Going on vacation or business trip and want to photograph every day of your adventure for future memories? There are quite a few things you would need to take with you in order to avoid that disappointing “oops” moment when an important piece of gear or accessory is missing. To avoid such predicaments we have compiled a list of must-have things you need to take with you. Gear up!
Camera
Of course, that would be obvious. When traveling the best camera to take with you would be the one of less weight and size. So far the best cameras that would fit this parameter would be Sony a7 (full sensor) or Sony a6300 (crop sensor). These cameras are pretty sturdy, light, and small. Yet they provide an amazing quality, at times better than DSLRs of their level and price range.
Lenses
The number and types of lenses will vary greatly depending on what you will shoot. The best choice is to take three lenses to cover all possible scenario:
Wide Lens – 10-20mm, in case you would do astrophotography or landscape photography.
Zoom Lens – 20-120mm, your go to choice as it usually covers most common scenarios when you would pull out your camera.
Zoom Lens – 70-200mm, for micro photography or when you are shooting objects from very far away.
Laptop
The photos you capture are better off to be transferred to the hard drive or laptop just to keep it safe. Plus, if you need light processing on the go, then laptop is your savior. Many laptops like MacBook Air are now so small and lightweight that it would be a sin not take it with you on a trip.
Charger + Batteries
Having additional 3-4 batteries for your camera is a must when you are shooting outdoors for the entire day and have no access to electricity. Once the chance arrives to recharge, use multiple chargers at once to save time.
Memory Cards
This one is also given – you got to have at least two extra SD cards to stay on a safe side. Since it is very easy to loose an SD card due to its small size, it is advisable to purchase a case to store those cards safely.
Travel Camera Backpack
With a lot of gear compiled on each other, the use of a regular backpack becomes a poor choice. I personally encountered so many instances when I tried to pull one thing out of my backpack and had to take half of it out in the process. Travel camera backpacks on the other hand are made for this situation. It provides an easy access to every piece of the gear and balances out the weight on your shoulders so you can travel longer distances and take fewer breaks.
USB Car Charger
Nowadays it is normal to rent out a car right out the airport. While some cars would have one or two USB slots already implemented, many rental car companies still provide old models without any slots. In this case take the USB charger that goes directly into a round car charger. Many USB chargers have 3-4 slots on it which provides more capability for you.
Portable Charger / Battery Pack
This charger is always handy as it provides you with electric power regardless how far you are from civilization. A lot of battery packs are splash proof, sturdy, and come with multiple USB slots.
Portable SSD Drive
The reason why you want to go SSD as opposed to HD is its durability. While you always need a separate storage device to backup all photos on it, HD might face difficulties while you are on hike due to excessive movement and shaking. Being relatively inexpensive already, you can get away with 1TB SSD for about 200 bucks or less.
Rain sleeve
While it is nice to heave a weatherproof camera and lenses, sometimes it is necessary to protect camera gear when shooting in wet conditions. This is the time when the rain sleeve comes into play. It is dirt cheap yet can save thousands of dollars of moisture sensitive equipment.
Microfiber Cloth + Lens Cleaner
When traveling, you will need good quality microfiber cloth and a liquid solution to properly clean lenses and filters. Make sure to place the lens spray in a plastic container when going through airports.
Lens Filters
If you are serious about landscape photography, you need to get yourself a reliable filter set that you can use in the field.
Travel Tripod
Lightweight is the key. Get a tripod that would weigh no more than 1 kilo, so it will not jeopardize your mobility.