Photography as a hobby is pricey. Photography as a career is an investment. Once you buy the latest model of something, just wait 12 months when there’s something even bigger and better on the market. That doesn’t mean your current model is of bad quality. It just means that we as consumers always want the next best thing. After taking photos for many years now, my camera bag is now two camera bags…and you wonder what I do to keep fit while traveling. Curling various bags while crossing the globe totally counts.
It all started in 2013 with a Nikon D3200 when I moved abroad to Argentina. A few years later, I upgraded to a Nikon D7100. They were big and bulky so I tried out a compact Canon Powershot G3X once upon a time until I met the love of my life…as it relates to people and cameras 🙂
Sony Alpha 7
My fiancé and I go between our Sony a7R IV and Sony a7 III during shoots. I adore both of these full frame, mirrorless machines not only because they capture excellent quality imagery, but they’re also smaller, lighter, and more durable than their DSLR counterparts. They both look very similar on the outside, but under the hood tells a different story.
We love the Sony a7R IV is because it performs incredibly well in low light, and we can shoot wider and crop in without losing quality due to its 61.2 megapixels with the a7 III having 24.2 megapixels. Both are great under low light situations as are all Sony A-series cameras. Both shoot video at 4K up to 30fps or 1080p at 24 / 30 / 100 / 120fps, use the same battery and are equipped with dual UHS SD card slots.
Lenses
Sony 24-70mm – This has always been my go-to lens for its versatility. The f2.8 G Master full frame standard zoom can be used with a variety of subjects, easily moving from a wide angle to a zoom with this beauty, acclimating as quickly as your subjects change. If you have to choose only one lens, choose this one.
Sony 50mm – The large f1.4 maximum aperture can produce beautiful background bokeh, making for great portraits or fashion shoots.
Zeiss Batis 85mm – The f1.8 is a classic for portrait shooters, but also useful for street photography or picking-out details in product photos.
Sony 70-200mm – The G Master f2.8 is the biggest lens in my bag and great for wildlife shots, nature and sports shots that require a bit more reach. If you need even more, you can get the Sony 2.0x Teleconverter which brings the 70-200mm to a 140-400mm f5.6 lens.
Drones
DJI Mavic Mini – This guys fits into the palm of your hand! The mini is a great entry-level drone for anyone tight on space with a flight time of up to 30 minutes + 2.7K resolution video and 12 megapixels.
DJI Mavic Air 2 – With my fiancé being a drone pilot and Founder of DRONEGEAR, I now know my fair share about drones. Highlights of the Mavic Air 2 include the 4K resolution camera at 60 frames per second. The 48 megapixel camera is impressive for a half-inch sensor. Flight time is 34 minutes max.
DJI Mavic Pro 2 – This is Alex’s favorite drone to quickly throw in the air for quality shots. It’s very discreet with low noise propellors and offers 4K/30fps video resolution, 20 megapixels and 31 minutes of flight time. If you were ever on the fence about this one, just take a look below at Alex’s shot of Lake Bled…!
Action Cameras
DJI Osmo Pocket – As the name implies, you can literally throw this guy into your pocket before/after using. I love this little gadget for when we want to film while being discreet – such as at a busy restaurant to show a certain atmosphere. The quality is insanely good thanks to a 1/2. 3-inch sensor, 80° FOV and F/2. 0 aperture. It can also shoot 4K/60Fps video at 100Mbps and photos at 12 megapixels. Connect it to your phone for optimal viewing.
GoPro Hero 8 – With three levels of stabilization, 4K UHD 2160p, 12 megapixel photos with improved HDR, live-streaming in 1080p and shotgun-mic performance, this is GoPro’s best version yet.
Accessories
f-stop Camera Backpack – Having traveled with my Anja 40L day pack for over a year now, I can say that this is the best photography pack in the game. It opens from the back and offers various inserts for you to safely store camera bodies, lenses, accessories and anything else your heart desires.
ONA Camera Bag – If you’re looking for something a bit smaller, I love ONA camera bags. I wrote about my experience with The Brixton here, but I love The Bowery just as much for those shorter days.
Tiffen 82mm UV Protection Filter – If you’re in the market for a lens, the first protective gear you should buy is a UV filter for any lens, providing basic reduction of ultraviolet light.
Tiffen 82mm Polarizer – Polarizers will help with reflections off metals and bright whites, cutting glare and reflection resulting in better contrast and deeper color.
MeFOTO Travel Tripod – This 61.6″ tripod is a compact, travel camera tripod that folds up inversely and turns into a monopod. I’ve taken it all over the world without issue!
Hi Lesley,
Thank you for compiling all of this gear! Photography is a hobby of mine and I have a Sony alpha camera but have been unsure where to go with lenses, this was extremely helpful. I was wondering what your thoughts were on buying lenses refurbished or used? I would love to purchase the 24-70mm f2.8 lens you mention but it is a little out of my budget new.
Thanks in advanced for your help!
Hi! I think it could be very worthwhile if it comes from a reputable place. In the end, it’s always a risk because you never really know what happened to it before you…but I think if do your research on the retailer or trust the photographer you’re buying from, it could be a great option!
Hi Lesley!
I don’t know much about photography but it has always been something I loved. What would you suggest for someone just starting out in the photography world? I would love something that can be versatile, durable and take amazing pictures? I’m a huge fan of you and love everything you post, especially the pictures and footage you guys capture.
Thank you for any input 🙂