What's In My Camera Bag: The Essential Gear for Capturing Adventure and Life

One of the questions I get asked most often, whether I’m traveling the world or photographing the landscapes that I call home, is: “What gear do you use?”

While it’s absolutely true that the vision and the photographer behind the camera are what truly create a great image, having the right tools can make all the difference in how you capture that vision. My approach to photography involves blending high-resolution digital work with the nostalgic, tactile joy of film and instant prints. My camera bag is a mix of reliable workhorses and unique, vintage tools.

Here’s a breakdown of the gear I rely on to capture adventure, landscape, and intimate details.

The Digital Workhorses: Bodies and Core Lenses

When I need quality, reliability, and precision, I turn to my Sony mirrorless system. I choose Sony for its exceptional image quality, compact size, and outstanding lens ecosystem—making it perfect for travel where every ounce counts.

  • Camera Bodies:

    • Sony Alpha a7R V: This is my primary camera. Its 61-megapixel sensor is paired with a phenomenal 8-stop in-body image stabilization system, which allows for sharp, high-resolution images even when shooting handheld in low light. Plus, its unique 4-axis multi-angle LCD screen provides unmatched flexibility for shooting at extreme angles.

    • Sony a6700: A fantastic, smaller body that is great when I need a lighter setup. The dials and buttons match exactly to the a7R V, making it a seamless transition between the two cameras.

    • Sony RX100 mVI: The ultimate compact travel camera. I call this my "pocket camera" because it delivers incredible image quality in a body that can truly fit anywhere.

  • Essential G Master Zoom Lenses:

    If I could only carry a few lenses, it would be my G Master (GM) zooms. These lenses represent the best of Sony optics and cover the most essential focal ranges.

    • Sony 24-70 f2.8 GM II: The most versatile lens in my bag. It’s sharp, fast, and covers the standard range perfectly. It's the first lens I grab for almost any situation.

    • Sony 16-35 f2.8 GM II: My go-to wide-angle for sweeping landscapes, tight interiors, and beautiful starscapes.

    • Sony 70-200mm f2.8 GM OSS II: For compression, telephoto landscapes, and capturing distant details. It’s a powerful tool that adds a dramatic dimension to my images.

Telephoto Zoom Lenses: Bringing the Distance Closer

For wildlife, birding, and capturing intimate details in a vast landscape, I rely on my longer telephoto lenses to bridge the gap.

  • Sony 100-400 G: A highly versatile lens with great reach, perfect for capturing wildlife or tight compositions of distant peaks and horizons.

  • Sony 200-600mm G: The ultimate lens for bird and distant wildlife photography, giving me the maximum reach and flexibility needed to capture subjects without disturbing them.

Specialty Prime Lenses: Achieving Artistic Vision

While zooms offer versatility, prime lenses—those with a fixed focal length—offer unmatched sharpness, incredible light-gathering capability, and unique perspective.

  • Sony 14 f1.8 GM: The Astro Powerhouse. This ultra-wide lens offers spectacular resolution and minimal flare, making it the perfect choice for sharp, high-detail shots of the night sky and dramatic wide-angle landscapes, even at f/1.8.

  • Sony 24 f1.4 GM: The Wide-Angle Master. Lightweight and compact, this lens delivers stunning resolution and beautiful bokeh thanks to its 11-blade circular aperture. It's exceptional for capturing cityscapes, documentary work, and low-light scenes like astrophotography.

  • Sony 35 f1.4 GM: The Super-Sharp Storyteller. Its class-leading sharpness, combined with creamy, natural-looking bokeh, makes it a must-have lens for any photographer’s bag.

  • Sony 90 f2.8 G macro: The Detail Hunter. A true 1:1 macro lens with built-in Optical SteadyShot stabilization. This is the lens I use to capture the intricate world of nature, from the tiny details on a seashell to the fine textures of a blooming flower.

Specialization and Fun: Getting Creative

Photography shouldn't always be about clinical perfection. I love using gear that forces me to slow down and create images that have a unique, tactile feel.

  • Unique Digital Glass:

    • Lensbaby Composer Pro with Edge series: This is pure fun. It allows for selective focus effects—where a slice of the image is sharp while the rest falls into beautiful, artistic blur—pushing me to think outside the box.

    • Helios 44-2 58 f2.0: A gorgeous vintage Russian lens adapted for Sony. It’s known for its distinctive swirly bokeh, giving portraits and nature shots a timeless, cinematic quality.


  • Film & Instant Cameras: The Joy of Analog

    Nothing beats the anticipation and finality of film. I collect and shoot with a variety of classic cameras that offer different experiences:

    • 35mm Classics: My Canon ae-1 (a family friend’s gift) and my grandfather's Yashica Electro 35 GNP connect me to the history of photography. The Contax T2 is my reliable travel point-and-shoot film camera.

    • Medium Format: The Yashica Mat 124G offers that incredible, large-negative detail, perfect for landscapes and slow, mindful shooting.

    • Instant Fun: I love the immediacy of instant film. My collection, including the classic Polaroid sx70, the modern Polaroid i-2 and the Instax Wide, allows me to capture a tangible memory right there on the spot.

Adventure-Ready Accessories

A camera is useless without the right support system. Here’s what keeps my gear safe and ready in the field:

  • Bags & Carry: I rely on the modularity of the Wandrd Prvke 18L & 31L for all-weather protection and accessibility. The Tenba BYOB Inserts allow me to customize my carry based on the trip's specific demands. And of course, the Peak Design Camera Straps are a standard for comfortable, secure shooting.

  • Tripods: I use the sturdy Manfrotto 190XPRO4 Tripod and XPRO Ball Head for studio-level stability, and the Travel Tripod by Peak Design when size and weight is a concern.

  • Filters: Filters are essential for managing light. I use the Breakthrough Photography Magnetic Filter System (Circular Polarizer & 10 Stop ND) and the Breakthrough Photography Dark CPL to control reflections and allow for long exposures, even in bright sunlight.

  • Storage: Reliable memory is crucial. I trust Sony SF-G TOUGH Series UHS-II SDXC Memory Cards to keep my high-resolution files safe in any environment.

The Takeaway

Ultimately, the best camera is the one you have with you. Whether I'm carrying the A7R V, a vintage film camera, or just my iPhone 16 Pro, the goal is always the same: to stop time and capture the moment. I hope this look inside my camera bag inspires you to grab whatever gear you have and get out there to create!

Scroll down to see the full, comprehensive list of everything I use.

Digital Cameras

  • Sony Alpha a7R V

  • Sony RX100 mVI 

Prime Lenses

  • Sony 14 f1.8 GM

  • Sony 24 f1.4 GM

  • Sony 35 f1.4 GM

  • Sony 90 f2.8 GM macro

Zoom Lenses

  • Sony 16-35 f2.8 GM II

  • Sony 24-70 f2.8 GM II 

  • Sony 70-200mm f2.8 GM OSS II 

  • Sony 100-400 G

  • Sony 200-600mm G 

Creative Lenses

  • Lensbaby Composer Pro with Edge 35, Edge 50, Edge 80

  • Helios 44-2 58 f2.0

Crop Sensor Kit

  • Sony a6700

  • Sony 10-20 G

  • Sony 16-55 G

  • Sony 70-350 G

  • Sony 11 mm f1.8

Film Cameras

Instant Cameras

  • Polaroid I-2

  • Polaroid Flip

  • Polaroid One Step Plus

  • Polaroid One Step 600 (my Mom’s)

  • Polaroid One Step Pronto (my husband’s family’s)

  • Polaroid One Step Time Zero (my Granny’s)

  • Polaroid sx70

  • Instax Wide

  • Instax SQ

Accessories

  • Breakthrough Photography Magnetic Filter System- Circular Polarizer & 10 Stop ND

  • Breakthrough Photography Dark CPL- Combined 6 Stop CPL and ND Filter

  • Manfrotto 190XPRO4 Tripod and XPRO Ball Head

  • Travel Tripod by Peak Design

  • Wandrd Prvke 18L & 31L

  • Peak Design Camera Straps

  • Brevitē Backpack

  • Tenba BYOB Insert 7, 9, 10

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    *While I receive a small commision off some of these links, at no additional cost to you, I only share products and services that I use and love.