What's In My Camera Bag

Photography is an incredibly enjoyable and rewarding passion. Whether you’re photographing a stunning sunset over a pristine landscape or a striking wildlife subject in its natural habitat, there are so many ways in which photography can add value to our lives. That being said, it’s very important to set yourself up for success and head out into the field with all the right tools to get the job done. In order to capture beautiful images, you need the right equipment.

Here at Backcountry Journeys, we always get asked about camera gear. Whether I’m guiding a trip in the field, answering questions on Facebook, or responding to emails, people are always curious what equipment I use and what gear might be best for them. Of course, there is no universal answer. We all shoot on different systems, we all photograph different subjects, and we all have our own unique styles and tastes as photographers. That being said, there are certainly some key pieces of kit that I would never enter the field without. In today’s article, I’m going to break down what I always have in my camera bag. Let’s get right into it.

Camera Bag

We’ll start out with the vessel itself. There’s no point in having all of this great gear if you don’t have a solid bag to transport it in. There are many great camera bag companies out there but the brand I’ve opted to use is Shimoda. More specifically I have the Action X50. As the name implies this bag has roughly 50 liters of internal storage and it comes with all the bells and whistles I need. The bag is very water resistant, I can store all of the gear I will need for a trip, and the customizable storage unit is great! I was able to very specifically place all the dividers to perfectly fit my gear. Of course, there are many other great camera bag brands such as F-Stop Gear, Lowe Pro, and more, but due to their reputation and some research, I decided the Shimoda X50 was perfect for me.

Camera Body

When it comes to my go-to camera I shoot on the Canon EOS R5. This is a really great full-frame mirrorless camera that excels in both landscape and wildlife photography. I’ve used Canon for years and have always loved their products and their user interface. I made the upgrade to mirrorless a few years back and I absolutely love this camera. I also always bring a backup body with me just in case something happens to my primary.

Lenses

I own a variety of lenses and will occasionally trade some for others depending on what I’m shooting or where I’m going. Right now, I typically bring three main lenses with me on most trips. I have the Canon RF 200-800mm super-telephoto zoom lens that I use primarily for wildlife and occasionally for landscapes. The flexibility of this zoom range is great and allows me to capture all sorts of subjects. I have the CanonRF 15-35mm f/2.8 L Lens which is my go-to wide angle for capturing all sorts of landscape shots. This lens is great for astro as well! And then for a standard zoom I have the Canon RF 24-105mm f/4 lens. This is a great all-around lens and I use it all the time. Every now and then I bring a different lens with me or I might even rent a specific lens depending on the trip.

Lens Filters

I never leave home without my lens filters. I have a nice little padded pack that can hold up to 10 filters and it stays in my pack at all times. I have circular polarizers, different levels of ND, and even some variable ND filters for both my 24-105mm and 15-35mm lenses. I use filters quite frequently, especially when shooting landscapes, and really love using my ND filters to capture long-exposure images of water flowing.

Tripod

One of the most important accessories in any photographer’s kit is their tripod. It’s 100% worthwhile investing in a sturdy and quality tripod. I own two tripods and will take either one or the other depending on where I’m going and what I’m shooting. If weight and packability aren’t an issue I will bring my larger and much sturdier Benro Mammoth tripod. This tripod can handle up to 55 pounds of weight and it’s my first choice. If I’m shooting wildlife, I will typically opt to use my Oben gimbal head and if I’m shooting landscapes I’ll use my Really Right Stuff ball-head. Gimbal heads are great for keeping your camera and lens balanced and for holding things steady even while tracking fast-moving animals. For landscapes, you can’t beat the flexibility and smooth motion of a nice ball-head. If I’m traveling or hiking long distances and weight/packability are of concern, I’ll opt to use my much smaller and lighter Benro Tortoise Travel Tripod.  Both of these tripods are made from carbon fiber and I really like all the products Benro makes.

Camera Batteries

Considering how quickly these modern mirrorless cameras eat through batteries I always make sure I have extras. I never leave home without bringing all 8 of my batteries and a wall charger. If I’m going into cold environments this is especially important as your batteries will drain much faster in the cold. I only buy batteries directly from my camera manufacturer and make sure to get newer high-capacity offerings. I would largely stray away from any third-party manufacturers.

Memory

Not only do I bring extra batteries, I always make sure to bring extra memory as well. I always have two 512-gygabite CF-Express Tybe B cards and a bunch of high-capacity SD cards with me. Some high-quality quality and reliable brands I really like are ProGrade Digital, SanDisk, Lexar, and Delkin Devices. I also have a nice protective and waterproof case from Ruggard to keep them safe. On top of that, I bring a card reader with me everywhere I go so that I can upload images to my hard drives and edit them on my computer.

Lens Cleaning Kit

Another key accessory I always have in my pack is a comprehensive lens and camera cleaning kit. There are tons of great options out there but I personally use the Sensei Deluxe Optics Care and Cleaning Kit. I think this is a great bang for your buck. Mine is always stocked with an air blower, multiple brushes, tons of microfiber lens cloths, alcohol wipes, and cleaning spray. I make sure to frequently clean my gear while in the field especially in sandy/dusty conditions.

Safety Equipment

Safety is a top priority on any photography outing, especially if you’re going into the backcountry. I always keep my comprehensive first-aid kit with me just in case. On top of that, If I’m in Yellowstone or anywhere else with potentially dangerous wildlife I keep my bear spray in the chest pocket of my pack. And last but not least I bring my Garmin in-reach with me just in case I need to contact someone while out of reception.

Rain Cover

Another important piece of kit that I always bring with me, is a quality rain cover for my camera and lenses. I often find myself shooting wildlife in either snow or rain so having some extra protection goes a long way. I use the largeThinkTank rain cover and it works great. I specifically got the large size so that it will fit over larger super-telephoto lenses when I’m photographing wildlife. Of course, many high-end lenses come with solid weather sealing and protection but I’d rather play it safe and keep my gear dry.

L-Bracket

In my opinion, an L-Bracket is arguably one of the most underrated accessories out there. These simple tools are incredible handy and useful, especially when shooting landscapes, and I never go anywhere without them. In fact, I leave them mounted on both my primary and backup camera bodies at all times. I would recommend getting a camera-specific l-bracket so that it integrates perfectly with your camera but if you’re on a budget or only want one bracket that will work with multiple bodies there are some great universal options out there. I personally use the Three-Legged Thing L-Bracket that’s specifically designed for the Canon R5 and have no complaints.

Water and Snacks

Although water and food aren’t necessarily camera accessories, these are incredibly important to bring with you into the field. This is especially true if you’re heading out for long periods of time. The last thing you want is to have to turn in early due to thirst or hunger. If you find great conditions or subjects you want to be able to stay out as long as necessary to get the shot. And if you end up getting lost or stuck out in the field longer than anticipated you want to be prepared. I always have a Nalgene that holds at least 1 liter of water and I like to bring granola bars and nuts with me as well. Some electrolyte mix is never a bad idea as well if you’re trying to stay hydrated.

A Multi-Tool and Hex Keys

Additionally, I always have a multi tool and a set of hex keys with me in case I need to tighten or loosen some bolts on my gear. These are super useful if you need to tighten your tripod legs, install or remove tripod plates and l-brackets, and more. They’re very small and I never leave home without some basic tools to work on my gear. The Wooden Camera Multi Tool is a great offering at an affordable price point. 

Other Important Accessories

Now that we’ve covered the main pieces of gear I won’t go without, I’d like to quickly touch on some other accessories that I almost always have with me. These may not be quite as important to me as the previous items but they’re definitely worth mentioning in this article.

• Portable Binoculars: Another accessory I like to keep in my bag, especially on wildlife trips is a good pair of binoculars. I usually like to have some that are relatively compact but still have great optics. The pair I’ve settled on are the Vortex Viper HD 10x42 binoculars. These things are exceptional for the price point and I bring them along quite frequently.

• Cold Weather Gear if Needed: Of course, if it’s the winter season or you expect cold temperatures, some warm clothing and gear can make all the difference. I make sure to pack all the right layers including an insulated jacket, a rain jacket/windbreaker, a warm hat, glove liners, and of course my super handy Valleret gloves which feature removable finger tips on the index finger and thumb for changing camera settings.

• Rain Gear if Needed: Similarly, if I expect rain, I’m sure to bring a really great and fully waterproof rain jacket and a brimmed rain hat. If it’s really coming down, I’m sure to pack my rain pants as well. Anything made with Gore-Tex is great!

• Headlamp: Another very important accessory I always have in my kit is a nice headlamp. If you’re only shooting mid-day, you may not need one but if you’re shooting sunrise and/or sunset a headlamp is a great thing to take with you. This will allow you to easily navigate the terrain and set up / tear down your gear in the dark. If you’re shooting astro you absolutely need a headlamp and I would strongly recommend one with a red-light setting. I have multiple black diamond headlamps and they work great!

• Extra AA and AAA Batteries: Beyond extra camera batteries, it’s a good idea to bring more conventional batteries as well for all of your accessories. I always have at least a few AA and AAA batteries in case something runs out of juice.

• A Portable Battery bank: And while we’re on the theme of batteries I like to bring a portable and lightweight battery bank just in case I need to recharge my phone or any other rechargeable accessories.

Conclusion

And there we have it. I know this is a fairly extensive list but these are all of the main accessories I typically bring with me into the field. Of course, everyone has slightly different needs and therefore may have a different list but these are the accessories I simply can’t live without. I hope this article has been informative and that it has provided you with a general sense of what you may need moving forward. As always, thanks for reading and I’ll see you on the next one!