What’s in my camera bag | My travel photography gear 2022
What's in my camera bag | My travel photography gear 2022
I’ve recently received quite a few Instagram DM’s with the following question; what camera do you use for your travel photography.
After updating just about every piece of gear I owned, I decided it was finally time to write an in-depth guide around the topic – what’s in my camera bag.
With a burning passion for photography, I always aim to find the most innovative camera gear, and it’s thus my goal to update this post as soon as I discover better alternatives.
What I’ll show you in this post are the camera, drone and lenses that I use right now – plus all the ingenious accessories that enable me to shoot and edit stunning photography.
It took me 4 years to balance out this setup, and I’m pretty satisfied with the result.
With this guide, I want to give you a good insight into my camera gear, and I hope it inspires you to create an epic photography setup that suits your needs.
Travel photography gear | What's in my camera bag 2022
My camera
Panasonic Lumix S5
Every since I bought my first Panasonic Lumix G80, I’ve been hooked to the Panasonic Lumix camera line-up.
So when it was time to upgrade to full-frame, the Lumix S5, with its excellent capabilities to capture both stills and video made it down the finish lines after hours of thorough research.
Ever since I upgraded to the Lumix S5, the quality of my content elevated to the next level, and with the 24-megapixel sensor, I’m able to print bigger and higher quality fine art prints too.
My Lenses
Sigma 24-70MM F2.8
The Sigma 24-70MM F2.8 is by far my favourite lens and is basically always mounted to my Lumix S5.
The wide zoom range gives me the freedom to shoot beautiful landscape stills, while it’s also a brilliant lens to shoot street photography and portraits.
While it’s slightly larger than other 24-70MM lenses, the F2.8 makes it one of the most versatile zoom lenses in this zoom range. Add to that, that it’s insanely sharp and still relatively compact, and the Sigma 24 -70MM F2.8 becomes an excellent option for travel photography.
It’s one of the lenses that I wanted to add to my camera bag for a long time, so when I finally made the purchase, I couldn’t wait to plan my next trip overseas.
Panasonic Lumix 50MM F1.8
This lens was part of my Lumix S5 kit, and despite being a kit lens – the Lumix 50MM F1.8 has been an absolute beast.
With its F1.8, this lens is extremely sharp and is able to capture an excellent bokeh effect too, making it the perfect lens for street photography and portraits.
It also performs incredibly well in low-light situations, which makes shooting at night a lot more fun.
My drone
DJI Mavic Air 2
After using the DJI Mavic Air for over two years to get my aerial shots, I chose to replace it with DJI’s newer model; the Mavic Air II. To this day, I’m still pretty stoked about the upgrade.
The reason why I chose the Mavic Air II, is that it’s much lighter than DJI’s Mavic Pro series, while it still shoots high-resolution images in JPEG + RAW as well as high-definition 4K video, which makes it the perfect drone for travelling.
If there’s one thing that adds a new dimension to your travel photography game, it will definitely be the purchase of a drone.
For me, my drone has quickly become my favourite piece of photography gear, since it provides me with the options to capture a landscape or city from totally different perspectives.
My camera Bag
Wandrd PRVKE 31L
My go-to backpack when it comes to travel and everyday commuting is the Wandrd PRVKE 31L, a well-thought-out backpack with all the innovative spaces to keep your camera gear protected and organized.
This award-winning backpack has a separate laptop sleeve, a secure passport pocket, and the possibility to organize your camera gear as desired, just to name but a few of the handy features.
On top of that, the PRVKE is weather resistant and pretty damn comfortable, which for me, is an absolute must when you’re carrying around tons of camera gear.
My camera accessories
Peak Design Capture
My favourite piece of gear by a milestone, the Peak Design Capture clip is an easily accessible camera clip that gives quick access to your camera, while also keeping your camera stable and secure.
One of the greatest advantages of the Peak Design Capture is that you will have your camera in hand reach at all times, meaning you’ll easily capture a spontaneous scene.
On top of that, I feel confident when my camera is attached to the capture during my travels since it’s stable and completely locked while hiking or wandering around a jam-packed city.
Cullmann Nanomax 400T Tripod
As a travel and landscape photographer, a tripod has become an essential part of my photography gear.
I often use my Cullmann Nanomax 400T Tripod in low light situations, or when I use the bracketing function of my camera to get the sharpest possible image of an incredible piece of scenery.
Additionally, it comes in extremely handy when getting shots around sunsets, sunrises and night.
In some cases, I also use it to get a shot with myself in it.
Since the Cullmann Nanomax 400T is rather compact, it is a perfect tripod for travel.
SanDisk Memory cards
Since I shoot in RAW with high-quality photography gear, I need quite a few SanDisk SD cards to keep me shooting while on the road.
My favourite option, and the one I keep coming back to again and again, are the SanDisk Extreme Pro, cards as they’re one of the fastest and most reliable options on the market.
With speeds of up to 300MB/s read and 260MB/s write, these SD cards can handle quite an impressive workload, which is of great value for my post-production workflow too.
Seagate Hard drives
To keep my content organized, I always have a Seagate Hard Drive within my backpack, so I can efficiently back up my photos during a trip.
As soon as I come home from my travels, I make an extra backup on a separate hard drive – cause we all know, losing your footage is the worst thing that could happen to a photographer.
Cleaning Kit
To me, there’s nothing more important than keeping my expensive lenses dust and fingerprint-free.
From my experience it doesn’t matter how mindful you are, there’s always a good chance that you’ll find one or two greasy fingerprints on your lenses – that’s where a cleaning kit comes in handy.
For that reason, I’m always carrying a few microfiber Lens cloths or a lens pen to clean my glass. Additionally, I also use an air blower when there’s dust on the sensor.
MacBook Pro
My MacBook Pro is the foundation of all the work I do online, whether it’s editing photography, writing a new article or designing a logotype.
Not only is a MacBook Pro lightweight, but it also has the power to perform tasks with a heavier workload, such as editing photography for my blog or composing a video for Instagram or YouTube.
On top of that, I use it to sort out my accommodation, car rental and flights when on the road.
Adobe Lightroom + Photoshop
Over the course of my photography journey, I realized how many advantages a thoroughly thought-out post-production workflow impacts the quality of my photography.
With a background in graphic design, I started off right instantly, since I had the knowledge that the Adobe Creative Cloud software was ahead of the game.
While I personally use the complete Creative Cloud plan, I’d believe subscribing to the photography plan and learning how to use Adobe Lightroom + Photoshop is the best advice I can provide if you’re keen to elevate your photography by means of post-production.
While it might take quite some time to figure things out, it’s a brilliant piece of software that will help you create a style and add a distinctive look and feel to your images.
The photography plan comes as a monthly subscription via Adobe Creative Cloud, and start at $13,29 (€12,09) per month. For more information, visit the official Adobe website, and don’t forget to click on the link to receive a free 7-day trial.
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The Jordan Pass: 8 useful tips to get you going (2022 update)
It’s fair to applause the Jordan tourism board, as they made it incredibly easy to explore the country’s major tourist attractions.
With the clear initiative to help travellers throughout their journey in Jordan, they designed the Jordan Pass; an all-in-one sightseeing package that will save holders money, while also letting them travel more efficiently.
With access to over 40 tourist attractions, including Petra, Wadi Rum and Jerash, and the waiving of the tourist visa fees when staying longer than four days in the country, the Jordan Pass makes for an excellent deal, and certainly one I recommend purchasing.
To help you out, I’ve put together this in-depth Jordan Pass guide, featuring all the essential information, including how it works, the price, where to buy, which options to choose from, and more.
The Jordan Pass: 8 tips to get you going
1 | A brief overview
2 | The price
3 | Can I Buy it at the airport?
4 | Where to buy?
5 | What sites are included?
6 | Tourist entry visa
7 | Is it worth it?
8 | Plan your Jordan itinerary
#1 The Jordan Pass | A brief overview
Tailor-made by the official Jordan Tourism Board, the Jordan pass is the ultimate sightseeing package for those travelling to Jordan.
With the clear ambition to make travelling in Jordan as convenient as possible, the Jordan Pass was made to help visitors make the most of their trip, whilst they also save money and travel more efficiently.
It is good to mention, that the Jordan Pass comes in the form of a personalized digital document that will be scanned upon your arrival in the country, and once you visit the included sights.
Additionally, you can also print your Jordan Pass, since there’s a QR code on the ticket.
I’d personally recommend printing two copies of your pass, in case something happens to your phone and you lose access to your digital pass.
#2 The Jordan Pass price
Since there are three different options to choose from, the price of the Jordan Pass depends on one key factor; the number of days you plan to explore the ancient city of Petra.
The three options include:
Jordan Wanderer
One day access to Petra
70 JD (€90,-)
Jordan Explorer
Two days access to Petra
75 JOD (€97,-)
Jordan Expert
Three days access to Petra
80 JOD (€103,-)
I opted for the Jordan Explorer, since I planned two consecutive days exploring Petra, and would highly recommend anyone to do the same.
One thing worth noting is that if you spend less than three nights in Jordan, you’ll be charged the initial visa entry fee – 40 JOD (€52,-) when leaving the country.
#3 Can I buy the Jordan Pass at the airport?
Unlike the Jordan tourist entry visa, it is unfortunately not possible to purchase your Jordan Pass upon arrival at the airport.
Though the online services are excellent, I totally understand why some travellers prefer buying it once they arrive in the country, especially if you don’t hold a credit card.
#4 So where to get the Jordan Pass?
Instead, you can only buy the Jordan Pass online via the official Jordan Pass website.
Since it takes a few days to process the order, I’d highly recommend purchasing your Jordan Pass at least one week in advance of your trip to Jordan.
Additionally, if your trip is somewhat spontaneously, you can also opt to speed up the process to 1 business day – do keep in mind that this comes at a price.
While I’ve read several stories about issues with the checkout process, I was fortunate enough to get my pass in one try. Still, this could be a great reminder of why you should buy your Jordan Pass in advance.
After purchasing the Jordan Pass, it will be valid for use within 12 months. Also, the pass will automatically expire 14 days after it was first scanned at one of the 40 attractions.
#5 The Jordan Pass | What sites are included?
The Jordan Pass grants holders free one-time entrance to over 40 tourist attractions in Jordan.
I’ve listed some of the most popular attractions included in the pass below:
Petra | Listed one of UNESCO’s New World Wonders, the ancient city of Petra really needs no introduction. This archaeological masterpiece is simply a must-visit for anyone travelling to Jordan.
Wadi Rum | Situated in the southern part of Jordan, the Wadi Rum is a vast protected desert reserve that is marked by towering rock formations and rippled sand dunes.
Jerash | Built by the Romans more than 6,500 years ago, the ancient city of Jerash is known as the largest and best-preserved site of Roman architecture outside of Italy.
The Roman Theatre | This 6,000-seat, 2nd-century Roman theatre is one of Amman’s most famous landmarks, and clearly, one to add to your list with things to do in Jordan.
Amman Citadel | Established in the heart of Downtown Amman lies the Amman Citadel, a citadel of incredible grandeur with a long history of occupation by many great civilizations.
Other attractions include Aqaba Castle, the Jordan Archaeological Museum, Karak Castle, and Madaba Archaeological Museum among others. See all the included attractions here.
#6 What about your tourist entry visa?
On top of the free entrance to Jordan’s most popular highlights, the Jordan Pass will also grant holders a free tourist entry visa when staying a minimum of four days in the country.
But do be aware, you will be charged 40 JOD (€52,-) for the visa entry fee when leaving the country within the four-day mark.
#7 The Jordan Pass | Is it worth it?
If you do the math, you’ll quickly come to the conclusion that purchasing the Jordan Pass will be worth every penny, given a day ticket to Petra and your Jordan tourist entry visa will combine for a total price of 90 JOD.
Meaning those two will already cost more than the three-day Jordan Expert Pass (80 JOD), which is the most expansive option and includes three days in Petra.
Not to mention, that by buying the Jordan Pass, you’ll also waive the entrance fee to Wadi Rum (5 JOD), Jerash (10 JOD), and the Amman Citadel (3 JOD), to name but a few.
Add to that, that the Jordan Pass allows you to skip the line at Petra, and the Jordan Pass turns into an absolute winner.
#8 Now its time to plan your Jordan itinerary
Now that you know all the nitty-gritty details about the Jordan Pass, it’s time to plan your adventurous road trip itinerary through Jordan.
If you’re curious about my 10-day road trip in Jordan, I’ve written an in-depth itinerary that brings you along all the major highlights of this incredible country, so make sure you give it a read too.
Additionally, I’ve also written detailed guides on Petra, Wadi Rum, the Dead Sea, Jerash and Amman.
SAFETY IN JORDAN | TRAVEL INSURANCE
When travelling this big wide world, I never go on an adventure without my essential travel insurance sorted out, and though I felt completely safe in Jordan, I recommend anyone travelling here to do the same.
Though you rather don’t think about the things that could go wrong, there’s always a chance that it might happen, and when that’s the case, it is better to be safe than sorry.
To help you find the right policy, I’ve listed two of my favourite options below:
Heymondo | Whether you’re going on a 3-week backpacking trip, or planning a long stay somewhere abroad, Heymondo has excellent insurance options either way – plus full covid-19 coverage and a handy app with 24-hour medical assistance. Readers of WTSW receive 5% off any insurance policy, more information here.
World Nomads | If you’re an adventure seeker, backpacker, or planning your once-in-a-lifetime world trip, make sure you check out World Nomads, they designed the perfect travel insurance to help you travel safer and smarter. Do note that they’re not covering covid-19 related claims.
PLAN YOUR JORDAN ITINERARY WITH THESE ESSENTIAL GUIDES
