What’s in my camera bag: a guide to all my favorite gear.

Underwater equipment, drones, lenses - those can all be super complicated to navigate if you’re starting out, or if you’re brand new to underwater or drone photography.

In this post I will go over all the equipment I use (as of August 2022) in hopes that it will give you an idea of what works for me and my style of photography. It doesn’t mean that what I use will be the best gear for you, so it’s good to try different things out and see what work for you, your style and your budget.

Camera + Lenses:

Camera Body: Canon R5

I switched to mirrorless in 2020 when Canon came out with the R5 and haven’t looked back since. It’s a workhorse of a camera and so fast!

I still have my Canon 5D4 as my backup camera in case anything happens to my R5.

Lenses:

Canon EF 35mm f/1.4 - this is my favorite lens for land photos and I love shooting wide open at 1.4 for all the buttery goodness. It lives in my camera bag. I use the RF adaptor.

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8 - this was my go to for underwater for years until I bought the Canon R5 and upgraded my lens to the RF one below.

Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8 - this is the mirrorless counterpart to my EF 16-35mm f/2.8 and the one I’ve been using exclusively for underwater work or when I need a wide land shot. It’s FAST! Also lives in my camera bag.

Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 - I only take this one with me when I travel. I am not a massive fan of this focal range for client work, but it was the only RF lens in stock when I bought my Canon R5.

Canon EF 50mm f/1.2 - the poor 50mm has been in my gear storage for more than a year. I rarely reach for it anymore since I love the versatility of the 35mm way more.

Underwater Gear:

Water Housing: Aquatech Edge Pro for Canon R5

I’ve used Aquatech water housings since 2015 and have never looked back. Their products are incredible and their customer service is the bets ever. You can always call them and they’ll help you out in a pinch!

I’ve been a part of their affiliate program since 2021 which is so rad, since I’ve been recommending their product for years!

Lens Port for Water Housing:

Aquatech PD-100 dome port for my 15-35mm for underwater shots and over/under shots.

Aquatech P-65 flat port for my 35mm when I only want above water shots.

Other stuff:

I have a collection of fins, diving masks and weight belts. My husband always complains I have too many haha. My current favorites are the Over Under Fun Ulua mask in lilac that I got for my daughter but have been reaching it for it a lot lately. My Oceanic clear mask has been my go-to for years! I always buy this one. but it’s a pricey mask.

I have the long free diving fins for when I want more power in my kicks and shorter fins that I wear when I’m shooting so that I can move a little easier in the water. For shoots, I wear my cheap Sea Sports fins. You can see how beat up they are in the photo below.

I also have a bunch of surf suits that I wear when I’m in the water to protect my back and arms from getting sunburnt.

For fun: I have the AxisGo phone water housing for my iPhone 12 pro. I love taking that thing out when I’m diving alone or when my kids are in the water. I’ve also been taking tons of behind the scenes video with it. I think it’s a great starting point if you’re wondering what underwater photography feels like. Get the dome port and the trigger cause they’re game changer!

DRONE:

DJI Mavic 2 - this drone is no longer available to buy from DJI since they came out with the Mavic 3. I haven’t felt the need to upgrade yet but will probably do it in the next year or so.

Where do I carry my stuff?

A lot of people ask me which camera bag I use for my underwater gear… the truth is, I throw it all in a massive beach bag. Sorry to disappoint! Haha!

I don’t have to travel very far when I shoot underwater, so it’s easier for me to carry everything in a sturdy beach bag that fits my housing, fins, mask and weight belt. Also, when I’m done shooting and everything is soaked, I don’t feel bad about throwing everything back in the beach bag. I always have my Aquatech neoprene cover for the domes so they don’t get scratched.

When I travel, I pack my underwater gear in a sturdy carry on and never check it in. Like NEVER. Don’t do it. They’ll break your equipment.

Everyday camera bag: Brevite Jumper

I had been a Vinta fan for years but after my zippers started corroding and breaking in 2 months, I decided to try a different brand. Brevite makes really amazing bags and it fits my camera body, lenses and my drone in there. I’ve been loving it and it’s super comfortable. I’m even thinking of getting their bigger size Jumper bag they just released.

OTHER CRAP:

What else lives in my camera bag all the time? Memory cards, extra batteries and charger, non abrasive cloth to wipe my lens, safety pins if my clients need them, and my hydroflask.

Memory Card for the Canon R5: I prefer the CF Express cards. I have 3 brands: Sony Tough CF Express, Lexar CF Express and SanDisk Extreme Pro CF Express. The Lexar is by far my favorite for its trustworthiness. I’ve had the Sony Tough get corrupted a couple of times, and it’s also jammed my camera’s electrical system.

I’m posting these to instagram too, so if you have questions, just head to that post and talk to me there.

I’m definitely a gear nerd. I love keeping up with new stuff and wish I could buy new gear every year. I’m anxiously waiting for Canon to release some sort of news about a legit RF 35mm.

I hope this helps you guys and thanks for reading!

Sophia