Finally. The moment you've all have probably been waiting for. A blog post about camera gear. In the two years I've been doing this blog I wasn't quite sure on how to approach the world of camera/photography blogging. I've found the comfort zone on talking about hiking gear, and some of my adventure because that's usually what people ask me about. I just felt like I wasn't "qualified" to talk about cameras/camera gear yet. Now that I have been rolling with interchangeable lens cameras of different varieties for five years, I'm finally ready to give my honest reviews, and testimonies on some of the gear I've been working with.
I've acquired a multitude of gear pieces since starting with my first DSLR camera back in 2015. Some things have obviously worked over the years, and some things not so much. This whole blog post is about my experience with these pieces of camera gear, and why I would recommend. I'm in no way, shape, or form sponsored by any of these companies (though that would be cool). It's just my opinion on pieces of gear that I have found handy while traveling or out on the trail. So here is a list (in no particular order) of some of the particular pieces I've been rolling with and love:
Sea To Summit Dry Bags
This has been by far THE best piece of camera gear I've ever owned. I take my camera with me on the boat, kayaking, motorcycling, and hiking. I need something that I can rely on when I'm outside that will protect my camera if the weather gets sour. Trust me I've had those moments, and they aren't fun.
I bought my first Sea To Summit dry bag before my Florida trip in 2016. We were at a Cabelas, I saw them, and I thought heyyy might be smart to get one for the camera if we are going on kayaks. I had grabbed the eight liter to be able to fit lenses, phone, wallets, and camera. In that moment I didn't realize just how handy it was actually going to be.
In my blog post Everglade Nightmare (if you haven't read it go check it out) I talk about how my boyfriend at the time tipped his kayak in Ten Thousand Islands, with my camera and our phones in his kayak. It was that dry bag that saved all the electronics, and ultimately saved us. When you roll the Sea to Summit bag up it puffs up, which makes it able to float (barely, but it did float). That's how I was able to retrieve it from the bay. Since then I have taken it with me everywhere.
When I say I have taken it everywhere I mean EVERYWHERE. It has been through three outdoor jobs with me. I used it when I was instructing kayak/canoe lessons with the kids so I could keep my phone on me. It has helped keep things dry in motorcycle saddle bags, and also on hikes. I even bought the green one for extra lenses, phones, or if I just need a smaller bag.
Polarized Lens Filter
I've been rolling with some sort of UV/Polarized lens filter on my lenses since I first got my Nikon D5200. I have some sort of filter on every lens I own right now except for my 16 mm lens. These come in handy to the max. Why? Because these can help cut down on brightness in pictures, but also pop the colors in the pictures without even editing. On a DSLR it's done automatically. On the mirrorless cameras you can actually watch the camera take the image, and correct it. It's insanely awesome. The great thing about filters too is that they aren't lens specific. The one in the picture I can use with my kit lens 55-210 mm, but it will also fit my 50 mm. Does the same job for both. I've even got my brother using filters on his Canon and Sony lenses.
Dry Boxes
I actually didn't start carrying a camera in a dry box until 2017. They are nice for the fact that if the camera gets jostled in a saddle bag, or backpack the dry box takes the brunt force of the impact. Also having the waterproof seal makes it to where I don't have to fight putting it in a dry bag (but I still bring my dry bags just incase). I didn't put a specific brand for the dry boxes because I've had multiple, and they have all worked the same.
Once I got the Sony a6000 I had an Apache dry box for Harbor Freight for a while, but then found a good deal on a Pelican dry box at Best Buy. Pelican dry boxes are a little sturdier than the Apache, but there was just one problem with the Pelican. It's bulky. When having to pack my camera last year the Pelican dry box was just not practical. We were packing a motorcycle for two people for our September trip, and one check in/ two free bags for a plane ride on our October trip. There was no room for a bulky dry box. That's when we found the yellow Plano dry box in the picture. It didn't have foam so the camera could move just a bit in the box so I used a holy sock to cushion it in the box (yes, the sock is clean). I've been using the Plano box ever since because it still gives me ample room while packing for trips, or even just packing for a hike. I don't think I've ran into rain or anything while using it yet, but at least I'm prepared.
Zeiss Alcohol Lens Wipes
Once I got rid of my Nikon I didn't believe in carrying cleaning supplies for my lens or camera. I don't know why. Probably because I didn't use the cleaning kits that came with the Nikon. It wasn't until prepping for the Grand Canyon, and our motorcycle trip to Tennessee that I thought maybe I should get something at least. Grand Canyon I knew was going to involve a lot of dust on the trails, and I was planning on taking pictures while on the motorcycle when in the Great Smokies. Plus I was taking pictures at a wedding before one of those trips, and you just don't want lens dust appearing in the pictures. That's not a good time.
I happened to find these wipes for five bucks, I believe, at my local Walmart, and they have been suuuuuper handy whenever I'm leaving the house with the camera. It's always been super easy just to fumble a finger over the glass of a lens because you thought you had the cap on, get a poof of dust up in their from the trail, or I just experienced in Shenandoah getting water splotches on the lens while taking pictures of waterfalls. Whatever the case may be, these little alcohol wipes are great to just put in a pocket, whip them out when needed, and throw them in a trash can when you get off trail (remember leave no trace). Would always recommend some sort of alcohol wipe just to have around for those "Just in case" moments.
Camera Harness
That lovely thing holding my camera onto my being in that picture is actually called a binocular harness, but for the sake of this blog I'm calling it a camera harness because it can also be used for that (if you want a full view of it, it is in the first picture with the American Birding Association stamped into the middle of it). This is one of my most recent gear switches, and I have been in love ever since. I used to use Peak Design's camera strap, but once I got some of the different lenses I have it just wasn't working. Besides I needed something that would carry my camera a little better while out on hikes. I found this binocular harness at the Biggest Week in Birding back in 2019. The American Birding Association booth was selling them, and sold me on one instantly.
This harness gave me the capability to take pictures on the motorcycle. This gave me the opportunity to hike Angel's Landing, and be able to take pictures while doing so(visual of Angel's Landing in the picture above). This has saved my little Sony a6000 from a few dings it would have gotten if I had a strap. Also with a strap while wearing a backpack on the trail you had to situate everything to where you could slide the strap around if you wanted to get a shot while hiking. I can't tell you how many time where my strap got hung up some where on my backpack and I had to take my pack off. With the harness there is no worries with that. You can put it up to your face no problem. Yeah, it's amazing.
Now I do have some honorable mentions like my Peak Design wrist strap and just regular camera strap. I did like the regular Peak Design camera strap when I was using it. It was easy to adjust, and to slide the camera around to my face when I wasn't wearing a backpack. I just phased out of it for the sake of my camera, and as I mentioned before maneuverability of my camera while having a backpack on. I may have phased out the regular strap, but not the wrist strap. I use the wrist strap mainly when out on the boat just as a leash to not have an accident that involves my camera and water. It's even been nice for when I'm on a quick walk, or about the house taking pictures and don't want to hook up the harness.
I've also used other camera bags over the years as well, such as a leather one I had bought for the Nikon that was water resistant, and a National Geographic backpack that came with a rain cover. Both didn't stick around long with me. I've got to be the only camera nut that hates camera backpacks. There I said it. I hate camera backpacks. I've found them impractical when on the trails. I can't fit anything else like snacks, or the jacket I might have been wearing. You have to take the backpack off to get to any of your camera gear out. They tend to zip in the front which causes everything to just fall out if you remotely unzip it in any way without laying it down. Sometimes there is no place to lay a backpack down on the trail. Thus they are just impractical for me. My brother, however, uses that National Geographic bag all the time, especially while on the motorcycle with the camera. It just works for him.
Now like I said before this is just the things that have worked for me over the years. Other pieces of gear that may not have worked for me might work for others. I know there is also gear out there that I have never tried before. I'm also trying out new gear while writing this blog post (so there might be a round two post in the future). If you have any recommendations on gear I'm totally willing to check it out. The most important piece of gear in your bag, however, is to have fun while taking your pictures. Take in that beautiful landscape. Enjoy that once in a life time trip. Soak up the sun while you are out there. Remember that. Until next time, Happy Trails!
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