Tag Archives: Compact Cameras

Best Travel Photography Gear for Every Budget

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Travel photography is an exciting way to capture memories, landscapes, and cultures. Whether you’re a beginner or a professional, having the right gear can make a huge difference. Below, we’ve curated the best travel photography gear across different budgets, from ₹40,000 to ₹5,00,000, covering cameras, lenses, and essential accessories.

Cameras & Lenses for Travel Photography

1. Budget Range: ₹40,000 – ₹1,00,000

You’re just beginning to scratch the surface and want to explore what’s out in the world with limited disruption to your travel experience. And you’re okay with being called a tourist, these recommendations will suit you and also not break the bank.

Cameras:

  • Sony ZV-E10 – Great for vlogging and stills with a flip screen and excellent autofocus.
  • Canon EOS R50  – Compact mirrorless with 4K video and fast autofocus.
  • Fujifilm X-T30 II – Small in hand, retro design with excellent colour science, fun to use.

Lenses:

  • Sigma 16mm f/1.4 – Wide-angle for landscapes, astro photos and environmental portraits, great for low-light as well
  • Sony 18-105mm f/4 – Versatile zoom for travel.
  • Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 – Versatile zoom lens with a wide aperture suitable for a wide variety of shots.

2. Mid-Range: ₹1,00,000 – ₹2,50,000

You have a little bit of experience with Best for enthusiasts who want better performance and versatility.

Cameras:

  • Sony A7 III – Full-frame with great low-light performance.
  • Nikon Z6 II – Excellent dynamic range and video capabilities.
  • Fujifilm X-T4 – Very capable APS-C camera with retro aesthetics, a flippable screen and film simulations that enhance the shooting experience.

Lenses:

  • Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 – Sharp and lightweight for full-frame.
  • Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 – Compact zoom with fast aperture.
  • Sony 20mm f/1.8 G – Ultra-wide for astrophotography.

3. High-End: ₹2,50,000 – ₹5,00,000

Best for professionals and serious photographers who need top-tier performance.

Cameras:

  • Sony A7R V – 61MP resolution for detailed landscapes.
  • Canon EOS R5 – 8K video shooting capability and 45MP sensor for high resolution stills.
  • Nikon Z8 – Flagship performance in a compact body.

Lenses:

  • Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II – Best all-in-one standard zoom lens, a must-have in a kit.
  • Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8 – great starting point for a telephoto zoom lens.
  • Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 – Ultra-wide for landscapes, environmental portraits, astro and more.
  • Nikon Z 24-120mm F/4 S – a great all-rounder that has a versatile focal length along with the S badge, meaning superb optics. 

Essential Travel Photography Accessories

1. Tripods & Stabilization

  • Manfrotto BeFree Travel Tripod (₹10,000 – ₹15,000) – Lightweight and sturdy.
  • DJI RS 3 Mini Gimbal (₹25,000 – ₹30,000) – For smooth video while travelling.

2. Bags & Storage
Under ₹5,000:

  • Wildcraft Shutterbug Pro (₹3500 – ₹5000) – Can carry one camera with several lenses, filters and cleaning kit with a pocket for a laptop in the back. Solid choice and value for money.
  • Digitek Holster Bag (₹1,500 – ₹2,500) – Compact and lightweight, can carry one camera with lens easily.

Mid-Range (₹5,000+):

  • Lowepro ProTactic 350 AW – Rugged and weather-resistant.

The Ultimate (₹10,000+)

  • Peak Design Everyday Backpack – Stylish, functional, customizable, slightly water-resistant.

Backpacks ultimately are extremely diverse and are a personal choice on top of functionality for many. These recommendations are just an example. 

3. Filters & Cleaning Kits

  • PolarPro Circular Polarizer (₹5,000 – ₹7,000) – Reduces glares & reflections, useful for landscapes, aerial shots, automotive and more.
  • K&F Concept VND (₹3000 – ₹8000) – high quality filters with little to no colour cast. (Oftentimes VNDs are combined with CPL filters, look out for them as well)
  • VSGO Camera Cleaning Kit (₹1,500 – ₹2,000) – Essential for dust removal.

4. Lighting & Extras

  • Godox TT350 Flash (₹7,000 – ₹9,000) – Compact travel flash.
  • DJI Mini 3 Pro (₹70,000 – ₹80,000) – Lightweight drone for aerial shots.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re on a tight budget or ready to splurge, there’s a perfect travel photography setup for you. From ₹40K–₹1L, focus on a good APS-C camera and a versatile lens. Pro tip, when starting out, seek used/unboxed/second-hand cameras & lenses as you can get some great deals like midrange bodies & lenses for the price of a beginner.

For ₹1L–₹2.5L, upgrade to full-frame (or get a better APSC body) for better low-light performance. For ₹2.5L–₹5L, you can invest in high-resolution bodies and pro-grade lenses. Don’t forget accessories like tripods, bags, and filters—they can significantly enhance your travel photography experience.

FUJIFILM India Unveils X-M5 Mirrorless Camera at ₹77,999

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FUJIFILM India has launched the highly anticipated FUJIFILM X-M5, the latest addition to its renowned X Series of mirrorless digital cameras. Known for its compact design, cutting-edge technology, and exceptional image quality, the X-M5 sets a new standard for photography and videography enthusiasts.

Weighing just 355g, the X-M5 is the lightest camera in the X Series and features a 26.1-megapixel back-illuminated X-Trans™ 4 CMOS sensor and the advanced X-Processor 5 engine, delivering professional-grade performance in a lightweight body. Its innovative subject-detection autofocus, powered by AI, can track animals, vehicles, and more, ensuring precision in diverse shooting scenarios.

The X-M5 boasts impressive video capabilities, including 6.2K/30P 4:2:2 10-bit recording, 4K/60P, and 1080/240P, complemented by a powerful digital image stabilizer for smooth footage even during handheld shooting. The camera also introduces a Vlog Mode with intuitive touchscreen controls and a 9:16 vertical shooting feature tailored for social media content.

With a high-quality design, compact size, and versatile features, the FUJIFILM X-M5 is perfect for professionals and enthusiasts, empowering them to explore new creative horizons. Available soon across India, the X-M5 is poised to redefine visual storytelling.

Nikon India Announces Z50II Starting at ₹77,995

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Nikon India Pvt. Ltd. recently announced the release of the APS-C size Nikon Z50II mirrorless camera especially targeted towards content creators across genre, vloggers, and streamers of all skill levels. 

On this occasion, Mr. Sajjan Kumar, Managing Director of Nikon India said “At Nikon, we are committed to innovation and delivering advanced imaging solutions that meet the evolving demands of our customers. With the launch of the Nikon Z50II, we are excited to redefine creative possibilities and provide a product tailored to the needs of today’s creators. This versatile camera stands out in its segment, especially for content creators across all genres, featuring 4K video capture from 5.6K oversampling and AI-powered portrait enhancements. We are proud to introduce Z50II that empowers creators to bring their unique visions to life, ushering in a new era of creative expression.” 

The EXPEED 7 image-processing engine, inherited from the Nikon flagship mirrorless camera Z9, supports high video resolution of 4K from 5.6K oversampling. It also supports the recording of N-Log video with RED LUTS available for free download for subtle and rich tonal gradation, enabling high-quality video recording. 

The Z50II also offers advanced AI-driven features such as Skin Softening and Portrait Impression Balance, which intelligently refine portraits. These features help achieve professional-quality results with minimal post-production, making it perfect for fast turnaround times and ready-to-share social media content.

Furthermore, the Z50II is the first Z Series camera to feature product review mode that focusses on objects in the foreground. As well as a video self-timer function that allows the user to specify an interval of 2s or 10s before recording begins after the record button is pressed. In addition, support for USB streaming (UVC/UAC) allows users to easily deliver clear images for online meetings and live video streaming by simply connecting the camera to a computer or smartphone.

The Z50II comes packed with advanced autofocusing system, the same 9-type subject detection as that of the flagship model Z9. The Z50II also inherits the Pre-Release Capture function, which enables the camera to buffer images up to one second before the shutter-release button is fully pressed, ensuring you never miss critical moments. This feature is available exclusively in High-Speed Frame Capture mode, supporting continuous shooting at 30 frames per second. 

The EVF built into the Z50II is the brightest in its segment. It allows easy checking of focus and details at the edges of the frame, even in bright surroundings, such as outdoors on a sunny day. Reducing the difference in brightness between the viewfinder display and that visible with the naked eye makes it easier to achieve the desired images.

The Nikon Z50II is the first APS-C camera to support both Imaging Recipe and Picture Control, offering users exciting ways to explore and create unique visual styles with the Nikon Imaging Cloud. With these features, users can save their personalised adjustments to colour, brightness, contrast, and more as custom recipes. Additionally, they can download colour presets curated by renowned professionals directly to their Z50II, storing them as Cloud Picture Controls for seamless use in their workflow.

Nikon India Pvt. Ltd. also announced the release of MC-DC3 Remote Cord, a remote cord compatible with the Z50II. From starry skies and nighttime scenes, or commercial (product) photography. It can also be used for remote photography to release the shutter at a distance from the camera. The shutter-release button can be locked in a fully-pressed position for long exposures (bulb shooting) or held down for continuous shooting. It can also be held halfway down for shooting with less release time-lag.

The Nikon Z50II body and MC-DC3 Remote Cord will be available by the End of November 2024 at ₹77,995 (body only) across India at Nikon outlets. Furthermore, it would be available in following kit combinations — Z50II + NIKKOR 16-50MM at ₹91,645; Z50II + NIKKOR 16-50MM + 50-250MM VR at ₹1,12,645 and Z50II + NIKKOR Z DX 18-140MM F/3.5-6.3 VR at ₹1,15,795.