Camino de Santiago Camera Gear - What You Really Need

[@robscamino]

Do you take a Camera on Camino? Or Plan to? Not everyone wants to of course.

[@Pierre_Nu]

Found it! Thanks again champ

[@robscamino]

Glad to help

[@Kathysart]

Thank you

[@robscamino]

My pleasure

[@jeremywilliams703]

I took time before my first Camino to decide why I was on Camino. I was very clear that, even though I studied photography for years, I was on pilgrimage and NOT making a documentary. So, I made sure to travel with my iPhone turned OFF and packed away. I wanted to completely immerse myself in the moment. I bought a Nikon Coolpix and kept it in a waist bag in front of me with a wallet that could be lost or stolen. That way I could take photos, and sometimes video, even in the rain/snow (Coolpix is waterproof) with being tempted to read messages or check email etc. the strategy worked perfectly. The only trade off was picture quality. The Coolpix takes a good photo, but not great. A great choice for me. The Coolpix is also smaller than a phone and can take huge memory cards. 👍

[@robscamino]

Sounds like that worked well for you. I like to take pictures, videos and audio diary notes. Kind of an audio visual journal. So I use my phone for that. I remember chatting to Fr Johannes who walked to Jerusalem (his movie is called To Where God Dwells, and is amazing!) He had a DSLR and a couple of lenses and found taking it out and packing it away all the time became a pain. So he only used it about once a week I think. I will only ever take a phone as my camera, as it has a dual purpose and is lightweight, and above all else, easy to pull out and use.

[@annachupa5963]

I'm taking a Think Tank Photo Digital Holster Harness (V. 20) to carry my DSLR as a chest pack so it is easily accessible. I have been training with weights and a full backpack to get used to it. I'm doing my first Camino starting out from Leon.

[@robscamino]

Good luck! You must be a keen photographer / videographer..... I don''t think I could ever do it. 😳

[@annachupa5963]

@@robscamino Thanks! I received a grant to do the photography for making quilts based on the Camino. I have really enjoyed your videos. My sons are going with me to help with the gear. I'm looking forward to the time with each of them on the Camino.

[@SixMinuteScholar]

Great tips! I love watching the footage that others take on the Camino. For my own first, 12-day Camino (Astorga-Santiago on CF), I am going to take both my iPhone and my little Sony Cybershot, point-and-shoot camera (148grams). Most people wouldn't! BUT, even though I pack very light (base weight of 2.64 kg, total weight 4.09k), I find that my phone battery dwindles too quickly if I'm using it for calling, navigation, social media, AND photos on trips, plus storage can be a problem. There are work-arounds to all this (keeping the phone in airplane mode, etc.), but I also find my phone more fragile, less rainproof, and harder to see (screen in sun) sometimes. With my little point-and-shoot and an SD card, I'm free to take nearly unlimited photos with one hand. Perhaps I'll think differently after my Camino, though!

[@robscamino]

Yes, I totally 'get' the battery life problem. With my old Note 3 I could carry a spare battery! Now I carry a small powerbank.

[@robscamino]

I love that section from Astorga! Do you have any thoughts on places you might like to stay? I think if I walk the CF again, I'll need to stay 2 nights on most places or walk 10 km days! There are so many great places to stay and look around. Do pause at the Pilgrims remembrance grove as you come out of Astorga.

[@traceybotha2411]

Hi Rob you should watch a you tube video by Jeremiah Gibbs, he talks about a camera he uses, I think he called it a GO PRO, Hero 9 or 10. It actually looks smaller than a cell phone.

[@robscamino]

I will. I have investigated cameras a lot! As I carry a phone anyway, I use that, rather than carry extra gear.

[@liliana.lopes_]

I've never seen anyone on the camino with big cameras, it would really be too heavy to carry around all the time. I took a gopro action camera along the way in a small waist bag and the cell phone that I only used when I stopped to eat.

[@robscamino]

Indeed, very few large cameras are seen.... The best camera to take, is the one that is easiest to use..... in my case my phone.

[@smokeydawson2903]

Hi Rob Which video editing app do you use?

[@robscamino]

I confess I don't edit my own videos. I'm lucky that I have a couple of video editors in my business. They use Adobe Premier

[@smokeydawson2903]

Cheers, thanks Rob for your sharing your camino experiences.