa), and while it's a beast, it's a great lens for wildlife photography. One of these days I'd like to buy this lens!
Camera strap: I'm using a Pacsafe anti-theft camera strap, which is slash-proof and makes me feel a little better when I'm walking around with my camera slung cross-body.
Camera body protector: Because I'm sometimes a bit rough with my camera gear, I decided to invest in a silicone cover for my new baby, in order to protect it from dings and scratches. I have this camera cover by STSEETOP, and it works really well. It also makes my camera a lot easier to grip!
OLD CAMERA
Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II
Before switching to Sony, I used Olympus mirrorless cameras for years. The last one I had (and still have) was the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II. It's a great camera that packs a big punch in a relatively small body.
If you're looking for a smaller mirrorless camera that still takes great photos, consider this one.
For my Olympus camera, my go-to lenses were the Olympus 12-40 F2.8 PRO lens for everyday use, and the Olympus MSC ED-M 75-300mm for when I needed a telephoto.
I still have this camera to use as a back-up (or for Elliot to use if I send him out to take photos of things when I'm not at home!).
BACK-UP CAMERA
After experiencing a full-on camera melt-down once on a trip, I started traveling with a small back-up camera. My go-to is my Panasonic Lumix point-and-shoot (I have this one), which is just fine for quick outings.
But, to be perfectly honest, smartphones these days have cameras that easily compete with most point-and-shoot cameras. Ever since I got my iPhone 11 Pro last year, I haven't bothered packing my Panasonic.
CAMERA ACCESSORIES
Other general things in my camera-related arsenal include:
Extra batteries – Because you can never really have too many! (I always have at least 2-3 batteries with me when I'm traveling.)
SD cards – Most of my current SD cards are SanDisk Extreme Pro cards; for my Sony a7III, I like 128 GB cards.
Filters – I use UV filters to protect all my lenses, and also have a polarizing filter and ND filter, though I admit that I don't use them much!
Remote control – Even though most cameras these days come with apps that let you control them from your phone, sometimes you need a little more control. I have this wireless remote setup, and use it for both long exposures so I don't blur the photo by touching the shutter button, and for taking photos of myself when I'm traveling solo.
LensPen – This marker-sized item is a must-have for anyone with a camera. One end has a brush to remove dirt, dust, and sand, and the other will safely clean your camera’s lens to get rid of smudges and fingerprints.
TRIPODS
My main tripod is the Vanguard VEO 235AB. Vanguard makes a line of travel-friendly tripods (the VEO line), which means they're fairly compact and not *too* heavy. My VEO tripod has helped me photograph waterfalls in Iceland and the Northern Lights in Norway, among other things.
I also have a GorillaPod, a short little tripod with bendy legs that you can wrap around things. This is sometimes more appropriate to carry around since it's lighter and can be used more easily on-the-fly.
(Unless I know I'll be doing night photography, I'm more likely to travel with my GorillaPod than a full-size tripod – but that's just me!)
VIDEO GEAR
GoPro Hero 7 Black
I don't do a ton of video work or vlogging, but I do have fun putting together short videos for Facebook and YouTube every now and then. My go-to for video is currently the GoPro Hero 7 Black.
GoPro introduced a ton a new features in its GoPro 7 model, including a new stabilization feature called “Hypersmooth” that is really incredible.
I also have the following accessories to go along with my GoPro:
GoPro 3-way grip – This was the first “selfie stick” I bought for my GoPro, and it's handy for a variety of situations.
GoPole EVO extendable pole – This see-through, extendable pole is perfect for water activities since it extends to 2 feet AND floats on its own.
Floating grip – This grip floats just like the EVO, but isn't extendable at all. However, it takes up very little extra room in my bag, making it perfect to pack for those “just in case” moments.
I've also got the GoPro Smart Remote, a wrist mount, a head mount (which only Elliot gets to use because my head is too small!), and a suction cup that I've used a couple times to mount my GoPro to a car.
DJI Mavic Air
Yes, Elliot and I got seduced by drone deals a couple years ago, and picked up a Mavic Air. It took us a while to get into it, but Elliot now has his commercial drone license from the FAA, and we've started traveling with it a little more.
Drone footage is fun to have, and I'm hoping to expand some of the services we can offer to brands and destinations to include aerial photo/video work.
Some extra drone accessories we've picked up include an extender mount for Elliot's phone (it just makes everything easier to see/control), and a landing pad that's especially useful in grassy areas.
CAMERA BAG(S)
Pacsafe Camsafe
With a growing amount of camera gear to carry around with me, I decided to invest in a good set of camera bags.
I went with the Pacsafe Camsafe, which is an anti-theft camera backpack that comes in two sizes. The larger bag can hold 25 liters and easily fits all my gear (and then some), while the smaller bag holds 17 liters and is better suited to trips where I'm either not taking an extra lens or not taking GoPro gear.
I actually have BOTH of these backpacks because I couldn't decide which size I would use more often! It turns out that I tend to use the smaller one on shorter trips, and the bigger one on longer trips (like my overland trip in Africa).
Pacsafe makes some incredible bags that are both durable AND functional, and I love having the peace of mind of the anti-theft features like slash-proof material and zipper hooks to make it really tough for anyone to get at my gear.
“Holster” camera bag
When I got my Sony camera, I also purchased a Case Logic “holster”-style camera bag. I'm guilty of often just slinging my camera across my body and letting it bump into anything and everything, and this bag at least saves it from getting banged up.
This style of bag is great for instances when you know you're going to use your camera a lot (and therefore don't want to have to keep digging in/out of a backpack), but don't necessarily want it hanging around your neck.
PHOTO EDITING
I don't do a ton of post-processing on my photos, but I do edit nearly all my images. Sometimes it's as simple as straightening a horizon (I can NOT seem to take a straight photo to save my life) or making a quick crop, and other times I boost the saturation or bring up shadows a bit in order to make my photos match what I saw with my eyes.
My go-to for photo editing is Adobe Lightroom. It gives you all the tools you need to touch up just about any image, and also helps you organize your image library.
You used to be able to purchase Lightroom on its own as a one-time download, but now your best bet is to get a subscription to Adobe's Creative Cloud Photography plan, which gives you access to both Lightroom and Photoshop for $9.99 per month, plus all the updates and new features.
STORAGE
When I'm on the road, I travel with a portable hard drive in order to back up all my photos. I have a “rugged” hard drive called the Buffalo MiniStation Extreme, which is supposed to be able to survive the wear and tear most travel tech faces (i.e. bumps, drops, and general bouncing around). I've had mine for a few years and love how it's performed and held up so far.
Once I get home, I back my photos up online in multiple places. First, I upload all my final images to Dropbox. And then I upload all the images I plan to use on my blog to albums on SmugMug (this is also where you can buy prints from my galleries!).
And there you have it! Everything that helps me take all the photos you see on this site. If you have any other questions about my gear or photos, leave them in the comments below!
Pin it for later:
Amanda Williams is the award-winning blogger behind A Dangerous Business Travel Blog. She has traveled to more than 60 countries on 6 continents from her home base in Ohio, specializing in experiential and thoughtful travel through the US, Europe, and rest of the world. Amanda only shares tips based on her personal experiences and places she's actually traveled!
Awesome post! I recently got my first “grown up” camera and it is pretty intimidating. There is SO much info out there, so many choices…super overwhelming
I know it can definitely be overwhelming! As boring as it sounds, though, I would read the instructions for your camera so you can start to learn what all the buttons and knobs can do. And taking a basic photography course never hurts, either!
I’m considering upgrading my Olympus EM-1 eventually to the Mark II. I’ve only heard great things. I was just thinking that I’d love to have a go-pro for any tropical or travel adventure. I want to starting planning my travel for this year soon.
I use my GoPro all the time in wet and humid places, and it gives me great piece of mind knowing that I don’t have to worry about it dying due to moisture!
I travel with a Sony s7 mirror less with zoom lens and gorilla tripod…but everyone constantly tells me to invest in a go-pro…why do I not?
To be fair, if you don’t currently see a need for a GoPro, then there’s no reason to spend money on one! (But they are great to have for outdoor and water activities!)
Looks like we carry a similarly expansive array of Photo gear. We’re still using the HERO2 we got five years ago, so here’s hoping we win a new one. 😉
“Expansive array” – haha, yup, that pretty much sums it up!
Super comprehensive post, thanks!
I would LOVE to take a GoPro to Norway later this year — I think it would capture the fjords amazingly!
Norway is such a photogenic place!
It would be great to take the GoPro with me on my trip to South Korea in March. Thanks for the post and the opportunity!
Sounds great! Good luck!
I always think your photos look awesome and it’s nice to know you don’t use a DSLR. I’ve been debating for awhile to get a GoPro. I’d love to be able to take some cools shots when I go snorkeling or surfing or ziplining. But I’m always curious how well the mounts work. Like for ziplining…which would you use? And are you confident that it still wouldn’t fall off? That would be the worst – to have it drop in the jungle halfway across a zipline.
There are soooo many GoPro mounts that you could use for zip lining! A helmet or head mount would probably be best, but you could also try a chest or wrist mount. OR, if it’s the kind of zip line where your hands are free most of the time, you could get something like the Bobber and just clip it to your clothes or harness with a good carabiner clip.
Thanks for the chance to win a GoPro! I’d love to use it in the Wadis here in Oman.
That sounds cool! I would love to visit Oman.
Great post Amanda!
You’ll be happy to know that I went ahead and got the 12-40 lens! Looking forward to trying it out in New Zealand next week!! I’ve always been interested in photography but have always been scared of trying things out and stepping into the world of “manual mode” but I hope that will change soon!
What do you make of the wrist mount for the GoPro? I’ve got one but haven’t actually used it yet!
Awesome!! I don’t think you’ll regret that purchase. 🙂 And as for the GoPro wrist mount, I’ve used it for stuff like ziplining and a couple other times where I didn’t have use of my hands to hold anything. It works okay, though it’s not my favorite GoPro accessory!
Thank you for showing us what equipment you use! I was wondering for quite some time what you take such great pictures with!
I have only a Canon mirror camera, that I love.
But I would love to have an additional camera to take better videos, like the GoPro, which I would love to use in my upcoming trip to Morocco and Sahara!
Thank you again! 🙂
Oooo Morocco and the Sahara! That sounds awesome!
Thank you for sharing this helpful post. I’m not really into photography but I’d actually love to be. I do own a DSLR but hardly ever use the manual mode. Shame on me. Anyway, I still love the pictures it takes.
I’m planning on going to Middle/South America after finishing my studies in summer. Hopefully, there will be loads of water activities included so the GoPro would be perfect for me.
There are no rules saying you *have* to use the manual mode, of course! 😉
Would love to win a GoPro – I’ve been debating whether or not I should take the plunge and buy one.
Well maybe you’ll win, and then no plunge will be required! 😉
Great source of information Amanda. I am actually using GoPro (Hero 4 Silver ) and I enjoyed reading your post. Keep sharing.
Love my GoPro Hero 4 Silver! It’s been on a lot of trips with me!
I am going to invest in a new lens this summer and not sure what one to go with. I have a panasonic lumix mirrorless camera… good to know the specs of yours though so I know what to look for!
I’m pretty sure Olympus lenses will work on your camera, too! (I also have a Lumix lens for mine, but I don’t use it much any more.)
Thank you for sharing with us you camera gear! I’m a newbie in the blogging world, and I looove taking pictures. Recently I bought an analogue camera, and it’s so fascinating not knowing how your picture turned out only after a few days 🙂 It would be cool to use a goPro to take some nice adventure-videos 🙂
I love taking pictures, too, even when I’m not traveling!