Travel Photography Gear Guide

Do y'all want to know how we capture the images that y'all see on our website? Here is our photography gear guide, with links and explanations of our photography gear and accessories. At the end of this mail, nosotros offering tips and tricks on how to accept improve photographs while traveling.

Photography Gear Guide

The Canon 5D Iv, Our Main Camera

The Catechism 5D is my master camera. Virtually every photo on this website was taken with this photographic camera. Even so, there are 2 versions of information technology.

The majority of the photos on this website were taken with the Canon 5D Marking IV. This has been my primary camera since 2017. Prior to this, I used the Canon 5D Mark 3.

Is the upgrade to the Catechism 5D Mark IV worth it? For me, yes. At that place are some very slick features that I love.

All photos tin be geotagged using the born GPS, so I have the exact GPS coordinates for all of my photos. This seems to exist an almost universal characteristic on cameras present, so it'southward not that earth shattering, but it is something the Mark Iii is lacking. Yous can get a separate GPS tagger for the photographic camera but it makes the large camera even bulkier and heavier.

My favorite feature is the congenital in Wi-Fi. Now, I can transfer photos direct from the camera to my phone and then share them almost instantly on Instagram and Facebook. This is huge for me. With the Marker Three, I had to wait until we were dorsum in the hotel, transfer the photos to my computer, and so share them from at that place. Once again, this may non exist of import for some people, but it makes sharing our photos and experiences on social media and so much easier and user-friendly.

There are numerous other upgrades I love…a better, larger bear upon-screen LCD screen, an upgraded photo processor, and faster, more accurate focusing. The Canon 5D Mark Four is 30 MP full frame photographic camera with the ability to shoot 4K video. The photos I become with the Marker Four are crisper and clearer than the Marker III, although it is only a mild improvement.

Here are some of my favorite photos taken with the Catechism 5D Marker Four.

Venice Italy

Venice, Italy

Bastei Bridge

Bastei Bridge, Germany

Canon 24 – 70 mm f/2.8 Ii USM Zoom Lens

This lens is my "walking around" lens. 99% of the photos on this website were taken with this lens. I use this lens with both the Canon 5D Marker Three and 5D Marking Iv.

At 24 mm, it is just wide enough for mural shots. The 70 mm gives merely enough zoom to hone in on the action. This is 1 of the best Canon lenses you can purchase and it is worth the price.

Broad-Angle Lens

I use the Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM lens for mural photography.

This is my newest lens and I added information technology in 2019 before traveling to Switzerland and Republic of iceland. I got some gorgeous mural shots, like this ane taken in Iceland.

Iceland

This is an expensive lens, but it is cheaper than the Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L Three USM lens. This lens, with its f/2.8 maximum aperture, has an advantage in low light situations. However, information technology is a heavier lens and information technology does not have image stabilization. Not to mention that is almost double the cost. But if you want a top of the line wide angle lens, accept the coin to spend, and don't listen the actress weight, take a look at the Canon EF xvi-35mm f/ii.8L 3 USM lens.

Memory Cards

The Canon 5D Mark Iii and Mark IV accept two slots for memory cards, a Compact Wink slot and a SD menu slot. My principal bill of fare is the Lexar 1066x 128 GB Compact Flash card. I shoot in photographic camera RAW and these files go recorded onto this compact flash card.

The Canon 5D camera allows me to simultaneously shoot a 2nd file onto an SD bill of fare. I designate this second file as a JPEG file, which gets recorded onto a SanDisk Extreme Plus 32 GB SD carte. This is my fill-in, just in case my master retentiveness card fails (which I've never had happen).

Black Rapid RS-7 Photographic camera Strap

In my opinion, a adept quality camera strap is a necessity. I employ the Black Rapid Breathe Curve Camera Strap, a durable, comfortable strap that screws into the base of the camera and is worn beyond the body. Information technology'south not the about fashionable accompaniment, but it does keep the camera safe from thieves or from accidentally dropping it.

Canon Intervalometer

An intervalometer is a device that plugs into the camera and controls how oft and how many shots are taken. It can also work as a camera timer and it can extend your exposure time. Most people purchase an intervalometer for time-lapse photography.

Note: I rarely use this since upgrading to the Catechism 5D Mark IV. The Mark IV comes with a congenital-in intervalometer. However, I practice use this as a shutter release when shooting with long shutter speeds.

We purchased the intervalometer for time-lapse photography, but ended up primarily using it for family unit photos. To take our family unit photos, I put the photographic camera on a tripod, adhere the intervalometer, and program it to take i photo every second. Equally the camera takes the photos, we grin, act goofy, and have our time. There's no setting the photographic camera timer to become just 1 shot. We can pose for five minutes if nosotros desire to, while the camera clicks away. This has been invaluable in capturing the goofy family unit photos we love so much.

Earth Trekkers Goofy Photo

Note: When purchasing an intervalometer, brand sure that it works with your photographic camera. Not every intervalometer is uniform with every blazon of photographic camera.

Tripod

A tripod is another invaluable camera accessory. If you desire to have photos with a long exposure fourth dimension, a tripod is a must. At that place are a lot of expensive tripod options out there. What you are paying for is a lightweight tripod that is durable and will be stable when you attach your camera to it.

Peak Design Travel Tripod

I simply started using the Peak Pattern Travel Tripod and I love it. It's extremely fast to set up and put away, very durable and sturdy, lightweight, piece of cake to utilise, and folds upward into a compact cylinder. It'southward too very expensive, coming in at around $600 USD, but for a travel tripod with these features, information technology makes it worth information technology for the serious lensman, especially if you plan to take a tripod hiking.

MeFOTO Tripod

The MeFOTO tripod was our first tripod and I highly recommend this one, besides. It'due south been around the world and Tim has carried it on numerous hikes and trips through cities. Even though this tripod has a low price compared with those on the higher end, the MeFOTO tripod has proven to exist durable, lightweight, and dependable. On uneven slopes and surfaces we have not had a trouble with it.

If you lot are looking for a price conscious tripod that does a skillful job, cheque this one out.

JOBY Gorillapod Tripod

We recently added this great little tripod to our collection of photographic camera gear. It's modest and information technology's lightweight then it doesn't take up much room or add a lot of weight to your backpack. The moldable legs can be curled around fence posts, railings, and trees. I've done this a bunch of times and it works great. This is a great tripod to throw into your hiking backpack rather than hiking with a larger, heavier tripod.

The Gorillapod comes in several sizes. We use the 5K stand considering it is the only one large enough to hold our Catechism 5D. If you lot purchase information technology as a kit, you likewise get the Ballhead, which allows y'all to hinge the photographic camera on the tripod. I recommend purchasing the ballhead because it makes information technology much easier to level the photographic camera when taking photos.

PacSafe CitySafe Anti-Theft Handbag

The PacSafe CitySafe Anti-Theft pocketbook is a pocketbook, not a truthful photographic camera purse. But I use it every bit my camera purse.

This bag is only big enough to hold my camera and the accessories listed above (other than the tripod, which Tim carries in his daypack) and few other small items. This bag is worn across your shoulder. It looks like a purse, so information technology is more stylish than a bulky camera bag. Plus, the PacSafe features, such as an RFID slot for your wallet, Slashguard cloth, and clips to lock your bag, all piece of work to thwart pickpocketers and thieves.

Canon Powershot GX7 Marking II

This signal-and-shoot camera, the Canon Powershot GX7 Mark II, is lightweight, tiny, and shoots smashing video. We upgraded to this point and shoot camera in June 2018 to use for our videos.

This photographic camera shoots 1080p total HD video and it is an fantabulous compact camera if you are not looking to lug around a DSLR. 90% of the time we utilize it to shoot video but I have used it on occasion for photography when I did not feel similar carrying a big photographic camera around boondocks.

This 20 MP camera can shoot time lapse video, take long exposure shots, and offers awesome image quality for a camera that is so small. You can almost keep this photographic camera in your pocket.

If you are looking for a nice, small, inexpensive camera that also shoots quality video, check this one out!

Tyler used this camera and our drone to capture our most recent videos of 2018. Check them out our Earth Trekkers YouTube channel.

DJI Phantom four Drone

All of our drone photos and video were taken with the DJI Phantom four Drone. We purchased this back in 2016 for our trip to Scotland and Ireland and have been using it whenever possible.

Having a drone is a fun hobby, peculiarly if you are into electronics, or accept a teenager in the family unit who is looking for something new to do (similar us!).

With a drone, you tin capture some very unique photos and videos of the places you visit. It's worth it, just it is another bag to carry onto airplanes and lug around with the residue of your luggage. Plus, there are a lot of rules about where you can and cannot fly a drone, so before you travel, yous need to be prepared to exercise some research. In that location have been a number of times that we were unable to employ our drone considering of local laws.

Storing Your Photos

So, what do you practise with all of those gorgeous photos you simply took? Back them up!!

Hard Bulldoze

I keep a copy of our photos on my laptop and a back up copy on an external hard drive. We beloved the WD My Passport External Hard Drives. They are minor, very durable, and are travel friendly. You can buy them with 2 TB of disk space, more enough room for years of photos.

How to Take Better Photos

I am a self-taught photographer. Everything I know virtually photography I learned from reading in a book and and so past practicing it over and over again. If you want to be a good photographer, you have to have photos everyday.

Julie Rivenbark

Learn all of the controls on your photographic camera and practice using them as much every bit possible. If y'all want to have truly great photos, you have to take your camera out of its automated way, and offset shooting in aperture, shutter, or transmission mode.

Here are some books that taught me how to have a better photograph.

The Best of the Digital Photography Book Serial

Scott Kelby teaches photography in a practical, slightly comedic sort of way. I am a big fan of his digital photography series. This book takes the best of his advice from the entire series and condenses it down into i manual.

Understanding Exposure

Whether yous are a beginner or avant-garde photographer, this is a great resource. In this volume you will larn all about exposure, one of the most of import ingredients in taking your photography to the next level.