We get messages and comments from people often asking us how we take our photos? Which camera do we use? Which laptop? What would we recommend people to buy?
So we’ve put together a shortlist of travel blogging gear that we use on our trips at home and abroad. We hope this will help you be more creative or successful with whatever your own creative endeavors are!
*There are affiliate links in this post. Read our disclosure policy to learn more.
Camera + Accessories
Canon EOS 6D
This isn’t the latest and greatest camera from Canon, far from it actually, but it’s been good enough for us. Do you really need more than 20 megapixels? Sure if you’ve got the money to spend, why not get the newer Canon EOS 5D Mark IV or Sony a7R III.
We can’t afford those at the moment, but those are the dream cameras! (If anyone wants to invest in a poor photographer’s dream, feel free to hit me up!) However, the Canon EOS 6D is full-frame and still a solid choice. Besides, it’s more about the lenses anyway. We like that the 6D has built-in WiFi for remote shooting and file transfers, plus it’s obviously a lot easier on the wallet. We use the 6D with the Canon Camera Connect mobile app for added functionality. The only downside of this camera is that it’s not great for ultra-high-quality video, for that you’ll have to get the Sony which can shoot 4k.
You’ll also need a spare Canon LP-E6N Battery, a camera bag, and some SanDisk SD Cards.
MeFOTO A2350 Globetrotter Aluminum Tripod
Nice bang for the buck! Weighs around 2kg or 4.6 lb yet it’s strong enough to support a full-sized DSLR. Light enough for travel but not too light, it won’t be knocked over by the wind. It also converts into a monopod! This is how we get photos with both of us in it when it’s just the two of us!
Alternatively, you can get a JOBY GorillaPod if you’re wanting something even smaller and lighter. They’re really easy to pack! You can also use them on trees, railings, tables, etc. Very flexible and useful.
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro USM Lens
A nice longer lens that is an L series (meaning it contains Canons best glass) that isn’t as heavy as some of the others like the Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L. Also, a great one for close-ups/macro shots if you’re into that. Plus I really love this lens for crisp headshots and portraiture. Not a bad mid-range wildlife lens either!
Sigma 50mm f1.4 DG HSM Art Lens
Great all-purpose prime lens! Best for portraits with a nice bokeh or for those sneaky street photos. Classic focal length and a cheaper yet high-quality alternative to the more expensive Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L.
Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM Lens
This is our go-to wide angle lens! Another L series lens that is tack sharp and awesome for landscapes or photos you need extra room for, to fit inside the Instagram crop. The image stabilization feature is also a big help in difficult low light situations.
Another excellent mid-range zoom if you can afford it is the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM.
Ricoh GR II
This little camera is perfect for street photography. It’s super small, quiet, and hardly noticeable. We bought it in Singapore after another camera we had fell victim to a wave in Bali.
Not to mention the image quality is insane! It has a 28mm fixed lens with a max aperture of f/2.8, you won’t even be able to tell that these photos are not from a high-end DSLR. Great features like snap focus and an affordable price tag make this the perfect compact camera. Great for beginners!
GoPro Hero 4
Great for super wide angles, HD videos, and dope underwater shots. There are newer versions available now like the GoPro HERO7 Black that shoots silky smooth 4K video, but we bought this one a while back in Malaysia before we went scuba diving and it’s been fine for us!
Laptop + Editing Software
HP Spectre x360 13t (2 in 1 convertible laptop)
If you’re traveling for more than a few weeks you’re likely going to need a computer. We recently got this stylish lightweight laptop and we’ve been happy with it. The best part? It’s a 2 in 1!
It functions as both a computer and a touch screen tablet. Double the functionality! Not to mention it comes with a stylus pen that really comes in handy if you use Photoshop to edit pics.
We realize many people love the Apple MacBook Pro, but as far as laptops go we are PC people, and this laptop is as close as it gets to the Macbook at a cheaper price point. It’s also great for teaching English online or blogging. The only complaints are that after many months of travel the battery doesn’t seem to keep the same charge it used to, it runs a little hot, and at times we wish the screen was a bit bigger. You’ll also need a USB splitter to add more USB ports.
Adobe Lightroom & Photoshop
Nothing beats Adobe Lightroom for editing your best travel shots. Whether you’re creating your own styles or using presets. The same goes for Photoshop, hands down it’s the best program out there. We liked it more when it wasn’t a subscription-based software, but these two are the industry standard and programs that are necessary to have if you plan to do anything remotely professional with your images.
You don’t really need to purchase the entire Adobe Creative Cloud package unless you’re editing videos and making graphics too. It also has a hefty price tag at over $500 a year! This prepaid year-long subscription for both programs is the best deal we could find. Please be aware that this deal is currently only offered to residents of the United States.
Mobile Devices
iPhone SE & Samsung Galaxy S8
How can you do anything without a mobile phone? Sindhya has a Samsung Galaxy S8 and I have an older unlocked iPhone SE that I bought at an Apple store in Bangkok (I’m seriously overdue for an upgrade). Something to keep in mind if you’re traveling long term is that you want your phone to be unlocked so that you can use various SIM cards wherever you go. We obviously load our phones with all of our favorite travel apps that help us navigate traveling the world. Plus it helps us to keep in touch with all of you guys!
File Storage
WD 4 TB Black My Passport Portable External Hard Drive
Backup Backup Backup! This is essential if you’re serious about holding onto all of your photos and precious memories. We store two of each folder or file. One on the laptop and one on the hard drive we carry. We also leave hard drives back home for backup purposes. You never know when you could have a massive data failure, get your stuff stolen, or lose something. We also have a Seagate Backup Plus Portable External Hard Drive 5TB USB 3.0 Black. It’s nice because it comes with a free two month trial of Adobe Creative Cloud which means you get to try the Adobe programs for free. It’s also smart to upload your files and store them on the cloud online, redundancy is key.
Power Bank
Portable Charger Anker PowerCore 20100
These are lifesavers! Essentially an external battery pack for your iPhone, iPad, Samsung Galaxy and more. It’s nice to have a backup when you suddenly don’t have anywhere to plug in your electronics. This has saved our asses many times while traveling! We highly recommend getting one of these because if you ever travel to remote places you never know when the power will go out or you just need that extra bit of juice!
Have fun and keep seeking! We hope that helps shed some light on the travel blogging gear that we use!
If you have any questions about travel blog gear, feel free to ask us in the comments…
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