What Is The Best Camera Gear For Your Next Vacation
Where are you going? What do you want to photograph? Do you need a light load? Do you want versatility with your lens options? You want to capture the best of your vacation with your fabulous camera, but what gear should you bring?
Camera bodies and lenses can add up to a bit of bulk and weight. If you will be on the move a lot, you might want a lighter load. If you are just planning a few easy excursions, and will not be hiking a ton, maybe you can get away with a few extra options.
A few years ago, my husband and I traveled to Italy. I wanted to document our trip, but did not want to be hauling around a separate camera bag everywhere we went. I wanted a camera that I could control manually, but could fit in my purse. I brought my Panasonic Lumix DC-LX100II. It is small and compact with a built-in zoom lens (24-75mm). For the size of the camera, I has a great sensor (17MP 4/3 inch MOS sensor), which can produce impressive images. It offers full manual control when I want it and the camera even has 4k video capability. This camera doesn’t have the same capabilities as my full frame professional camera, and I didn’t have my telephoto lens, but it was easy to carry and took some great photos.
On many of our family vacations we have one central base and we make small trips to the beach, short hikes or other easy sightseeing activities. I can easily manage my back pack with a full-frame camera body and multiple lenses. I have my 35mm lens, which gives me great storytelling pictures of my family as it takes in the surrounding environment. This is also great for capturing some epic landscape shots. My 135mm lens is a favorite as it produces amazing blurred out backgrounds and makes my family the focus of the image. In addition, it is a telephoto lens which allows me to get some fantastic captures from a distance. This is great when my kids are playing in the waves at the beach or I have the opportunity for some wildlife shots. If we were moving around more, this combo would be heavy and cumbersome.
If you are a family who likes to explore and hike, it might be important to lighten the load of gear you bring. Some sacrifices will need to be made. This year, we are planning a trip to the Tetons and Yellowstone. We plan to do a lot of hiking, therefore I want to take only essential gear. My Canon Mark III with multiple prime lenses will be too heavy for this type of trip. It is time to consider a mirrorless camera. I can still get a full frame sensor with impressive megapixels, but it is much lighter than my Canon. There are some iconic landscape shots to capture, as well as portraits of my family exploring the beauty of the two parks. Therefore, it will be important to have a variety of focal lengths, but I only want to take one lens. My new Sony mirrorless camera and 24-70mm lens will give me the best options for my photography needs this trip. Lighter load, great image capability with a compromise on my telephoto lens.
Consider what is important to you. Portability? Lightweight? Image quality? Something that can get great landscape and portrait images? Whatever your needs, let that be the deciding factor in choosing your gear for your next vacation.
Travel photos are some of the most valued souvenirs from your trips. Take the camera and snap away!
