A guide to buying the best travel video gear

I’m always on the hunt for the best travel videography gear. This page contains my latest video kit list along with advice about each item. I have documented it to assist other filmmakers, videographers and vloggers when choosing the best kit for their travelling needs.

This page contains affiliate links. This means if you purchase from the link I will earn a small commission at no extra expense to you. I only recommend the kit that I have thoroughly tested and use on a regular basis through suppliers that offer the best price and service. Please consider buying via these links to help me keep my site ad free.

As a professional, I’m not interested in shooting substandard video quality. I vigorously test kit before purchasing to ensure it produces the best results. Like any traveller, I’m limited for space. Small and portable is key for me. Below the list you will find more detail on why I recommend each piece of kit.

Cameras

Sony A7S Mark II

This is my main video camera and it ticks every box for me as a travelling filmmaker:

• Incredible video image quality up to 4K.
• Outstanding performance in low light.
• Small, compact mirrorless body that weighs only 627 grams with battery.
• Slow motion filming up to 120 frames per second (really important for cinematic shots)
• The sensor has built-in 5 axis stabilisation (you can use non stabilised lenses and still get excellent results)
• Uses Sony’s XAVC S professional video codec for great results.
• Uses Sony’s professional S-Log3 colour profiles offering amazing dynamic range.

A couple of points to mention. The battery life is average, so I recommend purchasing multiple batteries. Due to the way the A7s mark 2’s sensor is designed for low light video it only takes stills up to 12 megapixels.

Check price and purchase at Wex or click on image for Amazon

Sony A7R Mark II

This is my main stills camera and I also use it as back-up for video. It has all the benefits of the A7s Mark 2 with a couple of differences.

• It shoots amazing still images up to 42 megapixels.
• The low light performance isn’t as sensitive as the A7s Mark 2 but it is way above other competitors.

Sony have also released a new range of mirrorless cameras A7R Mark 3 and the A9. They are currently out of my price range and for now, the above A7s and A7r Mark 2’s are fantastic.

Check price and purchase at Wex or click on image for Amazon

GoPro Hero 6

I have a confession to make. I never used to like GoPro’s much. As a professional, the quality of the footage fell below my standards. I found it annoying they didn’t have a screen on the back of them making framing difficult unless you synced it to the phone app.

That all changed with the Gopro 5 and 6 and the GoPro is now an essential piece of my kit for vlogging and as a B camera. Coupled with the Karma grip it produces really smooth shots.  

What I love about the GoPro 6:

• Great 4K video quality with the ability to shoot in Protune (flat picture profile) for the best dynamic range. Improved video bit rates on the GoPro 5.
• Slow motion. 240 frames per second at 1080 resolution and 60 fps at 4K resolution.
• The screen on the back makes it easier to use than the earlier models with no rear screen.
• The ability to switch between different fields of view. You can switch from the wide perspective to the linear Field of view. This doesn’t have the distorted fisheye look that GoPro’s are known for and looks more like a normal camera view. This makes it great for vlogging!
• The camera body is waterproof and doesn’t need an additional housing like earlier models.
• The audio quality is good. If it is windy or you turn away when you are talking to camera you can lose your voice. I always recommend using an independent mic for improved audio quality when vlogging.

Check price and purchase at Wex or click on image for Amazon

GoPro Hero 5

The GoPro Hero 5 has many benefits of the GoPro 6 and is a cheaper option if you’re on a budget:

• There is no slow motion in the 4K mode and it does 120 frames per second in 1080 resolution.
• Reduced bit rate from the GoPro 6.

Check price and purchase at Wex or click on image for Amazon

GoPro Fusion 360 Camera

An amazing new addition to the GoPro Line up! The Fusion produces stunning 5.2k 360 video and 18mp spherical stills. It’s small, waterproof, has inbuilt stabilisation and looks to be a game changer in the world of 360 capture.

Links will be updated as the product becomes available in the UK. 

Camera Stabilisers

GoPro Karma Grip

The end of shaky GoPro shots! The Karma grip is a gimbal that attaches to the GoPro 6 to create perfectly stable shots. I’ve been using it for over 8 months and the results have been great. It’s now an essential part of my vlogging kit. Some of the benefits for me are:

• Very quick to use. Once the camera is mounted on the Karma it’s literally the push of a button and you are filming smooth shots. It’s perfect if you’re filming vlogs where you don’t know when the action is going to occur and you have to be up and filming in a few seconds.
• Creates smooth shots in a variety of situations. It’s great for filming out of car windows and on boats where there is a lot of motion that would otherwise cause shaky shots. It’s also great for walking and talking to the camera. It literally gets rid of any shake making the viewing experience much more pleasurable for the viewer.
• The battery in the Karma grip keeps the GoPro fully charged. This is really handy when travelling. It saves you having to change batteries on the GoPro and also means you only have to charge one device. I carry a power bank with me which plugs into the base of the Karma grip and keeps both the KArma and the GoPro charged.

Due to its design, the Karma is not waterproof, unlike the GoPro. Whilst it can take splashes a heavy soaking can cause damage.

Check price and purchase at Wex or click on image for Amazon

Shooting vlogs in the Arctic with the GoPro Karma grip

Zhiyun Crane V2

A handheld stabiliser for Sony Mirrorless cameras and DSLR’s. I had a couple of earlier handheld stabilisers from other companies and I was always let down by the results. For me, the Zhiyun Crane is an amazing piece of kit and a game changer for the following reasons.

• Produces fantastic cinematic shots with the Sony A7s Mark 2.
• Is fast and easy to balance and set-up.
• Reliable.
• Small and portable. It produces better shots than my DJI Ronin MX and is a fraction of the size. Easily fits into a backpack.
• Cost-effective and cheaper than the competition but superior in quality.
• Amazing battery life.
• Batteries can be charged via USB.

For the price, it is well worth it. Purchase and check price by clicking on the above image. 

Lenses

Sony FE 16-35mm f4

A versatile wide angle lens. Great for capturing landscapes and views.

Check price and purchase via Wex or click on the above image for Amazon

Sony FE 50mm f1.8 Lens

A great performing, cost-effective prime lens for getting those beauty shots.

Check price and purchase via Wex or click on the above image for Amazon

Sony FE 70-300mm f4.5-5.6 G OSS Lens

A great zoom, telephoto lens with amazing optical quality. Perfect for wildlife.

Check price and purchase via Wex or click image for Amazon

Sony FE 70-300mm f4.5-5.6 G OSS Lens

An ultra-lightweight pancake which I use on the gimbal and for handheld vlogging.

Note: This lens only covers an APS-C sized sensor. It will only work on the full-frame A7 range in cropped mode. 

Check price and purchase via Wex or click the image for Amazon 

Drones

Drones are an incredibly powerful tool in any travel filmmakers arsenal and there are two that I swear by:

DJI Phantom 4 Pro +

This is my top drone costing under £2000 that can shoot professional quality 4K video with a built-in camera. The Phantom 3 didn’t come close, the Phantom 4 is getting there and the Mavic is a good contender, but none of them matches the Phantom 4 Pro for quality. Here is why:

• The Phantom 4 Pro uses the new h.265 video codec which produces much cleaner compression. Gone are a lot of the issues that were present in previous models such as aliasing.
• It has a mechanical aperture. To change exposure you can change the f-stop like on a normal camera. You can leave the shutter speed at 1/50 for the best results.
• The 4K video is stunning. I shoot in 4k and then downscale in the edit to 1080p to get the best results.
• It’s much improved in low light.
• The Pro + model has a built-in screen on the controller. This saves you having to charge a second device when you are on the road. It also makes set-up time quicker. I can be out of the backpack and flying in under 2 minutes.
• It’s lightweight and easy to carry in its own backpack.

If you want your video to be top quality the Phantom 4 Pro + is your best option. Wex also sells the Obsidian model which has improved airframe strength. 

Check price and purchase via Wex or click image for Amazon 

Me preparing the DJI Phantom 4 Pro + for a flight in the Arctic. See the footage here.

DJI Mavic Pro

The Mavic pro is a new addition to my filmmaking kit. It’s smaller than the Phantom 4 Pro and it also folds up making it even more compact for travel. I needed a drone that would fit in my rucksack with other equipment on a multi-day hike, and the Mavic came up trumps.

• Small, lightweight foldable design makes it ideal for backpacking.
• 4K video. Whilst the quality isn’t as good as the Phantom 4 Pro the drone and the camera is significantly smaller.
• More cost-effective than the Phantom 4 Pro. Additional batteries are also cheaper than the Phantom 4.

Check price and purchase via Wex or click image for Amazon 

Audio

Rode SmartLav Plus

An excellent lav mic for the price. This will give significantly better quality audio than relying on the camera’s internal microphone. This mic can be plugged directly into the A7R/S with the SC3 adaptor below. 

Check price and purchase via Wex or click image for Amazon

Tascam DR-10CS Audio Recorder

I swear by this for vlogging. This tiny but powerful recorder works on a single AAA battery and takes a micro sd card. It automatically records the same track at two different volumes as a failsafe. It’s petite size and portability make it the ideal travel audio recorder. It doesn’t have an inbuilt mic so you will need the above lapel mic and adapter. 

Check price and purchase via Wex or click image for Amazon 

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