Camera gear for capturing fall foliage
Chasing the fall foliage around New York State in September and October led to some funky camera bag set ups. Every trip out into the woods led to a slightly different set up depending on time, weather, and whether I was going for time-lapse or not. All while also needing to quickly pull a camera out so I could have it by me while driving for those random road-side moments which can’t be missed! what went into the core kit?! Well… let’s dig in!
Cameras:
a7iii- When only bringing one camera out, this is my go-to camera. It’s better low light capabilities far outweigh the lack of megapixels over my a7riii for capturing images into sunset. Time and time again I find myself going this camera first with it’s versatility. Most times the 70-200 f2.8gm was attached to this camera while in my bag. Amazon
a7riii- This has been my go-to camera for nice big files with lots of data for adjusting in post. It was also the camera which rode next to me in the car. Since most of my driving was during broad daylight, I didn’t need to worry about the noise issues at higher ISOs. Amazon
rx100v- having a camera handy on longer hikes and for BTS is where this camera found its fit. It sits perfectly in my Shimoda Plus Strap pocket making it always accessible without being clunky and heavy. While the small sensor doesn’t have quite as much dynamic range as its big brothers above, it’s tiny form factor is a winner. Amazon
Insta360 OneX- I picked this up in 2019 to try my hand at 360 videos and expand some opportunities while working with NGOs… However this thing has quickly become my Go-To for BTS images and video because I don’t have to think too hard in the moment and still focus on what is in front of me…. Plus who doesn’t love a good Tiny Planet from a mountain top. Amazon
Lenses:
16-35 f2.8gm- There’s no wide angle lens that compares to this which comes in e-mount (ok ok i haven’t tried the 12-24 f2.8 yet). I found myself bouncing between this and the 70-200 often. Amazon
24-105 f4g- This is probably the most underrated lens in Sony’s line up as its sharpness and focal distance range is unmatched. Plus its close-focusing capabilities allow it to step in as a macro lens in a pinch (hint: leaf details for daysssss). Only being f4 was perfectly fine because most days it was very sunny and I didn’t find myself missing the extra stop of light from my 24-70 f2.8. The fact that it is smaller and weighs less came in very handy on some of the hikes as well! Amazon
70-200 f2.8gm- Initially I wasn’t carrying this bad boy as I just went into APS-C mode on the 24-105 if i wanted more range…. However quickly that wasn’t enough for some of the images I was seeing. There was even moments when I wish there was more reach (similar to the 100-400 capabilities). Amazon
Accessories:
Breakthrough Photography- X4 magnet filter system- 3, 6, 10 stop ND & Circular Polarizers- The magnetic system has become a lifesaver for someone who relies on quickly changing gear in case of not missing moments. This system allows for exactly that while maintaining a high level of color rendition and sharpness. My only gripe which is a slight vignetting at 16mm is in the works of being fixed for version 2 of the system.
Shimoda Design- Explore 40l w/ 2 small core units- As a tall person there aren’t many camera backpacks out there which truly fit well. The adjustable backpack straps are fantastic and allow me to use this with ease. Normally I’d have a medium core unit in this bad boy (check out my normal camera bag here), but needed more flexibility for splitting out different gear & having a camera handy up front while driving. In one core unit, I would keep the a7riii w/ 24-105 attached, and the 16-35 inside the sleeve which comes with it. In the other I would keep the a7iii w/ 70-200 attached and this would stay in my Explore 40l. This system worked wonderfully for easily bouncing between drives and hikes.
Benro FIF19C- I initially picked this up on a crazy black friday deal in an effort to shave some weight from my aluminum travel tripod & this thing doesn’t disappoint. I barely feel like i’m hefting more weight to be able to get time lapses if the opportunity arises.
Garmin InReach Mini- Hands down my favorite purchase of 2020. It’s way more powerful than even I realized initially. It’s fantastic for communicating in emergencies, but also marking locations to go back to… Check out my more in depth thoughts here & get it on Amazon
Snacks & water- Ummm… Always have snacks because you never know when hunger strikes, or you may stumble upon someone on the trail who’s struggling and wasn’t prepared (the latter has happened multiple times this fall alone!).