Disclosure: I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are our own. This post may contain affiliate links, which at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission. The products mentioned in this blog are items I have used personally but I cannot guarantee them.
This is my camera gear. These are items I personally use. These are my experiences with the pieces of equipment. While it is not high-end, all of the equipment does the job for what I want.
I don’t know about you but sometimes when I look at other beautiful travel blogs and click on their camera gear, some of the equipment seems pricey. Cameras can be seriously expensive but there are some excellent alternatives that still deliver awesome photos!
AKASO Brave 4 4K 20MP WiFi Action Camera
The AKASO Brave 4 4K 20MP WiFi Action Camera is one of my favorite little things! The camera is TINY! It fits in the palm of my hand and is incredibly light. I have had mine for several years but the link included below is the newest model. I’m not going to try and tell you it’s as amazing as a GoPro but I will tell you it is an awesome budget-friendly alternative. The AKASO comes in at $68-$149 depending on which options you choose. The lower priced model is NOT water resistant whereas the higher end one says it is water resistant up to 3.3 feet without a case.
As I mentioned, I have the cheaper model but with the added case, and never had issues. I’ve taken this little guy snorkeling all around the Western Caribbean and was always happy with the images. Make sure to ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS add the floating wrist strap! On a snorkeling trip in Grand Cayman, another snorkeler had the exact same camera but only tucked his into his swimsuit cargo pockets. The stingray are now snapping pics and he is out his vacation photos. This is especially sad since we swam with a lone stingray for some time. She allowed us many photo ops and it was one of the most singularly amazing experiences of my life.
***The images in this post were all taken with my older AKASO Brave.
Canon Elph 190 IS Powershot
The Canon Elph 190 IS Powershot is a great little camera! I admit I found mine at a pawnshop so look around! The Powershot is a great go-between for both a point-and-click or using your camera on manual settings. It’s teeny tiny- smaller than most phones but packs the same image-taking power as its larger, heavier counterparts.
The Powershot has a 10x Optical Zoom, Optical Image Stabilizer with Intelligent IS which helps reduce camera shake. “That means images can be clear with minimal blur. The 20.0 Megapixel*** CCD Sensor and DIGIC 4+ Image Processor work together to help ensure detailed images with minimal noise, even when there’s not a lot of light. The Powershot also shoots video with 720p HD recording. Smart AUTO mode analyzes the image and figures out the ideal settings to “help you capture eye-opening pictures.”
The Canon Rebel T3 is now discontinued. While you can still find it used or refurbished, the newest model is the T8. This camera is awesome if you want to dip into more “serious” photography but don’t want to make a huge investment. Again, I found my T3 at a pawnshop. I did say I was all about the budget!
I used the Canon T3 at the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo and was able to capture a great shot of a barrel-racing horse. This was also the first image I had published!
A note about the clear lens filter: this was recommended to me in a photojournalism class instead of a lens cap when on the go. You don’t want to miss that amazing, once-in-a-lifetime shot because you forgot to take the lens cap off! For only a few bucks, it can take the place of a lens cap when you’re on the move.