Inside my Camera Bag:

Recently, one question that has been coming up in conversations with my friends, family and even strangers is: What’s inside my camera bag ?

Because my photography is a hobby and I still consider myself an amateur blogger, I only have basic stuff. My advice is, before spending lots of money buying a bunch of equipment, you need to ask yourself the following questions: How much do you have to spend on a travel camera and lenses?

How much are you willing to carry around every time you go out?

What are you going to be taking pictures of?

How far do you want to pursue your photography adventure?

When you have the answers to these questions, it will be easier to plan your purchase and fill your bag.

My primary camera is the Canon Rebel t6i. I have been using this camera for the past 3 years already and I am not ready to let go of it yet. For a little over $800, this is a very good entry level DSLR camera and I get high quality pictures. If you are interested in shooting videos, this camera is very capable of getting the job done right as well and because of its weight, I find it easy to carry it around all the time. Some of the benefits of the t6i are its high resolution and its improved dynamic range. Did I mention that this camera is equipped with a built-in Wi-Fi connectivity?

I also carry the Canon SX 530hs as a backup. The Canon PowerShot SX530 HS ($429) is one of the smaller cameras available with a 50x zoom ratio.

The superzoom uses a 16-megapixel CMOS image sensor that supports 1080p. The quality of the pictures is not as good as the t6i but the zoom is awesome. This camera was given to me by a friend who wanted to invest in my dream. I have been able to take some great moon pictures with it. The SX530 HS is the best affordable alternative when shopping around for a camera with such a zoom ability.

The canon cameras work for me but keep in mind, there are other good brands for about the same price and quality. You can also readnreviews, do your research (like I did) to help you choose your next camera. No matter the camera you end up selecting, there will likely be hundreds of lenses to choose from, and this is a big project. Some of those lenses are very expensive but when you see these prices, don’t just give up on your dream. In all fairness there are reasons why some of theses lenses are so expensive. For one, the optics are of superior and modern quality and also, the aperture is wider not forgetting the more advanced technology of the image stabilization. At the end of the day, it's YOU behind the camera, that means no matter the lens you buy, if you do not practice, you can not expect your pictures to be perfect.

Standard Lens. The EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II from Canon is a standard zoom lens and comes with the camera. It is compact and lightweight. Its length range makes it an easy lens to practice and take beautiful sharp and clear pictures. This lens is equipped with an image stabilizer system that minimizes the appearance of camera shake for sharper handheld shooting. Additionally, a Micro Motor auto focus system delivers quick focusing performance and a minimum focusing distance for close-up shots.

Prime lens. The EF 50mm 1.8 ($99) is the ideal travel lens. I fell in love with it quickly after seeing the beautiful portraits I was able to photograph with it. This 50mm auto focus lens is a fixed lens tho. The challenge with such a lens is, there is no zoom, meaning your feet become your zoom. It requires some practice to the contrary of a standard lens that is easier to operate. The wide aperture of 1.8 enables a shallow depth of field, a virtual background, which makes photography more fun. In other words, this is an every day lens.

Zoom Lens EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM. A zoom lens is used generally for sports photography. This particular entry level telephoto zoom lens is lightweight and inexpensive ($140). One of its features is the image stabilization, that is very important because it minimizes camera shake. Even if this lens is on the cheaper side, I am impressed by the quality of the pictures that I get with it. If you are looking for a long range lens at an affordable price, I will recommend this lens without a doubt. Some travel photographer work without a zoom lens because they want to walk all the way to the object that they are capturing but I'd rather have it.

Wide angle lens 58mm 0.43 ($30) This lens is an attachment that can be mounted on most lenses. Landscape photographer benefit a lot from a wide angle lens because it allows more details to be included in the picture that the standard one would not capture. The wide angle is one lens that you should not confuse with the the zoom lens as both of them have different functions.

To be successful you need to understand how your lenses work. It will take practice to find out what lens to use and when to use it. Experts agree that when it comes down to image quality, the right lens can make the difference between a successful photographer and the guy next door.

Altura Photo Professional Speedlite Flash (AP-UNV2) ($35). This powerful manual flash while not expensive, is suitable for photographers of all level. The Altura Photo Camera Flash Kit includes; AP- UNV2 Speedlite Flash with LCD Screen, 4X AA Batteries, Universal Infrared Remote Control, Flash Diffuser Reflector, Carry Pouch and Stand. This flash will work with most DSLR cameras.

Since I am working with a small budget, I had to find different alternative to the Go-Pro. When I found the Vivitar DVR 786HD Action Camera ($45), I was a little hesitant but after reading the reviews I took a chance and I will admit I am happy with my decision. It is one of the most versatile action cameras ever made. This lightweight camera comes with a waterproof housing, remote control, helmet and bike mounts. The picture resolution is just average but when used under water the pictures and videos are actually very good. This camera delivers full 1080p HD video quality at 60 fps and features a 2.0-inch LCD display.

At one point I decided to get a camera bag instead of having my cameras and lenses in a sport bag. I found one on Amazon. It is decent and comfortable to carry, and it only cost me $26. The Caden DSLR camera bag is first of all waterproof and also well padded on the inside therefore my cameras, lenses and light are secure. There are a couple pockets where I can store some stuff and a side pocket to carry a tripod. When choosing a bag, it's important to know if the pad on the inside is strong enough. This way, nothing will move inside the bag.

My Tripod ($159) extends to 71 inches, but it folds down to just over 20. It weighs only 4.6 pounds, that makes it a lightweight but still strong enough to hold my camera secure. It can also operate as a monopod if needed. It adjusts quickly and can be used for video as well. One thing to keep in mind is that not all tripods tilt 90 degrees, so when choosing yours, ensure that you get one that does. It is very helpful when taking shots in tight angle. In low light or when using a zoom lens, it will help to have a tripod to avoid "camera shake" . (If you ever take night shots or moon pictures, you definitely want to have a tripod). If you consider getting a tripod you don't want it to be too cheap. Understand that a better tripod will be much more stable, stiffer, and built with better components.

One thing that you should not forget when packing is a Cleaning Kit. A microfiber cloth and the little squeeze-ball puffer, for blowing dust off your lens or sensor will do just fine. It doesn’t need to be fancy nor expensive. Depending on the area and the length of time that you would be shooting, I would suggest that you carry more than one microfiber cloth just in case it gets dirty. A few more things that you will find in my bag are:

A Wired remote shutter release ($9) At first, I was not sure if I really needed one but I am so glad I did. The main reason to have a remote shutter release is to prevent camera shake. By now, you may already know that it easily happens when shooting at night ( slow shutter speed) or when using a zoom lens. Other than to eliminate camera shake, the remote shutter can be useful when working alone. It helps take selfies.

A Battery charger/Extra Batteries ($22). Can you imagine getting ready to take the perfect picture and then ... the battery dies. It happened to people that I know and believe me it's not fun. Better be ready !

A Lens hood ($15) also known as a lens shade, attaches to the front of your lens and blocks stray light from causing flare in your photographs. Many photographers use a hood to protect their lens just in case they bump into something.

When I travel, I always have my 15-inch HP Chromebook. I utilize it sometimes to download and review the pictures that I take and also, if I need to write some notes. It's very important that you don't forget some of the details that may be important to your story. Between the HDMI, 2 USB ports and an SD card slot, I will always be able to download anything quickly. The Chromebook touchscreen is also fantastic for photo editing. It doesn't weight much and fit perfectly in my bag.

Lastly, I carry Memory Cards, USB sticks and a Portable Hard Drive 2TB, this way I know that I will always be able to back up and save my pictures. When it comes to memory cards, I usually get at least 32GB and a 64GB for my main camera. I still transfer photos as often as I can . You don’t want to risk carrying all of your images on one card because there is always a possibility of that card being corrupted or lost.

Visiting Rome, 2018

If this article inspired you, how gave you a better understanding of what you need to have in order to move on with your travel photography, please drop us a message. Don't hesitate to share it with your friends that could benefit from it.