After our most recent trip to Italy I regularly got the same question on Instagram – “what camera do you use?”
I’ve always wanted to take photos on our trips. I’ve had big dreams of actually getting decent photos when we go travel together. Yet, I never do. Whenever I have tried to travel with a good camera I’ve found myself leaving it back at the hotel, not wanting to lug an extra 10 pounds with me on a hike. Not to mention, the photos never came out quite how I saw them in my head and spending hours editing personal photos didn’t exactly sound like fun after a trip. I had basically given up on the idea of traveling with a good camera.
This past year it was finally time to upgrade to something with video capabilities for Youtube (I was really working in the stone-age before!) I took the plunge and decided to ditch Nikon and Canon (I had used both for the last 13 years). Instead I got a Fuji – and everything changed.
I know that sounds dramatic, but it feels dramatic. Not only had I found my previous set-ups poor travel companions, but for years before I was honestly just not finding joy in photography anymore. But now, even after a year of having my new camera, I’m still just as excited to pull it out and take photos as the day it first arrived on my doorstep (maybe even more?).
In my experience, photography gear is incredibly individual. What works for me and my needs may not work for you. My camera gear probably won’t be the right fit if you’re a professional photographer (likely you’ve already got your own set up anyway!). It may work well for you though if you’re a photography hobbyists or you do general content creation. I’ve included a quick list of all my gear, but I would recommend reading my breakdown of anything you’re considering before you commit!
Disclosure – This post contains affiliate links that, at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission from.
Camera Gear Breakdown
The Essentials:
TTartisan 27mm F2.8 Autofocus Lens
Madewell Sydney Crossbody with removable camera bag insert.
The Add-ons :
The Essentials
Here’s my non-negotiables. What I always want to have with me when I’m traveling and plan to take photos and videos.
Fuji XS10
This is what changed everything for me when it comes to travel photography. If you’ve even carried around a traditional DSLR you know those bad boys can get heavy, even without a lens. Because it’s mirrorless and compact the Fuji XS10 body comes in at just barely over 1 pound with battery and memory card. Depending on the lens you choose (we’ll talk about that next) you can keep the whole set up under two pounds – that’s nothing!
A big selling point for me was how well the XS10 can do both photos and video. Part of the reason I got it was to use it for Youtube. While there may be comparable (or yes, maybe even better) Vlog cameras out there, most of those video focused cameras seemed a little lacking on the photo side to me. The ones that did have comparable photo capabilities often ended up being quite a bit heavier. I wanted a light-weight hybrid, which I can confidently say this is. That means while I travel I can snap photos and take video seamlessly.
A feature I didn’t expect to use or love as much as I do, is the live LCD screen. I’ve used live-view on professional cameras before and it was always…. fine. Not great, but good to have for certain situations. I was used to using the viewfinder to set up my shot, and I didn’t expect that to change. With the XS10 the LCD is so accurate and easy to use that I almost never use the viewfinder. So when I travel I can even shoot while walking. No stopping to line up a shot, I can just pull it from my bag and shoot. Surprisingly, the LCD doesn’t drain the battery like you might expect. I also really love the level-finder function on the screen so I know I’m not taking a completely crooked image! Sometimes it’s the little things.
Like most Fuji Cameras, the XS10 allows you to create recipes you can easily toggle between. If you have no idea what I’m talking about, think of Fuji recipes sort of like an Instagram filter that you can fully customize (and just way way better) and you can take the photo with in your camera. That means that once you get your photos looking the way you want, you can save those settings and take all of your photos that same way. Maybe this sounds like a cheesy feature, but it’s actually incredibly useful. Instead of spending hours editing, my photos come out ready to share.
And last but not least, bluetooth. It’s certainly not a Fuji-only feature, but bluetooth connection to your phone is a major game changer. When I’m traveling I want to be able to share my photos to social media. With bluetooth connection I can easily download my favorites right to my phone in just a minute or two. No need to drag out my laptop and fiddle with memory cards. While the Fuji app can be a little buggy, once I got it set up it’s been pretty easy to use. Even if you don’t go with the Fuji XS10 I highly recommend making sure to get a camera you can easily pair with your phone!
The downsides of this camera? Well, for me, there really aren’t any (seriously, I love it that much). But I will list a few things that may be cons for you.
- Like all Fuji’s, it’s not a full frame sensor (if you don’t know what I’m talking about, then you probably don’t need to worry about it). When researching my next camera I was sureI would be getting a full frame, but I haven’t once regretted not having it in this camera. But I know that’s a big sticking point for a lot of people, so I feel like I should mention it.
- With how customizable it is, it can be a learning curve and take some time to really set it up. if you want a camera you don’t have to learn, you can just point and shoot out of the box, this may not be for you. However, once you get the hang of a Fuji I swear they’re almost easier to use than any other.
- The video is great, but not perfect. I’ve found that sometimes when shooting vertical the stabilization can get just a little funky. Generally it’s not a problem for me, but it if video is your main thing there may be better options for your needs.
Considering the XS10? The new XS20 was recetnly released and looks amazing! Check it out. You may want to go for the newest model, or you could consider trying to save a bit and grab the XS10 (personally I don’t have any plans to get the XS20 anytime soon, I’m still very happy with the 10!)
My Favorite (affordable!) Travel Lens
It can be dizzying to pick a lens, and finding one that can work for a variety of situations when traveling is especially daunting. One thing that’s always bugged me about traveling with a good camera is that the wrong lens can throw everything off and easily double the weight and size of your set-up.
Ever since I bought my Fuji XS10 I’ve been eyeing their pancake lenses. If you don’t know, a pancake lens is a lens that’s super compact (they often look like ones you’d find on old film cameras), and typically a fixed local length (meaning it doesn’t zoom in or out at all). A few weeks before our trip I did some searching and found out that there was a new 3rd party making an auto-focus compatible pancake lens for the Fuji X-mount. It can be a little bit of a risk to buy a 3rd party lens, but it was literally $400 cheaper than the Fuji one I had been looking at, so I decided to give it a try.
Let me tell you, this lens was worth every penny in my opinion.
Not only is the TTartisan 27mm F2.8 Autofocus Lens lightweight and compact (I was able to carry my entire camera setup inside my small purse!), but the photos were absolutely lovely.
My only complaint is that I lost the lens cap almost immediately. It’s so tiny it seemed to vanish as soon as I took it off and has yet to be seen again. Of course, lens caps are pretty cheap, so that’s a very small (pun intended) complaint.
Like I mentioned above, this is a fixed focal length lens – It’s a 27mm. To me, that felt perfect most of the time. Of course, if you think you’ll be taking a lot of photos in close quarters, it may be too tight for you. Personally, I would just pull out my iPhone whenever I wanted a wider shot than my camera could get, and I felt like that worked well for me. If you really love to zoom in and out, this lens isn’t for you, but I may just try to convince you to give it a try anyway.
Wrist Strap
Camera straps, like almost all camera gear, is highly personal. I have never liked a neck strap. I bought one for my Fuji when I first got it and it has never once been used. I’m all about the wrist strap, baby.
What I like about a wrist strap is how easy it is to get on and off. During our trip to Italy I kept my camera in my purse. When I was ready to take photos I could just reach in my bag, loop my wrist through the strap and pick everything up in one simple motion.
You may be saying, “but wouldn’t it be more handy to just have it on your neck all the time?” Sure! You’re not wrong. I just don’t like the feeling of a camera putting pressure on my neck all day. Even when it’s lightweight it still tends to rub and eventually mess with my posture over the course of a few hours. Also, I’m a bit clumsy, so I’m always a little afraid I’ll lean over and accidentally slam my camera into something (which I do to my own head too often already).
Like everything else on this list, this is highly personal. But if you feel like neck straps have never worked right for you, maybe give a wrist strap a try!
iPhone 14 Pro
It’s simple – the iPhone takes great photo and video. At this point, it’s a like having another camera easily accessible while I travel. If I had an older iPhone, I would definitely prioritize upgrading to a newer model before investing in a second travel camera or expensive lens. You get a lot of camera power from an iPhone and, obviously, it has other uses as well. I know the android users love their phone cameras too – whatever works for you!
Madewell Sydney Crossbody
I know, I know, it’s not a real camera bag. But that’s kind of the point?
Camera bags are generally bulky and just plain not cute (or you spend an arm and a leg for a cute one). They can also be a dead giveaway for someone looking to steal and expensive camera. When it comes to exploring a new city I want to be able dress the way I like without a big ugly camera bag totally throwing off the ~vibes~.
I originally got the Madewell Sydney Crossbody bag just as a daily purse, but then I realized that my removable camera bag insert fits inside this bag perfectly. And thus my ideal camera bag was born.
The entire purse itself fits inside my travel backpack, creating a nesting doll situation that saves a lot of space when traveling. For day-to-day exploring I’d use my Sydney crossbody to carry my camera and wallet. When it was time to pack up and move to a new city I put the whole set up right inside my backpack with everything else. EA-SY.
Another reason I love this bag to carry my camera in is that there’s both a crossbody strap, and top handles. My shoulders easily get tired, so being able to carry it on my elbow or in my hands allows me a few options to give my shoulders a break. Some people may not like that there’s no zip closure. I was a little skeptical about that myself. However, the magnet on my bag is quite strong. I have to be purposefully opening it to do so. At no point during our trip did I have any worries about my camera tumbling out of my bag.
Mine insert was from an old camera bag – but this camera bag insert is pretty much the same and should work too!
Memory Card and Additional Batteries
What’s there to say about basics like memory cards and extra batteries? You need ’em. Invest in a nice big memory card you won’t have to worry about having to switch-out while you travel. Nothing’s worse than getting home and forgetting where you stashed that card you hastily swapped out while standing in the Colosseum.
I took a risk and got some 3rd party batteries off Amazon that were a fraction of the price of the Fuji branded ones. While some reviewers have had issues, I’ve had mine over a year now and they’ve held their charge with no problem! I do usually pack a charger with me when I travel, but even after 7 days in Italy I didn’t need to use it (I brought 4 batteries and used 3).
The Add-ons
This is the gear I don’t always travel with. Only if I have a lot of extra luggage room or know that I’ll definitely use it will I bring it. I’m a light and breezy gear gal, the less the better!
Zoom Lens
The zoom lens. If you read my thoughts on the 27mm you may have picked up on the fact that I prefer a fixed focal length. Of course, there’s some situations where you need some flexibility from a lens.
When I got my camera I went with the full kit that came with the Fuji 18-55mm lens. It’s a good solid zoom lens, no complaints about the quality. But compared to my little pancake lens? It’s bulky and heavy. It weighs almost as much as the body alone. With my pancake lens on I can fit my whole set up in my bag with my wallet – once I put on my 18-55mm lens there’s no way it’s fitting in my purse.
Side by side comparison of the XS1 0 with the 27mm Lens (left) vs the 18-55mm Lens (right)
For our Italy trip I decided to take a risk and only bring my 27mm. I didn’t regret it even once. If I had packed my 18-55mm it would have just been taking up space in my luggage. Of course, if I were using my camera for something beyond personal travel photos (like shooting content for a brand campaign) I think I would be worth having the 18-55mm on hand just in case!
MacBook Air
Sometimes you just need to have a computer with you. I often work remotely while traveling and have to have a laptop with me. Even in those cases I prefer to steal my husband’s MacBook Air. It’s so much lighter and easier to travel with.
His MacBook Air actually used to be my laptop before I upgraded to a pro for it’s video handling capabilities, but I still love the Air. I’m no computer expert, but if you only need a laptop for basic work and maybe some light photo editing, I’d go with the Air! Although I will say the Pro is a whole other level if you’re dealing with video regularly.
Tripod
Tripods are something people are actually really passionate about – I’m not. If it works, that’s good enough for me. I have a regular full size tripod I use for my camera and
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