Authored by Ted’s Cameras

Now that we’re allowed to head across the pond to visit our nearest and dearest neighbours, New Zealand, it’s time to reevaluate your travel photography kit to make sure you are ready to capture the best travel photos.

After all, New Zealand has some of the best landscapes in the world!

From the essentials, like the right camera and lenses, to the camera accessories, the expert photographers at Ted’s Cameras are taking us through what photography equipment to pack on your NZ holiday.

5 Camera Kit Essentials for Your Next Trip to New Zealand

A Camera and Lens

Let’s start with the most obvious – you’ll need a camera and lenses to capture the best photo spots in New Zealand.

To make sure you capture all of the beauty of New Zealand, look for a camera capable of capturing a high dynamic range and excellent colours. For a portable camera option, go for a high-quality Mirrorless camera that won’t weigh you down as much as a DSLR.

What about your choice of lens? Generally for travel, we prefer the versatility offered by all-in-one zoom lenses. They also keep your kit more portable, as you only need to take one lens with you for most of your photography!

Wide-angle lenses are the best lenses for landscape photography, but if you will be enjoying whale watching or photographing wildlife, you will need to include a telephoto lens in your camera bag.

Many of New Zealand’s most picturesque locations are found by the water and in wetter climates, so make sure your travel camera gear is weather-sealed and can handle the odd splash!

Filters for Your Lenses

A carefully selected kit of lens filters will serve you several purposes, from protecting your lenses from damage, to improving the look of your photos.

UV filters are a must, not just for travel but for everyday purposes. These lenses can live on the front of your lenses, protecting them from scratches and other damage.

Circular polarisers are great for landscape photography purposes, as they can increase saturation for brighter blue skies, and they can limit reflections on water and similar surfaces.

ND filters limit the amount of light entering your lens, giving you the chance to use slower shutter speeds, increasing the blur of moving subjects. If you are shooting waterfalls in New Zealand, they are a must-have.

Drones and Action Cams

The glorious coastal landscapes of New Zealand are just as striking from above as they are at ground level.

To achieve this unique birds-eye view, we highly recommend packing a travel drone in your kit. Make sure you take note of the drone safety regulations and laws of the place in New Zealand that you are staying.

If you are heading to places like Lake Wanaka and enjoying some of the many outdoor activities in the area, an action camera will be a worthy addition to your kit. New Zealand is known as the adventure capital of the world for good reason!

They are incredibly compact, so you don’t need to make too much room for them, while their rugged nature means they won’t get damaged. Most action cams are capable of POV-style videos, which also makes them a favourite of travel vloggers.

A Film Camera

Film photography is on the rise, once again. If you want to capture vintage travel photos, pack a 35mm film camera in your camera bag.

In addition to the amazing retro aesthetic, film cameras allow us to slow down our photography process, often resulting in wonderful images that we would have ignored if we always stuck to our high-end digital cameras.

While your film camera may not be your most used item in your kit, it’s good to have one on hand to add a touch of variety.

If you haven’t got your own film camera yet, you can either pick up a second-hand 35mm SLRs, or a point and shoot film camera which is incredibly simple to use and allows you to give your Instagram feed a distinct retro charm.

And don’t forget to pack enough spare film!

Camera Accessories

Don’t forget the following essential accessories:

➤ Tripod – Tripods are great for improving the framing of your landscape photos, and allow you to shoot at slower shutter speeds for waterfall photography and astrophotography.

➤ Backpack – You’re going to need something to carry around all of your gear! Go for a camera bag that’s weather-sealed and with ample padding, and with dedicated pockets for accessories, cables and tablets/laptops.

➤ Spare batteries and memory cards – Take note of how long you are likely to be away from power and pack enough spare batteries to keep you shooting during these periods. Also, make sure you have enough storage space on your memory cards!

➤ Chargers/powerbanks – Needless to say, your batteries will run out of power pretty quickly if you are taking heaps of travel photos and videos, so have a plan to recharge!

Your standard AC adapter can be used when you get back to your hotel, but consider a suitable powerbank or car charger to provide a burst of power while you are on the move.

With all of these essentials, you’ll have everything you need to capture the most beautiful places in New Zealand!

If anything’s missing from your kit, browse Ted’s Cameras website or visit your nearest Ted’s Cameras store to make sure you’re prepared for your photography trip to New Zealand.