A Travel Photographers Accessory Kit
Travel Photography is a funny thing. Just when you think you have the perfect system some situation arises to make you think the contrary.
I have always tried to make my list of accessories that I carry fairly light and compact.
Over the years I have tried new things that I liked and ones that I did not. Some things that have stuck around are my trusty Mac Book Pro (although it has been upgraded through the years), my filter kit which includes a polarizer, UV, graduated ND’s and ND’s and Zip Lock Bags; these may seem silly but in a humid and rainy country these have saved my gear more than once.
For this trip to Central Asia I have opted to try out a few new accessories which I have listed below:
1. 
Belkin Mini Surge Protector and USB Charger: This was a must have piece of equipment for photographers. With all of the things that need charging like camera batteries, Iphone, Laptop and P&S batteries I needed something that I can use to charge everything at once as most small guesthouses only have one outlet. This fits the bill perfectly.
/
/
2. 4 in 1 Mini usb 2.0 Card Reader: I found these little card readers on Amazon.com and ordered 4 of them. They had great reviews and as long as they are looked after should last me at least the trip. It sure beats having to download straight from your camera, plus if I have to go to an internet café, I don’t have to lug my camera with me. I can just tuck this card reader into my pocket and upload all of my photos.
/
/
3. Lowepro Terraclime 100: I was looking for a bag that would allow me fast access to my camera, could carry some accessories and was discreet. All of these criteria are met by this bag. It comes with a padded envelope for your camera and a zipped pocket inside for memory cards etc. The only pain I have found so far is the buckles on the front. What were they thinking?
/
4. Rocket Fish Travel Mouse: Not too much to say here I went with a wired one just for the durability. You really can’t do all your editing just on that little track pad. You may not think you need it but trust me I wouldn’t travel without one. I can edit my photos and work with adobe lightroom for hours on end without cramping my hand.
/
5. Giottos U-Pod QU200 Mini Tripod: Having used many mini tripods for my photography in the past none really have made an impression on me. When I found this one I was excited. It had the versatility that I like as well as being small and light. A tripod should be a part of every photographers kit. But if you are traveling for an extended time and plan on climbing mountains, trekking, and crossing countries by horseback you better have something light and durable. We will see how this one measures up.
/
/
So there you have some of the new photography accessories I will be trying out on this epic journey. Of course my camera kit consists of more than what you see here but these are additions that I feel will help make my trip easier and more comfortable. Travel photography can be demanding and having the right accessories with you can hep ease that burden even a little. A comforting thought when you are lugging your gear up to Everest Base Camp. Central Asia has many different challenges so it will be interesting to see what makes the grade and what doesn’t.
If you want to see what other photography and electronic equipment I have taken with me, check out my post at theplanetd.com Electronics While Traveling, A burden or a Blessing
My Panasonic GH1: The Perfect Travel Companion
Decisions Decisions!!
Before I hit the road for a long travel I usually spread out all of my camera gear and take stock of what I have and what I need for that particular trip.
This is almost always a simple task and more a formality really. But this time is different. We were going to be on the road for close to a year and weight becomes a huge issue. You are not just jumping on a plane, then into a car and driving everywhere you go. You are on busses, rickshaws, trains and any other mode of transportation you can think of and you have to carry everything you need for a year on your back.
So as I sat there looking at my Canon SLR Camera kit, lenses, accessories, tripod etc. suddenly it became obvious to me that I needed to do some serious re-evaluating.
How do I scale down my Camera without sacrificing quality?
Well the simple answer is you don’t. You have to sacrifice something. Now came the moment of truth where I had to decide to either go with a whole other camera system or scale down my massive existing kit. I had to weigh the options. Taylor Davidson had a good review of the Micro 4/3 camera system vs the dslr.
Gh1 vs 7D
After much thought, as you can see from my previous post, I decided to go with a new system. I chose the Panasonic GH1 micro 4/3 system because it allows me to capture relatively the same quality in a smaller package. No heavy body, battery packs, or massive lenses. I now have the closest thing to an DSLR Camera without the bulkiness and it shoots full HD video as well! This is all a bonus for the travel photographer.
The choice to leave the dslr at home was a hard one at first.
But after seeing some of the results of the Panasonic GH1 I can breathe a little sigh of relief. Just knowing that I don’t have to stand out in the middle of a crowded street in Mumbai with thousands of dollars of camera gear changing lenses also gives me a sense of relief.
Walking around with an expensive looking camera system does sort of put a target on your back. Where as pulling out my much smaller Panasonic GH1 is less attention grabbing so it allows me to feel a little more comfortable getting it out in more situations.
Now I am not saying that it can forever replace my Canon 5d Mark II. But I am going to put the micro 4/3 system through it’s paces with a year on the road and see how it fares.
I can tell you this much: As I sling on my pack I am relieved not to have that extra 15lbs of gear dragging me down!
Questions to ask yourself before buying a camera for traveling.
Ready to hit the road for that next great adventure, but not sure what camera to buy?
This is a common dilemma for many people. With the rapid advancement and ever changing world of digital technology it is easy to get confused and frustrated when looking at all of the options out there.
I too have been in that situation. Spending hours endlessly scouring the internet for the latest and greatest camera’s, pouring over the reviews and asking everyone what, in their opinion, is the best camera. After gathering this information I somehow find myself no further ahead than when I started. There is too much information, too many choices etc.
Well after many years of putting myself through the same routine, it dawned on me that I need to simplify the process. If I could start my search with a criteria already in mind I would be miles ahead than just having no plan at all. So I sat down and analyzed what I really wanted out of my digital camera and how I could best adapt it to the specifics of traveling.
Buying a digital camera for use in your own back yard is one thing but buying one to trudge through the desert, summit a mountain or go on Safari are two different things all together. After careful thought and looking at the experiences I had been through I came up with these questions that will give you a starting point when wading into the unpredictable waters of buying that digital camera for your next travel.
1.The first thing you have to look at is How do You Travel?This is a big one. If you are going to a resort, on a tour or a supported trek you will be able to bring pretty much whatever you want. But if you are like me, I am always on the road, traveling buy local transport, staying in small guesthouses and interacting with local people. Soin this case you should be looking for something that travels light and is not too cumbersome or awkward to handle..
2 Next is Where are You Traveling? If it is a beach resort, or a European City then construction and durability may be a little down the priority list. You could probably get way with a good Point and Shoot. If you are going to be taking your camera into some pretty extreme situations, it needs to be able to withstand different temperatures, sand, precipitation or whatever you can throw at it. So be sure to look at something that is is durable, has reliable construction and can take a knock.
3. What is the end product of your photo’s? If you are using them for slideshows for your family and friends, the market is endless of economical camera’s that don’t have all of the bells and whistles that you will probably never use. ie RAW capture, continuous shooting, high ISO capability. On the other hand if you are going to be printing hi-res prints for gallery shows, shooting sporting events and fast motion or take most of your photo’s in low light situations then you are probably going to want to go up the camera chain a little.
4. What do you photograph? Different camera’s are geared to different situations. For example; The person who loves to shoot spontaneously from the hip, like festivals and candid moments will want to look for something that is more compact and quick and easy to use. Taking the time to set up the manual functions and change lenses could cause you to lose that moment in time. The person who loves to plan where they are going to be, has a good idea of shooting conditions and know exactly what to capture will want to go with the feature rich DSLR instead of a Point and Shoot. The DSLR gives you the flexibility of interchangeable lenses and a host of user defined controls that allow you to set the camera up for any particular situation. If you are a landscape photographer this is a no -brainer.
5. What do you have to spend? You make think this is an obvious one, but let me tell you I know many people that have thousands of dollars worth of equipment sitting unused at home that they are stil paying for. So be realistic when going to your loal camera store. Don’t be influenced by all the new and latest things on the shelves. The best thing is to be practical. If you are a pro (meaning you get paid for your photography) or semi-pro, by all means take into consideration that $5000 camera body and the $2000 lens. But if you are like 90% of the world you can find a camera that both fits your needs and your budget.
With your answers to these questions you are now armed with the knowledge you need to buy the digital camera that is right for your next epic adventure.
