My 2026 Travel Photography Gear: How I Pack Everything in One Bag

 

What’s In My Camera Bag? The Ultimate 2026 Creator Setup

After years of traveling and documenting everything from the Salkantay Trek to the streets of Vietnam, I’ve finally dialed in my "perfect" gear setup. 

My goal is simple: Maximum quality with minimum bulk. Whether I’m shooting a cinematic vlog or a high-res landscape, this is the gear I trust to get the job done in 2026.

1. The Main Setup (Stills & Cinematic Video)

Sony A7C II

This is my workhorse. It packs the full-frame power of a professional camera into a tiny body. It’s perfect for travel because it is really compact but the 33MP sensor and 4K 10-bit video are absolute beasts for post-processing. Mostly I shoot my videos in S-Log 3 and photos in RAW.

Sony A7C II

Sony FE 24-105mm F4.0

This is my perfect allrounder travel lens for Sony Full Frame Cameras. 24mm to 105mm covers a wide range from wide angle to tele zoom. The image quality is amazing and I can highly recommend that lens for travelling or if you are looking for an all in one lens. 

Sony FE 24-105mm F4 G OSS

DJI RS3 Pro Gimbal

When I need those "buttery smooth" cinematic pans that look like they belong in a movie, I break out the RS3 Pro. It handles the Sony A7C II with ease, and the automated axis locks make it the fastest gimbal to set up on the go.

But I have to say I mostly travel without the gimbal, it takes a bit of space. 

DJI RS3 Pro

2. The Vlogging & Action Specialist

DJI Osmo Pocket 3: 

The 1-inch sensor is a game-changer for low light, and the mechanical gimbal fits in my pocket. It is the ultimate tool for "run-and-gun" vlogging. This little beast is really impressive when it comes to portability and quality. For cinematic colour you can use the D-Log colour profile on DJI devices.

DJI Osmo Pocket 3

DJI Osmo Action 6: 

When things get messy—underwater in Komodo or riding the Ha Giang Loop—this is what I use. It’s indestructible, waterproof, and the magnetic mounting system is the best in the game. For cinematic colour you can use the D-Log colour profile on DJI devices.

DJI Osmo Action 6

3. The View From Above

DJI Air 2S

Even in 2026, the Air 2S remains a favourite for its 1-inch sensor. It captures incredible dynamic range in RAW, which is essential for those sunrise volcano shots. It’s the perfect balance between the tiny "Mini" drones and the massive "Mavic" pro series. For cinematic colour you can use the D-Log colour profile on DJI devices.

DJI Air 2S

4. The Daily Driver

iPhone 15 Pro

The best camera is the one you have with you. I use the iPhone 15 Pro for vertical content (Reels/TikTok) and for scouting shots. Shooting in Apple Log allows me to colour-match my phone footage to my Sony camera surprisingly well.

5. The Editing Power House

Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch M3 Pro & 36 GB Memory

Unfortunately editing, especially videos, takes a lot of capacity from your computer. So you need quite of a power house to handle 4K Footage smoothly. My Apple MacBook Pro is a beast and handles DaVinci Resolve Studio really well.

Apple MacBook Pro M3 Pro 16-inch

6. The "Must-Have" Accessories

The cameras get the glory, but these accessories do the heavy lifting:

• Variable ND Filters: My "sunglasses" for my Sony A7C II, the DJI Air 2S, the DJI Osmo Action 6 and the DJI Osmo Pocket 3. Essential for maintaining the 180-degree shutter rule in bright sunlight. For the Sony I use the K&F Concept True Colour Variable ND Filter.

• Travel Tripod: Carbon fiber is key. It needs to be light enough to hike up Acatenango but sturdy enough for long-exposure star shots.
  
  
• Hard drives: I have two external hard drives which I use for all my footage and old photos. 
  
  
• Lights: I have some portable RGB mini lights whenever I want to add some light or creativity to the shot. 

7. Final Thoughts

Gear is just a tool, but having the right tool for the moment makes creating so much more fun. You don't need all of this to start, but if you're looking to upgrade your production value, any of these pieces will make a massive difference.

When it comes to travel and also just shooting in general when you are on the move it comes to portability. You won't film a lot when you always have to set up a massive camera on a gimbal before taking that 5 seconds clip. 

I film way more when I have my DJI Osmo Pocket 3 with me and can just film any second. 

Here you will find all my Photography and Videography tips.