Best Photography Equipment for Travel

When you travel anywhere it's important to have the right equipment to capture the surroundings.  Whether you're a travel blogger or travel enthusiast try using these tips to finding the right photography gear for the best photos while traveling.

How to Select a Camera & Equipment for Travel (for Beginners)

While of course the most important part of a trip is the actual experience, the memories you make can become precious mementos when preserved properly. Hence, an essential part of any trip is a DSLR camera and tripod. While many people grow weary with mention of DSLRs, there is no need to break the bank on them; even an entry-level camera (when used correctly) can get you stunning photos of city lights, waterfalls, starry night skies, and much more. To help you navigate the world of entry-level DSLRs, we have composed this guide.

The camera:

Of course, the most essential part of all this: the camera.

Recommendation: Canon Rebel T2i (or T3i, T4i, or T5i) OR Nikon D3300 (or D5300, D5500)

Obviously, features improve with the newer models of these cameras, but for an amateur photographer, the difference will most likely not be worth shelling out the extra cash for a newer model. The Canon Rebel T2i or Nikon D3300 should serve you just fine.

Price: $300-$400 (for the T2i or D3300)

If you are paying any more than $300-$400, you are probably getting ripped off. For this cost, the lens should also be included.

The lens:

Entry-level DSLR cameras typically come with an 18-55 mm lens. For just preserving memories, this will more than suffice, as it can both take wide angle shots, and zoom in quite close.

Recommendation: Nikon or Canon

Price: Ideally, the lens will be part of your camera kit

The tripod:

For a road trip or journey where you have enough space, pretty much any full sized tripod will do. The purpose of the tripod is to hold the camera steady for long exposure shots. For example, if you will be photographing city lights, stars, waterfalls, cars passing at night, or pretty much any building/monument/structure at night or in the dark. However, if you are not planning on taking photos like these, you can get away with not having a tripod.

Recommendation: AmazonBasics 60-Inch Lightweight Tripod (Although pretty much any tripod will do)

Price: $23.49 on Amazon.com

The table-top (mini) tripod:

A table-top, or mini, tripod serves the same function as a full-sized one, but with one key difference: it’s small! A table-top tripod can shoot all of the things mentioned above, but is especially good for shooting waterfalls and streams during long hikes. Table-top tripods are small and lightweight, and can easily fit into a camera bag or backpack. The only major disadvantage is it is (obviously) shorter than a regular tripod, so shooting city skylines at night or cars or similar things will be extremely difficult, and maybe even impossible.

Recommendation: Reticam Tabletop Tripod

Price: $31.99 on Amazon.com

The Filters (optional):

UV Filter: A UV filter will protect your lens from scratches, dust, dirt, and damage. If you have the recommended 18-55mm lens, you will need a 58mm filter. However, this is completely optional.

Recommendation: Tiffen 58mm UV Protection Filter

Price: $8.99 on Amazon.com

Neutral Density (n.d.) Filter: Simply put, an n.d. filter will make your images darker. The reason you would want this is for taking long exposure photos during the day. For example, if you are photographing a waterfall, to get that desired flowy effect of the water, you will have to leave the shutter of your camera open for a few seconds, and even with the aperture as small as it can get (f/22), your image will often still look completely white due to too much light being let in.

Recommendation: 58MM Altura Photo Neutral Density Professional Photography Filter Set (ND2 ND4 ND8)

Price: $12.99 on Amazon.com

Polarizing filter: A polarizing filter will make the colors in your images more vibrant, darken skies, and help to manage reflections and glare

Recommendation: Tiffen 58MM Circular Polarizer Glass Filter

Price: $21.94 on Amazon.com

Don't forget to pause the camera use and enjoy the scenery of the place you are visiting. Landscapes and waterfalls are nice, but remember to get your self into the photo sometimes. When you look back on these moments, the pictures you will be most interested in will be the ones with yourself. However, if these photos are for websites and blogs, the opposite tends to be true. As long as you have the right gear, you should be in good standing. Happy traveling!