I think we are all hopeful that some sense of normalcy will return sooner rather than later. And there is some evidence to support some parts of the world are on the right path. If you happen to be fortunate enough to be in one of those areas—or are looking to do a safe trip to a spacious area far from others – travel-specific equipment is something to think about.
Coming from The Hybrid Shooter, we have a great list of camera accessories that will help you travel with camera equipment. His standards for travel are that it is portable, compatible, and/or time-saving. Considering many of us haven’t been able to travel for so long just doing some planning and thinking about what you might do on your next photo expedition could be a good exercise for your own well-being.
I’m just going to warn you upfront, this is a rapid-fire list of items to consider. Some of the selections are things you probably have an equivalent of already.
Others you might not have thought of before. In either case, just think about all of these as examples or suggestions for your own kit.
1. iFootage Gezelle TC5S-Uprise Tripod with Komodo K5 Head
The iFootage Gezelle TC5S is a nice tripod, especially for video. It’s also fairly small and lightweight for what it offers. The Komodo K5 fluid head solidifies its place in a video kit with nice smooth movements and all the adjustments you need.
It’s not the absolutely smallest, but having all the options you might want is key for many shooters, especially the bowl for leveling the head. Don’t sacrifice functionality and build just to save a few pounds. This one even comes with a nice travel bag.
2. Manfrotto Befree Advanced Travel Tripod
An alternative tripod, or one more geared towards still photography, is the Manfrotto Befree Advanced. It is much smaller and lighter, but the ball head has less functionality for video shooters.
Also, you can get it in aluminum or carbon fiber, depending on your budget and weight concerns. It’s a great model, though you’ll probably want to get the MSQ6T Arca-Type Quick Release Adapter so it works with standard plates and accessories. If you want some good, small plates are the Peak Design Standard Plates.
3. SmallRig 2280 Arca-Swiss Quick Release
Piggybacking off the last items, the SmallRig 2280 Arca-Swiss Quick Release Clamp can help you standardize all your products to Arca-type mounting. Highly recommended and definitely part of the idea of making sure all your gear is compatible.
4. SmallRig Smartphone Holder
For mounting any phone – either vertically or horizontally – you can’t go wrong with the SmallRig BSP2415 Universal Smartphone Holder. Solid metal construction and an Arca-type mounting capability are huge advantages over many competitors.
5. Peak Design Everyday Backpack 20L V2
Backpacks are still go-to choices for travel, and the Peak Design Everyday Backpack is still one of the best for photographers. Super modular and very protective of your equipment, the Peak Design is very functional. Also, it was just upgraded to V2, which addresses many of the complaints people had with the first generation. I personally still use the V1 and love it.
6. Peak Design Everyday Backpack Zip
A smaller alternative for shorter trips or a day trip is the Peak Design Everyday Backpack Zip. It still has a lot of the same tech, such as side access, but the top is a zipper instead of the expandable mag-latch system of the bigger Everyday Backpacks.
7. PGYTECH Carry Cases
Organizing things like cables and adapters still requires some smaller organizers, which is where the PGYTECH Carry Cases come in handy. They are harder cases, so they will hold up to more bumping around and keep your smaller stuff safe and organized.
8. Screen Protector
Not much to say here, though the recommendation is a JJC Screen Protector.
9. Zhiyun-Tech WEEBILL-S Gimbal Stabilizer
Here’s a fun one, the Zhiyun WEEBILL-S Gimbal Stabilizer. Small enough to fit in a backpack and yet perfectly functional with a Sony a7 III or a Fujifilm X-T4. It’s a small gimbal that works well that is an invaluable addition to a mobile filmmaker’s kit. When you get it, make sure to pick up a SmallRig DBC2506 Clamp to make it Arca-type compatible.
10. Fast USB-C Chargers
Move over to USB-C if you can. They offer plenty of advantages and hopefully you can standardize all your devices to it soon. Recommended are the Baseus 65W GaN Charger along with a Baseus 100W 10Gb/s Cable. They are much smaller than those that come with Apple products and they will charge them just as fast.
There are multiple ports to charge up multiple things at once. To get rid of your bulky chargers that come with your camera you can pick up alternatives, such as the NITECORE USN4 for Sony NP-FZ100. It is available for other brands and even has more functionality.
11. Peak Design Slide Lite Strap
For carrying the camera when you are actually shooting, you can’t go wrong with the Peak Design Slide Lite for mirrorless. It’s lightweight and quickly attaches and detaches using Peak’s proprietary anchors. Also, these will attach to the standard plates mentioned earlier for another mounting setup.
12. Variable ND Filters
Cut down on how many filters you need in your pack with a single, excellent variable ND filter. There are a ton to choose from, but the Freewell All-Day Variable ND is a great recommendation. They are optically great, affordable, and have hard stops so you don’t go beyond the range.
13. Moza Slypod
Motorized sliders are super helpful for getting smooth movements, especially on a tripod. A newer take on this is the Moza Slypod, available in a carbon fiber model or an aluminum E variant. These both can serve as a boom or slider when their ability to slowly extend or retract. Just don’t put too much weight on them.
14. Fast Memory Cards
Using fast, high-quality UHS-II or UHS-I (depending on your camera’s speeds) SD cards is something you can’t overlook. There are a bunch of reliable brands, but if you want a recommendation the SanDisk Extreme Pro line is a long-time classic.
15. PolarPro Slate Card Case
What good is a bunch of fast memory cards if you lose them or can’t find them. The PolarPro Slate is a sleek-looking case that will hold up to 8 SD cards with ease, as well as 16 microSD. Keep your data safe!
Wow. That’s a lot of gear to go through. I’m confident whether you are an experienced travel photographer or a brand-new shooter you’ll find something here to consider getting for yourself.
[source: The Hybrid Shooter]
Order Links:
- iFootage Gezelle TC5S-Uprise Tripod (B&H, Amazon)
- iFootage Komodo K5 Fluid Head (B&H)
- Manfrotto Befree Advanced Travel Tripod (B&H, Amazon)
- Manfrotto MSQ6T Arca-Type Quick Release Adapter (B&H, Amazon)
- Peak Design Standard Plate (B&H, Amazon)
- SmallRig 2280 Arca-Swiss Quick Release System (B&H, Amazon)
- SmallRig BSP2415 Universal Smartphone Holder (Amazon)
- Peak Design Everyday Backpack v2 (B&H, Amazon)
- Peak Design Everyday Backpack Zip (B&H, Amazon)
- PGYTECH Mini Carrying Case (B&H, Amazon)
- PGYTECH Carrying Case (B&H, Amazon)
- JJC Screen Protector for Sony a7 III (Amazon)
- Zhiyun-Tech WEEBILL-S Handheld Gimbal Stabilizer (B&H, Amazon)
- SmallRig DBC2506 Arca-Type Clamp (B&H)
- Baseus 65W GaN USB-C Charger (Amazon)
- Baseus 100W 10Gb/s USB-C Cable (Amazon)
- NITECORE USN4 Pro Charger for Sony NP-FZ100 (Amazon)
- Peak Design Slide Lite Strap (B&H, Amazon)
- Freewell All-Day Variable ND Filter (B&H, Amazon)
- Moza Slypod (B&H, Amazon)
- Moza Slypod E (B&H, Amazon)
- SanDisk Extreme PRO UHS-I SD Cards (B&H, Amazon)
- SanDisk Extreme PRO UHS-II SD Cards (B&H, Amazon)
- PolarPro SD Edition Slate Memory Card Case (B&H, Amazon)
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate partner and participant in B&H and Adorama Affiliate programmes, we earn a small comission from each purchase made through the affiliate links listed above at no additional cost to you.
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