HomeMy Camera Gears and Reviews for Travel Backpacking By Marcos Detourist on February 2, 2013As you might have already guessed, photography is one of the major motivations why I travel. I enjoy sharing photos of beautiful places and capturing moments for my personal pleasure.How I pack generally revolves around my camera gears, which occupy half the weight and size of what I carry inside my backpack.Here’s a list of the camera gears I bring while I’m on the road and some details/reviews behind my choices:Camera + Tripod set-up at Biri Rock Formations, Northern Samar, PhilippinesDSLR CameraIn as much as I want to take the highest quality photos, which usually means expensive cameras and lenses, I also consider its affordability and the convenience of lugging it around everywhere I go.DSLR cameras offer a significantly better image quality compared to compact cameras. Mirrorless micro four-third systems weren’t in the market when I made my purchase, so getting a DSLR was the obvious choice.I currently use a Nikon D5000. I bought it because of its vari-angle LCD, which gives me more creative flexibility when composing photos. My camera already looks battered down after 2 years of constant use (or abuse, rather). If I had extra money, Nikon D5100 would be a good replacement.Among DSLRs, Nikon D5000 and D5100 are lightweight and affordable. I’m satisfied with the image quality, especially since I mainly use my photos for my travel blogging and social media uploads.LensesI carry two lenses, a superzoom and an ultra wide angle.A superzoom lens covers a large zoom rage, which makes it a good walk-around lens. This type of lens doesn’t take the best image quality but offers convenience of carrying less number of lenses and not having to change them frequently.I use a Sigma 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM. Honestly, I’m a bit disappointed with the performance of this lens especially when using longer zooms (focal length). Images are too soft and the focus motor is too shaky. It is however, more affordable than its Nikon counterpart, and takes decent wide angle shots. I’m considering replacing this lens with a Nikon 18-200mm or Nikon 18-300mm.Ultra Wide Angle lenses (UWA) are a excellent lenses for people who love to take landscape and indoor shots. It took me a while before buying my Nikkor 10-24mm because UWA lenses are expensive. Image quality is remarkably better than my previous lenses and I am in love with how much of the view it can capture in a single frame.My advice for those who are in the market for their first DSLR, consider buying the cheapest model (body only) then use the extra cash to buy a lens with a longer zoom than the 18-55mm kit lens. My first DSLR camera was a Nikon D40 with 18-105mm VR Nikkor lens. The longer zoom offers more versatile creative options than the limited range on the kit lens. Later on, you’ll get better perspective on what second lens by to buy by learning what kind of shots you enjoy: Landscape, Portraits, Macro, etc…Compact CameraFor the times when I don’t want to carry a bulky and weavy DSLR around all day, I have my Samsung EX1. This premium compact camera has also a vari-angle LCD, manual controls, maximum 1.8 aperture, can take RAW photos. Samsung already released a successor to this camera with the Samsung EX2f.Lens FiltersA Circular Polarizing (CPL) Filter is one of the most useful camera accessory for outdoor photographers. It helps to minimize water reflections and deepen the blue color of the sky.Previously, I used Hoya brand of lens filters since they are best known for quality. Unfortunately, I’ve broken all of my Hoya CPL filters because they seem to have the uncanny ability to slip out of my fingers. They crack easily even from a few feet drop. I’m now using Phottix filters because of the more durable build, excellent polarizing effect, and slim design. I also still use my Sunpack filters. They’re cheap, though they’re not as good at polarizing as Hoya or Phottix.Neutral Density (ND) Filters can enhance the silky smooth effect of flowing water, like in waterfall and beach shots. I use ND8 and ND400 Hoya/Marumi filters.More accessories Benro Travel Angel Transfunctional Tripod Underwater waterproof pouch Mini Extendable Monopod Remote control shutter triggerWishlist Mirrorless Micro Four-thirds camera More ND Filters, especially graduated variations GPS device for easy geotaggingI bought my camera equipment mostly from Quiapo camera stores, online camera shops, or various photo shops in Iloilo or Metro Manila.Don’t leave yet. There’s more!Self-portrait Photography Tips: Taking Better Selfies for…My First PyroMusical Experience; Fireworks Photography TipsOnline Camera Stores in the PhilippinesHidalgo St. Quiapo – cheap camera shops in the PhilippinesWhat I Packed on a 3-week Backpacking Trip in Southeast AsiaNikon D5000 - Nikon's Newest Entry Level DLSR sporting Live…Comments Cecile saysFebruary 3, 2013 at 9:19 amWhat you’re doing is what i have always wanted and planned to do especially in the last two years…the Indo-china countries travel. I loved it! Your my winner for the Best Male Blogger Award! Best wishes! Marcos saysFebruary 9, 2013 at 4:00 pmThank you Cecile :) miguel saysFebruary 3, 2013 at 12:15 pmanother secret revealed from my idol… i’ll start saving for the 10-24mm lense. thank you marcos for shariing! Marcos saysFebruary 9, 2013 at 4:01 pmUltra wide angle lenses are worth every penny. Happy shooting miguel ^_^ kat saysFebruary 10, 2013 at 10:48 amhi marcos! how about the tripod that you use? I also travel and do photography/landscape shoots. I’ve been contemplating if I should sacrifice sturdiness to size and weight. What’s your thought about this? Marcos saysFebruary 16, 2013 at 5:36 pmThe travel angel tripod I posted was enough for 99.9% of situations that I wanted to use it for while I was traveling. I love it but I wouldn’t use it all the time. Even though it’s branded as lightweight tripod, I still found it relatively big and heavy, bothersome when traveling for weeks on end.For travel, in general, I’d consider convenience (size and weight) above all. I’d consider shaving off more of that versatility for a lighter more compact tripod.Factoring in sturdiness will depend on how heavy your gears are and what kind of shots you plan to take. Since I carry a light camera body and lenses, I’m good with using even lightweight tripods designed for compact cameras, enough for most situations. Mia saysFebruary 16, 2013 at 1:52 pmHello, Marcos! If you were to purchase a mirrorless camera, what brand/model will you buy? Thank you Marcos saysFebruary 16, 2013 at 5:59 pmI’m torn between the vari-angle lcd screen of Lumix G-series and simplicity of Nikon 1 series. Joan saysApril 10, 2013 at 9:24 amHi I am a beginner i would like to buy equipment. i am thinking of buying between a mirror less and a dslr. which one would i get. victor saysNovember 18, 2016 at 2:38 amwhat kind of micro four thirds camera do you think would be good for traveling in the philippines? i was looking at the old olympus em5 mii, but am unsure how the lenses and sensor match up to canon or nikon aps-c sensors. Posting of new comments is disabled temporarily.Connect with Marcos on:Detourista.comMarcosDetourist.comFacebookInstagramTwitterDetourista.comDiscover more travel guides and blogs about the Philippines and beyond by Marcos DetouristChoose your next destination: Cambodia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam
Cecile saysFebruary 3, 2013 at 9:19 amWhat you’re doing is what i have always wanted and planned to do especially in the last two years…the Indo-china countries travel. I loved it! Your my winner for the Best Male Blogger Award! Best wishes!
miguel saysFebruary 3, 2013 at 12:15 pmanother secret revealed from my idol… i’ll start saving for the 10-24mm lense. thank you marcos for shariing!
Marcos saysFebruary 9, 2013 at 4:01 pmUltra wide angle lenses are worth every penny. Happy shooting miguel ^_^
kat saysFebruary 10, 2013 at 10:48 amhi marcos! how about the tripod that you use? I also travel and do photography/landscape shoots. I’ve been contemplating if I should sacrifice sturdiness to size and weight. What’s your thought about this?
Marcos saysFebruary 16, 2013 at 5:36 pmThe travel angel tripod I posted was enough for 99.9% of situations that I wanted to use it for while I was traveling. I love it but I wouldn’t use it all the time. Even though it’s branded as lightweight tripod, I still found it relatively big and heavy, bothersome when traveling for weeks on end.For travel, in general, I’d consider convenience (size and weight) above all. I’d consider shaving off more of that versatility for a lighter more compact tripod.Factoring in sturdiness will depend on how heavy your gears are and what kind of shots you plan to take. Since I carry a light camera body and lenses, I’m good with using even lightweight tripods designed for compact cameras, enough for most situations.
Mia saysFebruary 16, 2013 at 1:52 pmHello, Marcos! If you were to purchase a mirrorless camera, what brand/model will you buy? Thank you
Marcos saysFebruary 16, 2013 at 5:59 pmI’m torn between the vari-angle lcd screen of Lumix G-series and simplicity of Nikon 1 series.
Joan saysApril 10, 2013 at 9:24 amHi I am a beginner i would like to buy equipment. i am thinking of buying between a mirror less and a dslr. which one would i get.
victor saysNovember 18, 2016 at 2:38 amwhat kind of micro four thirds camera do you think would be good for traveling in the philippines? i was looking at the old olympus em5 mii, but am unsure how the lenses and sensor match up to canon or nikon aps-c sensors.