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Every year on YouTube I love to watch videos where photographers show what’s in their camera bag. So I thought I would do something similar here. Welcome to What’s in My Camera Bag 2022!
The Bag
Not long ago, I made a post on the internet proudly declaring I ditched my camera bag for a camera insert and was never going back. Well I am eating those words. Enter the Shimoda Explore V2 30L. This bag has 99% of what I need/want from a camera bag. Some of my favorite features include: stowable side water bottle pockets, a luggage handle pass thru, back panel access, and tons of pockets! I will post a review of this bag after I have had a chance to use it for awhile longer.
The Camera
The Canon EOS RP is my camera of choice. I bought this one in August of 2020 and I freaking LOVE it! It was a major upgrade from my old Nikon D3300 and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking into getting a full-frame camera.
Lenses
My every day lens is the Canon RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM. It came bundled with the Canon RP and it has pretty much stayed on the camera since then. Being an L series lens it’s very sharp and has even spoiled me a bit. This lens is my go to for travel photography thanks to its wide focal length range.
For photos in low light and indoors (i.e. boudoir) or when I want lots of bokeh, I have the Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM. I’ve only used this once for a friends engagement shoot so far and was really impressed with the quality of the images it was able to create. I can’t wait to try it out in a boudoir shoot with the wife to see how it performs!
Recently, I got the new Canon RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS USM as my telephoto lens. This is a nice light weight little lens I will be using for landscape, wildlife, travel, and the occasional sports photography.
I also have a Canon EF to RF Adapter because I have my eye on a nice astrophotography lens, the Sigma EF 20mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art that requires an EF mount.
Memory
My SD Card of choice is the SanDisk Extreme Pro UHS-1. I have 3 currently and plan to continue adding to my collection. Multiple cards are useful for spreading my images out when I am traveling. I’ll use one for each day to keep things organized and limit the loss of photos in case a card where to become corrupted.
For SD card storage I have a Pelican SD Card Case. Got to keep those SD cards protected and Pelican is a brand that I know and trust.
Power
Unfortunately, the RP doesn’t come with a big battery so I have to be prepared for when it runs out of juice. Aside from the battery and charger that came with the camera I also have a spare Canon LP-E17 battery and an Anker PowerCore Slim 10,000 mAh PD power bank. Being a PD, or Power Delivery, model I can charge my camera from the power bank the same way you might use a portable battery pack with your phone.
Cleaning
A smudge or a speck of dirt on your lens and camera sensor could ruin all of your photos so keeping them clean is a top priority. To keep these parts pristine I first reach for an air blower and Zeiss Lens Wipes, these tools work for me 95% of the time. The air blower I have came with a cleaning kit I purchased on Amazon. A similar model would be the this one. I also have some sensor cleaning sticks and a microfiber lens cloth for any oil or water the air blower and lens wipes can’t handle.
Odds and Ends
I’ll admit it. I’m a bit of a Peak Design fanboy. I own and use their Camera Clip, Camera Strap, Wrist Strap, and Travel Tripod. The whole system works really well together. While hiking I use the Camera Clip to keep my camera handy for those moments I need to take a quick shot and the same base plate for the clip works on the tripod too. Anytime I am around the water I’ll use either the neck or wrist strap for added piece of mind.
A newer addition to my kit is a 5 in 1 Reflector. I haven’t gotten to use it much yet, however. Mostly I intend to use this for outside portraits. If you aren’t familiar with using one, it is a simple yet powerful little tool to modify your lighting.
Final Thoughts
These are the things I keep in my camera bag most of the time. I’ll also add a few extras based on the trip I am taking, whether that is a short hike, a day trip, or a longer get-a-way. Most of the time I’ll also include snacks and a bottle of water, plus things like a rain jacket or pull-over, hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, and bug spray can all be handy additions depending on the weather.
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