My Travel Friendly Camera Equipment

Camping

Feb 18

Introduction

I’ve talked a lot about camping and outdoor gear on this channel but maybe you’re interested in filming your trips too

And if so, then stick around because in this post, I’m going to show you all of the camera equipment that I’m using to film these videos.

Before we jump in, I’ll give you some context: I come from a background in commercial photography and I’m also a recovering gear addict.

I’ve paid more import duties on eBay cameras than I care to admit, and ya know what: here’s the truth whether you want to hear it or not—they’re just tools. And tools are useless without knowledge, plans, or ideas.

The most important thing is, and always will be: the things your teaching, the message your preaching, or the the story you’re telling.

Two Primary Rigs

For the sake of clarity, I’ll call them:

The Basecamp Rig, which is the one I use like 90% of the time.
The Backpack Rig, which is what I use when I need something lighter, nimble, and less obtrusive.

Camera

Both of these rigs are built around my Sony A7IV: This is a super versatile camera body. Photos, videos, it doesn’t matter. This thing can do it all. And having shot with previous iterations of Sony, one of my favorite things about it is actually the larger grip and all the dial and button placements. It just feels ergonomic to me, but then again, maybe it’s just what I’ve gotten used to.

That said, it’s not without it drawbacks - on hot days I’ve had issues with it overheating during videos and, no doubt, that can be irritating, so I hope they fix that in the future. Also, if you want to shoot video in super low light or mega slow mo, then there’s probably better cameras out there but that’s not really my thing, so I like this one.

Audio Recording

Both Rigs also use the same audio recording set up. And that’s the Rode Wireless GO II Mic. I’m not a professional sound guy but I’ve been really happy with the results that I can get from this thing. And you’ve probably seen it clipped to my hat before, but sometimes, when filming b-roll, I’ll set it up on this cold shoe adapter and use it like a shotgun mic. It works surprisingly well like that too. To me, the only drawback of these lav style mics are that they have an internal batterie which means they have to be turned on and off separately and they can die during the shoot. I’ve definitely forgotten to turn it on only to find out, during the edit, that I shot a silent film. Not a good feeling.

Basecamp Rig

On the Basecamp Rig I use a Sigma 24-70 f/2.8 mark ii. This lens is awesome. It’s got all your bread and butter focal lengths, sharp enough to cut wood, and the autofocus is incredible. The only reason I don’t use this lens 100% of the time is its size and its weight - which is honestly isn’t that bad either but it’s still a little beefy if you’re backpacking or out fly fishing all day.

On the front of it I have a Variable ND Filter from K&F: These are cheap and get the job done. I may eventually get a nicer one but this is fine for now.

And to round out the Basecamp Rig I use a Carbon Fiber Tripod from Small Rig with a little Extension Tube. It’s a solid set up - it’s simple, a good size, I like the flip latches, and it’s built well. I think tripods are one of the more underrated pieces of gear when it comes to filming solo. Poorly made ones can make filming and getting unique angles feel like torture. That said, I wouldn’t skimp on the tripod.

So to recap the Basecamp Rig we have the Sony A7IV, Rode Wireless GO II Mic, Sigma 24-70 f/2.8 mark ii, Variable ND Filter from K&F, and Carbon Fiber Tripod from Small Rig.

Backpacking Rig

Now when I’m out on a backpacking trip or fishing and every ounce matters, I switch a few things up.

Here’s the Backpacking Rig:

For it I use the Sony 28-60mm f/4-5.6. Sony claims it’s the smallest zoom lens on the market, and my neck thanks them for that. The trade-off is a slower aperture, so it’s not ideal for low light, but it’s perfect for portability. And I can also tell you that there’s no compromise in sharpness or autofocus.

And again, I’m using a Variable ND Filter from K&F.

I also swap out tripods. I found this one from a brand called Aoka on Amazon. It’s a 1-pound wonder. Small, compact, and, while not full size, still helps me get creative angles. That said, I wouldn’t trust it to hold the heavier rig but for this set up, it’s a rockstar.

Don’t Forget The Computer

So those are the rigs, but we’re not done yet. I want to point out another piece of gear that a lot of folks don’t mention when they’re talking about camera equipment - the computer. Consumer cameras today shoot ridiculously high quality footage but to actually turn that footage into something fun to watch you’re going to need a computer that can handle those large files. This is very important and should be included in your budget. Mine is a 14” MacBook Pro with a M3 Pro Chip. You’ll also need hard drives, memory cards, and a way to edit your videos - I pay for Adobe Premiere but there are free programs out there.

Hard Case

Finally, to keep all this gear organized, clean, and safe I use a Nanuk 915 Hard Case which I love because it also fits my computer.

Conclusion

So here’s the deal, all this stuff comes with a big price tag and there is a steep learning curve. Before you fill up an Amazon shopping cart or make any impulse purchase, take a beat. If this is your first time dipping your toe into the world of videography, I’d recommend that you spend a weekend trying to film a video using your phone or whatever camera you have. Download an editing app. Add some tunes. Make an edit. Just see if you like the process. If you’re still gung ho after that and you got some money burning a hole in your pocket, then go nuts. I just don’t want to encourage anyone to buy expensive camera gear that’s collect dust on a shelf.

Alright y’all, I hope this has been helpful, and as always, please feel free to comment below with any questions.