What’s In My Camera Bag? Best Gear for Travel Content Creators

One of the most asked questions I get on social media is what camera and drone do I use and recommend.

When I first started travel blogging and sharing content on Instagram back in 2019, I barely even knew how to use my camera! Over the years, I’ve upgraded my gear as I’ve learnt and fine-tuned my photography skills.

This is my guide of all the travel photography gear I use and personally recommend, and what I think is some of the best travel camera gear for content creators in partciular.

Best Photography Gear for Travel Blogger and Content Creators

Before I jump into the detail on what’s in my camera bag and my favourite travel blogger camera gear, remember that what works for one person might not work for another.

My priority is lightweight camera gear that is easy to travel with, but still allows me to capture high-quality content in a range of different conditions.

I’d say my camera gear is in the middle of the range – I could definitely spend a lot more money to upgrade my camera and lenses. However for now, my gear does the job really well for what I need it to do right now.

I’m a self-taught photographer, and used a lot of Youtube videos to learn the full capabilities of my equipment. I can’t recommend this enough, particularly when it comes to using a drone for the first time!

I watched Youtube tutorials for a week before I even flew my drone for the first time!

Quick Summary of My Current Gear:

Here’s a summary of what I’m currently using, and explained in detail further below.

• Camera: Canon EOS R50
• Drone: DJI Mavic Mini 3 Pro with RC controller
• Camera Backpack: Tenba Fulton v2 14L
• Action/Underwater Camera: GoPro
• Camera for Videos: iPhone (I recommend the Pro version)
• Tripod: K&F Concept Compact Tripod
• Hard Drive for Photo Storage: LaCie 2TB Rugged Hard Drive

Best Camera for Travel Photography

Canon M50 Mark ii

The camera I use, and that most of my Instagram photos and blog photos were taken with, is my lightweight Canon M50 Mark ii.

I couldn’t recommend this lightweight camera enough for beginner travel photographers and bloggers. It’s my pick for the best camera for travel blogging as this mirrorless camera is extremely light and compact.

It has a 24.1MP APS-C sensor (crop sensor) and fast image processing. The autofocus is also very quick and does really well under most conditions, I’ve never had to use the manual focus.

I love the touch screen, which allows me to change settings easily or adjust the autofocus with just a touch.

2024 Update: Unfortunately at the end of 2023 Canon discontinued the M-series line of cameras!

Super disappointing. The CanonM50 has been replaced by the very similar Canon EOS R50, with very similar technical specs and price point so I’d recommend that as the nearest alternative.

I’m a big fan of Canon products – I love that I can connect my camera to my iPhone using the wireless connectivity. This is very handy when I’m shooting solo with my camera on my tripod.

I can see the photo I’m taking from the Canon Connect app and set the self-timer all from my phone!

This camera is around the $1,000 mark and comes with a kit lens 15-45mm.

Due to having a crop sensor, there is a crop factor of 1.6x. For the 15-45mm, the equivalent focal lens on a full frame camera is 24-72mm which means the standard kit lens can be used quite capably for everyday shooting.

This makes it my bet for some of the best minimalist travel photography gear, and reduces the amount of heavy equipment you need to carry.

Where to Buy Canon R50:

• Amazon

Canon G7x Mii

Before the Canon M50, I used my trusty Canon G7x Mii for years.

I recommend this camera if you aren’t quite ready for a camera body and separate lens system, or want a cheaper option that still produces high quality photos.

The Canon G7x Mii has a fixed lens, but has full manual control over shooting settings and also shoots in RAW (RAW retains the most image data to allow you more control over the editing process).

I love the flip out 180-degree touch screen, makes taking selfies a breeze!

Best Camera Lens

I currently have three Canon EF-M lenses in my kit as they are the native lenses compatible with my camera system.

The EF-M 15-45mm f3.5-6.4 kit lens that comes standard with the Canon M50 Mii is a great all-rounder lens. I have since bought two additional lenses to round out the range of shooting functionality.

I recommend having a telephoto lens (I use the Canon EF-M 55-200m lens) and also possibly a fixed prime lens around the 50mm focal length for portraits.

Best Drone for Travel Photography

If you follow me on Instagram, you know I love my drone and have no regrets getting one.

It really allows you to shoot and capture so many amazing perspectives you would never see from the ground. I highly recommend getting a drone if travelling in Australia, as so many places are best seen from above like Hutt Lagoon Pink Lake.

Whilst there are rules in place for drone use, you’ll find most places allow drones if you abide by the CASA rules and respect others around you.

I highly recommend the DJI Mavic drones as the best drone. There are a few options for different beginner levels as well as budgets, meaning there is a drone for everyone in this range.

Best Drone for Content Creators

I was previously using a discontinued model of the DJI Mavic Pro. Last year I upgraded to the DJI Mavic Mini 3 Pro with RC Control, which I am VERY impressed with.

This really takes a step up with 4k/60fps photos, 48MP photos, a longer 34 minute flight time and obstacle sensing. Best of all, the camera rotates to portrait mode, making it the best drone for Instagram use.

This drone is around $1,000, or the newer DJI Mini 4 Pro is around the $1,400 mark.

Where to Buy:

• DJI Mavic Mini 3 Pro on Amazon

Best Camera Gear Backpack

I did a LOT of research to find a camera backpack that would fit majority of my needs.

Since I have my compact Canon M50 mirrorless camera, I don’t require a full camera and lens storage compartment.

This meant I wanted a backpack with a separate storage compartment for other items, to make it the perfect travel and camera backpack.

Tenba Fulton V2

I landed on the Tenba Fulton V2 in 14L size which is my pick for the best travel camera backpack. This bag also comes in 10L and 16L capacities, so there are options for all.

This bag features room for 3-4 lens plus camera, or can fit the DJI Mavic drones. I manage to fit my camera, zoom lens, drone plus remote and spare drone batteries.

The camera compartment is accessed from the back, meaning your equipment is secure when walking around.

The roll top compartment on the top allows for extra storage, and when not in use can be rolled down tightly. The front compartment fits my Windows Surface Laptop plus a book and a few other small items.

It also has two side pockets that can fit my tripod and water bottle.

I’m really happy with this bag so far, it’s come on all my local trips and a trip to Bali and has done the job perfectly so far, and costs under $200 which is on the cheap side compared to competitors! Find it here

Lowepro ProTactic 350

For those needing (or wanting) a larger storage compartment for more camera gear.

Many of my content creator friends swear by the Lowepro brand, and in particular the Lowepro ProTactic Modular Backpack with Weather Cover, making it the best camera gear backpack.

Whilst still compact, this bag will hold almost all the camera gear you own. It features 4-point access and can fit multiple lenses (4-5), including a larger 70-200mm lens.

Find it here

Best Camera for Underwater Photos

I use a GoPro to capture my underwater footage. I’m using an older model GoPro HERO9 which is need of an upgrade, the image and video quality just doesn’t compare to the newer models!

The GoPro 12 is the latest model, however you can usually still find older models dating back to the GoPro HERO10 brand new, and older models second hand.

I also use this underwater hand grip which is cheapie off Amazon, but does the job perfectly.

Best Camera for Videos

The majority of my Instagram reel videos are filmed using my iPhone 13 Pro.

The Pro models in the iPhone range really do have amazing cameras, and I think the camera stabilisation of the iPhones are by far the best of any competitors making it the best video camera for travel blogging.

When hiking the Cape to Cape, I didn’t take my camera and instead used my iPhone for all my photos.

Tip: Change your camera record video settings to at least 1080P at 60 FPS. You can do this in Settings>Camera.

As I use my phone daily for content creation (which is my full-time job), I tend to upgrade to the latest iPhone every 2 years.

Best Tripod

For travelling Europe for 3 months, I upgraded my tripod to the K&F Concept Lightweight Aluminium Tripod. I needed something that was light enough and easy to strap to my camera bag. I like how this one isn’t as bulky when folded up.

The other tripod that a lot of content creator friends use is the high-quality Manfrotto Compact Action tripod. This weighs less than than the one linked above, yet extends an additional 12 cms in height.

A valuable accessory that is an essential is my Manfrotto Universal Smartphone Clamp. This allows me to use my iPhone with my tripod, great for capturing videos. It screw in to the baseplate of the tripod.

Other Essential Accessories

Best Hard Drive for Photo Storage

I can’t stress enough how it is ESSENTIAL to have a reliable photo storage system. I have over 40,000 photos from my travels over the last few years and would be devastated if I lost them.

The best hard drive for photo storage is without a doubt the LaCie Rugged Hard Drive.

These hard drives are highly recommended for being high-quality and perfect for travellers on the go as they are shock and drop resistant. I have two of these and haven’t had any issues for the last 3 years.

I recommend getting at least 2TB of storage as it works out more cost effective.

Best SD Cards

When capturing a lot of content, you want to make sure you have a reliable and fast SD memory card.

Particularly since when taking photos in RAW requires a lot of data processing and there is nothing more infuriating than waiting for your camera to load its images!

I use:

• Camera: SanDisk Extreme Pro Memory Card
• Drone: SanDisk Extreme MicroSD Card

Photo Editing Software

Adobe Lightroom is what I use to edit my photos. I’ve created my own presets over the years as I worked out my editing style. I apply these presets to my photos to give them a consistent aesthetic and feel.

You can use the free Lightroom Mobile app (I did for over a year!) which works well when you are starting out and don’t have too many photos.

However as the number of photos I had taken grew, and as my editing skills increased, I upgraded to the annual Adobe Creative Cloud Photography Plan which costs me just under $200 a year.

This allows me to edit and organise all 40,000+ of my photos through the Lightroom Classic Desktop system, with photos stored on my Lacie Rugged HD.

SD Card Readers

I have two SD card readers that allow me to transfer photos from my camera and drone SD cards.

I have this Apple Lightning to SD Card Reader, allowing me to get photos or videos from my camera onto my phone.

Another essential is my USB-C Hub adapter, that connects to my Windows Surface Laptop and allows me to input photos from my SD Card and MicroSD card with dedicated slots. It also has two extra USB-A ports.

Power Bank

A good power bank to keep my iPhone charged on long travel or content creation days is a must. I like the Belkin portable power bank, and I find I can charge fully charge my phone at least 2-3 times.

Laptop

In 2020 I purchased the Microsoft Surface Laptop with 13.5″ touchscreen, and it’s been serving me well the last few years.

With its Core Intel i5 processor, I find this laptop is almost the perfect balance between portability yet still having enough processing power to handle all the image processing and editing applications that I use.

I know a lot of people swear my Macbooks (especially the Macbook Pro for photographers / content creators), but despite being a loyal iPhone user I just can’t get used to the Apple Macbook system after being a Windows user my whole life.

Final Thoughts

That wraps up this guide on my travel blogger camera gear, and my recommendations for the best travel photography gear for beginners.

Let me know in the comments below, or send me a DM on Instagram, if you have any questions!

If your’re interested in learning about what it takes to start a travel blog, check out my dedicated behind-the-scenes guide right here.