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I thought it was prudent to write an article about what I keep in my landscape photography kit and that I use all of the time!

Beyond the cameras and lenses, there are a number of smaller, useful items that I use and I would not be without for anything.

There are some things that mentioned before in my article “3 Essential Items Every Landscape Photographer Needs” but there are a few things in this list that are not mentioned in that article. This is an expanded list with everything that I use.

I hope that you find something that you’ve never thought to use before. If you have any questions about the items, you can comment below and I’ll do my best to answer them!

1. Camera

When I go out for landscape photography I used to take my Canon 5D mark III, but now I either take that or my Canon 1DX mark II.

The Canon 1DX mark II is a fantastic camera but the resolution is a little low, so I still use my Canon 5D mark III on occasion, but on my wish list is the upgraded version: the Canon 5D mark IV.

At some point I will get that camera but for now I will continue with what I have.

To be fair, if you are in to photography you are of course going to have your own camera and whatever you have, will be brilliant up until the point that you want to get a new camera for specific reasons.

The reason that I upgraded to the 5D mark III several years ago was because of the higher resolution and better ISO performance, the camera I had was not producing the quality of images that I wanted at that time.

I’ve recently purchased the Canon 1DX mark II because I am developing my wildlife photography and its performance with ISO and high shutter frame rate means that I can get much better quality images in wildlife situations, but it is not the perfect camera for landscape.

If I were to recommend a camera for landscape photography in particular, it would definitely be the Canon 5D mark IV because it has a high resolution and good dynamic range, much better than its predecessor: the mark III.

The advantages of the 1DX mark II of better ISO performance and high frame rate are not applicable to landscape photography because most of the time you will be shooting at low ISO numbers like ISO 100 and one frame.

So, if you’re in the market for a new camera and you’re looking to upgrade to professional quality gear then I would recommend the Canon 5D mark IV without a doubt!

UPDATE

I am now seriously considering investing in the Canon R5 because it looks amazing and it should suit my workflow of a blend of landscape and wildlife photography better than the 1DX II does. If/when I invest in that I will have to write a whole new article as most of my kit will change.

2. Wide Angle Lens

The first lens that I always have in my landscape photography kit bag is my wide angle lens: the Canon 17-40mm f/4 L lens.

The majority of my landscape photography up until recently has been taken with this lens. But I do have another lens on my wish list for a couple of specific reasons.

In the near future, I am going to upgrade this lens to a Canon 16-35mm f/2.8 L lens because it has amazing resolution with crisp, sharp images from corner to corner and it is incredibly fast with an aperture of 2.8, which would come in handy for astrophotography.

The Canon 17-40mm f/4 lens was my first wide angle lens and I do not regret purchasing at all, especially considering it is half the price of the 16-35mm.

But now that I am moving to professional photography I feel that the 16-35mm would be more practical.

3. Mid Range Lens

The next lens in my bag is my mid range zoom lens, I currently use the Canon 24-105mm f/4 L lens, which came as a kit lens with my 5D mark III.

But again at some point soon I am going to upgrade it to another lens on my wish list, the Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 L lens, which like the 16-35mm has amazing corner to corner sharpness and super fast, which will be very useful for astrophotography.

The 24-105mm f/4 L lens that I have is a little outdated, because like my camera they have produced a new version with image stabilisation.

As with the 16-35mm, the 24-70mm is double the price of the standard 24-105mm that my camera came with, so I don’t regret waiting to buy this lens.

4. Long Range Lens

The last lens I keep in my Landscape photography kit is my Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 L lens. I bought this lens years ago and it is still one of the best lenses that I carry with me.

There is a Canon 70-200mm f/4 lens available but at the time I chose to spend a little more to gain that extra stop of speed, and I do not regret it.

Like the other 2 lenses on my wish list, this lens is renowned for its sharpness and I have lately been using this a lot more in my landscape photography.

Every landscape photographer will recommend carrying a long lens to isolate subjects within the landscape. So you should definitely take the plunge and get one!

5. Filters

Filters are a very important tool for landscape photographers as they can really enable you to be more creative. I personally have a range of different filters but I would like to consolidate them into one brand to get consistency, so instead of listing what I am currently using I am going to list what I would like as well as what I have.

Filter Holder - I use a Lee Filter Holder that has 2 slots but they have introduced a new one that is much easier to use than the one I currently have
Lee Holder Adapter Rings - I use these adapter rings on all of my landscape lenses to hold the filter holder
Adapter Lens Covers - I use these lens covers which fit over the adapter rings, which means I can leave the rings on my lenses at all times and they are protected
Lee 3 Stop Solid ND Filter - I would recommend purchasing a Lee 3 stop solid neutral density filter, it can be really useful to slow the shutter speed a small amount (I have a hi-tech one currently)
Lee Little Stopper - I use my Lee 6 stop neutral density filter, titled the Little Stopper, this is a fantastic filter for slowing the shutter speed for creativity
Lee Big Stopper - I also have a Lee 10 stop neutral density filter, called the Big Stopper, I use this less and would recommend the little stopper above over this one as it is almost solid black and can slow the shutter too much
A range of Lee Graduated Filters (Soft Edge) - I would highly recommend buying Lee 1, 2 and 3 stop graduated neutral density filter with a soft edge, these enable you to darken an otherwise bright sky and balance it better with your subject (I currently have hi-tech ones)
Lee Polariser Adapter - This adapter ring is brand new and makes life a lot easier as it clips onto the new filter holder easily (the one I am currently using is screwed on and can be annoying!)
Lee Polariser - A polariser can be extremely useful when dealing with reflections as it bends the light entering the lens and reduces glare, moreover it can saturate your colours as well

That’s all of my filter kit that I keep in my landscape photography kit, they are a vital piece of equipment that I would not do without.

If I had to condense it down for my first time buying, I would concentrate on the Lee Little Stopper and a Lee 2 stop graduated soft edge filter. With those 2 filters I would then expand my collection as and when I could, as all together they are extremely expensive!

UPDATE

I’ve since invested in a full Kase Filter Kit, available from their website. It’s a fantastic piece of kit a lot of advantages over my old kit. Mainly the fact that everything has been designed to work together!
The top highlights for me are the fact the polariser goes at the back of the filter holder: reducing vignetting in wide angle shots; the foam gasket to stop light leaking when using a 6 or 10 stop ND filter is built into the holder rather than glued onto the filter; and I love the bag that they sent with the kit!
It’s expensive filters but comparable to the Lee Kit. It’s up to you to choose which one you want to invest in! You can see them in use here…

6. Tripod

Just like the filters, this is an essential piece of kit. I currently use a 3 Legged Thing Winston Carbon Fibre Tripod. This is a fantastic tripod, some of the things that I really like about it, is that it has changeable feet, which is really useful to make the tripod more stable on sand, ice, snow, rocks, etc.

And the other thing that like about this tripod is that you can remove the central column and lie it down almost flat or even suspend the camera upside down between the legs, which is quite fun!

My old tripod is a Manfrotto Carbon Fibre tripod, while I prefer the clip closure of the legs I don’t like the fact that the central column can’t be removed but only laid side on.

This can be useful but overall I prefer being able to remove the central column completely. There are a lot of tripods out there but I would caution you not to buy cheap, eventually you will regret it and hopefully not when you tripod falls over with your camera attached!

On top of the tripod, I currently have a Sirui ball head but I’m not a big fan. I would recommend using the Airhead that comes with the Winston, that is a pretty good ball head!

UPDATE

I’ve since changed my tripod set up to a Gitzo Series 5 LS. Fantastic tripod, super stable and extends beyond my height, which can be useful.
It’s fitted with a Manfrotto Bowl Head which means I can safely level the base of the tripod when the legs are positioned somewhat haphazardly and I am using a simple tripod head: Andoer Panoramic Tilt Head 360.
It moves in the directions I need it to, it’s fairly simple so should be easily repaired, but it’s not perfect and would only be useful if you were using a bowl head tripod!

7. Cable Release and Intervalometer

I have a very simple cable release that is perfect to stop you touching the camera once you have set everything up. Some may say it’s not necessary but it’s useful and it doesn’t cost a lot of money!

As well as a cable release I keep an Intervalometer in my bag, which is brilliant if I want to do image stacking or create a time lapse video, an intervalometer is a necessary piece of equipment. Although the Canon 5D mark IV has one built in!

8. Memory Cards and Batteries

I use a Sandisk Extreme Pro 64GB CF card for my 5D mark III but for my new 1DX mark II I use a Sandisk Extreme Pro 128GB CFast 2.0 card.

The new CFast card has a read speed of over 500mb per minute and is specifically designed to keep up with the speed of cameras like the 1DX mark II.

The CF cards are a standard memory card that fits most of the higher end cameras as they are a bit more rugged than SD cards.

As well as memory cards I also carry spare batteries, I bought some batteries made by a company other than Canon and they have served me brilliantly but most people would recommend sticking with Canon.

9. Wellington Boots

I always use my Muck Boots Muckmaster Wellingtons, they currently live in my car and are often my go to foot wear when I go out for landscape photography.

They are insanely comfortable, warm and enable me to go wherever I want to go, even into a lake or river or sea if I want to get a good picture.

This is one of my biggest pieces of advice, as I have been able to hike for several miles in these wellies. They are unlike the cheap wellies that most people are used to, and they are certainly so different to the ones I had as a kid.

I have never had wellies like these and if you had to buy one thing from this list then wellies is it!

10. Head Torch

I carry a Petzl Actik Head Torch with me most of the time. It’s a very useful piece of kit. I use it for astrophotography in particular or for early morning approaches to get in to position for sunrise, and its a good insurance policy, if for any reason I am out and the day is coming to an end, I don’t have to worry about rushing back to my car because I will be able to find my way using the head torch. A simple thing that could save your life!

11. Warm Clothes

I always carry a hat, snood, gloves and an extra insulating layer, I tend to pack a lightweight Ice Breaker Hyperia Hooded Jacket to protect myself from the elements.

If you have read Story Behind the Photo: Star Trails Over Garten then you will know that I was absolutely freezing that night even though I had these pieces of kit. It’s really important to try and keep yourself warm, particularly when you stop moving, so extra layers are a brilliant thing that you won’t regret when you need them.

12. Waterproof Layer

Maybe it’s because I am living in Scotland but I always have a waterproof jacket and trousers in my bag.

When it rains in Scotland, it rains hard and having waterproof trousers can be brilliant thing to keep you dry and therefore warm. I use Berghaus Goretex Waterproof Jacket and Trousers, and they have proven to be brilliant. Withstanding some of the harshest conditions Scotland has to offer!

13. Multi Mat Seat

I keep this Multi Mat Folding Foam Seat in my bag, it can be incredibly useful for a few reasons. Not only is it a brilliant seat, which insulates your bum from the cold floor and provides a little cushioning when sitting on stones.

But I have also used it as a rain and sun cover over my camera and lens to stop the odd drop getting on the front of the lens and to stop flaring from the sun.

14. Waterproof Camera Cover

Bad weather conditions shouldn’t stop you from getting some good pictures, and often some of the best light comes after or with the rain. I use a Simple Camera Cover to protect my cameras, although the cameras I have talked about are weather sealed but that works only up to a certain point and I would rather be safe than sorry, so I use a cover as well.

15. Camera Bag

I have an F-Stop Loka backpack but they have upgraded the design or they’ve changed the name to the F-Stop Kashmir, not sure which as they look like the same bag!

I like F-Stop bags because they are easily adaptable and quite comfortable, and I have a range of their bags.

The Loka or Kashmir is about 30 litres in volume, which is enough for what I need in most cases, but on occasions I will swap for my F-Stop Tilopa 50 Litre backpack or my F-Stop Shin 80 Litre backpack depending on how much extra gear I want to carry.

As well as the bags themselves they offer Internal Camera Units or ICUs in different sizes, these are essentially padded cubes that go into the backpack to protect your camera gear and are easily accessible from the zipped back panel.

The downsides to these bags are that they are not cheap and that they are not perfect, but they are the best I’ve come across yet.

16. Drybag

Typically instead of using the ICU that F-Stop makes I line my bag with a Karrimor 40 Litre Dry Pack, this is to ensure that my equipment will not get wet no matter what happens.

I could literally drop my bag in a river or the sea and as long as the dry pack was closed properly then I have nothing to worry about and my gear will be perfectly fine.

This does mean my stuff tends to be loose in the bag but I use my extra clothes and bits to pad things a bit, and I am yet to break anything or cause damage.

On the other hand I have had a camera break due to water damage, so I am very cautious about that. I have different sized dry bags for each of my camera bags, so that each bag is lined with a dry bag.

17. First Aid Kit and Blister Plasters

I usually carry a small first aid kit in my bag. Thus far I have never had to use it but I feel like it’s better to have one and not need it than to need it and not have one.

As well as a first aid kit, I always carry some Compeed Blister Plasters. Especially after I have had a couple of bad experiences, where I forgot my plasters and had the biggest blisters ever, I mean like tennis balls on the heel of my foot!

So after that I always carry them to prevent blisters and if I have a blister then I can treat easily. You might have been able to guess that I do believe in the idea of “better to be prepared”.

18. GPS, Maps and Compass

I use a Garmin eTrex 30x handheld GPS unit to help keep track of where I am, I take this with some spare batteries and I try to limit my use, so that I have it available when I need it rather than relying on it and then finding it has lost power when I do need it.

So I always take a map and compass as well and I try to use these over my GPS unit to know where I am and where I am going.

Luckily I have quite a good sense of direction and I use these tools sparingly, but it’s important to know how to use them and be able to navigate your way.

19. Water and Food

The last thing that I want to mention is always bring more food than you think you will need, as when you are tired and cold having something to eat can really give you energy and lift your spirits.

That goes the same for water, I typically carry one or, more usual, two 1 Litre Osprey Nato Water Botttles. I use these because they are extremely rugged and can’t be damaged.

20. Whistle

I always keep a whistle in my bag or around my neck. This is because if I am in a remote location and I need help, a powerful whistle is the best way to attract attention. Everyone that is going into the mountains ought to be carrying a whistle like a Life Systems Safety Whistle as they are extremely loud!

UPDATE

21. Midge Net
If you have been following along on my YouTube Channel then you will have noticed that my midge net has been used more times than I can count this year! It is definitely an essential piece of kit not to be left behind! Super light and small, just throw in the bottom of your bag and forget about it!

Conclusion

So that’s everything that I take with me when I am going out for landscape photography, most of this shouldn’t be a surprise but I know that some of the things I talk about people don’t always think to pack.

What I’ve talked about is particularly important for back country or montane environment landscape photography. These are just what I take on a day trip, and there is even more gear for when I camp overnight.

I focus on being safe and most of the non-photographic gear that I carry is with this thought in mind.

I know I have talked about what’s on my wishlist quite a bit but I wanted to demonstrate that every photographer out there has something that they want, so don’t worry too much about lens envy and just enjoy what you are using until you can afford the extravagance of a new lens.

I will keep this list up to date if and when I am able to get new equipment or if I have found something new that I can’t live without. Don’t forget to let me know if you think I forgot anything!