What’s in my Gear Bag
Whats in my camera bag.
Let’s talk about gear — more specifically, the gear I use to travel with. Here is the inside scoop from a photographer who travels with a full setup.
Camera Body
I use the Canon EOS R6 Mark II Body as my main camera body. Unlike most photographers, I only have 1 body to work with. I will sometimes borrow a Canon EOS R5 body from work, but this is only if it is a slow season.
This camera body has a 24.2 megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor, as well as a DIGIC X image processor with an ISO range of 100–102400.
This camera is a great option for a mirrorless camera to bring when you travel. When there is no grip, it is super lightweight and perfect for a backpack! The price of this camera comes in at around $2,000.
Lens
I have two lenses I absolutely love taking with me. I pick which lens I take based on where I am going. If I am going to be on a trip with more of a city view, New York, Miami, Nashville, etc. , I love to have a smaller, more compact lens. The Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM is a great lightweight option. It truly is the nifty 50 lens.
The other lens, my most favorite lens that I have EVER EVER EVER tried, is the Canon RF 24-105mm f/2.8 L IS USM Z.
This lens is so sharp, so beautiful, and has an amazing range. The only downside to this lens is the size. It is a very large lens for travel and heavy. But the quality of this lens is absolutely perfect. It is super sharp and has a smooth zoom.
Backpack
The backpack I am currently using is made by Brevite. The Brevite The Jumper Photo 2.0 has been with me by my side for the past 6 years, and I am proud to say it is still going strong.
I love this backpack because it is great for both gear and smaller personal items. It has a gear pocket up at the top for snacks, hygiene items, or sometimes I sneak an extra pair of clothes into the top pocket. There is a front and side opening pocket for gear down in the bottom part of the bag. This has Velcro separation dividers, so you can customize your pockets!!
There is also side access to pull your camera out quickly, which is great for travel. There is a laptop space, and I can confirm this does hold a laptop and an iPad at the same time. There is a hidden pocket in the back of the backpack for a wallet, passport, keys, and in my case, a book of my goals, hopes, and dreams that I put in when I got the backpack to pull out and remind me where I came from.
This backpack has a strap on the bottom to hold light stands or a tripod, as well as a strap for a suitcase. It fits well under the seat of an airplane and in my lap in the back seat of a car. This backpack has been all over the place with me. It will hold a hefty amount of gear. I have yet to find anything else that I like more thus far in my journey.
While I got mine 6 years ago, Jimmy and I both have this bag and we both love it! They now have 2 different sizes and so many more colors to choose from! Mine is green, but knowing they have a purple one now, that might be on my wish list! They have a couple different designs, fanny pack styles, and even rain covers for them! Check them out at the link above.
TikTok of me and my backpack!
Whats in my backpack Video:
Camera Strap
I have a Peak Design Slide Camera Strap. I have had so many camera straps as a photographer, and so far this one seems to work great.
I love that the anchors have the ability to come off super easily without much effort. It makes working with different types of straps and tripods so easy when it can just snap on and off. Peak Design is a cool brand because lots of their items have the same base system, so once you have the base, you can switch out straps and other options for how to hold your camera.
I also recently invested in the backpack strap. I am excited to get to hiking season and test this out.
Tripod
The tripod I have used for all of my travel is awesome! I love this one specifically because it folds up onto itself! The MeFOTO RoadTrip Pro Aluminum Series 1 6-in-1 Tripod gets pretty tall for being a travel tripod, and it is lightweight.
The tripod has the ability to get super low shots, as well as being able to hold your phone.
Point and Shoot
I love having a second camera on me! A point-and-shoot camera is a good way to do that! I also love the vibe that mine gives me from being about 10 years old.
The one I use is the Sony Cyber-shot 30x Optical Zoom. This was my old YouTube vlog camera I had when I was a kid, and I still love bringing it with me everywhere!
Lens Filters
Dream Filter:
This filter gives you a little bit of a haze over all of your images. I love my images to look dreamy, and this is how I accomplish that in camera. I love to add to my setup rather than relying fully on edits in post.
I use the Prism Lens FX Dream FX Filter.
ND Filter:
All photographers!!! This should be something that is in your kit!!! I held off for so long on purchasing this filter, but I have never been happier that I did.
I use the K&F Concept Nano-B Series 82mm Variable ND2-400 Filter. What I enjoy about this filter is that it has a range. I can adjust it for whatever I am shooting.
Lighting
Sometimes we want to bring a light on location. When we do this, we often opt for a Godox AD300Pro or a Godox AD100Pro. These two lights are so lightweight to use and bring with you. I can stick one in the top part of my backpack and it will be ready to go! Just a heads up, airport security will stop you every time haha.
We have this kit and most of the time just bring 1 light from it.
Tik Tok Video example of lighting with this light on location:
Laptop
For my laptop, I have a MacBook Pro 16-inch. This works perfectly for what I need to do. I have a larger screen for editing, and it is still travel approved.
I carry a lot of things with me while I travel, but I always make some awesome memories, and hopefully a beautiful image, along the way!
This also just goes to show you that you do not have to have the most to make something awesome!