MY CAMERA PACKING LIST

GEAR

On a hike you get to see the most beautiful places and have the best experiences. Experiences that you won’t forget easily and that will stay in your memory for a long time. But you would rather share all these moments with the people at home when you return from your trip or hike. Capturing everything you experience is done with good electronics and a kit that gives you a lot of flexibility. For me, there are seven essential items that you should definitely have with you.

1. A good camera

With your mobile phone you can take very nice pictures nowadays, but when it really comes down to it, I prefer a good camera. Even if it is only because you need your phone in many other situations. Cameras of course come in many varieties and in all price ranges. So first decide on your budget before buying a camera. Then decide what you want to do with the camera. Do you only want to take selfies during your walks, do you go for wide-angle landscape photography, or are you more into marco shots of flowers? These are all things that influence the choice of a camera that suits you. Because of this, a camera with a fixed lens is sufficient for one walker, while the other would be better off buying one with interchangeable lenses.

My choice fell on a camera that allows me to take along a number of lenses and thus gives me the space to choose all kinds of different perspectives; the Fujifilm XT-3. My enthusiasm for this camera was triggered by its ‘oldskool’ look. This while the camera is equipped with all the latest capabilities. During my research for the best camera I also noticed that many photographers recommended this camera because of the quality of Fujifilm’s colours. Something the brand is very well known for. And finally, this camera performs very well in low light conditions, very nice for nature photographers, because taking extra light with you on a hike is a hopeless task ;).

2. A broad perspective

Do you choose a camera with interchangeable lenses? Then the next question is which lenses to take. There are generally two types of lenses: prime lenses and zoom lenses. With a prime lens, the focal length is fixed, which means that you cannot zoom in or out with it. So you will have to move yourself to change your composition. It could be that the bird flies away just because you want to make that perfect picture. What a shame! But a fixed focal point does ensure that you have better quality material because there are fewer moving parts in the lens. With a zoom lens you can, as the name suggests, zoom in and out. Very nice, because now you can just zoom in to make that fat shot of a deer. So you can adjust your composition without having to move from your spot.

I have chosen two zoom lenses that give me as wide a range as possible. I take a lens that I use for landscape photography, with which I can make a wide image and have a lot in my image. For this I use the Fujifilm XF 10-24mm F/4.0. With this lens I can get a lot in the frame, which is a great advantage when you want to shoot an entire landscape or want to show the grandeur of the landscape around yourself or other people. But there are also moments when I want to zoom in. When there is a beautiful flower at the edge of the path or I see a wild animal in the distance. For these situations I take the Fujifilm XF 50-140mm F/2.8 with me.

3. Good sound for your videos

When capturing outdoor moments on video, sound is just as important as visuals. Clear, crisp audio brings your footage to life, whether it's the rustling of leaves, birdsong, or the distant roar of a waterfall. For this reason, I use the Boya Shotgun microphone BY-MM1. It’s compact, lightweight, and ideal for outdoor recordings. This microphone significantly improves sound quality by isolating and focusing on the sounds in front of the camera, reducing ambient noise. If you're serious about creating high-quality videos, investing in a reliable microphone is very important.

4. The best tripod

Whether you’re capturing long-exposure shots of starry skies or shooting stable videos of moving wildlife, a sturdy tripod comes in very handy. I use the Peak Design travel tripod, which is compact enough to fit in my backpack but sturdy enough to handle uneven terrain. This tripod ensures stability, quick setup, and adaptability, allowing me to focus on framing the perfect shot. Its lightweight design means it’s no burden to carry during long hikes, making it a trusted companion for all my adventures.

5. Extra energy

Of course you can use enough extra energy during a long hike, so take enough water and snacks for the road. But also for your equipment, extra energy is no luxury. It would be a shame not to be able to take a picture of the magnificent view at the top of a mountain because your battery has just run out. That is why I always take extra batteries for my camera and other devices. But it is also ideal if you can recharge unused batteries during your hike. Or at least recharge them after the hike, even if there is not enough power at your accommodation. That’s why I always carry a powerbank with me with which I can recharge all my equipment in the meantime. I have chosen a power bank that can easily provide me with enough power. The RealPower PB-20000 is a powerbank which can load a phone or camera very fast.

6. Drone or no drone?

A perspective is nice of course, but what if you could fly and take your photos from the air? That would provide even more unique images, especially in vast landscapes that you come to as a hiker. But am I going to bring a drone for that? This would be a fantastic solution. However, you also have to consider the weight in your backpack and the space such a device takes up. There are more important things to take along on an adventure.

Still, I chose to add a drone to my media kit, but the smallest one. Namely, the DJI Mavic mini 3. With its folded size of 14,8 x 9 x 6,2 cm, this drone easily fits in my pocket and is therefore ideal to take along on a hike. Its weight is also an advantage, as it weighs only 249 grams. This is of course a very specific weight, because from 250 grams onwards you will have to comply with stricter guidelines, so with this drone you will be able to avoid that!

I did choose the so-called ‘fly more combo’, in which you find several spare parts and very important three batteries and a battery charger. If you are going to use a drone during your hikes, this is highly recommended. This way you don’t have to charge as much and can film or take pictures more without worrying about empty batteries.

6. Store everything well!

You have all your equipment and you are ready to go. But of course, you are not going to carry all these expensive items around loosely in your backpack. You want to store them neatly and safely and have quick access to them during your hike. That is why I use the Peak Design camera cube in size small-medium. This camera cube is specially designed to be used as an inlay for your backpack. It comes with adjustable dividers, allowing you to create customized compartments for your gear. This way, I can safely store my camera, lenses, drone, and other accessories while keeping them organized and protected.

I use the camera cube inlay in combination with my Atom Pack Mo. This is a backpack with a capacity of 50 litres. This allows for enough room for clothes, water, snacks and other hike accessories in addition to my media kit. The strap on the top allows me too easily lay the bag on its back and quickly access all my camera gear during a hike. This is ideal for all those times when I want to use my drone or change lenses.

If you have any questions about my or your own media setup for the road, please leave a question in the comments below.