Best Travel Photography Gear Guide
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One of the questions we get asked the most, especially on Instagram, is what travel photography gear we use! We take our photos ourselves, so that means we travel with our gear too.
This travel photography gear guide contains all of the items we carry with us in our camera bag when we travel. These items are travel-friendly, lightweight, and versatile. We even hike with most of these items! This list is great for both couples and solo traveler photography.
Whether you’re a seasoned travel photographer, or just getting started, you’ll want to be sure to grab a FREE downloadable PDF of this comprehensive Photography Gear List at the end of the post!
Travel Photography Gear At-A-Glance
Cameras for Travel Photography
Camera Lenses for Travel Photography
Travel Camera Gear and Accessories
Cleaning Gear
Photo Storage and Editing
Cameras for Travel Photography
1. Camera Body
Capture unforgettable moments during your travels with a reliable camera. Whether you prefer a DSLR for professional-quality photos or a compact point-and-shoot for convenience, having a camera allows you to document your adventures and create lasting memories.
The Sony A7R III is a standout camera thanks to its high-resolution 42.4MP sensor, fast autofocus system, and ability to shoot at up to 10 frames per second. Its in-body image stabilization also ensures sharp photos, making it an excellent choice for photographers of all levels.
Our Pick
2. Action Camera
We recommend an action camera for capturing your moments mountain biking, scuba diving or snorkeling, sailing, etc. while on your travels!
Experience the unmatched speed and effortless operation of the HERO10 Black camera, GoPro’s most potent offering yet. Powered by the revolutionary GP2 chip, it ensures seamless recording of every breathtaking moment in impeccable clarity and smoothness.
Our Pick
3. 360-Degree Camera
Even though GoPro has a 360-degree camera, we found the Insta360 to be a much easier tool to use for capturing epic 360 shots. We love how we can easily get videos of us walking together that look like someone else took them thanks to the invisible selfie stick.
Capture the moment instantly and frame it later with the Insta360 X3. This versatile 360-degree camera empowers you to seize the perfect action shot effortlessly. With its durable design, it’s primed for all your outdoor escapades, ready to accompany you on any adventure.
Our Pick
4. Drone
Having a drone in our travel camera gear bag is a game changer for capturing aerial shots and getting a different perspective. Having a drone can completely transform your experience of a place!
Elevate your aerial photography and videography experience with the advanced Mavic 3 Pro Drone Fly More Combo with RC, featuring a state-of-the-art triple-camera system designed to overwhelm your senses and deliver next-level imaging performance.
Our Pick
Lenses
5. Prime lens
Prime lenses feature a fixed focal length, meaning no zooming in or out. However, they excel in specific photography niches, such as portraits, landscapes, and low-light situations.
Experience unparalleled image quality with the Sony Sonnar T* E 24mm f/1.8 Lens. It delivers exceptional clarity and vibrancy, perfect for low-light photography with its large f/1.8 aperture. From portraits to landscapes, this lens is a commitment to perfection in every shot, making it an ideal prime lens for travel photography.
Our Pick
6. Wide Angle Lens
A wide lens ensures that no matter where you are or what the scene is, you can capture it in its entirety.
I recommend the Ultra-wide F2.8 12-24mm zoom lens! With its wide-angle view and constant F2.8 aperture, it’s perfect for capturing landscapes, night scenes, and architecture with stunning detail.
You’ll get sharp, clear photos even in challenging lighting conditions. Plus, it’s lightweight and easy to carry, making it great for outdoor adventures.
Our Pick
7. Telephoto/Zoom Lens
A telephoto lens allows you to capture distant subjects with clarity and detail, enhancing the versatility of your travel photography by bringing faraway scenes closer.
The E 70-350mm f/4.5-6.3 G OSS Lens offers a lightweight design and versatile focal length range of 70-350mm (105-525mm full-frame equivalent), making it ideal for wildlife, sports, and portrait photography. With advanced optical elements, precise autofocus, and dust and moisture resistance, it ensures sharp, professional-grade images in various shooting conditions.
Our Pick
Gear and Accessories
8. Camera Bag
This camera backpack has dedicated pockets for laptops up to 14″, a spacious upper compartment for clothes, and durable splash-proof nylon material for added protection.
With quick body-side access and removable dividers, it offers convenience and stronger protection for your gear.
Designed to hold 1 DSLR camera, 1 lens, and other photography essentials, it transitions seamlessly between a camera bag and a casual backpack.
Our Pick
9. Tripod
Stabilize your shots and achieve steady, clear images with a tripod. Whether you’re capturing landscapes, group photos, or long exposures, a tripod provides stability and versatility.
Peak Design 5-Section Aluminum Travel Tripod with Ball Head offers pro-level stability while packing down to the diameter of a water bottle. With lightning-fast deployment, ergonomic adjustment points, and durable construction backed by a lifetime guarantee, it’s designed for travel, making it the ultimate companion for photographers.
Our Pick
10. Neutral Density Filter
A neutral density (ND) filter reduces the amount of light entering the camera lens without affecting the color or hue of the image. This allows you to use slower shutter speeds or wider apertures in bright conditions, enabling creative effects such as motion blur in moving subjects or shallower depth of field in daylight.
When purchasing an ND filter, consider the filter thread size, which corresponds to the diameter of your camera lens.
To ensure compatibility, you’ll need to choose an ND filter with a thread size that matches your lens’s diameter or invest in step-up or step-down rings to adapt the filter to different lens sizes.
Our Pick
11. Camera Strap
A camera strap provides comfort, security, accessibility, and versatility, ensuring your camera is readily available while reducing the risk of accidental drops or fatigue during extended use.
The Nocs Provisions Woven Tapestry Strap, featuring a stylish tapestry motif and user-friendly design with universal attachment points, serves as an ideal accessory for any camera or pair of binoculars.
Our Pick
12. Camera Clip
The Peak Design Capture 3.0 camera clip offers a completely revamped design that ensures maximum security, convenience, and accessibility for carrying your camera with ease.
I attach mine to my hiking backpack which makes carrying my camera so much more comfortable on hikes.
Our Pick
13. Power Bank
Being able to keep your camera gear charged up while traveling is key! After all, if your camera battery is dead, you can’t take any photos…
We recommend the BioLite Charge 80 PD Power Bank, which has multiple USB ports to charge several devices at once.
Our Pick
Cleaning Gear
14. Lens Cloth
Keep your camera and binocular lenses pristine with the Nikon Lens Cleaning cloth, crafted from soft, anti-static microfiber that’s gentle and safe for all glass surfaces, including eyewear.
Our Pick
15. Air Blower
NiSi K-02 Cleaning Kit for a comprehensive solution for maintaining pristine camera lenses and filter glass. This durable and portable kit includes an air blower to dislodge debris and a dual-purpose lens cleaning pen to remove smudges, ensuring crystal-clear optical surfaces.
Our Pick
Photo Storage and Editing
16. Memory Cards
Ensure you have enough memory cards to store all your photos and videos. Choose high-capacity, high-speed cards to avoid running out of storage space and to ensure smooth performance when shooting.
Capture everything with the SanDisk Extreme PRO UHS-I card, with fast transfer speeds of up to 170 MB/s, making it perfect for professionals in fast-paced environments.
Our Pick
17. Memory Card Reader
Depending on your laptop, you might need to get an external card reader that plugs into your computer. My MacBook doesn’t have a built-in card reader, so I use a memory card reader to get my photos onto my laptop for editing in Lightroom.
Our Pick
18. External Hard Drive
In addition to cloud storage, I recommend backing up and organizing your files on an external hard drive. This way you have a backup of your precious files. These are your travel memories, so you don’t want to risk losing them!
Our Pick
19. Lightroom Presets
We’re biased, but we think you should use ours! Click the image below to check them out!
Level Up Your Travel Photography
Get our Lightroom Presets
Transform your photos into cherished memories in just a few clicks!
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