So you’ve picked the destination and you’ve got a rough idea of what you wish to do once you arrive, That’s great! But did you pack the right gear for wanting to shoot video? Did you forget all the attachments, spare batteries and does your memory card have enough space for shoot your whole amazing trip?
I’ve been there and done that! And it’s not a nice feeling. Sure the goal of travelling is to see the world with your own eyes rather than glue yourself to screens and lenses, but youre a videographer or filmmaker if you prefer, and you have a duty to share to the world what you see. Once i went skiing in France and really wanted to get some quality footage of myself in a POV style coming down the mountain. I brought my action camera and had enough space on my memory card as well as topped up batteries, but i only went and forgot my helmet attachment and so i didn’t ideally fancy holding my camera while trying to ski; I ended up taping my GoPro to my helmet. Didn’t look great but it worked! Anyway here is our guide and list to packing for the intention of filming your own adventures!
Get The Right Camera
Obviously, you’re not wanting to be shooting footage with your mobile phone, despite some phones having the ability to take pretty impressive shots, purchasing a video camera designed to record footage will get you usually the better results. There are many powerful video cameras out there on the market at an affordable price. Of course, starting with just one camera is to the best way to start but think about what you are wanting to film. You’re not quite going to want to take your only camera underwater or risk dropping it while bungee jumping, so it might be worth investing in an action camera for those shots where you need your hands free and can live with any minor damages whenever you undertake certain activities.
For the majority of your footage, here are some cameras I can recommend:
Blackmagic Design Pocket Camera
A super affordable video camera with superb image quality. The Blackmagic camera series are by no means your average camcorder and by this we mean that you can create cinematic raw footage. Don’t let the unpopular brand name stop you as these cameras offer so much for so little.
Blackmagic Design Pocket Camera 4K: https://amzn.to/3dXQqep
Blackmagic Design Pocket Camera 6K: https://amzn.to/2R3B9iU
| Pros | Cons |
| Affordable | Poor battery life |
| 4K or 6K resolution pending on model | Weak autofocus functions |
| Robust |
Sony A7III
A powerful camera that has offers a lot in comparison to its rivals. With a full-frame sensor and professional specs, packed into a compact, travel-friendly body – it’s the perfect choice for taking on the world.
| Pros | Cons |
| Excellent high ISO performance | Disorganised menu system |
| Awesome battery life | AF point illumination could be improved |
| 4K HDR Video | No in-built flash |
Sony a6600
Never miss a moment with the Sony a6600 Mirrorless Camera. With ultra-fast autofocusing at 0.02 seconds and contrast detection, you can shoot striking photos and professional 4K video in all conditions.
| Pros | Cons |
| Remote control (Phone App) | No in-built flash |
| Weather sealing | Awkward body design |
| Lots of lenses and accessories available |
Action Cameras
I’d say no matter how serious you are, stick to one good robust ‘action’ camera. I’d recommend something like a GoPro. Doesn’t need to be the latest, it just needs to be suitable. If the goal is to shoot something cinematic, then the above ought to do it but you can still create superb quality film with just a GoPro and without breaking the bank. A GoPro is a good middle ground and offers the robustness that an expensive quality camera does not. Most of my cinematic movies are filmed with my GoPro Hero Black 7 and often I’ve found that the quality is amazing. Another great thing about them is that they are built for extreme activities from water sports to mountain biking. Due to the size and design of action cameras like the GoPro series, there are hundreds of attachments and accessories that can be used when undertaking extreme activities and sports.
GoPro Hero Black 7
Buy one here: https://amzn.to/3mUFC3r
Quick Tip: It might be worth looking into drones to achieve aerial shots. Look into DJI drones if you’re serious about quality and be sure to get enough practice before you go.
Camera Attachments/Accessories
Preparation is everything. Before you leave, think about what you plan to shoot and how location, weather and access to power will affect your production.
- If you’re out for the whole day, think about bringing a couple of extra batteries. Anything longer than a day and its time to start thinking about access to power so you can recharge. There are some great choices like solar power battery banks/packs that can charge on the go.
- Travelling in a wet environment? Look into drybags and dry boxes. Pelican cases are a great investment for digital cameras and offer some of the best protection money can buy.
- Think about how you will carry your gear. If you’re planning to shoot on rough terrain, an adventure camera backpack can be worth every penny. Make sure you choose one with with straps for attaching tripods.
A GoPro or any video camera for that matter would be very limited without the hundreds of attachments you can buy and there are too many for me to list them all, however, your first port of call should be getting your hands on a suitable tripod, and by suitable I mean, sturdy and if possible one that will allow many different cameras to attach. If your one for thinking that you will just simply hold your camera, that’s fine but a tripod will massively improve your footage. Especially when filming still shots as there will be no jitteriness or shaking. Especially for action camera users, get a tripod that has more than one purpose such as that of a selfie stick. You’ll be able to not only film shots hands free, but yourself should you wish. Other attachments can be worn like a chest harness which is a definite must have in order to keep your hands free or even just to get some good POV shots. Two excellent examples, where I have used my chest harness are when I have gone skiing and even horse riding. Another great accessory is to have a case or housing for your camera. One to protect the camera itself if dropped or knocked and another designed for submerging the camera underwater.
Its not always necessary to purchase your attachments and accessories from the official GoPro website as generally speaking, there are a lot of decent third-party options that do just as good of a job and much cheaper than any official gear. Below are a few ideas along with links for you to order your own, just be sure to read the reviews and see if its right for your needs.
Action Camera Attachments and Accessories:
GoPro Tripod: https://amzn.to/3dqIv97
GoPro Chest Harness: https://amzn.to/32l7OTt
GoPro Underwater Case: https://amzn.to/3egMYKS
GoPro Underwater Light: https://amzn.to/32TbtIA
GoPro Suction Mount: https://amzn.to/3e1kaXP
GoPro Remote Control: https://amzn.to/3nr32hc
GoPro Underwater Dome: https://amzn.to/3gMukgx
Camera Attachments and Accessories:
Pending on what camera you have chosen or at hand, some of the attachment and accessory options below are a good starting point.
Flashgun
Lenses (Check what’s compatible with your camera)
Tripod
Gimbal Crane: https://amzn.to/3vq5KGs
Camera Cage: https://amzn.to/3vwdhTZ
Protective Bag/Box
You are going to need something to hold all of your gear together. One small bag is usually good enough and that’s all I have used for years but now pending on where I am going, I have both a protective box and a suitable day bag. The box is to protect everything during transport more than anything. Although, I strongly recommend that you take it with you at all times whether on a plane or train and not in your hold luggage. Once you have arrived, you can then put only what you need for the day in your bag.
Camera Bags: https://amzn.to/3dXXt6M
Protective Box: https://amzn.to/3eefJYe
Batteries
Sounds obvious right? Well, don’t forget them and be sure to buy some more for backup. Charge them every night and always take spare whenever you go out. There is nothing worse to a videographer than having your camera die while filming the perfect shot. Well… having your camera stolen is probably worse, to be honest.
Battery Charger
Whether you can charge your batteries through your camera or not, you should still consider getting yourself another appliance, as this will enable you to charge multiple batteries at once.
Portable Power Bank
All is well and good when you’ve charged your batteries the night before the big day, but for some of us, we’re either in a rush or simply without access to power for a little while. This is where a portable power bank really becomes a lifesaver. Simply charge it to full capacity and connect it while you’re out. It may also be a good idea to consider a solar panel design for when you find yourself really far from access to power.
Anker Power Banks: https://amzn.to/3aPoHKN
Memory Cards
Most if not all cameras take memory cards. It important that you select the right card to avoid any incompatible cards or even data corruption. Always refer to the company’s website or manual for the camera you use to confirm that memory card you need. Learn more about the right SD card for you if you are interested in knowing what all the numbers mean and want to make your own research.
Back Up
You might have the footage of a lifetime but it’s useless if any of your cards corrupt or if your camera is stolen. Always keep a copy of the files backed up, ideally in two places and not on memory cards that are prone to corruption. Online storage such as Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox and iCloud are really good options for smaller file sizes. However, uploading does take up a lot of data so storing large files will become expensive, so this often isn’t realistic for most people.
Take a fast card reader and ideally two robust external hard drives that can withstand being knocked around in backpacks. SSDs are worth it over hard disk drives as not only are they much faster, but that they are much more resilient and don’t require bulky bumpers for shock absorption, whereas hard disk drives use sensitive moving parts, making them vulnerable to drops. Check the specifications of the camera and choose the resolution at which you want to film. Learn to judge how much space you may need and remember that too much memory is better than too little. Keeping a list on each card of what’s been filmed will save you a lot of time when you come to edit.
SanDisk Portable SSD: https://amzn.to/3aMMN91
Audio
This one is personal preference but I’d still pack one just in case. Most video cameras are not very good at trying to catch audio whilst battling natural elements such as rain and wind. Having something external helps in this case. You can either attach a microphone to your device or settle for an audio recorder and sync the audio with your video when you come to edit. Other examples where external audio devices may be used are:
- Interviews
- Mask unwanted noise (e.g Wind etc…)
- Better audio quality
- Vlogging
Most of the time, I never need to record audio when I film because I use a lot of background music. However, a microphone or external audio device is still a great addition and a must-have for people that perhaps Vlog their travels.
Zoom External Audio Recorder: https://amzn.to/333FKnX
Want more? Download our gear list and print it out before you go. Simply cross out anything you don’t own or need and add your own in the notes section.