What’s In Our Camera Bag? – What Do We Use To Make Our YouTube Videos

Well, what’s in my camera bag and what is the actual vlogging equipment I use to document our little travel adventures? It’s not all about the latest gadgets and the most expensive cameras. Instead, I take a look at reasonably priced equipment that I have been using for several years.

Also, travel vlogging is not all about cameras. One aspect of which is often overlooked is the sound and the need for a decent microphone. Again, this doesn’t have to be expensive.

So, what is exactly in my ‘well worn’ camera bag?

The Cameras

The best camera to start with is your smartphone. The 4K quality of new smartphones is outstanding, so is the image stabilisation.

I use an iPhone 11 which produces great quality video in the daylight although the video quality does suffer in low light. The only accessories I would recommend would be a small tripod and an external microphone, both coming up later.

The biggest splurge I made was to buy my first ‘proper’ camera, a Canon 80D. This was the camera being used at the time by many high profile vloggers such as Cases Neistat. Although this camera is nearly 4 years old and doesn’t record in 4K, I still use it as my main video camera.

The colours it produces are great and of course, you can change the lenses. Also, the build quality is excellent and after all this time, it is still in very good condition.

The camera is quite heavy and I would like the option of 4K video capability. However, I still can’t justify the expense of upgrading at the moment. Remember, you won’t get more people watching your YouTube videos just because you’ve bought a more expensive camera.

Lenses

Lenses are another bit of kit which can add to the costs and the weight of your bag. Again, will buying that expensive lens actually persuade more people to watch your videos?

The standard Canon EF-S 18-55mm lens which is supplied with the camera is quite good for everyday use.

The lens I would recommend for vlogging is the Canon EF-S 10-18 mm wide-angle lens. This is useful to get you and the background in the frame while holding the camera at arm’s length. Also, at around £195 it is relatively cheap for a camera lens.

Microphones

One aspect of making travel videos that are often overlooked is the sound. Whether your recording on a smartphone or an expensive camera you’ll need an external microphone with some sort of windshield.

For a smartphone, a simple plain mic such as the Rode SmartLav+ is perfect and it only costs around £48. Also, it is worth looking at the Rode Video Micro which doesn’t require batteries. If you want something a bit more professional but still reasonable, the Rode Video MicPro is very good.

My latest purchase has been the Rode Wireless Go microphone. As the name suggests, this gives you the freedom to walk around and turn away from the camera without worrying about the sound dropping out. The charge lasts for most of the day when out and about filming. The only issue I have encountered is the windshield which is very easily knocked off.

Tripods & Accessories

If you are using a smartphone then I recommend getting a small tripod such as the Manfrotto Pixi. You can set it up as a traditional tripod or hold it to film yourself. If you want a reasonably priced tripod for a larger camera then try the Manfrotto Compact Action Tripod. It may not be the most stable when the wind picks up but it’s so much better than just holding the camera. Both of these tripods are less then £50.

Personally, I’m not a fan of backpacks and prefer the classic camera bag. As the bag isn’t too big it stops you from taking too much needless equipment. It’s also a great size for travelling by plane.

Finally, there’s the extra batteries, cables and I have a foldable sunshade for the display screen of the Canon 80D. Unsurprisingly, the shade isn’t used that often when filming under the grey skies of Wales.

What’s In My Camara Bag – Pin For Later