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In this blog post, I would like to share with you what kind of gear we use to create our content.
Photography and videography is my absolute biggest passion and hobby, which luckily have evolved into my fulltime job. I enjoy following how the technology developed and how trends in the creation of content are moving in different directions.
However, I want to state that creating content is an art in the same way as painting a picture – therefore it’s also important not trying to copy what other people are doing, but also get your own style, look and feel.
Why I take pictures
The reason I love taking pictures and creating videos is that even if two people try to capture the exact same moments, from the same place, with the same gear – the outcome of content would never be the same.
Getting inspiration from other people is always a good idea, but make sure to go your own way!
Best camera and gear for travel photography and video
To start out with, I would like to point out that the gear and camera equipment, I use to shoot the content for our travel blog, is also the same I use to shoot commercialized content for companies with.
The way we are traveling with @thetravelbook is mainly with cars. This also means that I often have enough space to pack all the camera gear and equipment I like to bring.
Weight and size make a huge difference if you for example are traveling as a backpacker.
On our trips, I bring two different camera bags for hiking, and the weight and size really do matter!
During my last 10 years with photography, I’ve changed my camera gear quit a lot of times. Not only because the new gear comes out on the market, but also because my interest in motifs and visions are changing.
All people I know who are into creating content are just as mad gear freaks like me, and most often you can always just find a little extra something you need… ask yourself; Do you really need it?
In my opinion, the right picture can be taken with very simple gear.
My best tip to buy new equipment
- Research online or ask professionals for advice for the gear you feel you can’t live without
- Buy second-hand gear, you’ll safe a ton of money
- Make sure to test out the gear, before buying it.
- Camera gear is developing just like phones. Try to buy older models because good camera gear, can last for more than 15 years.
- It’s in many cases the camera lenses and not the camera body, which makes a big difference in your content creation.
Canon Eos R5
- 45 megapixel resolution.
- 20 frames per second
- Full Frame internal 8K RAW video
- Full Frame 4K/120P video
- Up to 8-stop Image Stabilizer
- ISO 100-51,200
- Built in Wi-Fi & Bluetooth
- 5940 autofocus positions
I’ve been shooting with Canon cameras ever since, my mum let me borrow her old Canon camera when I was about 14 years old.
The first camera I bought myself was a Canon 1000D. It was a huge upgrade from my mum’s old Canon from 1995.
Ever since then I’ve been the proud owner of the 5d Mark ii, 6d Mark ii, 5d Mark iii, Canon Eos R, Canon Eos R6, and my current camera is the latest model Canon EOs R5.
The reason I’m currently settling with this camera body is because of the quick 20 fps and a video resolution better than on the Eos R.
A thin body with all necessary inputs/outputs
Dual slot for memory cards.
A 7.5cm (3.0″) Clear View LCD II screen which can flip and turn.
A small body that is easy to handle and can take a few hits and bad weather.
Curious about prices and more specifications about the Canon Eos R6?
Canon RF 70-200
- Aperture F 2.8
For low light performance and shallow depth-of-field - 5-stop Image Stabilizer
Exceptional stability in the lowest of light levels - Aspherical and UD elements
For exceptionally sharp images - Dual Nano USM motor
For smooth fast and silent continuous focusing - Compact and light
Small and space-saving for great portability - Lens Control Ring
For extra control over ISO aperture and shutter
This lens is one of my all-time favorite lenses!
Before Canon made the RF lenses, I had the EF 70-200 USM ii.
For the past 2 years, this has been my go-to lens. It’s perfect for capturing all daily happenings on the street, but at the same time, you can capture the great depth of field with the aperture of just 2.8.
The new RF lenses are definitely an upgrade and this RF 70-200 lens is super quick!
This lens works perfectly in low light circumstances and keeps everything sharp.
The RF 70-200 is super fast and works perfectly for sport
I enjoy being far away from my object, but still catching them in action
Due to the 200mm zoom, you can easily catch stunning wildlife in their natural habitats.
I enjoy using the depth of field from the f/ 2.8 aperture and combining it with the 200mm focal length – especially in landscape photography.
Curious about prices and more specifications about the Canon RF 70-200 f/ 2.8?
Canon 16-35mm f/ 2.8 USM ii
- L-series construction and optics
- Constant f/2.8 maximum aperture
- Fast, quiet autofocus
- Aspherical and UD lens elements
- Super Spectra coatings
- Circular aperture for excellent bokeh
- Passes distance information to E-TTL II flash metering
I would not be able to complete any of my jobs without this wide-angle lens.
The focal length of 16mm is in my opinion the perfect amount of widening. Below 15mm it becomes too much of a fish-eye effect on the content, for my taste at least.
The aperture of f/ 2.8 makes it perfect for the low-light conditions. I use this when taking pictures inside or for example hotels or villas and during astrophotography.
This wide-angle lens will make sure you capture all of the landscape.
It works perfectly for city photography as well.
The f/ 2.8 aperture makes it brilliant to capture all of the stars in the sky.
It’s perfect for all low-light conditions.
I often use it if shooting content for hotels or villas.
The lens is sharp and can catch details even though it’s a wide-angle.
The lens will make smaller rooms seems wider and bigger.
Curious about prices and more specifications about the Canon16-35mm f/ 2.8?
Canon RF 35mm Macro
- Aperture f/1.8
- Lens Control Ring
- 9-blade aperture
- 0.5x Magnification
- Quiet STM motor
- Hybrid IS
The Canon RF 35mm f/ 1.8 Macro is my Swizz army knife. As you can see in the pictures below I use it for almost anything.
This is the cheapest lens I have in my camera bag – but it’s still the lens I’ve taken some of my absolute favorite pictures with.
The macro part of the lens allows you, to get extremely close to your object and still get super-sharp pictures.
This is also my main lens for shooting video. The lens is light and has a great image-stabilization, which makes it possible to shoot super smooth handheld videos. The 35mm is also a perfect distance if you ask me for all kinds of travel pictures. Portraits, food, landscape… this lens can do it all!
The macro part allows you to get super close to your object and get sharp details in portraits for example.
I also use it for landscape or urban pictures on my travels.
With an aperture of f/ 1.8 you can get an incredible depth of field in your content.
If you are a foodie and love taking pictures of your food, this lens is perfect as well.
It’s my go-to lens if I need to shoot product pictures like this.
The 35mm is often also perfect for travel pictures like these.
I use the lens for shooting the detailed part of hotels or villas for example.
Curious about prices and more specifications about the Canon RF 35mm 1.8 Macro?
Canon 300mm f/ 2.8
- Aperture: f/2.8
- Image Stabilization
- Autofocus
- USM (Ultra Sonic Motor)
- Internal Focusing
Since I started taking pictures I’ve appreciated nature and animals a lot more than before. When I’m hired to complete a job as a photographer I need to work concentrated, efficient, and not waste too much time during the job.
Shooting pictures of wildlife is the complete opposite. You need to be extremely patient, and often I never know what I’m actually looking for – I’m just out in nature with this incredible lens. It’s a huge investment to buy a professional L series telephoto lens like this – and besides that, it’s extremely heavy to carry around.
If you want to try out wildlife photography I would suggest that you try one of the RF lenses, such as the RF 600 f/11 instead.
This extender makes it possible to get double as close to your object – which can sometimes be necessary.
You can easily sneak in on the object with the 300mm
The aperture of f/ 2.8 gives you an incredible depth of field
Get close to wildlife without scaring them or interfering with their habits.
The lens is extremely sharp and you can get very detailed pictures from far away.
With this lens, I can finally capture wildlife as it should be captured.
The details and depth of field is my favorite part of this lens.
Do you notice the waterdrops waling all the leaves? This lens will capture everything.
I also use the lens for capturing the best moments in sports.
Curious about prices and more specifications about the Canon 300mm f/ 2.8?
DJI Mavic 2 Pro
- Lens 28 mm
- Aperture: f/2.8–f/11
- Video ISO: 100-6400
- Photo ISO: 100-3200
- Electronic Shutter: 8–1/8000s
- Still Image Size 5472×3648
- Video Resolution 4K: 3840×2160 24/25/30p
I would not be able to create the content I am for TheTravelBook and our partners, without a drone.
The footage I’m able to capture with the drone is simply adding an element to our productions, which takes them to a different level.
I enjoy creating slow and cinematic video content, but with the add-on from the drone footage, I can mix everything up, without it being boring to look at.
I’ve attached a video below that I created from Norway to show you an example of how I use the drone in video content.
The camera inside of the drone has also developed extremely much, during the past couple of years, which makes the quality of the pictures even good enough for prints.
Below you’ll find some of the extra equiptment I’ve purchased for my drone and can highly reccomend.
Remember to get insurance and a proper license before flying your drone. Each country has different regulations and laws. You can read about the laws at UAV Coach.
Important is it to buy ND/POL filters for your drone.
The DJI Smart Controller is absolutely a must in my opinion.
The extra legs for your drone make things so much easier
It makes a huge difference to have these low-noise propellers. And also always remember to have a spare set of propellers with you if you should damage some of them.
It’s important to make sure your precious cargo doesn’t get damaged while traveling. That’s why I’m really happy with my hard case for the drone.
With the drone, you can capture angles you sometimes aren’t able to catch with your camera.
The drone perspective allows you to see some different lines in pictures, such as this road.
There are several features such as ‘tracking’ that allows you to capture content of yourself.
Capture object on water which you can’t get with your normal camera.
Top-Down drone shots are the most used – but in only a few cases they are the best angle, in my opinion.
In my opinion, a location like this is the perfect place where top-down drone photography works.
With the possibilities of adjustment to the camera shutter and with an ND/POL filter, you can capture long exposure pictures that make the waterfall looks like this.
With an aperture f/ 2.8 the drone can capture stunning moments in low-light conditions.
Curious about prices and more specifications about the DJI Mavic 2 Pro?
Manfrotto Tripod
- 90° column system lets you capture new perspectives
- Easy setup thanks to the Quick Power Lock system
- Add accessories via the Easy Link connector
- Smooth operation thanks to the new Leg Angle Selector
- XPRO 3-Way head for more accurate framing on all axes
A tripod is an absolute must-have for many different scenarios in photography and videography.
I mainly use the tripod for either long-exposure captures with ND filters or during night time, taking astrophotography of the sky, stars, or northern light.
The Tripod is also a must-have if you like to take timelapse, which is a great feature I often use in my productions.
A very useful feature for shooting content for social media.
I also have the Manfrotto N8 fluid head for video
A closer look of the Manfrotto N8 fluidhead
A tripod is needed to capture Northern Light and astrophotography.
With an ND filter, you are able to adjust the shutter to take long-exposure pictures like this. It makes the waterfall milky and smooth.
With a tripod and long-exposure settings, you can bring out the Milkyway on the sky.
SmallRig Camera Cage
1. Formfitting Full Cage.
2. Firmly Fixed to Camera by a 1/4″-20 Screw and Anti-twist Pins.
3. 1/4″-20 & 3/8″-16 Threads and ARRI-style Mounts.
4. Integrated NATO Rail and Cold Shoe Mount.
5. Built-in Screwdriver and Integrated Arca Plate.
Manfrotto Vehicle Mount
- Cup Suctions to Flat Non-Porous Surfaces
- Supports Virtual Reality Cameras
- 360° Movement with Ball-Joint Socket
- Compatible with Extension Booms
LaCie Rugged
- High-capacity portable external hard drive for on-the-go creative projects
- Works with Mac and Windows systems out of the box
- Connects via USB-C for high-speed data transfers
- Offers USB 3.0 cable for connectivity to legacy computers
- Slim travel-friendly design
- Comes with easy-to-use software for customizable backup
Røde Video Microphone
- Studio recording quality
- Condenser microphone
- Super-cardioid polar pattern
- 9V battery power
- Integrated Rycote® Lyre® shock mounting
- Two step High Pass Filter (Flat/80Hz)
- Three step PAD (0, -10, -20dB)
- Rugged reinforced ABS construction
- Windshield included
- 3.5mm mini-jack output
- Integrated cold-shoe mount (3/8” thread)
Canon flash 430ex iii
- Powerful, yet compact enough to take anywhere
- Simple controls and an intuitive interface
- Use remote flash to create the look you want
- Shoot flattering portraits using bounced light
- Integrates with other Speedlites as part of the EOS Family
Jydmix Travel Adapter
- Quad USB charging ports
- Fits electrical outlets in most commonly visited countries including France, Europe, USA, UK, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, Ireland, Italy, Turkey, Greece, Croatia, Australia, New Zealand, Philippines, Fiji, Korea, Hong Kong, China, Vietnam, Mongolia, Indonesia, Middle East, Ghana, and Botswana, etc.
- Safety Certification including FCC Safety Certification
- PROTECTION – Comes with an LED power indicator, plug lock system, over-current (overload), high-temperature, short-circuit, and surge protection built-in.
Iphone 11 Pro
- Triple 12MP Ultra Wide, Wide, and Telephoto cameras
- Ultra Wide: ƒ/2.4 aperture and 120° field of view
- Wide: ƒ/1.8 aperture
- Telephoto: ƒ/2.0 aperture
- 2x optical zoom in, 2x optical zoom out; digital zoom up to 10x
- Portrait mode with advanced bokeh and Depth Control
- Portrait Lighting with six effects (Natural, Studio, Contour, Stage, Stage Mono, High-Key Mono)
- Dual optical image stabilization (Wide and Telephoto)
- Five?element lens (Ultra Wide); six-element lens (Wide and Telephoto)
- Brighter True Tone flash with Slow Sync
- Panorama (up to 63MP)
- Sapphire crystal lens cover
- 100% Focus Pixels (Wide)
- Night mode
- Auto Adjustments
- Next?generation Smart HDR for photos
- Wide color capture for photos and Live Photos
- Advanced red?eye correction
- Photo geotagging
- Auto image stabilization
- Burst mode
- Image formats captured: HEIF and JPEG
SD Card Holder
- Waterproof and shockproof
- Silicone waterproof closure
- High Capacity – SD holder can hold 12 SD cards and 12 micro SD cards at the same time.
- Lightweight
- Long-lasting and high Quality
Lee Filters
- 10-Stop Neutral Density Filter
- Increase Exposure Length
- Helps to Convey Movement
- High-Quality Optical Glass
Huwaii Portable Wifi
- Supports a rapid download speed up to 150 Mbps 4G LTE and 43.2 Mbps 3G download.
- Offers up to 6 hours of working time and up to 300 hours of standby. I
- TFT-LCD screen
- Unlocked to all networks so use the SIM card of your choice
Anker USB C Hub
- 1 multi-function USB-C port, 1 USB-C data port, 2 USB-A ports, 1 HDMI port, 1 SD card slot, and 1 microSD card slot
- High-Speed, High-Def: A multi-function-enabled USB-C port supports huge charging power up to 100W, data transfer up to an astounding 40 Gb/s, and media display at resolutions up to 5K.
- 7-in-2 USB-C PD Media Hub
Macbook Pro
- Ninth-generation 6-Core Intel Core i7 Processor
- Stunning 16-inch Retina Display with True Tone technology
- Touch Bar and Touch ID
- AMD Radeon Pro 5300M Graphics with GDDR6 memory
- Ultrafast SSD
- Intel UHD Graphics 630
- Six-speaker system with force-cancelling woofers
BioLite Headlamp
- The ultrathin 3D molded housing sits flat on your forehead. That means no bounce, no slip. By integrating our electronics into the fabric, we pack all your lighting into an ultra-thin facing that is designed to fit as seamlessly as a contact lens.
- Moisture-wicking fabric keeps you cool and dry for any activity and the rechargeable battery means you can leave the alkalines behind.
- Max Output 330 Lumens, Adjustable Front Panel, Red Night Vision Included
- 40 hours of battery on LO, 3.5 Hours on HIGH, Recharge Via Micro USB.
- HeadLamp 330 is made from a high-quality moisture-wicking band that keeps your forehead comfortable and dry during activity. Best of all – no abrasion points. The easy-adjust clips also take the guesswork out of right-sizing your band.
Lume Cube
- PROFESSIONAL QUALITY LIGHT: Daylight Balanced 5600K, 95+ CRI, diffused beam angle of 80º
- ADJUSTABLE BRIGHTNESS LEVELS: Control brightness up or down in 10% increments via manual controls
- BLUETOOTH: Wirelessly control your Lume Cube with our Lume-X App for both iPhone & Android
- WATERPROOF & DURABLE: Durable aluminum housing offering waterproof lighting up to 10M (30 feet) depths
- ACCESSORIES INCLUDED: Every box includes a DSLR Mount, Modification Frame, Warming Gel, Softening Diffuser
DJI Zhiyun Crane 2
- New Firmware Features: 360 degrees POV (Point of View) MODE; VORTEX MODE added; compatible for Nikon Z6, Z7; “Mode” button operations changed
- Both Digital and Mechanical Follow Focus
- Intuitive OLED Display
- 18 Hour Runtime for Longtime Task
- Friendly Customer Support and Worry-free Warranty from Zhiyun Official
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Inspiration to your next adventure
Humid jungle feel and exotic fruit sprinkles. You know you are in an Asian paradise.
