What I bring to take photos on the trail

As I’m sure many of you can relate to, I hate carrying more than I have to on a hike. I would definitely consider myself a weight weenie. However, I still want to be able to take great pictures. Although I’m always learning and refining, I think I’ve got a decent set up that allows me to get great pictures without lugging too much gear with me.

As a side note, none of the products below are sponsored nor are they affiliate links. These are just what works for me and my own opinions.

Camera + Lenses

Probably the most important part of any photographer’s kit - their camera and lenses. Of course, you can still take good pictures on a cell phone, but if you are serious about photography, you should definitely invest in a good camera.

My camera body is the Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV. Such a catchy name, I know. I could write an entire post on mirrorless vs. DSLR cameras, but the short version is that I ultimately decided on a mirrorless micro four thirds camera due to its portability. The quality is plenty good enough for large prints and magazine spreads, and I have no immediate plans to get my photos on billboards. Also, these tend to be better vlogging cameras, in case I ever get into making YouTube videos of my adventures.

I primarily shoot on my M.Zuiko 14-150mm lens. It has a decent zoom for most of my purposes, but I will admit that my next lens purchase will probably be a telephoto one. However, this one gets the job done almost all of the time, and it’s weather sealed - one of my requirements since I primarily shoot in the PNW.

I also have the M.Zuiko 17mm f1.8 lens, which I use for astrophotography. It’s not weather sealed, but since I can only shoot the stars when it’s not rainy, that’s not too much of a concern for me, and the savings was worth it. The priority with this lens was getting one with a super wide aperture, and this delivers. I don’t love it as my main lens, but that also not what it’s supposed to be.

Tripod

I’ll be honest - I don’t usually take a tripod with me on hikes. The one I have is a little unwieldy for carrying with me. It does, however, have one leg that unscrews into a monopod (which can be used as a trekking pole!), and I will often bring that on hikes where I know I’ll be seeing water. I like using longer exposures for moving water, which requires a very steady hand - or the assistance of a stabilizer like a monopod.

I do bring my tripod with on trips, however, as there is no way I can do astrophotography without it. I have the GEEKOTO CT25Pro Craftsman 79" Carbon Fiber Tripod, which I specifically picked for astrophotography. It’s super stable and highly adjustable. However, you can definitely find smaller and/or cheaper tripods.

Pack

When I was looking for a pack, I had two main requirements: it needed to be a great camera pack, and it also needed to have a dedicated water bladder pocket. And also not cost an arm and a leg. This proved to be surprisingly difficult.

What I eventually settled on was the Lowepro Photo Sport. I like it, but I don’t love it. It does have the dedicated camera and lens pocket with easy side access, which is fantastic. It’s very adjustable, and I find it comfortable, even with my short torso. It has lots of pockets (I love pockets!), a key clip so you don’t lose your car keys, and an attached waterproof shell for those rainy PNW hikes.

However, the water bladder compartment is a little small and tends to bend out of shape with a full bladder, and the divider in the camera pocket is not as adjustable as I would like.

Other bits and bobs

One thing that has made a huge difference in my quality of life when hiking with a camera is a quick release clip. I have the Peak Design Capture Camera Clip, which attaches to my backpack strap and securely holds my camera, so it’s not dangling around my neck. Highly recommend getting this or something like it.

I like bringing my Lensball, which can allow for some fun effects and different perspectives.

I have a few other camera accessories I bring with me, such as a spare battery, a red light flashlight that doubles as an external battery to charge my phone, and a pen with a brush at one end and a felt pad at the other to clean my camera.

Of course, all of this is in addition to my regular hiking supplies, including the 10 essentials. Would it be helpful to see a full list of what’s in my pack? Let me know!

In the meantime, happy adventuring, happy photographing, and remember to leave nature nicer than you found it :) Until next time!