What’s in my camera backpack?
Curious about the gear I use to capture Nature Frames landscapes? Below is a breakdown of the cameras, lenses, and accessories I rely on for my adventures. Each item is something I’ve personally trusted and used in the field.
DISCLOSURE: I may earn a small commission from some of the links below. I only recommend products and services I use or have used in the past.
Backpack
LowePro - I have tried a few backpacks, but I found LowePro the best for its convenience to pack multiple lenses including the 600mm lens for wildlife photography with good protection. There are slots for polarizers, flash torch and chargers which is a plus. I can also rearrange the compartments within the backpack depending on what I end up taking in my trip.
Camera & Lens
Nikon D5300 - I purchased this DSLR 11 years ago and it has been rock solid. It has accompanied me in all my trips and adventures. I love the way the camera feels in my palm - like an extension of my hands when I am taking pictures.
Nikon Mirrorless & Full Frame Cameras are also very much in demand these days - even though I haven’t used them, have read really good reviews.
Nikon 18-140mm Lens - This is my go-to lens for most pictures. I use it for still shots as well as moving objects like waterfall or birds/animals. Aperture opens upto f/3.5 and I use it for taking both wide angle and zoomed in shots. It is relatively light weight (around 1.3 pounds) and can be easily mounted on to the camera.
Tamron 150-600mm Lens - I use this lens for wildlife photography mostly. It is especially useful when I am in a safari or visiting a national park trying to spot animals and bird. The lens is heavy (around 4.4 pounds) - so I pack it in my backpack when I think there is a need.
Nikon 35mm f/1.8G Lens - My favorite lens for taking pictures of people. Because of the wide aperture, it creates a shallow depth of field, allowing me to create bokeh effect with ease. I use it a lot during night time and it makes the subjects pop.
Binocular
Bushnell - Top quality binocular for zooming in on a specific spot in my shot or for observing wildlife. It is especially helpful when I am not carrying my Tamron.
ND Filters
Haida - I use Neutral Density filters to reduce exposure in my shot, which allows me to use a slow shutter speed even on a bright daylight. Achieving “Cotton-candy” texture when smoothening a waterfall or creating motion blurs are possible with these filters and it lets me a bit more creative in the field.
Flashlight
J5 Tactical - This flashlight is really bright. I use it when I am outdoors during night time or early morning without much light and focus on objects that are 200-300 feet away.
Cleaner Kit
CamKix - This kit comes with an airblower, a brush, a double-sided cleaning pen and polishing liquid. Find it very convenient to clean my camera and lens after a rough weather day. I also carry some microfiber cloths for clearing any dust or sand grains when taking pictures.
Memory Card Reader
Anker - Very convenient to insert the memory card from my camera onto this reader and download the pictures using the USB port. It is very fast and I am able to download my pictures in a few seconds. It has 2 slots - one for SD card and one for MicroSD card. It is compatible with both Mac and PC.
Photo Edits
Adobe Lightroom & Photoshop - Lightroom is my go-to software for mild edits to my photographs. I use it to adjust exposure, contrast and focus as needed. I use Photoshop very rarely - mostly when I have to edit out any unwanted object in an otherwise good shot.
Website Domain
Squarespace - I created this website on Squarespace and manage my domain with them. They have hundreds of templates to choose from and customizing the site to suit my needs was very easy.
Tripod
Benro - Very stable tripod. It is a must for night time photography and long exposure shots. It is very compact when folded. It has 3 leg positions and each of them can be adjusted in an uneven surface.