The best camera is the one you actually bring along. We travel with a deliberately versatile setup—a full-frame mirrorless camera for calm, composed shots, a rugged APS-C DSLR as a second camera and backup, plus a drone, gimbal, and 360° camera for anything that moves.
Cameras
- Canon EOS R (full-frame, mirrorless) – our main camera for landscapes, portraits, and low-light shots. Large sensor, quiet, fast.
- Canon EOS 80D (APS-C, DSLR) – secondary camera with a telephoto lens attached so we don’t have to constantly change lenses. Rugged, weather-sealed enough for everyday road trip use.
- Smartphone as an always-on backup – for the 90% of situations where speed is of the essence.
Video & Special
- DJI Mavic 4 Pro Mini – the drone for aerial shots, foldable, fits in any backpack.
- Zhiyun Crane 2S – Camera gimbal for smooth, cinematic shots with the EOS R.
- DJI Osmo Mobile (Mimo) – smartphone gimbal for quick story clips without setup.
- Insta360 One X2 – 360° camera for POV action and unique perspectives (hiking, biking, snorkeling).
Accessories
- Carbon fiber travel tripod — lightweight (< 1 kg), compact, stable enough for long exposures.
- Polarizing filter — reduces reflections on water and glass, intensifies the sky.
- ND filter for smooth water surfaces and cloud movement.
- Multiple batteries — they discharge faster in cold weather (Franz Josef Glacier, Tongariro).
- Multiple SD cards + card reader — back up daily to the laptop.
Travel workflow
- Shoot RAW + JPG — RAW for later, JPG for immediate sharing.
- Daily backup to laptop or external SSD — SD cards can get lost or break.
- Cloud backup of the best photos while on the go (e.g., Google Photos, iCloud).
- Edit only at home — rushing to edit travel photos rarely yields good results.
