Be it going mountain climbing or just going camping with your kids, it is great to have the right equipment for your camera to make sure that you capture those moments in your adventure that you would like to remember for a very long time.

1. Camera Bags

When you are outdoors, the best protection your camera can have is your camera bag. Choose a camera bag that can withstand rain, sand, snow and wind. But, most of all, this bag should have sufficient padding so it is able to protect your camera and all its accessories from those unexpected little bumps on other hard surfaces.

If you have a compact camera, then you might get away with a weatherproof case. SLRs, however, are a different matter. Not to mention the extra lenses, batteries, and other gears you might want to take with you.

Choose a camera bag that’s perfect for your camera’s size, along with the equipment and accessories you need to take with you. If you are going all out – like bringing multiple lenses, tripods, and external flash – then you might want to go with Lowepro or a similar bag that you can put into your main luggage for extra protection. There are also bags that have velcro interiors that you can adjust so that you could store everything inside perfectly.

If you are going somewhere where security is an utmost concern, you might also want to choose a camera bag that does not look like one and does not attract attention, especially those of thieves.

You might also want to gun for flexibility in choosing camera bags. There are camera bags that you can carry with you or wear on your chest or your waist.

There are also camera bags that allow for only the SLR and the fitted lens. If you have such a set up, you will love just how simple these types of bags are.

photo by Brandon Zierer

2. Tripod

Tripods are an essential gear for outdoor photography, especially if you cannot trust your own hands to come up with a steady photo. Choose one that is well-built and lightweight. There are a lot of tripods available and if money is not a consideration, you can get the sturdiest ones such as the Gitzo Mountaineer.

3. Ball Heads

If you have a large camera or a heavy one, you would need ball heads to support it on your tripod. Ball heads would also allow for easy movement of the camera while it is attached to a tripod so you can capture clearer and steady photos, and have more memories of your adventures.

4. Memory Cards and Cases

When you go on an adventure or travel to a new place, it is given that you would want to take a lot of pictures. This is where a good memory card comes in really essential. Instead of lugging around your laptop to download the pictures from your camera and free up storage space for more photos, you can just buy an extra memory card or two. This will help you avoid wasting your time deleting photos from your cam or getting frustrated when you visit an attraction and realize your cam’s storage is already full.

To make sure that you do not damage your memory cards, get a durable memory card case. Choose one that has an anti-static inner material and is dust-resistant, crush-proof and shock-proof. There are also memory card cases that can hold more than one memory card so you can keep it all together in one place.

5. Flash Gear

Your adventures do not stop when the sun sets, so you might want to choose a flash gear that will allow you to take beautiful photos at night or when you have low light. The easiest way to do that is to get the appropriate strobe for your camera. For example, if you have a Nikon DSLR, you might want to get a Speedlight. If you have a Canon, there is the 580EX II Speedlite.

6. Lens

If you want to take great photos, invest on quality lens. What types of lenses should you take with you on your adventures?

• Wide angle lens, such as 14mm f/2.8, allow you to capture close-up action and is helpful when you are photographing small spaces. A 24mm f/2.8D, on the other hand, allows you to capture great action, sports, portraits, aerials, etc.
• A 50mm f/1.8D is your best bet if you’re taking only one other lens with you. It’s very light and fast, and can help you shoot in low light or indoors.
• A 85mm f/1.8D lens is great for portraits, but it is equally great for sports, travel photography and landscapes because it allows you to isolate the subject while keeping the background blurred.

Underwater Shots

If you plan to take some underwater photos, then invest in a good waterproof camera such as Sealife DC1400, which is a 14-megapixel underwater camera, or Reefmaster Mini II. These cameras can help you capture great photos easily, without having to understand too much about low lighting, white balance, mode selection and shutter speed.

If you are serious about underwater photography and would want a camera that you do not have to carry with you, then opt for the Liquid Image HD Scuba Dive Mask. It incorporates a 12 megapixel camera on your scuba dive mask.

Waterproof housings. But if you are going scuba diving just this once and you would probably not go back in the near future, you might want to use the camera you already have. If you are lucky, your camera model might just have a waterproof housing that would turn it into an underwater camera. There are two primary materials to choose from when buying a waterproof housing: aluminium and polycarbonate. Polycarbonates are usually cheaper than aluminium but are usually less durable.

Underwater strobes. One of the most prevalent problems with underwater photography is the low lighting. As such, strobes are an essential gear for those who want to capture schools of fish or a sunken treasure. Strobes can also help you capture the vivid and vibrant underwater colors. Choose the best and most powerful strobes that you could afford.

Generally, if you are going on an adventure, choose a camera and camera gear that is built to withstand the elements. What’s more, since you are going to be walking and carrying all these stuff with you, make sure that they are lightweight.