This is a post that I’ve been meaning to sit down and write for a while as I get a lot of questions about it over on my YouTube channel. Vlogging equipment is a very personal thing. There are a number of factors that will influence what equipment somebody uses to vlog their holiday; budget, preference, types of activities being done… I could go on. So here are my recommendations for camera gear to vlog your holiday
So most the equipment below comes with me when I head to Disney World but some of it also comes on non-Disney holidays. I love to film my life and I love to take photos so the below can be used for non-Disney holidays too.
You can see how far my camera story has changed by reading my very first camera post.
Camera Gear to Vlog Your Holiday
Firstly I’ll say that you do NOT need everything listed. This is just the technology that I like to use but I truly believe that you can take a regular camera or just your phone and capture fantastic memories. I’ve split this into two sections; cameras and accessories.
Cameras
I use a few different camera when I head off on holiday. Sometime I take them all and other times, maybe just one.
Canon G7X Mark II
The Canon G7X Mark II is the second camera I’ve owned from the G7X series. It’s compact, versatile and great in low light. I’ve used a G7X for nearly 2 years now to film everything from my everyday life to Disney holidays. I’ve taken it on rides (see this clip here on Rock n rollercoaster) with a wrist strap (essential!) and even dropped it a few times without damage being sustained. I have, however, had a bit of a nightmare with the screws on the screen at the back (a story for another time) so do your research. There are other great alternatives too (but I would have another one!)
Go Pro Hero 5
GoPro’s are perfect for adventure. This includes ride footage, water parks and horse riding – all things you can do at Disney and you can capture with your GoPro. Adam bought me the GoPro Hero5 Black 4K for my birthday last year and I’ve got to say, it’s the best GoPro I’ve used. Finally, there is no need for an outer case meaning that the sound quality has improved one hundred percent on previous models (I’ve used the Hero 3 before). It’s simple to use, does photos and video and has an app so you can easily transfer files to your phone with ease.
Olympus Pen E-PL7
I’ve written a whole review here about my Olympus Pen E-PL7 here but for the purpose of this post, this is the camera I like to take all my holiday snaps on (the newer version is Olympus Pen E-PL8). It has interchangeable lenses which makes it great for blog photos too. I will admit though that the quality of phone camera means I’m using this camera less and less – especially on Disney holidays. I usually reserve its use now for special photos – such as close range parade or castle photos.
iPhone (or any mobile with a camera)
So on my last Disney World trip (October 2017), I’ll admit, I never used my Olympus Pen once. The reason for this? I owned an iPhone 7 plus with portrait mode. Need I say more? There is plenty of articles out there as to why portrait mode was a great addition to iPhone and I’ve found it perfect for the snaps I take around Disney.
Accessories
Manfrotto Pixi Mini Tripod
I’ve had a small tripod for my vlogging camera for ages, however, when I upgraded to the G7X, it was too heavy for my little Joby one! The Manfrotto Pixi Mini Tripod had been a real game-changer in the world of vlogging. It’s incredibly sturdy and unlike previous tripods, it’s really comfortable to hold. I use a mini tripod as it allows me to manoeuvre my camera a little better than when I grip the actual camera. I also find I can get a more flattering angle and it gives me a tiny bit more height without being classed as an extendable stick (banned in Disney). If I want to use it with my iPhone, I use the Manfrotto TwistGrip Universal Smartphone Clamp.
Memory Cards
If you have a camera, then in 99.9% of cases, you’ll need memory cards. I don’t really have much to say here other than you’ll need to make sure you’ve got one that’s fast enough to deal with your camera and big enough so you can get as much as you need on there. If you’re like me (aka vlog your holidays) you might need a few. I use these 64gb cards (as I tend to find they’re the best value).
External Harddrive
Now up until this year, I didn’t take my external hard drive away with me so I could back up my footage… I didn’t think I needed too. I use to have the hard drive with me, I would just forget or do it once a week… Until I left my camera in a trolly at Walmart and risked losing three whole days of footage. Now I back up at the end of every day just to be safe. I back up to both my computer and my hard drive – totally not necessary unless you’re filming for work though. If you’re going to burn through a few memory cards on a trip, I 100% recommend backing up. You can’t buy my exact one anymore but here is a similar one.
So that is the technology I use to vlog my Disney holidays. You can also see my tips for vlogging your Disney holidays in the video below.
I’d love to know what your must-have equipment is capturing your holiday. Let me know in the comments below!
You might also like…
Disney World Solo Trip: My Tips and Tricks
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