Your Camera Gear Guide For The Best Travel Photos
Taking a photo with my Olympus Om-1 Film Camera. Click on my photos to pin on Pinterest!
Travel photography is so special to me. It’s one of my favorite parts about traveling and seeing the world. I get to make art wherever I go with a click of a shutter. This blog will be all about which cameras to use for your travel adventures. I’ll go over beginner cameras, advanced cameras, film cameras, and just for fun cameras. Get out and explore the world, even if it’s right in your backyard.
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Canon EOS Rebel T7
My very first high tech camera was a Canon EOS Rebel T7 DSLR. I purchased this as my starter camera when I was 18 and taking photography classes in college. It’s a great starter camera for those who are getting into photography and want to take quality photos. This camera has a manual mode, so you can learn the basics of photography - shutter speed, aperture, ISO, and focus. It has has an auto mode if you’d rather have the camera select the settings for you. The Canon EOS Rebel T7 DSLR I bought came with a 18-55mm lens. This is versatile for portraits to landscapes, especially as a beginner. You can buy a Canon EOS Rebel T7 DSLR kit with a lens for under $500 new. You can also check out sites like B&H Photo and grab a lightly used version for much cheaper.
Before I upgraded, I loved this camera and took it everywhere with me, even on my travels. Photos taken with this camera can be seen in my Utah and Oregon blogs. Below are a few!
Canon EOS 5D Series
Once I started getting more into photography, I decided to upgrade to a full-frame Canon EOS 5D Mark III and then eventually added a Canon EOS 5D Mark IV. The Canon EOS Rebel does not compare to these upgrades. The Canon EOS 5D Series cameras take much higher quality photos and is great to use for everything I do. I started my photography business with these cameras.
Both Canon EOS 5D Mark III and Canon EOS 5D Mark IV are much more expensive than the Canon EOS Rebel T7. This is because Canon Mark III and IV have much larger sensor sizes, ISO ranges, and capabilities. A Canon Mark IV body is around $1,700-$2,000 new. Compatible lenses are also costly for these cameras. My beloved Canon EF 35mm f/1.4 L USM II was over $1,500 used. If you’re looking to purchase, don’t forget to check out B&H Photo for lightly used versions at a cheaper price. You can always rent photography equipment, as well, if you’d only like to use a lens or camera for a specific trip. I use both of my Canon EOS 5D cameras all the time and I’m incredibly happy I made the investment.
Canon EOS 5D Mark III
My Canon EOS 5D Mark III has been on a lot of travel adventures. It’s reliable, high quality, and since it’s older than the Canon EOS Mark IV, a bit cheaper. You can get a new Canon EOS 5D Mark III for around $1,300 or find a variety of used Canon EOS 5D Mark III camera bodies for under $1,000. Overall, it’s pretty similar to the newer version, the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV. If you’d like to invest in a nice, high quality camera, but don’t want to break the bank, a used Canon EOS 5D Mark III could be just what you’re looking for. Below are some photos I’ve taken with my Canon EOS 5D Mark III.
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV
I learned quickly that it’s best practice to be prepared when shooting events and to always bring more than one camera, so I invested in the new version of the Canon EOS 5D Mark III, the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV. Since investing in the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, it has become my go-to camera for most everything I do, including travel photography. I bring this camera everywhere. If I’m going on a road trip, I’ll pack a few lenses, since I don’t have to worry about space. However, if I’m traveling on a plane, space is an issue. My go-to lens is my 35mm lens, especially for travel. It captures everything well, from portraits to landscapes.
The Canon EOS 5D Mark IV is my go-to camera for traveling, because it’s reliable, full frame, high quality, and versatile. I love the LCD touchscreen display and the tracking on live photos. This is one of the biggest upgrades from the Canon EOS 5D Mark III. The only downside to this camera is the size. It’s definitely not the smallest camera and can be heavy at times, especially if I bring it with me hiking. However, the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV is slightly lighter than the Canon EOS 5D Mark III. Overall, this hasn’t stopped me from bringing it everywhere I go. I’ll always find space to pack it. Below are some photos taken with my Canon EOS 5D Mark IV.
Canon AE-1 Film Camera
In college, I took a few film photography classes, and I fell in love. Film photography is so much fun and it really romanticizes my photos and gives them that nostalgic feeling. If you’ve learned the basics of photography, shutter speed, aperture, IOS, focus, you can easily get into film photography. If you haven’t yet, but you’d like to, don’t feel like you need to take a whole college course to learn. You can easily Youtube anything you need to know about photography online.
While I was taking classes, I used a Canon AE-1 film camera with a 50mm lens. This is a great camera and is easy to use. It’s one of the most popular film cameras out there and is pretty affordable, around $250. I only shot black and white film, like Ilford HP5 Plus Black and White Negative Film, because it was easier to develop than color film. Since in my photography class, we had to develop and process our own film in the dark room. It was so cool and one of my favorite classes. But don’t worry, you don’t have to go through the process of developing and processing your own film. You can simply drop film off at your local photo store and they will process, develop, and scan your film for you. My favorite spot to develop film is at Sharp Photo & Portrait in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Below are some of my favorite film shots taken on a Canon AE-1 film camera.
Olympus Om-1 Film Camera
More recently, I was lucky enough to be gifted a beautiful, old Olympus Om-1 film camera with a 50mm lens. Thanks, Ross! This film camera is also fairly affordable at around $250. I often will pair this camera with Kodak Portra 400 film, as the colors are gorgeous and it’s versatile. I absolutely love my Olympus Om-1 film camera and take it with me on special trips where I know I’ll want it, like anytime I travel to Europe.
One of my favorite shots with my Olympus Om-1 film camera on Portra 400 film
Traveling with camera equipment can be a little tricky, so that’s why I always consider which cameras I’ll really use while on a trip. Traveling with an old film camera is a little more complex. While at the airport, make sure to pack your film and cameras in your carry-on bag. Don’t put anything in your checked luggage. Once you’re at security, I always politely ask the TSA agents to hand check my camera and film and try not to run my film through the X-ray scanners. It’s usually not an issue with the TSA agents in the US, but some countries do not want to take the time to hand check your camera. As long as you have film that’s under 800 ISO, it should be ok going through the scanners. I’ve had my 400 ISO film scanned before a few times in Europe and it thankfully hasn’t been damaged. Don’t let this scare you too much, because I’ve never regretted bringing my film camera on my travel adventures. Below are some travel photos I’ve taken with my Olympus Om-1 film camera on Kodak Portra 400 film. They’re some of my favorites!
Fujifilm Instax Mini Instant Film Camera
A fun, little camera I’ve had for over a decade is my Fujifilm Instax Mini Instant Film camera. This camera is so cute and I love how unserious it is. You don’t have to know anything about taking photos to use this camera. It’s the perfect camera to capture the moment and we always have a fun time when I bring it out. Each photo is like a tiny treasure. I keep them all in photo albums, pictured below. How cute are these? It’s so special to pull these out and remember each imperfect moment. My polaroids make me so happy and it’s a fun addition to my travel photos as well as everyday life moments. Below are some photos I’ve captured with my Fujifilm Instax Mini Instand Film camera and my photo albums. Don’t forget to stock up on film for this polaroid camera!
GoPro Hero Black
If you’re into adventure and want a camera you don’t have to worry about getting damaged in those moments, I recommend a GoPro camera. We have used the GoPro Hero Black for years. Ross loves to use it mountain biking, hiking, snowboarding, snowmobiling, surfing, basically anything a little extreme. It’s so fun to capture unique angles and even underwater adventures you wouldn’t otherwise be able to look back on. Below is a video we’ve captured with our GoPro Hero10 Black. We used a long extendable selfie stick to get this shot. Check out the newest GoPro Hero13 Black that features so many cool updates.
iPhone
Finally, one of the most common cameras on hand is an iPhone or any other smart phone. These can take great photos and you’re likely to already to carrying it. I use my iPhone all the time to take photos and videos, because sometimes it’s nice to have that photo or video instantly on your phone and ready to share. The trick to getting good iPhone photos is to think of your composition. Maybe try taking the photo from a new angle, like from below, to get the whole landscape. Try playing with objects in the foreground of your shot. Finally, don’t zoom in on your iPhone photos if you can help it. This seems to hurt the quality and overall image. Move closer to the subject if you can instead of zooming. Below are some iPhone photos taken with an iPhone 10 and iPhone 15.
Additional Camera Gear
I love using the self timer settings on both of my Canon EOS 5D cameras to get awesome photos of Ross and I on our own. I use a Canon Remote Switch RS-80N3 or a Canon RC-6 Wireless Remote Control to release the shutter. I also have a tripod that I often bring with on my travels. This Sunpack tripod is the exact one I have used for years. It’s lightweight and affordable. If we are hiking, we’ll pack a little backpack and stick that in with us. Finally, make sure to grab some reliable SD cards. I use a SanDisk Extreme Pro SD card 64 GB or a SanDisk Extreme Pro SD Card 128 GB for my Canon cameras. For the GoPro, we use a SanDisk 128 GB Ultra MicroSDXC.
Photo taken with Canon EOS 5D Mark III with the self-timer
Renting Camera Equipment
If you’re nervous about which camera to purchase, you can always rent before you buy. I’ve often rented camera equipment, either because I wanted to try a new lens or camera out before purchasing or I wanted to use a specific lens for a project that I knew I wouldn’t use enough to purchase. I’ve rented from BorrowLenses, now owned by Lensrentals, and have always had a great experience. You just choose what camera equipment you’d like to try, select how long you need it for, and it’s shipped directly to you. Just return it with the return label on the end date, and you’re good to go.
Overall Thoughts on Camera Gear for Travel
Overall, there are a variety of cameras you can use for travel. These are the ones that I have used and loved over the years. If you’re into photography and like my travel photos, you could always try renting one of the cameras I’ve listed above before diving head first into buying an expensive one. Photography is such a fun hobby. When you combine it with your travel adventures, you’ll capture so many amazing memories to look back on forever. It’s one of my favorite things!
Shopping Links
Camera used to document my travels: Canon EOS Rebel T7, Canon EOS 5D Mark III, Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, Canon AE-1 film camera, Olympus Om-1 35mm film camera, Instax Mini, GoPro Hero Black, and iPhone
