Choosing the right photography equipment can be confusing with so many different companies churning out quality cameras. We’ve had many people ask us what we use for our photos and videos. Here’s the scoop!
The 5D is a professional grade full-frame DSLR camera. It has a larger sensor than the lower models, which means more light and better low light performance. The increased autofocus points improve focus and help you get the right picture the first time. Programmable modes and buttons allow us to do more things both faster and easier. We’ve had this camera for a few years and we’ve loved the images it’s produced for us. Last year Canon released the 5D Mark IV which is the newest model. It has upgrades in megapixels, video, built in wifi and GPS. We’ve been so happy with ours that we don’t see it necessary to splurge on that one just yet.
Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L ll USM Zoom Lens
For travel photographers, this lens has been a favorite. It’s the newest lens for us and t’s also known to be simply one of Canon’s best lenses. This is superb for wide angle shots that are needed to capture landscapes and night photography. It gives sharp, clear images with better contrast. It’s worth every penny!
Here are a few shots from New Zealand taken with this lens:
Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM Standard Zoom Lens
Here’s another zoom lens that’s been a favorite to take on vacations. We’ve taken it on every single trip. It’s just as good as the 16-35mm, but can zoom in further.
We took this lens to Hawaii and got these great shots in Hana:
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM Telephoto Zoom Lens
Here’s another Canon lens favorite. It’s a heavy lens at 3.2 lbs but it comes equipped with a tripod collar to hold both the lens and camera steady on the tripod. It captures subjects sharply and cleanly without having to get too much closer to the subject. It has an ultra-fast auto-focus system and image stabilization which is great for capturing photos of sports and wildlife. We don’t bring this to all our trips unless we feel it’s necessary due to its weight.
We brought this lens to Maui, Hawaii to capture photos of whales. These are a couple photos we got:
And here are shots from Meteora with the lens used to photograph the monasteries on the cliffs:
Canon EF 50mm f/1.2 L USM Lens
If you plan on taking portraits on location this prime (fixed) lens is an excellent portrait lens that has the bokeh, the 3d look, the beautiful L lens colors, and transition from bokeh to sharpness everyone wants. Also, the amount of light you can capture with this lens is superb. Photos might not be as sharp wide open, but it is sharper than the 50mm f/1.8 and makes images look nicer with a creamier bokeh and beautiful colors. Autofocus is fast and quiet and the amount of light it can capture is perfect for low light conditions.
We first tried out this lens in Thailand and got these shots:
For the photographer on a budget this prime lens is perfect. This one is also good for beginners. First of all, this is the cheapest of all the lenses, but it still provides quality images. Like the f/1.2 it is great for portraits, giving a nice bokeh in the background, and good for low light photography. Traveling with this lens is better because it is very lightweight, being made of plastic and you won’t have to worry too much about it getting messed up since it only runs about $110. Autofocus is fast but can be a little loud compared to the f/1.2.
Here are shots used with this lens:
Aerial photography is now easily accessible with drones. DJI has been a leader in consumer drones with their Phantom line, but last year the Mavic Pro was released and we jumped on the chance to get our hands on this right away. This is lightweight and compact without sacrificing quality of photos or video. With 4k filming capabilities, we are able to achieve cinematic footage for our videos on YouTube.
We took the Mavic to New Zealand and here are the shots we got:
Canon G7X PowerShot Digital Camera
The Canon G7X Powershot has been a favorite for many YouTube vloggers. We love that it has a flip out screen so we can see ourselves when recording and it also adjusts well with backlighting. Watch our Youtube videos here.
This has been a great tripod for traveling. It’s lightweight and easily transforms to a compact size to just attach it to your backpack. We use our tripod always to take photos of both us together.
This is another tripod we love. We use this on our DSLR and our point and shoot camera for vlogging and photography. It’s easy to hold, sturdy, and flexible. The legs can be twisted and spread as close or as far apart as you want to angle the camera to its desired position.
You obviously can’t take all the lenses with you when you go on a trip. Know where you are going and what kind of pictures you want to take to minimize excess weight. We always take at least 2 lenses, sometimes 3. Hope this post helps you on your decision for purchasing new gear!
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