My gear philosophy is to keep things as small, light, and minimal as possible. The days of travelling with big, heavy equipment are over for me.
As a result, I am maniacal about the weight and dimensions of every piece I have in my kit. Not only is smaller and lighter equipment easier to travel with, but I’ve found that I feel more inspired and encouraged to shoot more.
Everything listed here fits that bill.
This is my workhorse camera for still photography. To see my full take on it, check out my long-term 1-year video review. I love it so much, most of my YouTube videos are tied to it in some way.
The lack of a front-facing screen on the X100F was killing me, so I added the M50 to the mix. It’s since served very well as a vlogging camera. There are other options with better specs, but at the end of the day, it’s hard to beat the M50’s compactness, light weight, and simplicity. Watch my video review comparing the M50 to the X100F.
I use this to shoot most of my a-roll. And it produces a shockingly beautiful visual. My favorite focal length (35mm equivalent) to match my X100F's output, and it produces that creamy bokeh that Canon is so good at — all in a pancake form factor that, when paired with the M50, rival the X100F’s compact size.
Don’t let the fact that this is a kit lens throw you off. The optical IS — though no replacement for a gimbal — is still totally usable. Not the biggest aperture, but enough to give you respectable bokeh. And you can’t beat its light weight and compactness.
Yes, there are cheaper knock-offs. But their lack of stability isn’t worth it. The original GorillaPods have been known to break after some time, but Joby got it right with the Pro version which is now made of metal vs. plastic. Now you get flexible legs you can mount on just about anything without sacrificing reliability.
Sometimes the GorillaPod can be fussy to deal with when you simply want to place it on a flat surface. Enter the Pixi. It’s great for indoor situations where you have access to tables or shelves and need just a bit of extra height. The built in ball-head is super fast and fun to adjust, giving you lots of versatile angles to shoot from.
I’ve been through more tripods than I can count and this is the one that strikes the balance between lightness and sturdiness. Incredibly well-built, I appreciate its quality whenever I pick it up in my hands. Everything about the way it folds up and breaks down is so smooth and slick, I get a kick out of it every time.
To put it simply, the Duffelpack carries a lot of stuff. In fact, it’s more than you’d think at first glance! And it does so while also being surprisingly comfortable — provided you pack lightly. And thus we get ourselves into the valuable conundrum that the Duffpack pits you against: maximizing its spaciousness while ensuring it remains easy to lift. It guarantees you won’t become a pack-rat.
Although Peak Design markets this as an accessories bag, I use the Field Pouch as a weatherproof daybag for my X100F when shooting out in the field. Small, light. Fits the X100F perfectly, plus room for some accessories. Velcro makes it super easy to access. Pair it with a Peak strap to complete it.
This Tech Pouch solves that years-long problem I’ve always had of not knowing where to put all those last odds and ends like cables, adaptors, and other small accessories. All of sudden I know exactly where I need to go find that little thingamabob. If anything, I should probably get a second one!
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