Put down that bulky DSLR camera: here’s everything you need for photography trips in the mobile phone and mirrorless camera era

Thankfully, the days of lugging around hefty DSLRs and strong boxes full of lenses and accessories that give you neck strain are past. Although there are still some out there who believe that bigger cameras make for bigger and better pictures, the fact is that for most situations this is not true. Not to mention that heavy cameras are a hindrance, one that will no doubt lead to you to carry and use them much less. While many of us take a break from travel (and the expenses it entails) now is a good time to reassess – and streamline – your kit. The equipment you choose to travel with largely depends on your aims and needs, but whatever your goals, you can attain them with a minimalist set-up. Here’s how. Don’t underestimate your mobile device Over the past few years, mobile phones have come on in leaps and bounds, especially when it comes to their ability to produce great photos and videos. For many of us, a phone and a little photographic knowledge is more than enough to capture our travels. The beauty of a mobile device is that it is very small, you have it with you at all times, and it is incredibly versatile and fast to use. You also do away with the need to use a computer to download and process images. The downside (when compared to dedicated camera systems) is that lenses are fixed in focal length and aperture – though newer models do have multiple lenses. This, along with their small sensors, means that they can struggle to give control over depth of field. Low light performance is mostly still not great. Even so, they can be great tools for most situations – even for professional use. Third-party lenses out are available, but they can be cumbersome if you do not have a dedicated phone case to mount them on. I use an iPhone 7 with a Ulanzi anamorphic lens as part of my professional workflow, though its super wide angle format will not suit everyone. Strap on an action camera Action cameras such as GoPros are useful and tiny. They are ideal for capturing outdoor activities as well as for regular photos and video – plus they are simple to use. If you are shooting action-based trips, where waterproofing and durability are key, they become an essential part of your toolkit. Otherwise, you’ll find your phone can do most things, and eliminates the need to transfer images and carry a bag full of mounts. Consider a compact Mobile phones have all but killed off the compact camera market, but there are still a number of great palm-sized compacts around. For several years, I have been using a Sony RX100 II as a backup and walk-around camera when on assignment. The camera is not cheap (around US$1,300) but its 20-megapixel sensor, 24mm-200mm zoom lens and superb video specs mean it is capable of producing professional quality images and video. It also has great battery life and portability, which have saved my bacon on many occasions when my mirrorless cameras have run out of batteries. You can also find good second-hand versions online, an option that is definitely worth considering. Convert to a mirrorless system For relative portability (compared to DSLRs), versatility and great image quality it is hard to beat a good mirrorless camera with interchangeable lenses. Most camera manufacturers have switched their focus to mirrorless, which has made for some amazing technical leaps in the past few years. When investing in any camera, do remember that it is the lenses that are the most important thing when it comes to image quality. For several years I have used the Fuji X system cameras, although that really is only because I invested in them early on, and you tend to stick with that investment. Most manufacturers are now on a par overall, so it is hard to go too far wrong. When working, I carry two mirrorless bodies (though a compact as backup is fine), a wide-angle telephoto (10mm-24mm), a mid- range (18mm-55mm) and sometimes a longer (50mm-200mm) zoom lens. Usually I also have a very small fast 18mm (f2) prime lens for low light situations. This entire system weighs in at around 60 per cent of the weight and bulk of my old DSLR system, and it covers most bases for professional work. Accessorise wisely Be sure to have a good power bank, plus spare batteries and a charger, as phones and mirrorless cameras eat through power (due to their electronic view finders and screens). Generally I still travel with an old model MacBook Air (11 inch), although if you do not need to write and do heavy image processing on the go then a newer model tablet is ideal. Carry plenty of memory cards – do not erase them until you are home and double backed up – and try to also back up to an external hard drive, keeping this separate from the used memory cards if possible. Saving your best images to an online cloud system is wise, if you have good internet access. The good thing about a lighter mirrorless system is that it allows for a lighter tripod. SLIK travel tripods are light and compact, and Benro also have some inexpensive options. Gorillapod tye set-ups are OK, but they are not reliable if you want to capture long exposures. In remote areas, they can be too short and there is rarely something to attach them to. Purchase the China AI Report 2020 brought to you by SCMP Research and enjoy a 20% discount (original price US$400). This 60-page all new intelligence report gives you first-hand insights and analysis into the latest industry developments and intelligence about China AI. Get exclusive access to our webinars for continuous learning, and interact with China AI executives in live Q&A. Offer valid until 31 March 2020.