Hiking Photography
Hiking Photography

Camera Gear

Cameras

  1. Sony a9 - 673g (1lb 7.7oz)

  2. Sony a7r IV - 650g (1lb 7oz)

LenseS

  1. Sony 12-24mm f/4.0 - 561g (1lb 3.8oz)

  2. Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8 - 420g (1lb 2.3oz)

  3. Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 - 550g (1lb 3.4oz)

  4. Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 - 810g (1lb 12.6oz)

  5. Laowa 15mm f/2.0 - 500g (1lb 1.6oz)

  6. Sony 24mm f/1.4 - 445g (1lb)

  7. Sony 35mm f/1.8 - 280g (9.9oz)

  8. Sony 55mm f/1.8 - 281g (9.9oz)

  9. Sony 85mm f/1.8 - 371g (13oz)

  10. Sigma 85mm f/1.4 - 625g (1lb 6oz)

  11. Sony 135mm f/1.8 - 950g (2lb 1.5oz)

Other

  1. Sirui T-025SK Tripod - 900g (1lb 15.7oz)

  2. Capture Clip - 84g (3oz)

  3. Polar Pro QuartzLine UV Filter

  4. Polar Pro QuartzLine Polarizer Filter

  5. Polar Pro QuartzLine ND 1000 / Polarizer Filter

Carrying your camera

I have tried a number of different straps, mountings plates, etc to carry my camera while hiking and by far the best is the Capture Clip by Peak Design. You can attach it to any backpack strap, it’s quick to take your camera on and off and you don’t have it swinging around awkwardly on a strap next to your backpack. I can’t recommend this enough! If your camera is in your backpack and not at your fingertips, you won’t end up taking any photos.

Minimizing Weight

To be able to carry the heavy camera gear that I bring I try to minimize the weight of everything else I bring. You can see a detailed list of what I bring for hiking and camping gear here.

Day Hikes / Day Ski Touring

Camera

  1. Sony a9

  2. Sony a7r IV

Lenses

  1. Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8

  2. Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8

  3. Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8

For day hikes I find it’s best to have just one all around lens, as you won’t want to stop to switch lenses constantly and you’ll miss moments. I find a 28-75mm f/2.8 strikes the best balance here, with enough focal range and still a large enough aperture to deal with darker scenes.

Overnight Hikes / Overnight Ski Touring

Camera

  1. Sony a9

  2. Sony a7r IV

Lenses

  1. Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8

  2. Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8

  3. Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8

  4. Laowa 15mm f/2.0

For overnight hikes I will always bring a lens for astrophotography. To minimize noise you want something that’s at least an f/2.8 but an f/2.0 is even better, so I’ll bring my 15mm f/2.0. In addition to that I’ll bring my 70-180mm f/2.8 for distant mountain shots and any wildlife. I’ll also bring a wide angle lens for taking traditional landscape shots at sunrise and sunset, which will be my 17-28mm f/2.8.

Climbing

Camera

  1. Sony a9

  2. Sony a7r IV

Lenses

  1. Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8

  2. Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8

  3. Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8

  4. Sigma 85mm f/1.4

For climbing I like to bring my 28-75mm f/2.8 for walking between crags and if weight/space is an issue, this will be the only lens I bring. A wide lens like my 17-28mm f/2.8 is is great for close up shots that still show the wide perspective of the scene. I bring my 70-180 f/2.8 for the times I can get some distance between myself and the wall. Finally I will always bring my 85mm f/1.4 to take portraits at the base of the walls.

Weddings / Festivals / Events

Camera

  1. Sony a9

  2. Sony a7r IV

Lenses

  1. Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8

  2. Sony 35mm f/1.4

  3. Sony 55mm f/1.8

  4. Sigma 85mm f/1.4

  5. Sony 135mm f/1.8

For weddings I will shoot with both my a9 and a7 III at the same time. Usually with my 35mm f/1.8 and 85mm f/1.4 or my 55mm f/1.8 and 135mm f/1.8. I will also bring my 17-28mm f/2.8 for some wide shots of the venue if needed.