Gear to Take Your Travel Pictures to the Next Level
There’s more to amateur photography than a selfie stick
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On the road, professional photographers are known to overpack. It’s their job to be prepared to work at a moment’s notice, and sometimes that means loading every lens, flash, diffuser, memory card, and extra battery they own into a truck-sized shoulder-bag that makes TSA agents grumpy. If you’re not a professional, though, and your space is limited, you might be looking for gear that’s a little more practical. Here are six of our favorites.
Joby GorillaPod ($50)
Flat, even services are hard to come by. With this tripod, you can support the weight of a mirrorless or DSLR camera on almost any surface you encounter. Weighing less than a pound, the GorillaPod is incredibly compact, and durable enough to survive a long flight at the bottom of a heavy backpack—or a shorter flight down a tall flight of stairs.
Eyefi Mobi SD Card ($30)
Eyefi’s Wifi-capable SD card is incredibly useful for older digital capables that aren’t Wifi-ready. Load it onto your camera’s SD port, and you’ll have a quick and easy way to load photos onto a phone or computer, instead of juggling multiple SD cards that quickly run out of space.
Sony Vertical Battery Grip ($248)
Mirrorless cameras are ideal for when you’re low on space, but they often have a much shorter battery life than a DSLR. You can double your shooting time using a small battery grip like this one for Sony’s Alpha line.
BlackRapid Cross Shot Breathe Camera Strap ($55)
Leather straps look charming, but it takes only a few hours of collarbone friction to feel like an uncomfortable mistake. This strap from BlackRapid is comfortable for long periods of time and attaches securely to your camera’s tripod mount.
Hoya Ultraviolet Filter ($25)
Hoya’s small, inexpensive filter provides much-needed protection to lenses, which are particularly vulnerable when traveling.
Zeiss Pre-Moistened Lens Wipes ($11)
If you decide not to lug around a full lens cleaning kit, the best tool for keeping dust and grime out of your photos are wipes like these from Zeiss. They’re individually wrapped, so it’s easy to keep one or two in your pocket or your wallet.