So you want to get started in vlogging and making videos for YouTube but aren’t sure where to start when it comes to equipment. All you know is that you want your videos to be crisp, engaging, and high quality. Don’t worry, we’ve got you! From the best camera bodies and lenses to microphones, lights, and file storage, here is the best equipment for starting your own vlog.
We start by outlining the equipment in our camera bag and why (we run a YouTube channel featuring videos on food and travel — check it out!). We then offer a full, detailed list of recommendations, including more information on the pros and cons of each.
Keep in mind that travel vlogging and building a following on YouTube — if you want to create high-quality videos that capture and keep the attention of your target audience — does require an upfront investment. Equipment is expensive. However, it’s a fixed cost that won’t reoccur other than the occasional repair, maintenance, and replacement (which, if you choose wisely, shouldn’t happen too often).
If you are interested in vlogging as a hobby, don’t want to spend an arm and a leg on equipment, and want something to get started quickly, we’ve got you covered as well.
Keep scrolling and you’ll be ready to start vlogging in no time!
Table of Contents
I. What’s in Our Camera Bag?
II. Best Cameras for Travel Vlogging
III. Our Favorite Camera Lenses
IV. Tripods
V. Audio
VI. SSD Cards & Hard Drives
VII. Drones
VIII. Other Gear
IX. All-in-One Vlogging Equipment
X. More Resources for Starting a Travel Vlog
Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, we will earn a small commission at no cost to you. We use the majority of equipment listed below and only recommend products we truly believe in. Thank you for the support!
What's in Our Camera Bag? Travel Vlogging Equipment 101
Here is the basic equipment that we always travel with. All of it fits into a backpack for long days of on-the-go filming!
- Sony a7 III camera body (and we just pre-ordered the Sony Alpha 7 IV!). We will be using both cameras to get more shots as we continue to grow our YouTube channel, but one camera worked just fine as well.
- Sony 16-35mm camera lens. This is the lens we use to shoot most of the footage you see on our current YouTube videos.
- JOBY GorillaPod tripod. It’s bendy, flexible, and very compact, as you can see in the photo on the left!
- Sennheiser wireless microphone system to ensure that we have optimal audio quality in our videos. We also use a Rode microphone when we’re shooting multiple subjects.
- DJI Air 2S drone
- Sony TOUGH-M series SDXC UHS-II Card
- Samsung T7 Portable SSD 2TB. We have three of these that we consider our most precious possessions — lots of footage to store!
- Godox mini LED video light
- Rode NT-USB-Mini USB Microphone Bundle. We don’t lug this around with when we are filming, but we do travel with it to record voiceovers on the go.
Scroll down for a detailed breakdown of each as well as more vlogging equipment recommendations.
Best Cameras for Travel Vlogging
Sony a7 III
We use the Sony a7 III because it is considered one of the best cameras for filming videos — the images are 4k and of cinematic quality. Additionally, it films better in low light than cameras that are twice as expensive (low-light footage is high resolution and not grainy), and it has fantastic auto-focus capabilities. Click here to learn more.
Sony Alpha 7 IV
We like the Sony a7 III so much that we’ve already pre-ordered our Sony Alpha 7 IV for 2022! It’s a great camera for all the same reasons as the a7 III, but kicks it up a notch. Plus, we had a couple hiccups where the a7 III’s microphone jack stopped working, so this camera will be a great back-up. We plan to use both cameras to capture more footage in the future. Click here to learn more.
GoPro HERO8 Waterproof Digital Action Camera with Touch Screen
This GoPro model films in 4k, 60 FPS. The footage quality is very high in appropriate lighting and conditions but deteriorates in low light, unfortunately. Still a great option for filming b-roll and footage on-the-go. Click here to learn more.
Our Favorite Camera Lenses
Sony 16-35mm Vario-Tessar T FE F4 ZA OSS E-Mount Lens
This lens is a go-to for many travel vloggers, including ourselves. If you’re alone, it’s easy to film yourself because of the wide angle. The image quality is sharp and the lens works well with the Sony a7 III auto-focus. Most of our YouTube videos are filmed with this lens. Click here to learn more.
Sony FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II Full-Frame Constant-Aperture telephoto Zoom G Master Lens
This lens is on our wishlist for filming and photographing subjects that are far away. It ensures sharp image quality regardless of distance, and also performs well in low light. Click here to learn more.
Tripods
JOBY GorillaPod 5K Kit. Professional Tripod 5K Stand and Ballhead
This is an extremely flexible tripod with bendable legs that can be set up anywhere — twisted around a tree or handrail, for example. It’s great for filming yourself (a lot of famous vloggers use this tripod), and enables you to get a better grip and stabilize your footage. Plus it’s light and a breeze to travel with, fitting into a day pack easily! Click here to learn more.
Audio
Sennheiser EW 112P G4 – A1 Omni-directional Wireless Lavalier Microphone System
This is an extremely high-quality lavalier microphone that can be connected to your camera and clipped to your collar. The audio stays crisp and sharp even if you are in a noisy place. We’ve filmed with this mic a lot and it muffles out background noise like a champ. Click here to learn more.
Rode VideoMicro Compact On-Camera Microphone with Rycote Lyre Shock Mount
We started out using this Rode point-and-shoot microphone with great results. It’s ideal when you have multiple subjects to film and don’t have enough lavalier microphones for everyone. The downside is that you have to stay close to the camera — which is why we mostly use the Sennheiser lavalier mic these days. But it’s a great, affordable option for vloggers. Click here to learn more.
SSD Cards & Hard Drives
Sony TOUGH-M series SDXC UHS-II Card 256GB
SD cards are storage units. We chose this one from Sony because a lot of SD cards have a reputation for being sensitive and burning out, with the consequence of losing all your footage. We spent a bit more to ensure that our footage stays safe. Also, when you record in 4k, your camera needs to write a lot of data into your SD card. If you don’t have a fast one, it compromises the quality of your footage. Click here to learn more.
Samsung T7 Portable SSD 2TB
We own three of these already, and we’re due for another. The Samsung T7 SSD is, in our opinion, the best option for storing your footage because of the cost benefit. It’s compact, tough, and easy to travel with. It’s considered affordable for the quality and amount of footage you can store in it (2 terabytes). It’s also super fast for transferring files from your camera. We use hard drives because with the amount of footage we have, cloud storage if far too expensive. Click here to learn more.
Drones
DJI Air 2S Fly More Combo
Our new baby! We use a drone to capture high-quality b-roll of the places we travel to. Having this type of footage automatically up-levels our vlogs. We chose the DIJ Air 2S because it films in 4k, 60FPS, and has the best safety functionalities such as omni-directional obstacle avoidance. It’s small, and fits easily into a day bag. Click here to learn more.
DJI Mini SE – Camera Drone
The DJI mini is an affordable alternative if you’re not ready to invest in a full-size drone. It’s still extremely high-quality and films in 4k, and has the advantage of not needing a license to fly (because it’s under 250 grams). There is obstacle avoidance, but just to the front and downwards. Also, as the name suggests, it is pint-sized and easy to travel with! The disadvantage is that it’s light and can’t be flown in high winds. Click here to learn more.
Other Gear
Rode NT-USB-Mini USB Microphone Bundle (for recording voiceovers)
This compact Rode microphone has a simple, user-friendly interface (even the least tech-savvy person can figure out how to record with it), and the audio quality is high. This is what we bring with us to record voiceovers on the go. Click here to learn more.
Godox M1 RGB Mini Creative Light, Led Video Light
We use this when we are filming in low-light locations. It’s compact, the battery lasts a long time, and the brightness level is good for use during the day as well. The RGB option makes it so you can adjust lighting tones to achieve the colors you’re looking for in your video. Click here to learn more.
All-in-One Vlogging Equipment (Great for Beginners & Pros!)
Sony ZV-1 Digital Camera for Content Creators, Vlogging and YouTube
This is a fantastic all-in-one option for vloggers who want to get started quickly and don’t want to spend too much on equipment. This camera films in 4k, has a flip screen and super-wide filming angle so you can easily film yourself, and a high-quality microphone and wind screen. This is what I would use if I were traveling by myself and didn’t have Lenza to film me. Click here to learn more.
Sony Vlogger Kit ACCVC1
This is the accompanying kit to the Sony ZV-1 Digital Camera. It comes with an SD card to store your footage, an extra camera battery, a mini shooting grip and tripod with a remote controller (allowing you to adjust camera settings while shooting yourself), and a battery charger. Click here to learn more.