Best Camera Gear For Hikers
Ever wondered how I take all my fantastic photos while trekking long, challenging hikes? How I lug around my heavy gear? Well, in this blog post, I talk all about the best camera gear for hikers. This includes my first point and shoot camera and all the cameras I have used since then. I know all of us are at different points in our photography journey, so I decided to show you all the camera gear I have ever had. Keep reading till the end as I will show you example photos of each camera and lens. Enjoy!
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Best Camera Gear For Hikers
Camera Body
Sony A7RIII
This camera body is fantastic! I love the Sony A7RIII. I have had it for a year now, and I love how well it captures all of my pictures. It has a 42MP Full-Frame Sensor so you can print some fantastic photos. Now when it comes to camera bodies, I don’t recommend buying it as a package. Make sure to purchase the lens and camera separately. What makes my photography so amazing is my lens, and usually, the lens the camera comes with is low quality.
Sony A6000
This was the second camera I bought, and wow, I loved this camera body. It helped us get to the next level of outdoor photography. I highly recommend this to anyone that wants to get serious about photography but doesn’t want to spend money on a full-frame camera. The Sony A6000 is lightweight and takes outstanding photos. If you want some examples of pictures taken by the A6000, make sure to read till the end.
Sony RX100
The Sony RX100 was the first-ever camera I had. It is a great starter camera for hikers and travelers. It is lightweight and takes pretty good pictures for being a point and shoot. I used this on my first ever national park trip to Zion, and that is when I developed a love for photography.
Lenses
Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8
Ok, let me just start by saying that I know how expensive this lens is, but holy smokes this lens is outstanding!!!! I haven’t had a desire to upgrade or buy another lens because this lens takes exceptional pictures. It is excellent for taking portrait pictures, and it is incredible for taking landscape photos. Since this lens is so versatile, I just take this one with me on all my adventures. Eventually, I might get a lens for wildlife photography if I go to Africa, for example, but for now, this is the only lens I will use with my Sony A7RIII.
Sony 16-35mm Vario-Tessar f/4
The Sony 16-35mm lens is a fantastic lens for the Sony A6000 and the A7RIII. It takes outstanding landscape photos, and it is a very packable lens. I haven’t used it as much lately because the Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 is a lot more versatile (I am all about packing efficiently). If you are a beginner photographer that wants to get photographer quality photos, then pairing this with the A6000 is a great start. You can then eventually upgrade to the A7RIII and still use this lens.
Sony 16-70mm Vario-Tessar f/4
The 16-70mm was the first lens that I used. I remember when I first got it, I practiced my photography at a park for hours. It is a great starter lens, but after I bought it, I decided to upgrade. It was difficult at times to get enough light into the lens, which would create noisy photos more often then I wanted. I still think it is a fantastic lens that can capture great photos. It is excellent for a beginner photographer that doesn’t want to spend too much money.
Drone: DJI Spark
We take the drone on some of our trips but not really on our hiking trips. A great place where we used the drone is Iceland, for example. But please note there are many rules on drone usage. You can’t use them in national parks, for example, and many other beautiful outdoor areas. So we rarely take this on our hikes. This drone is pretty small and packs well into our backpack.
GoPro Hero 5
I like using the GoPro when I’m in the water like kayaking. But since we are big hikers, we rarely use the go pro on our adventures. My husband does love to use it while snowboarding. So it is a great camera to have for winter sports.
Tripod
Vanguard VEO 235AB
If I am doing a sunrise or sunset hike or if I am hiking solo, I like bringing my tripod with me. Vanguard is pretty well known in the photography community and has excellent products. I have the Aluminum tripod, but I wish I had the lighter version, which is carbon fiber. Still, it is more expensive, and the Aluminum version is small and light enough to fit in my bag.
UBeesize Tripod S
I don’t use this tripod anymore because my A7RIII and lens are a little too heavy. But if you are just starting photography, you can use it on your point and shoot camera or your phone. Tripods are a great way to take photos when you are hiking solo.
Accessories
Pixel RB-20 Strong Cleaning Air Blower
This thing is fantastic for cleaning your lens and getting rid of all the dust particles. If you have a camera with a detachable lens, then I highly recommend getting this. It will save you so much trouble of having to edit your pictures afterward. There tend to be little black specs in your photos if you don’t clean out the dust. I use this blower pretty much every time I take a picture.
Osprey Mira 32 Hydration Pack – 2.5 Liters – Women’s
I love how roomy this backpack is. It is a perfect way to store my Sony A7RIII and that massive lens. It has excellent support and sits on my hips, so my back is not killing me at the end of the hike. I have the men’s version of this backpack because my husband and I both use it. He carries it when I hike with him, and when I hike with friends, I carry it. Being able to take the ten essentials and camera equipment easily is the way to go.
Care Touch Lens Cleaning Wipes
These wipes are great for cleaning the lens, especially when the rocket blower can not get it all. There are times tiny little particles stick to lens, and the only way to get it out is with these wipes.
F-Stop – Shallow Small ICU
Being able to store your camera equipment secure and safe in your backpack is extremely important. You don’t want your new expensive gear to break while you are hiking. That is why I bought this small ICU to store in my backpack. It fits perfectly in my Osprey Manta backpack, and it protects my camera well. If you want to see how my camera gear fits, make sure to scroll below. I have some pictures of how I store my equipment.
SanDisk 128GB Extreme PRO
This is a great memory card that captures all of my pictures. It is pretty tough and long-lasting. I have the 128 Gigabite, and that stores a ton of my Raw pictures. Please note that I always shoot in Raw and not JPEG.
HOYA Digital PRO1 82MM Circular Polarizer Filter
I love using this filter on beautiful turquoise lake pictures. If you want the full colors of let’s say an outstanding blue/green lake and not the reflection, then definitely get this filter. Polarising filters select which light rays enter your camera lens.
82mm X4 UV Filter For Camera Lenses
Ok, as you can see above, I have clearly dropped some good amount of cash into my lenses. Now, when I use my cameras, I am usually hiking, so an excellent way to protect these $2,000 and up lenses is by buying a filter. Filters protect your expensive lens from getting scratched. A lot of people buy cheap ones, but I love this filter. It is easy to clean and easy to put on the lens. Very high quality for a high-quality lens.
Goal Zero Venture 30 Power Bank
I love this charger! It is weatherproof, extremely durable, and it comes with a light in case of an emergency (As you can see in the above picture). I use this to charge my phone, personal locator beacon, and my camera. I rarely charge my camera, though, because Sony has a good battery life, and I also bring extra batteries. It is still nice to have this charger with me as a peace of mind.
Alled XN01-0943 Neck Shoulder Belt Strap
The strap that the camera usually comes with is a little too thin and uncomfortable. Especially since I don’t ever use the typical lens the body comes with. Buying a very supportive, comfortable strap is essential, especially when you are hiking.
How I Pack My Camera
Examples Of My Photography
Conclusion
Thanks for reading all about my camera gear! I hope this helped you out with choosing the perfect equipment for your next outdoor adventure. Make sure to check out some of my other outdoor guides:
- Best Down Jackets For Women
- Best Women’s Hiking Sandals
- Best Camping and Backpacking Pillows
- Hiking Photography Tips And Tricks
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