Tips for Traveling with Cameras That Every Photographer Should Know

[@ChrisBrogan]

The "bring less than you think" is pretty much everything. I think it's so important. Thanks for sharing that. "A lot of travel is travel."

[@johncleaver9498]

One point about packing for flights. If you are putting equipment in checked baggage - and it’s entirely reasonable to do so - remove the memory cards and take them with hand luggage as a precaution against baggage loss, theft or damage. (Just as you would for film, but in that case to avoid excessive x-ray exposure!) Equipment is replaceable and probably insured - images not so.

[@intrinsicimagery]

Tripods and lights, yes. Bodies and lenses? Never.

[@GerritADHS]

The best travel experience I’ve ever had was when we went to Bangkok and Laos and I only brought my Fuji X100F with the tele and wide converter. It was all I needed and I didn’t need to carry any camera bag.

[@neutral139]

Yes to all these things! And with experience, not guessing, you can carry more just-in-case, but with a specific *likely* reason to carry that. I tried, as much as possible, during my recent trip to Japan to carry light and honestly I didn't really succeed, but I ended up using a lot of the stuff I carried which I think means it wasn't needless weight. The other thing which is common for going to Japan is that the shopping there is great and sometimes going very light and getting the things you need there is not only fun, but easier. Back to photography: I brought 28mm, 55mm, and a "disposable camera" lenses and basically only used my 24-70. When I picked up a 70-200 there I used it when it made sense, but the work horse was the 24-70. Realistically that's the only lens I need to bring on a trip. And in the future it probably will be the only one I bring + the disposable camera lens (I basically use it as a lens cap for the camera body, hehe)

[@psychogeek8157]

When I jus started photography this what i pack in my bag... - 2 camera body (1 DSLR + 1 Fujifilm X100) - 3 prime lenses (135mm, 50mm and 24mm) - 1 Speedlight and lots of batteries - 1 tripod After that few trips... I only carry - 1 camera + 2 prime lenses (24mm and 50mm) But my last trip to Japan. I only bring - 1 camera + 35mm lens Oh ya, I'll always bring tripod for my trip... 😂

[@ferdiyansurya]

"make room for a casual camera" - you are 100% on the money there, though a X100 is still a big camera. The GRs or even the point and shoots IMO are more fitting for this.

[@KeAiFu]

For short trips to Hong Kong, or Osaka I pack the Sony A7CR with Sony 11/1.8, Tamron 20-40/2.8 and Samyang 100/T2.2... very light, excellent picture quality and very flexibel.

[@davidgates3044]

Really useful tips- thanks for the vid. For that little walk around camera, I recommend the Ricoh GR iii series. Unlike the x100s, these actually fit in your pants pocket and the image quality is comparable to the x100s

[@areepahmad]

This topic is often overlooked. Less is definitely more when it comes to camera gear & travelling. I recently went on a trip for 2 weeks & just brought my xt4 with sigma 18-55 f2.8. Never once did I feel like I shouldve brought this or that lens/camera.

[@luiskaj2434]

Good to hear; just purchased an X-T4 and 16-80 f4 for my trip to Peru in May - wondering if I should include a 12mm ultra-wide...

[@RandumbTech]

I’m fortunate to have multiple kits for different purposes. Whenever I’m with the family, it’s Sony only cuz I just need the stuff to work. But if traveling by myself, I LOVE my Fuji gear.

[@nyohaku]

15mm & 27mm pancake on Sony 24mp ASPC. Small, simple, light. Plus good cellphone.

[@TL-xw6fh]

My tip is to bring along a small MFT camera with a collapsible zoom lens such as an old Olympus EM-5ii or Panasonic GX80 with a Panasonic 12-32mm zoom. They are tiny, weigh next to nothing and yet produce outstanding images.

[@Username_CC_]

Great review i had this same thought this year! Thank you

[@richardzelinka9411]

Good tips. I switched to Fuji from Canon because I travel carryon only (even for a month-long trip) and want the lightest kit possible. I use the same gear for landscape and street/travel: Fuji XT-5 with a Fuji 16-80 and a Sigma 10-18 (wider and much sharper than the 16-80 when wide). I bring a Fuji XS-20 as a backup in case the XT-5 craps out or is damaged 2,000 miles from home. My phone is my "pocket" camera. To deal with airline carryon weight limits, I put some heavy items in the multi-pocket vest I always wear on the plane and fly on carriers that allow 10kg on board.

[@mikafoxx2717]

I mean, Canon doesn't have to be the heaviest thing ever. Can do an F4 zoom like the 24-105 and an RP or R8 or something smaller and lighter that's newer. Honestly, to me a camera is a camera and using use is nearly as awkward if you're actually using it. I'd consider a jacket pocketable camera if I just need a backup, though I often just throw an old 5D and 40mm in my bag even when going to work every day since it costs very little.

[@ImperiousImages]

Great points. Well presented

[@alandargie9358]

nicely presented, well done.

[@bigrobotnewstoday1436]

If I was going to Japan the gear I would take and I'm only talking about the gear that I own. I would take my Olympus OMD E-M5ii and the small flash that it came with. For lens I'll take the Olympus 12-50mm kit lens that is no longer made. And then take three small primes the Olympus 25mm f1.7 and Olympus 45mm f1.8 and Olympus 17mm f2.8 no longer made. Very nice small kit that won't break my back.

[@garfieldmtify]

Interesting cool video. I always think about what it will be before I take a trip. I shoot Sony. A plus is there cameras are smaller and lenses are not heavy. I do not have small camera yet I am on the lookout of something special. I like the Leica just not the price so much. Probably only my zoom lens 24-70mm GM (II) & perhaps 70-200mm GM (II). Personally I NEVER check my cameras or camera gear, too risky even if packed very well. Just don't want to deal with it if anything goes wrong which it might so why bother is how I look at it. If I absolutely had to check my bag then airtag or something like that in my bag just incase. I always think light and smaller when travelling but not so small so that it is pain to use. You offered some good interesting insights. Hope you enjoyed Japan Andre it is extremely lovely there for so many reasons; will head back there again probably in March. Cheers Mate:)

[@patmcdonnell7784]

curious how you adapt your camera battery charging in various places?

[@davidmitchell7959]

Most battery chargers are dual voltage rated, 110 to 120V or 220 to 240V. Read the minuscule print or plastic casting on the charger. You need only an adapter to fit the wall socket for the destination country to plug it in.

[@LouisLuzuka]

It’s hard to pick one lens 😢

[@sgpork]

You cant win it all. Even if you own a whole range of lens. You cant and wont bring everything. Win some lose some. Make good use of what you decide to bring and make the best out of it

[@LouisLuzuka]

@ u are absolutely right

[@LouisLuzuka]

@ what’s your favourite one lens and one body solution

[@sgpork]

It depends on where I go and what kind of images I want to take. . That will make me decide what to bring.

[@LouisLuzuka]

@ every day life that’s been my question how do you photograph the mundane 🙏🫶🏼

[@npdady]

5:00 Can my phone be my casual camera?

[@Βόρειο_Σέλας]

Planning a trip with my wife to Japan 2025. I have Nikon D700 and Fuji x10. I am tempted just to take the X10 on its own. This will limit my night photography but I want to enjoy this trip and not make it into a photographic adventure. The other option is D700 with my 50 and 35.

[@elram2649]

Nice gear list! Enjoy your travels with the wife first, and keep your gear light second. Otherwise, lots of gear will get in the way of capturing precious moments.

[@Racsophoto]

I'm presently facing this sort of dilemma. January going to India. I own a Xt5 and Xpro3 and decided to use zoom lenses for trips so I have a Tamron 17-70 and a Fuji 70-300. Keep feeding my mind that he logical thing is to use both cameras during the day because I can lose time or get dust in sensor switching lenses on the (only) xt5. Then it crosses also my mind that the Tamron 17-70 f/2.8 might not be enough for night and, of course, this comes because I own the xf18mm f/1.4 WR and a Viltrox 27mm f/.2 (this last one quite heavy but marvelous IQ). I keep dealing with the idea of packing all of this like 2 zooms for daylight and 2 primes for night but I know my back will suffer and eventually I will not use all the gear the same amount of time. Could use some advice here from someone that already did India, I have a bunch of expectations for Varanisi. Loved the video

[@arvinder_64]

Varanasi is a beautiful place for photography and the two zooms will be perfect. For nights can bring a prime along. Hope that helps.

[@Racsophoto]

@ thank you so much. Will follow your advice. I’ll take both zooms and the xf18mm f/1.4 for walk around at night. I’ll explore the “sport finder mode” from the Fujifilm XT5 better. I think it crops like x 1.29 so if I find the 18mm too wide or miss some closer situations, it will behave equivalently to the 23mm f/1.4 (focal distance and light gathering, not depth of field). So, hopefully I can decently covered with a full frame equivalent of 28mm and 35mm, I guess the math between APSC and Full frame is the same for light gathering and f/1.4 will be welcome for the night and give a rest to the 17-70 f/2.8 for day usage or dawning.

[@arvinder_64]

@@Racsophoto Can also try Digital tele converter in xt5. It affects the JPEG file only. I haven't used myself but was thinking of trying it.

[@Racsophoto]

@@arvinder_64 true. I’ve read also about it but I think it is 2x and 4x. which will deliver something like 36mm APSC (56mm full frame equivalent) using the 18mm. 1.25x seems to me a better fit focal range wise and also keeping a decent resolution (25mp I think). I would get the same resolution I have on my xtrans sensor IV on the xpro3 and I find this resolution well balanced between file size and IQ. The only disadvantage as you mention is that the sport finder mode crops the file on the joeg and raw (I believe) so one us not able to recover what was left out of the frame while the digital teleconverter keeps the entire image. But thank you very much for the suggestion. I will consider it using my 70-300 zoom trying to reach 600mm when the occasion requires.

[@arvinder_64]

@@Racsophoto you are welcome 🙏

[@davidmitchell7959]

Don’t forget proper battery packing. No lithium batteries in checked baggage, ever, even inside a camera. Spare batteries as carry on only, with plastic battery caps or taped terminals to avoid a short. Fireproof battery bags of various sizes help organize and store lithium camera batteries and satisfy the TSA.

[@slowcyclist4324]

Every photography gear that you need, you could probably just buy in Japan in a pinch lol.

[@leejianhaur]

Me, 20mm f2.8 , 35mm f1.4, n 70-180 f2.8, 2 small lens n 1 big lens

[@wojt4spes]

Actually „casual camera”, I think a phone is enough these days.

[@sgpork]

Less is more.