The Camera Gear I Keep in my Bag

I get asked a lot what kind of camera gear I use and the short answer is: it depends.

I am going to spend a little time talking about what cameras I use and why. Hopefully, it will help you if you are looking to make a camera purchase in the future.

Camera Gear Misconceptions and Choices

But first, let me clear up some misconceptions:

1. The camera does not make the photographer.
2. There is no best camera, there is only the best camera for the moment.
3. Megapixels are not the be all, end all of digital camera specs.
4. There is always a compromise when it comes to cameras. Always.
5. For my older readers: the camera on your new iPhone is better than the five-year-old point and shoot camera you bought on Black Friday for less than $100. It is. Recycle that thing.

The first thing you should consider when it comes to a camera for travel is what are you going to use it for? Are you looking to shoot wildlife? Birds? Landscapes? Selfies in front of every landmark you visit?

Next, how do you travel? Are you a hard-core backpack around the world type? No checked luggage kinda person? Seventeen wheeled bags with your own personal porter? Do you road trip and have plenty of room for a full set up? This is a huge consideration in terms of camera selection.

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Updated August 2023

The DSLR

I travel with two, often three cameras on every trip. For road trips, I take a Canon EOS 7D MkII.

I chose this camera as an upgrade over my old and broken Canon EOS 40D for a couple of reasons.

One, the camera has GPS. I really like having a GPS record of where I took my shots. I know there are other devices which can accomplish the same thing, but why carry another device if you don’t have to.

Two, this camera is an upgrade in terms of all of the major specs of the camera over the 40D and its most recent successors. The shutter is faster, the sensor is better, the controls are better and more customizable and it has weatherproofing.

I use this camera when I am on road trips, shooting wildlife, or anything that requires a tripod. While I rarely fly with this camera, I do have a camera backpack which I can use in conjunction with other luggage. Basically, it means I must check a bag.

The camera performs like a champ. It has three custom features, which I have set up for wildlife shots, high dynamic range photography and low light photography.

I typically buy my camera equipment from Amazon. One, they have an outstanding return policy and, two, as a Prime member, I get free shipping.

One piece of advice when purchasing electronics or other appliances: use a credit card which grants an extended warranty. That can save you a lot of money and heartache if something happens to your camera.

Disadvantages of a DSLR

The three big disadvantages of a DSLR, any DSLR, are cost, weight and amount of space the system takes up. DSLRs are expensive, costing at least a $1,000 for a quality camera body, and the lenses just add on to the cost. Getting professional quality lenses add significantly to the cost.

My advice: once you pick a system, camera-wise, stick with it. Reason? Lenses. Lenses cost thousands of dollars and are where your money is really invested. A good lens will last you a lot of camera bodies.

While lenses do retain some resale value, switching camera systems (going from Canon to Nikon or Sony) will cost you a lot in the long run.

Lenses

The best part about a DSLR is there is no limit to your selection of lenses. You can pack whatever lenses you need for your specific purpose.

I typically carry a wide-angle lens, a mid-range or walk around lens and long telephoto lens for wildlife. Usually, I also carry a 50mm prime lens for low-light photography. If you are unsure about which lens to buy or if it will work for you, I highly suggest you rent the lens first before you buy it!

Canon had moved away from DSLR cameras and moved toward mirrorless.Those cameras are great, as are the lenses specifically made for them, but they still have full frame camera bodies which take the EOS lenses.

Camera Bags for my DSLR

In terms of weight, you will quickly figure out that a DSLR plus lenses will occupy a lot of space in your bags and will weigh even more. That’s why I don’t backpack with my DSLR.

I have two camera bags for this camera: a large Canon shoulder bag and a Lowepro backpack.

This Canon bag holds my DSLR and my waterproof camera, plus all of my other camera gear. It makes for a very convenient one bag to grab and go. The backpack can take both my DSLR and my bridge camera but not all of the accessories. I use the backpack primarily for travel by airplane but I can be used to hike gear into a remote spot.

The Bridge Camera

Canon SX70HS

For international travel and for hiking, I used to use the Canon SX40HS, a bridge camera or superzoom. The camera is a hybrid between a point and shoot and a DSLR, with a fixed 35x power zoom lens. The newest model of the camera, the SX70HS, has a 65x zoom. Bear in mind, this is all-optical zoom. Digital zoom is a no-no.

Here is what I like about the form of the bridge camera: the controls are fairly familiar, it is very versatile for the cost and it is lightweight! The camera weighs less than 1.5 pounds, compared to nearly 2 pounds for the camera body alone on a DSLR. That makes it really easy to take on a long hike.

The zoom lens on the camera is a marvel of optics technology and gives great images. No, it is not as good as a professional lens, but it also doesn’t weigh or cost as much either. The image quality on the SX40HS is very good, not as good as the 7D MkII, but it does turn out some very nice shots.

My only other gripe is the electronic viewfinder… not a fan at all. I end up using the back screen as opposed to the viewfinder.

Sony RX 10 Mk IV

I bought the Sony Cyber-shot RX10 IV back in 2020. Both the lens and sensor are a huge improvement over the SX40, even with the sacrifice of some of the zoom capability. That said, it weighs 68 percent more (39 oz vs 23 oz) and costs about $1,000 more.

This camera is amazing! To be honest, this is the best travel camera I have ever used. My DSLR now spends a lot more time in the bag because I can get just as good of images and only grab this one camera.

Check out my review of the Sony RX10 IV here.

While this camera is certainly not cheap, it has been well worth it for me. If you were going to only get one camera, this is the one you should get.

Camera Bag for the Bridge Camera

I would love to recommend a bag to you for the SX70HS or RX10, but sadly, Lowepro no longer makes the particular bag I have. The closest I can find is the Nova 180 AW II.

Waterproof Camera

We recently got a waterproof camera for a kayaking trip we didn’t end up taking. Since then, I have been looking for an excuse to use our Fuji FinePix XP120 (the newest model is the XP140). We finally got our chance in the Bahamas.

The camera has a 5x zoom lens in a waterproof up to 65 feet package. The camera is small, easy to pack and performs well. I am still getting the hang of it but the price is not bad at all.

We also got a waterproof float strap for it in case we dropped it in the water. The strap will keep the camera afloat.

The Camera on Your Phone

The last camera I have is my iPhone. We make a point to keep our iPhones relatively up-to-date. Why? Because I always have it with me. Out to dinner with Bonnie? I have my phone. On a hike? The same.

Pro Tip: One of the best pieces of advice when it comes to cameras: the best camera is the one you have with you.

I have found the iPhone to be one of the better landscape cameras you can carry, especially when you consider the panoramic mode. Add in a plethora of camera apps and even lens attachments which expand the capabilities of the device further.

The addition of a telephoto lens to the newer iPhone models has made it even more versatile. We have the iPhone 12 Pro and it has a 2x zoom as well as a regular lens and a wide-angle lens. We are able to get great portraits and really nice wildflower shots with it, not to mention being able to zoom in on a subject with a phone.

While the iPhone (or most high-end smartphones) are highly-convenient and lightweight, the lack of versatility and the lack of dedicated physical controls prevent them from being a true camera replacement for wildlife or advanced photography.

Check out my article on iPhone photography for beginners.

Camera Accessories

Here are a few camera accessories I use on a regular basis.

I prefer sling straps to normal camera straps. I would much rather place the weight of the camera on my shoulder rather than my neck. For my DSLR, I have the waka Sling Strap. This strap is comfy, easily adjustable on the fly and has it a zippered pocket for additional memory cards.

For my bridge camera, I use a Cotton Carrier Sling Belt. This system is perfect for hiking. The belt had a locking cam system which holds the camera on the belt when you aren’t using it. When you take it off the belt, the sling strap provides drop protection while taking a picture.

I have done a lot of hikes with this system and it is quite comfortable over long distances. I highly recommend this system. If you decide to pick one up, be sure to use the code WANDERFILLED to get 10% off.

I use a great monopod for steadying my shots with my DSLR. This is essential for wildlife photography with a long zoom lens. I also have an excellent Neewer tripod. It is light, easy to use, inexpensive and steady… what more could I ask? I added a matching ball head to my monopod to the quick release plates match.

For my bridge camera, use a collapsible hiking staff as a lightweight monopod, along with a GorillaPod as a compact tripod. I use the GorillaPod ball head on the hiking staff to make sure the quick release plates are the same.

I am always looking for better gear for my photography and my travel and will be sure to update this page in the future as my gear changes.

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