Camera Gear That Beginners Actually Need (Street & Travel Photography) 

I highly recommend Batteries, lots of extra batteries (depending on your camera, started with an old canon T2i, and aftermarket batteries are like $6-$8)! and a lens brush+cloth.

These introductory remarks really resonated with me. I was thinking about buying the x100v “because it has weather sealing and what if I want to travel?” - I hate traveling, even taking the train for more then half an hour sucks all the energy out of me 😄

Spot on with a kit zoom and a light, compact 50mm or 35mm equivalent prime for travel photography. If you always have two hands and full attention to use on the camera, the zoom is the better choice, but a lightweight and compact prime on a wrist strap gives you so many more opportunities to shoot that it makes up for the lack of zooming. I bought my prime just for the rare occasion that I wanted shallow DOF, but ended up using it for a lot of general purpose photography just because of how handy it is.

My heart goes out to you??? Lol I'm extremely happy with my windows & android thank you very much! I worked with repairing & using Apple products for 15yrs... Not going back!

Prime shooter here mostly. I almost always use 35 mm, 50 mm and 24 mm FF equivalent (in that order) wherever I travel and / or take street photographs. Those three focal lengths cover everything I ever need. I use zooms only when I sit in the audience (where I can't move) or when I am shooting landscapes. 80% of ALL my shots have been taken with 35 mm and 50 mm lenses. Wrist wrap user also :) Love that method and because of small primes my arm wont become tired. I use just some basic back-bag with separate lens pouches. Very easy and flexible way to carry my gear.

Before watching this video I actually did everything you said, I found a great deal on a a6400, bought a sigma 18-50mm and I've been enjoying shooting and taking videos as well! Highly recommend for people to listen and follow these steps (:

I chuckled at the Windows and Android folks improving their situation.

So well said, Roman. It's always good to overcome the gear acquisition syndrome as it can save you a lot of money. As a portrait and wedding photographer I always struggle to find the balance between the effort to bring the best to my clients and just me trying to find something new to buy next. Basically now I have all the gear I really need, if there's a job for which I could need some other gear once in a while, I can always rent it, so I'm good to go. I know, this video is aimed at beginners first and foremost, but it was really helpful for me to see it 🙂

I went crazy when I first got into photography and bought so many different lenses because I thought, I'd need this lens for this situation. But now 5 years later I almost exclusively use just the 35mm (90% of the time) and an 18-200mm lens.

Fantastic stuff, really interesting take on things. Very refreshing to see someone just talking simple facts. Great work!

So many brilliant nuggets here - thank you. The wrist strap has been the best thing I ever bought for any camera - secure and instant. Also no bad neck. Also, my camera cube (just an Amazonian job) in a normal-looking cross body bag makes me feel so much more secure when wandering about, and also has room for my diabetes gubbins and snacks. Keeping it simple is such a good message.

I agree with most of what you state here... especially a good pair of foot gear. The most important in my view as a street photographer. Also, the best decision I ever made was ditching the pathetic overly expensive Apple gear for Android and Windows. I feel like a grown up now, and the world opened up to me ;-)

Some great advice here. Definitely think your first 2 lenses are pretty much on point.... especially for travel (although I do love a superzoom for travel and hiking also). Personally I don't think a camera cube is needed. I often just have a sweatshirt or something in my bag, and that works well enough to protect a lens - especially when you have 1 lens on your camera and 1 in your bag. I know they are pretty cheap and not a big expense, but what is freeing about doing this is not having a bulky bag, and actually having space in your bag for other things.

I agree with the idea of "growing into your camera", but I also think it's more important to invest in lenses you can grow into. To me, it's not buying twice to buy a cheaper camera body when, regardless of how expensive it was, you'll need to replace the body every few years anyway just like you would a phone or a laptop. On the other hand, it *is* buying twice to buy a cheap lens that you very quickly grow out of, like I did with my XC kit lens before I knew better!

No gas here, I totally agree with your advice, for me it's xt2 with kit and 23mm f2 & the x100 original. Easy game for street documentary and travel photography.

Love the video Roman. Especially as it has lots of shots of parts of my home city, London, that I am familiar with. Didn't know you were off travelling but I hope you will still be posting during your adventures. Stay Safe and have a wonderful time.

"Sitting at home, taking photos of your toes!" 😂😂😂 Epic line. and realistically toes are one of the first thing a person takes photos of with a new camera. lol

if you are european (just because the bag i will be referring to it's easier to find here) try to find a finnish gas mask bag : it houses a tenba byob insert 7 or 9 (bigger) camera cube with no problem and you still have some space for a bottle of water or a compact umbrella or a speedlight. there are inside pockets for the small bits, it's army sturdy, and does not shout "expensive gear inside" (the opposite). While i now have plenty of dedicated camera bags to house all my gear (i have plenty of camera and lenses), the finnish bag is still my favourite low key bag to walk around a city.

Concur with shoes and as steelcannibal noted extra batteries. The other kit option I would consider is the 2 lens kit option as it gives a longer focal length zoom. My advice is to hold off on buying any other lenses until you find yourself developing a strong interest in genres were these lenses are strong. As far as megapixels 20-30 is more than adequate for most people.

Always amazed by your honest insights..thank you Roman

You’ve pretty much replicated what I was doing when I’ve left Australia for long trips (did 12 mth globetrotting backpacking trip years ago and 3 other trips of 2 months or so) except that on full frame I was taking a wider range zoom (e.g Pentax 28-105mm or Tamron 28-200mm) and a 50mm f/1.4 fast prime. This was essentially my low light of street portrait lens. I had to keep it simple for weight / space restrictions but it’s incredibly refreshing to keep every so simple. You take better photos when you take complexity away. I do like shooting just primes for the same reason but then for a big trip you might have to go with 3 primes. Wide, standard and Tele. I’ve never done it but have thought about taking just the beast Pentax K-1 and 31mm f1.8 43mm f1.9 and 77mm f1.8 Limited series primes and if I can’t get the shot with one of those, so be it. Obviously the 31mm isn’t wide and the 77mm is very Tele but they are small lenses. Just the body is a tank.

Great content! Looking forward to see you shooting here, in Portugal! Cheers!

Thank you! As a photojournalism major, I've been waiting to pull the trigger on a Sony A7iv; but I think I'll get a Rebel SL3 and underwater housing kit for scuba diving, some EF glass for shots on land, which of course would transfer to an R5 later ;)

Excellent advice. My high school photography teacher (back when things were film only) told us much the same. "Don't go overboard until you _know_ you're gonna like it."

Love this video, not too much said or in this case bashing other devices. Just simply straight to the point. i am looking forward to the Photography Journey . Appreciate the video and tips.

I love this little sling bag. For daily carrying sony a6700+35mm and other small things or another lens. I also take it as an accesory to a backpack when traveling.

Good Words. I look forward to following you on your travel journey. Stay safe.

Thank you. Good video. I used to have a Canon 50D and EFS18-200. Your video is a good reminder for me who is coming back to photography.

Thanks Roman....best video by far...basic honest presentation...top class

Good points about lenses and footwear. I've come round to believe that as long as the camera sensor is up to the job for whatever type of photography you do there is no point mathering about whether you get 2 extra frames a second or whatever. The key thing is does the system you choose have a range of good quality affordable (that's you out of the picture then Canon) lenses. My criteria are sharpness and chromatic aberration. Second the older one gets the more likely joint pain is going to be a regular companion, in part as a consequence of one's earlier lifestyle. For landscape photo adventures I now buy boots based on comfort and support. Mine get a lot of abuse and if I buy a pair in September they are ready for the bin in March at the latest. Brand doesn't matter. Waterproof? Forget it.

Fantastic video. Thanks for keeping it real!

For travel, I've bought the lumix TZ95D. It has a tremendous range from wide to telephoto zoom and its pocket size. No back pain for me. The images are perfect for SM or digital frames. My DSLR and even my M43 stay at home.

WOW Roman...amazing captures, awesome advice and your video has motivated me to really get out there more and shoot. Cheers, Nic, AUSTRALIA

just purchased my first camera ever - XT20 gonna be it. Absolutely looking forward to get started!!

Thanks Roman for the tips, really appreciate it as someone who try to get into serious Videography business. stay safe.

Great basic advice for new photographers.

Thanks and good advice about keeping it simple. However, I guess one could argue that buying a decent fixed lens camera to start is a good idea because if you can change lenses, the human instinct says you'll then buy more lenses, thus adding a decision element to a beginner that isn't always the healthiest. I saw a remark you made about getting to know your camera and seeing workshop folks spending time figuring them out. I'm sure you've seen them fuss over which lens to put on and then spending time alternating between the 2,3 or maybe even 4 that they have now acquired. By having a fixed focal length then the beginner can concentrate solely on composition and the dynamics of the camera and the principles, and then they can add focal lengths down the road when they know what they want.

Re bags. I use a top opening cube in my rucksack for travelling if I want access to two lenses. PD cross body strap for one lens use and infrequent shooting, and a PD wrist strap for one lens continual shooting. Small, compact, light, easy to use and covers all bases.

Hi mate, loving the vids! I have recently bought a x-t30 and was wondering if you could do a video on the best settings/customisation for Fujifilm camera specifically for street photography. That would be amazing 🤩 keep up the work brother

Great advice as always!

Bro you speak facts, straight what is really necessary , avoiding xtra gears that there is not needed.

Will be getting my first camera soon. Thanks for the helpful tips mate.

Facts on facts! 👏🏼 refreshingly honest tips

Love the wee shot of Arthur’s seat 😎

Very good and relevant list of tips Roman! 👌👍🔝📸

I've got a cheaper version of your beginers gear with XT30II 18-55 and 35mmf2. Very good but not WR

Hey man - Ive recently just bingewatched all your videos and they're great! Ive been looking into getting a good camera and i must say you have helped me tons. I kind of want to buy the X-T4, but ive heard the X-T5 will be announced in may. Would you recommend i wait for the X-T5 or go for the X-T4 while its on sale?

Good shoes! Best advice ever... Have a great week Roman...

Of the primes I’d also say consider a 85mm eq (if affordable) as the portraits are 85 f1.7 looks really cool, and a lot different than the 50mm look which I feel I can get close to with a kit lens

Liked the wrist strap utilising Peaks Design anchor system, been thinking of doing the same.

you know Ive been working towards to be more minimal with my kit this has given me some great ideas

Thanks man. Finally got a camera after think about it for 3+ years and it was your videos that convinced me. Quick one, should I get photoshop and Lightroom or just Lightroom?

I felt attacked with the Android / Windows comment even as I literally laughed out loud in my living room. 😂

Was just casually watching the fantastic video and suddenly got burned for being an Android & Windows user 😢

finally a good one of those videos!

Yes very genre specific….For street and travel this all makes very i good sense,especially the shoes and maybe a water bottle.👍🏻👍🏻

Just found your channel. Very inspiring. I’m new to RU-vid. Thanks for the videos

Lots of gear is extremely heavy on long distance trips. You might potentially be targeted by criminals depending on the country.

Very helpful. Thanks. I like the idea of 2 bodies and an 18mm f1.4 and 33mm f1.4 setup

I have a dedicated Windows desktop with 32" monitor and I would not change it for anything! Having 3 backup HDDs is also nice. I am also a zoom shooter. I shoot with prime on occasion, but there isn't a time I thought, I wish I had that zoom right now.

Tip for the bag section; There are now a lot of smaller sized camera bags that are on both lighter and cheaper side of things. I mainly do portraiture and weddings so I am mostly using the usual huge and heavy bags and hard cases but when I am feeling like doing some street or landscapes for fun, I have a random brand, cheapest camera bag I could find in my town (It was like 50 or 60 EUR I believe) and it does the job perfectly, while also being very, very light to carry - and for those rainy days, I bought a random 5 EUR bag cover that fits the bags dimensions... The bag is smaller than my hiking bag and I can easily fit my camera, a 20mm, 35mm and either a 105mm or 70-200mm in it, along side of my spare batteries, SSD and some other camera gear - WHILE ALSO having space left for a water bottle, some food, snacks and even my laptop if I want to, as the bag I got has a laptop compartment (which I mostly use for my lens filter baggie.) Then, there are also brands like Wandrd, Gitzo, F-stop or NatGeo for example, who also make smaller (and tiny) 10/10 rated backpacks and bags but they are outside of what is considered a ''cheap zone.''

Looked forever for a backpack cube solution with a top entry…in the end went for a rigid, rectangle, top entry toiletries wetpack that fits perfectly in the bottom of my backpack & holds camera & a few lenses.

Hey Roman! Was wondering if you were going to do a video on what gear you personally were going to take with you while you travel? I love to see that. Idk I just like gear videos I guess 😂.

Very nice info... thanks for sharing... the shot at 3:20 is magical... really awesome

Got a good deal on a XT20 for like 200$ a while back (yeah crazy), got an 18-55 and a 35 f2.0 a couple of batteries and I've been good for pretty much all conditions! it's small, autofocus is good enough and I have a good enough range. That said I think I would have preferred 23mm over my 35mm for walking around a shooting

Hey man! What app are you using to edit the shots with the pencil? Thanks great vid!

Dude! Major shade thrown at us PC peeps, hahahaha! But seriously, excellent video with lots of useful tips for streamlining our gear and concentrating on the photography part.

Excellent video presentation 👍🏾

Love the X-T5 with the 16-55 f2.8

Perfect advice! I'd add a spare battery, a spare SD card and some lens wipes, all in a little plastic baggie to keep them dry.

Love this video, which braided wrist strap is this one? I couldnt find it on your gear list

Great video Roman, I only use a wrist strap these days unless I have a film camera with me also then I’ll put one on a sling strap, got no choice but to use my capture clip ( K&F one, not great ) as I can’t hold my camera for long at all, literally a couple of minutes as I’ve bust my wrist

Great vid, thank you! Can I ask what camera hand and neck straps you are using? Thanks again!

As always great advice. I am looking to buy a second lens for my X S10. My current lens is a XF23 f2 WR. Nice lens and have used it extensively for Landscape and walk around street phots. My priority is to buy a zoom for flexibility and image quality. I have looked at the 16- 55 vs 16-80. I have looked at image quality, bokeh, etc. and really like the 16-80. While this lens is not the Red Badge and often referred to as the kit lens I still believe this is a better lens in terms of image than the 16- 55. Even rented the 2 to compare. But beautiful is something that is subjective so either lens would work for me. But traveling into Switzerland the extra reach of the 80 is a big advantage. I will carry a Sling with the zoom attached, and have a wrist strap I use when walking around. I have fully embraced the Fuji system because of its compact and feature filled creativity options. I still keep my Sony RX100 V with the fixed zoom lens if I really want to go stealth but it does not provide interchangeable lens options which was limiting during my last visit to SZ.

Lisboa, Portugal. Cool vid. Cool tips.

Excellent advive - I gave up on the hunt for the perfect primes. To go with my x-T4 ( and you are right, choose the camera you like - not to diss other brands I just could not get on with Sony or Canons - everything is a personal trade off) I landed on the viltrox 23mm F1.4 (but do wonder if I should go for a smaller Fuji version - really not sure seems pretty good and the Fuji one I can afford is not as fast), 18-55 ( my go to lense) and if I have space the 70-300mm. I also always carry around my GoPro10 - it is a bit different, ridiculously small, versatile, gives me a wide angle and is pretty good quality in good light. Job done!! Love you posts BTW 😊

I find your videos of great value. Newbies like me could save time and money.

Awesome video!!! I’m new to the digital world, with that being said I do have a question. How do you transfer your photos from your camera to an iPad? External card reader or something??

Loved seeing the Abu Dhabi photos. Dubai resident here. Might have some questions to ask you for advice.

Can’t agreed more with the shoes! A very overlooked piece of “gear”.

Great all around video, well done, any input on the wrist strap? What brand and where to buy it info will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for the video! Where can I purchase the camera strap that you have wrapped around your wrist?

so beautiful, I hope I can travel soon

The android and windows users comment 🤣🤣🤣🤣 Love it! Great video Roman, I think I’ll have to get one of those pens for my iPad now though so you’ve cost me cash 😮😉

Hello. Love your videos. By chance, do you have the link to your camera wrist sling? Looking to buy one now after watching this video. 😊👍

I just have Sony A6000 and got the Sigma f1,4 30mm lens and I'm super happy with it :D

I would say if you're starting out with photography ,is first decide which format you want (usually m4/3, APS-C or FF) and get a kit (as mentioned in the video). I would usually pick a mid-range camera if you're serious about photography (so you have something to "grow into" as some of the very basic entry level cameras are a bit limited in terms of features you may want/need later on). And also pick up a 50mm lens. If you get the kit lens (which usually covers the equivalent of a 24-70 range on a FF camera, and a 50mm lens (or 35mm if you're on APSC) then you have two lenses that can probably do the majority of what you want as a beginner. Maybe at some point, you add a third lens (a telephoto zoom lens, like a 50-200 or a 70-300) and that should be a well-rounded enough kit to really learn photography and have most common focal lengths covered for the sake of learning and starting out. And in some cases, you can buy a basic camera kit with 2 lenses (a standard zoom and a telephoto zoom, like the Canon T7 2-lens kit or a Nikon Z50 two lens kit for example) and then just pick up a 35mm prime (if you're on APSC) or a 50 prime if you're on FF and you have a goods starter kit that may serve you well for a few years while you learn.

Great advice

Thank you sir!

I have 35mm and 50mm f2, but don't change them when out and about when I possibly should. Keep thinking of getting the 16-55 thats as far as I get. Maybe the bigger size and weight is bothering me 🤔

Hello, quick question which camera would you recommend for travels/ backpacking from fuji? Absolute newbie here looking to purchase my first camera to journal our world travels. I was leaning towards xt30 ii, but do you think it's not too big to carry everyday? Maybe a pocket size would be better? Many thanks 🙏

Which lens goes better with Fujifilm X-T30 II for a beginner, 18-55mm or 15-45mm? Thanks for your help :)

I have one question, how did you put the peak design strap on you fuji?

what do you think of the 18-135mm zoom lens vs 24-70 ?

I have the original Sony a7 and was thinking about an upgrade to a used a7iii. I got the Tamron 28-75 last year it hasn't come off the camera, so I could sell my Samyang 35mm and Sony 50mm primes to help with funding. The only reasons I want the a7iii is stabilisation and improved focusing (the og a7 is really bad a tracking moving subjects). But is dropping over 1k on a new body really worth it for just a hobby and a little bit of stock photography?

great video - do you use any particular software for editing or just the apple photo edit features (I just use those and find them to be great)

I have the peak design mention in this video as a gift, start using daily now the strap is become fluffy? Especially the edges.

I bought myself a used Olympus TG-6 for a great deal as a do it all can always have it with me camera and I love it for what it is! I still want a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera but constantly feel like I won’t actually carry it around with me. I already feel like the TG6 can get in the way but maybe if I get better with a small backpack for gear that would change my mind

what shoes you wear/recommend?

Simple, straightforward and sensible advice as always Roman. Brilliant decision to start travelling mate but you really need to take care of yourself, the world is sadly becoming an ever increasingly more dangerous place for us all. I'm looking forward to travelling along with you, good luck.