On an adventure in the mountains, snowshoeing in a winter wonderland or enjoying a camping trip in nature. Anyone who loves the outdoors and enjoys taking photographs often has to deal with difficult circumstances. From a challenging environment and extreme weather to packing your bag as light as possible because you have to walk with it for several days. The right camera accessories can make a world of difference in these types of situations. That’s why in this blog I share 7 tips with camera accessories for photographers who love the outdoors.
I personally love hiking, camping, snowshoeing and of course photography. I’m not an extreme adventurous person, but I do regularly find myself in certain situations (or consciously seek them out) in which photographing and everything that comes with it is not always easy. From overlanding in the outback of Australia and making snow trips during the winter in Scandinavia to backpacking through Southeast Asia. In recent years, based on these travels, adventures and photo trips, I have discovered which camera accessories make my life as an outdoor photographer a lot easier. That’s why I share my 7 favorite items in this blog, with camera accessories aimed at the photographer who likes to travel and go on adventures in the outdoors.
#1 Shimoda Explore V2
If there is something that many photographers find difficult, it’s the search for the perfect camera bag. And to be honest, I haven’t found this one yet either, but I have found a camera bag that comes pretty close! The Shimoda Explore V2 is (almost) perfect for photographers who like to travel and love the outdoors. And this bag is also very suitable for real adventurers. Because in addition to camera gear and accessories, you can also take all kinds of outdoor gear with this bag. Think of a jetboil, walking poles or even snowshoes. Curious about all the options and possibilities of this camera bag? In this blog you can read my honest review of the Shimoda Explore V2.
#2 Peak Design Camera Strap
There’s a lot available in the world of camera straps. It’s therefore logical that you find it difficult to choose a strap or that you may have even tried different camera straps and put them back in a drawer because they did not fit so well. In that case, I can definitely recommend the camera straps from Peak Design. These straps are equipped with a handy click system so that you can quickly and easily release the camera. The camera straps are available as an adjustable neck/shoulder strap (2 versions available) and wrist strap. I have both the Peak Design Leash and the Peak Design Cuff wristband, and use them alternately depending on the situation. The click system allows me to easily change the straps if necessary.
#3 Peak Design Clip
During certain outdoor activities, such as hiking, it’s nice to have both hands completely free and only grab the camera when you are going to take pictures. But how do you do that without having to take your camera out of the bag every time or having a camera hanging around your neck that actually gets in the way? I use the Peak Design Clip for this and what a great camera accessory it is! The capture system, as it is called, consists of two parts: the clip that you attach to the strap of your backpack and a coupling plate for the bottom of your camera. You slide the coupling plate with camera into the clip in a relatively easy movement, after which it remains stable and secure in place on the carrying strap of your bag. This is much more comfortable than a camera on a strap, which only swings back and forth due to the movements you make. You can release the camera with one press of the lockable quick-release button. An extra nice bonus is that the clutch plate also fits most tripods. So you do not have to change the plate if you want to put the camera on a tripod.
#4 Lightweight Tripod
Using a tripod is not only useful when you take photos in low light or if you deliberately want to take photos with a long shutter speed, but also if you want to take photos of yourself using a self-timer. Because a tripod can be quite large and heavy, it’s always a consideration whether you take it with you. This will very much depend on where you are and what you are going to do, but when traveling and outdoors it’s advisable to look for a tripod that is compact and lightweight. I use the Rollei City Traveler for this and am still very happy with it after many years of using it. The tripod is compact, super easy to set up and lightweight due to the carbon. This version is no longer available, but the Rollei C5i Carbon or the Neewer is a comparable alternative. A carbon tripod is quite pricey, but if you want to travel lightweight, it is absolutely worth it.
#5 Sandisk SSD
At the end of a day of photography, I almost always copy the photos on the memory card to my laptop (if I have my laptop with me). Then I back up the photos and all my other files to the cloud and an SSD. This way I have different locations, both physically and online, where I can safely store my files. I use the SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD for this because SSD is much less vulnerable than a regular hard drive. The great thing about this SanDisk SSD is that it automatically syncs all my files after connecting it to my laptop and it can have a password that you have to enter when the drive is reconnected to a computer. This means that someone cannot simply access your files if the drive is stolen.
#6 Osprey Ultralight Dry Sack
Do your outdoor activities mainly consist of activities where you want to protect your camera gear against water, snow and moisture? In addition to a camera bag that is waterproof or water-repellent, you can also use a dry bag for extra protection. These are not suitable for diving or snorkeling, but (depending on which dry bag you choose) they are waterproof enough to keep your valuables dry during rain, snowfall or when you accidentally drop the dry bag for a short time in the water while kayaking for example. The great thing about this dry bag from Osprey is that they are available in different sizes and colors. This way you can purchase multiple dry bags and easily match the size and color to your plans and/or the type of gear you put in them.
#7 Photography Gloves
Many photographers mainly go out when the weather is pleasant, but there are also photographers, like me, who like to photograph in winter. The beautiful soft light and the landscapes that transform into a snowy winter wonderland are a particular favorite. But without good gloves and cold hands, photographing in winter quickly becomes no longer fun. Fortunately, there are special photography gloves. I myself have no fewer than 3 pairs of (photography) gloves. Two regular gloves that I use as a liner or as a thicker glove, and one shell that I can put over the regular glove. And that shell in particular is very nice if you are going to photograph in extremely cold temperatures. Because the shell is specially designed for photographers. You can fold over the fingertips with magnets so that you do not have to take off the shell and glove underneath to operate your camera. This means you are much less likely to get cold hands. You can also place a hand warmer on top for extra warmth. So, this shell is ideal if you like taking photos in the winter!
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