Travel photographers know the difficulty of weighing up quality kit with the challenge of lugging it around the world. Here’s how to travel light.
Travelling and photography are a match made in heaven. Not only do you get to explore the world, but you can also capture those memories to enjoy for a lifetime. Perhaps the only challenge associated with travel photography is selecting the right gear to accompany you halfway around the world. Portability is a key requirement whether you’re heading to the Grand Canyon or Antarctica. Luckily, there’s a wide range of cameras and photography accessories for you to consider when you’re packing your bags.
Cameras
Let’s start with the obvious – the type of camera to take with you. The travel camera market is bulging at the moment, with photographers looking for a device more sophisticated than a smartphone, but not as bulky as most DSLRs. The Panasonic Lumix ZS200 / TZ200 is likely the most advanced travel model available in 2018, with its 24-360mm lens and a 15x optical zoom. It’s also capable of shooting 4k video making this a very handy addition to your backpack. For a little more scope, you might choose a bridge camera such as the Sony Cyber-Shot RX10 IV which will give you all the functionality of a DSLR but it’s suitable for travel as it only uses a single lens. The huge range of this lens allows you to capture everything from landscapes to tightly-framed wildlife photos.
Weather Protection
Depending on where you’re heading, you may need to prepare for strong weather conditions and be aware how they might affect your equipment. You may have come across the term ‘weather-sealed’ when purchasing some of your kit, but it’s important to note this doesn’t translate as meaning ‘waterproof’. If you’re wanting to shoot in wet weather conditions, then take along a camera hood to slip over the body of your camera so you can keep snapping even in the midst of a storm.
Filters
This piece of kit also relates to the weather, and exposure to strong light. Just as you would protect your eyes, it’s important to shield your lenses from the great outdoors. UV filters are good for blocking strong sunlight, as well as preventing dust and other outdoor debris from reaching the coating on your lens. Neutral density filters are a great way to extend the number of daylight hours you can shoot in each day, whilst polarising filters are essential in removing sun glares from your shots.
Portable Tripod
The size of tripod you’ll want to take with you on your trip is dependent on the type of shots you’re expecting to take. If you know that you’ll be capturing scenic vistas, skylines or close-up wildlife images, then you’ll likely want to bring a full-sized tripod with you, but if space and weight is a problem, then there are plenty of compact travel-sized tripods available. Aluminium tripods tend to be the cheapest, but some other excellent options include the GorillaPod or the carbon fibre MeFoto GlobeTrotter Carbon C2350Q2T.
Of course, if you’re not already fully kitted out with travel photography gear, then the cost of all the above may seem daunting. However, to help offset the cost, you could trade in your current equipment on a reputable ‘sell my camera’ site to get you started.
