What is in our Camera Bag?
As passionate travel content creators, we are often asked on Instagram what equipment we use for our photos and Reels. We want to clarify this with this post and show you what is in our camera bag. The products shown here are perfect for beginners and amateur photographers but are also more than sufficient for professional photography. It always depends on what you do with the equipment. Even the most expensive equipment is useless if you don’t know how to use it.
We only started buying professional equipment in 2021, before that we took all our photos with our cell phone. A product that is regularly updated and is still used for all our Reels. So far, we have hardly updated our equipment, only constantly expanded it. It is still perfect for our purposes and can certainly serve as inspiration if you want to take your photo and video game to the next level.
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Camera Body
Sony Alpha 7 iii (Click here if you buy from —> Germany, United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, France)
It all started with the camera in 2021. After some research, we finally decided on the Sony Alpha 7iii. The camera is the best beginner full frame camera and therefore the perfect introduction to photography and a purchase that is still worthwhile. The Sony Alpha 7iii is one of the best hybrid cameras with a very good image quality for both photos and videos and many helpful functions. In addition, it is not really heavy and compact, which makes it perfect to take anywhere and for the price there is no comparable quality. The only camera that can beat it is the update, the Sony Alpha 7 IV, but this is also more expensive. However, if you happen to find a good deal here, or if you are prepared to spend the extra money, I can also recommend it to you.
Camera Lenses
A camera is nothing without its lenses. We have a lens for a wide range of situations, from low focal length (11mm) to very high focal length (600mm), so that all eventualities are covered. I have opted for both Tamron and Sigma lenses. In our opinion, they offer the best price-performance ratio. All deliver very good performance, very sharp images, they are light, so perfect for traveling and at a reasonable price. So again, the perfect choice for beginners. I would always prefer them to the very expensive and heavy Sony models, which are not always better in terms of quality.
Tamron 11-20mm f/2.8 Di III-A RXD (Click here if you buy from —> Germany, United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, France)
We bought this ultra-wide-angle zoom lens as our second lens. Perfect for taking pictures of buildings, landscape photography and real estate videos. With the 11mm you can even stand very close to a building and still get it completely in frame. It is also particularly suitable for real estate videography if you want to show the interiors in their entirety. As already described, the image is always razor sharp and we are very satisfied.
Tamron 28-200mm f/2.8-5.6 Di III RXD (Click here if you buy from —> Germany, United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, France)
This was our first lens and it is still the one that is mainly on the camera because it simply covers the usual focal lengths. It has a super wide range of up to 200mm, which makes it the ideal travel lens for spontaneously photographing a wide variety of scenes and sights without having to think too much about it and never having to compromise on quality. The large zoom also allows you to capture the perfect compositions. High quality and very affordable.
Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS SPORT (Click here if you buy from —> Germany, UK, Italy, Spain, France)
The superzoom lens is perfect for wildlife photography of all kinds. When deciding which superzoom lens to buy, I opted for the Sigma version after some deliberation. Here too, the only competitor was the Tamron version (150-500mm). Although this is somewhat lighter overall, the additional 100mm was the deciding factor for me. Overall, however, both are quite similar in terms of image quality and price. Both have their pros and cons. I would recommend looking at reviews of them to help you decide which one to buy.
Tripod
I myself have a tripod from ROXTAK, a gift that I am still very happy with three years later. It is very stable, can be extended up to 2M, has a 360 degree horizontal and 90 degree vertical swivel platform, can be folded into a compact unit or into a selfie stick. However, the product is no longer available to buy from Amazon. But I can definitely recommend the tripods from K&F Concept, especially the K&F Concept K254C2. Here you get top quality at a low price, perfect for beginners.
Camera Gimbal
DJI RSC 2 (Click here if you buy from —> Germany, United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, France)
The DJI RSC 2 is also the result of extensive research into camera gimbals and the only product I bought second-hand, as I knew I wouldn’t be using it often. However, it is very powerful, so even with fast movements shake-free shots are guaranteed. Its foldable design makes it easy to transport and quick to set up. A wide variety of camera systems weighing up to 3 kg can be placed on it without any problems. It also offers many creative functions and modes that can be easily operated via the OLED screen. The gimbal therefore combines professional features with user-friendliness and, in our opinion, is the perfect way to get started in videography.
Camera Backpack
K&F Concept 33L Pro Large Camera Backpack
This backpack offers space for all the camera equipment you need to take with you on trips and hikes. I’m still discovering new bags that I haven’t seen before. With its multiple compartments it can hold for example 2 DSLR or mirrorless cameras, 6 lenses, camera flash, accessories and a laptop/iPad. But you can of course customize the compartments as you wish and also place drones, gimbals or other camera accessories such as a cleaning kit in there. There is also enough space for your tripod, spare sweater, water bottles or other small items. There are no limits to your creativity when it comes to the layout. The backpack is also very comfortable to carry and looks good too. An absolute recommendation for the price.
Camera ND Filter
K&F Concept Variable ND Filter (ND8-ND128 or ND2-400)
ND (neutral density) filters are like sunglasses for your camera. If it is particularly bright, but you still want to take photos with a long exposure time (e.g. waterfalls) or shoot videos (180 degree rule), you can’t avoid an ND filter. Here I swear by the K&F Concept brand, as they generally offer very good quality at reasonable prices. In my opinion, they offer the best price-performance ratio. However, there are many different ND levels, depending on how bright it is. As I didn’t want to buy a separate ND filter for every scenario (cumbersome and too expensive), I ordered a variable ND filter that covers the entire range from ND8-ND128. This is perfectly adequate for everyday use. However, there are also ND filters with a wider range. Depending on your preferences you can also choose the ND2-400.
Depending on the environment and situation, a UV filter for the camera can also be useful. This protects the lens from dust, moisture, fingerprints and scratches without impairing the image. The actual function of absorbing UV light is actually no longer necessary with full-frame cameras, so I would only get it to protect the lens if at all.
SD Cards
SanDisk Extreme MicroSDXC 128GB and 256GB (Click here if you buy from —> Germany, UK, Italy, Spain, France)
The perfect memory card for your photo and video activities. I would go for the 256GB, as it is comparatively much cheaper than the 128GB version. It can be used for both cameras and drones. It offers extensive storage space, fast read and write speeds, supports 4K recording and is also super affordable. Its water, shock and temperature resistance makes it the perfect companion when traveling.
External Hard Drive
WD My Passport 2 TB (Click here if you buy from —> Germany, United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, France)
The hard drive has a large storage capacity and is comparatively inexpensive. It is also compact and lightweight, making it perfect for traveling, but still robustly built. Fast USB 3.0 interface and compatible with various operating systems. I would buy it again and again, just like the sd cards. If the “My Passport” version is not available, you can also go for the WD Elements Hard Drive.
Drones
DJI Mavic 2 Pro (Click here if you buy from —> Germany, United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, France)
This was my entry into the world of drones in 2021. Although this is a pro drone, it is really very easy to use. It is very wind-stable, has extensive safety features, a long flight time and basically offers the same features as its successor, the DJI Mavic 3 Pro. However, the video quality and image quality have been improved once again. However, the price is also significantly higher. Both drones are really very good and you can decide which one you would like to buy based on your preferences and planned use. For professional horizontal shots, you won’t find anything better for the price. However, if you want to focus exclusively on Instagram reels or just do it for fun, I recommend my latest purchase, the DJI Mini 4 Pro.
DJI Mini 4 Pro (Click here if you buy from —> Germany, United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, France)
The DJI Mini 4 Pro is the ultimate travel drone and also my latest purchase. I got it because I currently only upload content to Instagram and TikTok and therefore wanted to take vertical shots. With the DJI Mavic 2 Pro, you always had to crop the shots, which led to a considerable loss of quality. The DJI Mini 4 Pro is also much lighter and you don’t need a drone license.
The price is also very reasonable. You can get the Fly More combination with 3 batteries for around 1000 USD. Despite the low price and small size, you get razor-sharp image quality in 4K for top results. Most travel bloggers are currently using this model for their Reels and I can only recommend it to you if you want to start taking your travel photography to the next level. Not only suitable for (aspiring) travel bloggers, but also for private family vacations to capture the most beautiful moments from previously inaccessible perspectives.
Drone Accessories
ND Filter DJI Mavic 2 Pro (Click here if you buy from —> Germany, United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, France)
ND filters are an indispensable feature when you buy a drone. As it can get very bright, especially in videos, due to the 180 degree rule, you need protection from the sun. ND filters are just that, they act as sunglasses for your drone and protect your footage from overexposure. Four different strengths can be used depending on the sunlight (ND4 – ND32). I own the ND filters from DJI myself, but you can also use the ones from Fstop Labs, PolarPro oder other brands. These also often times include three polarizing filters. Those filters enhance the colors, reduce reflections and thus contribute to better image quality.
Just as described above, K&F Concept impresses with its outstanding quality at an affordable price. Absolutely one of my favorite brands and I also got a very good deal on the ND filters for my latest drone. There are various ND filter packages for this drone. However, I opted for the 5 ND filters from ND 8 to ND 128 and the additional polarizing filter. I’ve never had anything like this before and really wanted to try it out. This is there to intensify the colors and reduce unwanted light or water reflections, which improves the overall image quality.
Videography (Reels & TikTok)
iPhone 13 (Click here if you buy from –> Germany, United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, France)
I almost exclusively use my cell phone, the regular iPhone 13, for the reels, but I also use drone videos from time to time. However, the cell phone is the easiest and most uncomplicated way to capture various moments on my travels as they happen, quickly and without much preparation. The cell phone is light, can be quickly taken out of your pocket and now also makes more than enough high-quality videos for social media purposes. However, I would recommend the Pro version if you want to specialize in social media. So either the iPhone 13 Pro, or the iPhone 15 Pro and always with recordings in 4K quality, even if it unfortunately consumes a lot of storage space. We will probably also be upgrading our phone at the end of the year.
DJI Osmo Mobile 6 (Click here if you buy from –> Germany, United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, France)
I still use the old DJI Osmo Mobile 4 from 2020 as a gimbal. It still works, but I would recommend the latest version, the DJI Osmo Mobile 6. It’s really not expensive and offers state-of-the-art technology paired with a compact design for perfect image stabilization on the go.
Conclusion
I have selected the products mentioned here very carefully and after extensive research. In general, you should always think carefully about such an investment in camera equipment. What suits you and your plans, etc. Do you just want to do it as a hobby or professionally? The products shown here are suitable for all beginners who want to get deeper into photography and no longer just want to take photos/film with their cell phone. But many of these products are also more than adequate for professional purposes.
I hope I have been able to inspire you a little and help you with your purchase decision. If you have already made your decision and would like to buy one of the products, I would be very happy if you could do so via one of the links. We will then receive a small commission and nothing will change for you. Thank you very much for your support! We appreciate it very much.