Photography is about freezing a moment the way we perceive it. Although it is more about creative composition, one cannot deny that the right gear is also essential to the process. On this page, we share with you all the photography gear that we use for shooting photos and videos on our travels.
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These are couple of our favorite shots: (From Left to Right) A Red-eyed Tree Frog in La Fortuna, Costa Rica and Fuego Volcano eruptions as seen from Acatenango Volcano in Guatemala.
For Aerial Shots
Seeing a place from up in the sky adds a whole new perspective. Of course, flying in a small plane over every place we visit is not a possibility. But drone cameras can get you close to seeing that perspective on screen. It has been only 2 years since Indranil started being a drone pilot, but he is loving it!
DJI Mavic Air 2
To get started, we were looking for something in between entry level and professional. DJI Mavic Air 2 fit the bill perfectly. Now, they have the Mavic Air 2S.
But whichever level you are looking for, DJI is the best brand when it comes to drones. In 2022, they launched Mavic Mini 3 that created quite the hype! The product was created specifically targeting content creators.
From lightweight drones to professional category drones to FPV ones, there are plenty of products that DJI offers. Click on the images below to browse and buy drones that best suit your needs and skill level.
For Landscape Photos/Videos
After using DSLR camera for ages, in 2021, we finally jumped on the bandwagon and started using a mirrorless camera. It was the best decision we made regarding our photography gear. Since mirrorless cameras are lightweight, it fits well with our travel style and we do not hesitate to carry it even when packing for long overnight hikes.
Camera: Nikon Z6II
We use Nikon Z6II and so far have been happy with the product. Not just photos, the video qualities are amazing.
Lens: Nikkor Z 24-70 mm f/2.8 S
Since mirrorless cameras are comparatively new in the market, the choice of lens can be limited. However, the Nikkor Z24-70 mm f/2.8 S lens is a good option for shooting a wide range of subjects, from landscapes to portraits. The f/2.8 aperture helps shooting in low light. Yet, at that wide aperture level, it shoots fast and produces fine images.
Click on the images below to check out Nikon mirrorless cameras and accompanying lenses.
For Wildlife Photos/Videos
From Royal Bengal Tigers in Maharashtra to Resplendent Quetzals in Costa Rica, Indranil has been photographing animals and birds for a decade now. He loves wildlife photography. Not just the camera work, but he also enjoys the process of spotting by himself different species in the wild.
However, wildlife photography is one area where we seriously need to consider upgrading our gear. We have been using the same camera and lens since 2012. Should I insert a facepalm here?
Camera: Nikon D5100
We have been using this DSLR camera, Nikon D5100. However if you are looking for a similar DSLR, consider Nikon’s latest variant of this model, Nikon D5600. It is a mid-range crop sensor camera.
But, we recommend moving to mirrorless cameras. All the camera makers are looking at building their mirrorless lens portfolio. Hence, a mirrorless camera will make more sense in terms of investing in the gear for longer term.
Lens: Nikkor 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6 AF-S VR
A telephoto lens is the most important part of your wildlife photography gear as it helps focus on subjects from a distance. But, as hobbyist wildlife photographers like us say, whichever lens you use, you will always feel a 100 mm short!
We use Nikkor 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6 AF-S VR lens. But we would recommend the NIKKOR Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S, however the current supply and availability of this one seems limited. Another option is to get the NIKKOR Z 70-200mm f/2.8 lens and use it with a teleconverter. Please note, if you buy these Z range Nikkor lenses and are still using a DSLR camera, you will need to use an FTZ mount adapter.
Click on the images below to browse and buy DSLR cameras and new Z series lenses with teleconverter and FTZ mounter adapter.
For Vlogs + Regular Videos/Photos
For everyday photos and videos, what better photography gear to use than the device that is always in our hands? A smartphone! Although phone cameras still cannot replace camera photo qualities, the good ones can give the entry level cameras a run for their money.
We also exclusively use our phones for vlogging. Remember to subscribe to our YouTube channel, if you haven’t already! 🙂
iPhone 12/13 Pro Max
After being long term Android phone users, we now use iPhones and can vouch for their excellent phone camera lenses and quick editing tools on phones.
Pubali uses iPhone 12 Pro Max and Indranil uses iPhone 13 Pro Max. Although both yield good photos and videos, the lens and the image creation on 13 Pro Max is significantly better than on the previous edition of iPhone.
For Action or Underwater Photos/Video
If you are into adventure activities and want to capture the memories on camera, get a GoPro and the right accessories related to your chosen activity.
Go Pro HERO7 Black
We use GoPro HERO7 Black, but the latest edition is GoPro HERO10 with several new cool features.
GoPro Protective Housing
For water activities like snorkeling, diving and swimming in waterfalls, we use the Protective Housing for our GoPro HERO7 Black. But for GoPro HERO9 and HERO10, the cameras are waterproof. However, getting a Protective Housing for your action camera will ensure the camera is protected from dust, debris or any other kind of particle.
GoPro 3-Way
We use GoPro 3-Way for its multifunctional use as camera grip, extension arm and tripod.
GoPro Head Mount
A GoPro head mount is of great aid for activities like zip-lining where you would prefer to need your hands free.
Click on the images below to buy your GoPro camera and accessories.
Tripods
A good grip on your camera device is essential for stable photo and video shots. And the best stabilization can be provided by a tripod. That is why, tripods constitute important components of our photography gear.
Peak Design Travel Tripod
For our cameras, we use the Peak Design Travel Tripod. It is an easy to pack and easy to set up lightweight tripod that is perfectly suited for travel, justifying its name. There are two options based on difference in material of the tripod. We use the Carbon Filter one and the other one is Aluminum.
Joby Gorillapod Mobile Rig
To add better stabilization to our mobiles video shots and for vlogging frames, we use Joby Gorillapod Mobile Rig. It works in both landscape and portrait models – so suffices for both YouTube videos and Instagram Reels (follow us on IG: paradisecatchers). Although we have yet to use all the capabilities of this vlogging tripod, on this device, you can add up to 3 additional devices like mic, lights and action camera.
Click on the images below to browse and buy Peak Design camera tripods and Joby mobile tripods.
Accessories
Our photography section would not be complete without the mention of some of our must have accessories.
Camera Bag
To start with, all these camera gear need a well protected house. We have been using the same Lowepro camera backpack for a decade now. We love it as it is a sturdy bag with compartments for multiple camera bodies, lenses, memory cards, cables, laptop and other knickknacks. If you plan to buy a camera backpack now, we highly recommend this brand – check out their new backpack models with various functionalities and pick the one that best suits your needs.
Memory Cards
Ah, data! – the most precious possession in the modern world, ain’t it? We can capture all the photos and videos, but we need the space to store all those gigabytes of data. We use multiple high speed memory cards for our different gear, most of them being from SanDisk.
Rode VideoMic Me-L
Another accessory we often use for vlogging or for adding voiceovers to our videos is an USB connected microphone for our iPhone. We use Rode VideoMic Me-L Directional Microphone, it comes with a bundled wind buster.
Special Section: Books
Well, the product in this section is not exactly photography gear. It is a book! However, this book is an integral part of all our travels and bird photography in Costa Rica, as it is a birding field guide. Indranil always devours the content of this book!
Birds of Costa Rica
The best book to carry for birding in Costa Rica. It is an excellent field guide with detailed descriptions and images, that help birders spot new species or ID spotted species. If you enjoy birding, we recommend getting this book, even if you’re not into photography.
Click on the image to buy your copy.
