10 Tips to Travel Safely with a Camera

Be compact while packing

Packing for your next trip? Here is the most crucial tip ever I’m giving you, be as compact as possible. If you can travel with a simple backpack, that’s an added benefit for you. You don’t need to bring all the cameras and lenses you have! Maybe one or two decent zoom lenses will be enough. If you are not a professional, a simple entry-level DSLR for travel is enough to keep you on the move.

Use a padded case

When you are packing your gear, make sure you take a dedicated bag for the Camera. This bag should be designed to fit in your Camera and the accessories without collision or impact. Don’t pack your camera gear in an unprotected carry-on case. For maximum protection for your Camera, you can get a sturdy and well-padded case. Camera bags that are dedicated to carrying camera gears have heavy paddings. This padding will keep your Camera and the other fragile pieces safe from collision with each other.
Check out Top DSLR Backpacks for your camera gear.

Shoulder Bag

You can use a shoulder bag when you are walking around or hiking while traveling. A shoulder bag helps you get better portability and control over the Camera. You can quickly get the camera out and put it in using a shoulder bag. They are compact and fit in the Camera along with one or two lenses and cleaner very well. While shopping for the bag, check if the regular gears you use can fit in it. Check if it has enough padding and the outer surface of the bag is hard enough to survive some impact.

Carry your gear in your hand luggage

Never leave the bag of your camera gear to a porter’s hand; he doesn’t know how to handle it. You can never undo it if someone breaks your favorite Camera. Be sure to take precautions and keep a separate carry-on bag for the camera gear and keep it on yourself. Doing this will have an added benefit to it; you can keep track of your bag and gear. Never let the camera gear into checked-in baggage without a dedicated hard case. Check Monoprice Weatherproof / Shockproof Hard Case with IP67 rated waterproof capability.

Wear a sturdy strap

Using a camera on the move is scary if you aren’t sure about the sturdiness of your camera strap. It’s essential to have a strap on your shoulder attached to your Camera, which can take quite a pressure. You can get a strap with integrated steel wires inside, It will help you in two ways. You will feel safe while carrying in it while running or hiking. It’ll also save you from thieves who have the intention to use a scissor to cut the strap while you’re not paying attention. If you travel a lot you will know that it happens often.
You can get some sturdy and comfortable straps here.

Beware about temperature changes

With dramatic temperature changes, camera components are susceptible to damage, especially the inner gears and the battery. You shouldn’t expose your Camera or lens to extreme cold or snow without protection when not in use. Get the weather forecast of the area you are going to travel to or get to know the regular temperature of it. Take a warm rag with you if you are going to an area where the temperature has drastic changes. It’s not the same temperature outside as inside, keep the Camera close to your body to keep it warm. When in use, it will stay warm by itself. Rapid cooling can cause fogging of optical elements, which can grow into lens fungus later on.

Keep your gear clean and dry

While you are on a trip, clean your Camera regularly to keep the tiny dust particles away. Over time dust accumulates on any surface. Make sure you take a clean little microfiber cloth to wipe the Camera dry or making a shade with it. Keep a little handheld air blower and a brush to clean the fine dust inside the Camera as well. Do not use a hot air blower. Electrical components are at risk from dust and moisture.
A camera cleaning kit is a must-have accessory in your camera bag. They are inexpensive and can potentially save your gear from breakdown. Find the best one here – Camera Cleaning Kit.

Keep an extra battery

Extra batteries are your biggest support when you are in a remote area where you may run out of power. The TSA rule may not allow you to carry more than two batteries because of too much lithium in them. It’s not a good idea to throw out the expensive batteries at the airport. So, make sure you don’t take too many batteries in the first place. You can charge one battery anywhere in the world while using the other in your Camera. You can always search for extra batteries online. Don’t use third-party batteries as they may void the warranty and also do damage to your camera components by overcharging or leaking.

Use multiple memory cards

Storing your photographs require memory space, and you may not be able to take enough photo if you don’t have enough memory cards. Make sure you have enough space on your memory cards when you are using one. If a single stick doesn’t have enough space, make sure you have multiple memory cards as backup. Always use fast memory cards which are class 10 and up. Anything below a class 10 memory card will considerably slow down your camera. Class 10 and above cards are fast enough for entry-level DSLR and mirrorless cameras.

Back up the photos

Your photography gear can be replaced and comes with a warranty. However, the images that you take don’t come with a second chance. A moment in time can never come back. Keep a backup of your photos on cloud storage like Google One. Shoot in RAW format and keep them in order while doing the backup. You can use multiple memory cards if you don’t have your laptop with you. Or you can use an external hard drive to do the backup. Avoid public computers for file transfers. Public computers are not reliable and may damage your hard disk or may bring in security risks.

Summing-up

The tips mentioned above are the key points of a safe trip with your camera and photography gear. But you should be aware of thieves, snatchers, and the local elements where you are going. Keep the Camera close to yourself and assess the risks in your travel destination. Don’t act like a tourist everywhere and mask the camera branding, not to making it the center of attention. Learn the local culture and mix up like a local. Choose a secure hotel where security guards are available and avoid hiking or traveling alone into remote places with expensive camera gear. We have seen many cases of camera gear being stolen from hotels and staycations. Don’t leave camera gear unattended in hostels or hotels. Use security lock. When traveling, your gear is more important than anything else for not only will you lose your gear, but you’ll also lose all the memories that were captured.

We have concluded our 10 Tips for Traveling Safely with a Camera. Leave additional tips in the comments below.
Check out the best lenses to upgrade from your Kit Lens.
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