{"id":5731,"date":"2023-02-20T18:33:27","date_gmt":"2023-02-20T18:33:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lovetwotravel.com\/?p=5731"},"modified":"2025-03-23T18:36:27","modified_gmt":"2025-03-23T18:36:27","slug":"travel-vlogging-equipment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lovetwotravel.com\/index.php\/2023\/02\/20\/travel-vlogging-equipment\/","title":{"rendered":"How We Capture Our Travel Vlogs – All Our Gear"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

You want to start creating a Travel Vlog but aren’t sure what gear to use. We’ll review all our gear and why it’s important, to us at least. Be warned, having the right equipment for travel videos seems to be one-part advice, a large-part practice and an even bigger-part luck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here’s a modern phrase rarely said, but traveling is easy. At least when compared to traveling with a YouTube video in mind. We’ve found vlogging can be taxing, adding layers of complexities from packing to managing the logistics of visually capturing a trip. Don’t take this as a complaint, we’re very lucky to be able to share our travel adventures and even luckier viewers take the time to watch them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the additional vlogging challenges are important to consider when discussing equipment. Quite frankly, any travel video needs should be balanced against the ultimate goal of your vacation. Some may spend traveling time specifically to create moments for a travel video. We’re of the mindset to enjoy our travel time, capturing what we can, when we can.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Divide and capture!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are many reasons we’re a perfectly matched couple, in the area of traveling our passions complement each other. Wendy has an amazing eye for still photography and Laurence enjoys the energy of video. Outside the first few years of traveling, we always had both types of cameras at hand and consequently enjoy well-documented vacations. Between Wendy’s perfect photographs to the hours of video captured by Laurence, our Dropbox is full of incredible memories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Boiling
Boiling Lake in Dominica, before Laurence’s beloved video camera<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Aside from working well for memories, the division of passion influences the equipment used. Decisions around each medium always lies with the person with the passion. Wendy enjoys the final say in which camera she uses for photography and Laurence for videography.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then and now<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In the past, we never traveled with the purpose of making YouTube videos, or Travel Vlogging as it’s called by the cool kids. The first time a YouTube channel was discussed came after a trip to Peru<\/a>. Although the trip wasn\u2019t taken or shot with a travel vlog in mind, the amazing scenes and breathtaking beauty gave us the push to jump into the crazy world of YouTube.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What captured all those incredible images? Two iPhone 12’s and a Nikon D3500, also known as a Costco special! Aside from keeping the iPhones charged and uploading the large video files to a Dropbox account, it was a low maintenance and stealthy set up. So why change?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Smartphone or Camera?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

An honest conversation with anyone in the camera industry will quickly uncover concerns of just how well smartphones take pictures and video. Modern smartphones capture images with such clarity, casual viewers feel they enjoy the same quality as with broadcast television and in some cases, blockbuster movies. Only when watched at high resolutions or during the editing process are the differences seen in smartphone videos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cameras excel at picture quality, noticeably so when images are magnified during any type of editing. Smartphone images on the other hand, lose quality pretty quickly in these instances. Sure, camera enthusiasts will talk about aesthetic flourishes such as the bokeh effect<\/a> that blurs backgrounds and other artistic looks achieved with interchangeable lenses. But the foundational quality of images captured at any distance or in low light using a quality camera is far beyond those captured on any smartphone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our smartphone’s limitations were frustratingly apparent while traveling in Peru and even more so during the video editing process after returning home. These were the drivers behind upgrading our travel vlog equipment!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let’s go straight to number one<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Once the decision was made to upgrade, the goal was to grow into the new travel vlog equipment and avoid the need and cost of continuously upgrading. Basically, buy cameras we’d still be using five or maybe ten years later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This isn’t a new philosophy, the same approach was taken with Laurence’s previous video camera, a Sony HDR-CX580. It was one of the more expensive video cameras at the time and lasted for years. The trusty Sony was only left behind during the Peru trip because it couldn’t record in 4K resolution, something we really wanted to do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The
The Palace of Versailles, France – Notice the Sony video camera at hand!<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

So, what does future-proofing travel vlog equipment look like? First, our iPhones were upgraded to the 15 Pro Max which offered much better image quality, ‘real’ optical zoom, and records so much better in low light. It even has a codec, or the way the image is saved, that captures a wider range of colors which can be graded or adjusted during editing with even better results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wendy’s gear<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Wendy really enjoyed the convenience of her iPhone 12 Pro and used a telephoto lens on her Nikon D3500 for longer shots. But she also wanted the flexibility and quality a better camera and lenses could give. Working with experts at a local camera shop Wendy was shown a Sony Alpha 7C that fit into her budget.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since buying the camera Wendy has built up the following kit:<\/p>\n\n\n\n