What’s inside our camera bag?
OUR EQUIPMENT
With Carma Adventures, capturing the magic of our journeys is a big part of what we do. From wide-open landscapes to those perfect little moments, our gear helps us bring our stories to life. Here’s a look at the equipment we never leave home without.
Ultimate Storytelling Companion
Sony ZV-E1
The Sony ZV-E1 is the newest addition to the Carma Adventures gear. Known for its exceptional video quality and low-light performance, this camera will improve our content by helping us to capture stunning footage, even in challenging conditions.
We chose this camera as an investment in our channel because we wanted a top-performing camera that would last us for many years. Due to its compact size and weight, it is the perfect companion for our travel adventures and will allow us to document every moment with clarity and detail.
The ZV-E1 has the most advanced features on the market, such as real-time Eye AF and background defocus, making it ideal for vlogging and cinematic shots, and enhancing the overall quality of our videos. No wonder it received an award for “Content Creator Camera 2023-2024”.
However, please keep in mind that if you are considering buying this camera, it comes with a hefty price tag. If you are willing to spend the extra money to record epic content, buy it this summer as you can claim £300 back from Sony (make sure you read the terms and conditions first).
One negative thing we have to say about purchasing this camera is that everything is very expensive. It’s almost like spending all your money on buying a house and then realising you still need to buy furniture.
We bought the Sony ZV-E1 with the 28-60 mm lens, and it only comes with the items we show in the unboxing video.
This meant that we had to buy an original spare battery and a Sony battery charger separately to allow us more recording time, as well as a “special” SD card: Gigastone UHS-II V60 256GB SD Card (more about this in the Storage Solutions section).
Now that we have invested in this camera and its accessories, we still have to put it to the test, and there is no better time and place to understand the full capabilities of this camera than during our 6 months travelling through Southeast Asia.
Flying High
Our amazing aerial shots are taken with the DJI Mini 4 Pro. It’s small, light, and perfect for travel. This little guy captures stunning 4K videos and sharp photos, and with its smart flight modes and obstacle avoidance, we can get creative with our shots without worrying about crashes (unless we’re testing the sports mode - flying solo as a beginner has proven to be a bit more challenging than we expected). We also invested in the "Fly More" combo pack, which includes the RC 2, extra batteries, propellers, and a carrying case, giving us more flight time and convenience on our adventures. We bought the Mini 4 Pro in January 2024 and this is our first time owning a drone, so by no means do we claim to be professionals but with every flight, we improve our technique.
This drone weighs 249g, which means slightly less bureaucracy when we travel compared to bigger and heavier drones. However, the extent of the bureaucracy depends on the country you intend to visit, so please do your research before taking your drone with you. Feel free to write to us with any questions you may have, and we will try to help because travelling with drones can be a big hassle.
DJI Mini 4 Pro
Here are three of our favourite shots we have taken so far with the DJI Mini 4 Pro.
Benagil Cave, Algarve, Portugal
Castillo de San Marcos, Sanlúcar de Guadiana, Spain
Ksamil Islands, Ksamil, Albania
Clear Sound
DJI Mic
Good audio makes a huge difference, and the DJI Mic ensures we get clear sound every time. We bought the 2-pack mic set with a portable charging case, making it perfect for a full day of recording, vlogs, and capturing ambient sounds on the go. Its wireless design and long battery life provide the flexibility we need in our journeys.
The size is also really good, as it doesn’t stand out too much when attached to our clothes while recording. It also has internal memory, so sometimes we record directly onto the microphone instead of connecting the receiver to a device.
Action Packed
DJI Osmo Action 3
For our most adventurous shoots, the DJI Osmo Action 3 is a must-have. It’s tough, waterproof, and ready for anything. We got the "Adventure Combo”, which includes a range of accessories like a magnetic mount, extra batteries, and a multifunctional battery case. With dual screens for easy framing and RockSteady stabilization for smooth footage, it’s perfect for all our action-packed moments. However, it is not great at recording in low light, as the quality appears a bit grainy. Therefore, we usually use our iPhones or the Sony ZV-E1 in such conditions.
This action camera surprised us with the abilities to use it underwater as well as in extreme conditions, but if you don’t believe us, we’ve included some clips below to show off what the DJI Osmo Action 3 can do to capture our adventures.
Underwater horizontal shot in Water World Levi, Finland
Underwater vertical shot in the Ksamil, Albania
Recording at -30 °C in Äkäslompolo, Finland
Insta360 Flow Gimbal
The Insta360 Gimbal is a great companion for our travels. We chose the "Standalone-Stone Gray" for the Insta360 Flow Gimbal, which has all the accessories we needed, but we did opt for buying the Insta360 spotlight separately as it came out cheaper than the “creator kit”.
The gimbal’s 3-axis stabilisation keeps our footage smooth and steady, whether we’re hiking rugged trails or exploring city streets.
It also has a built-in tripod, so we can easily set it up anywhere and record hands-free. This feature is perfect for recording transitions in different locations while keeping the same frame for the videos.
On the Spot
iPhone 14 Pro & iPhone 12 Pro
Our iPhones are always with us for those spontaneous moments. Both the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro have fantastic camera systems with multiple lenses and cool features that help us capture quick snaps, time-lapses, and high-quality videos on the fly.
Compare iPhone models on Apple store
Even with all of this equipment and gear, we still use our iPhones to take amazing photos and videos, check out below some of our favourite pictures we’ve taken on our phones.
Old But Reliable
Canon EOS Rebel T2i | 18-55mm Lens
The Canon EOS Rebel T2i might be an older model, but it’s still a reliable part of our kit. Paired with the versatile EFS 18-55mm lens, it delivers great image quality and has manual controls for precise adjustments. It’s our trusty backup for still photography. Most of the pictures used in our blog are taken with this camera.
Read more about this camera on the Canon website
Here are some of our favourite photos, taken with the Canon camera.
Versatile Camera Accessories
NEEWER 50 in 1 Action Camera Accessory Kit
We use the versatile “NEEWER 50 in 1 Action Camera Accessory Kit” that offers a wide range of options, making it a great value purchase.
Not every accessory gets used every time, but having them on hand means we’re ready for anything.
For example, the wrist attachment from this kit has proven its durability by surviving two turns of bungee from the second-highest bungee jump in the world! This kit includes mounts, straps, and other handy tools that adapt to various shooting scenarios.
Additionally, the selfie stick from this kit serves as the handgrip for our Sony ZV-E1. It has been working very well in our first few weeks in Southeast Asia, proving to be very resistant and sturdy.
Storage Solutions
SD Cards
We rely on multiple SD cards to ensure we never run out of space while capturing our adventures. We own five SD cards, each serving its own purpose.
Sandisk 128GB SD Card: We have two of these SD cards. They provide ample storage for our high-resolution photos and videos, ensuring we never miss a moment. We use one with the DJI Osmo Action 3 and the other with the Sony ZV-E1, both for recording in 4K at 30/60fps.
Kingston 128GB SD Card: Another high-capacity card helps us manage our extensive footage and images. This is the blue micro-SD card. We chose blue for the sky, making it easy to remember that this is our drone SD card, once again recording in 4K at 30fps.
Sandisk 64GB SD Card: Dedicated to our Canon EOS Rebel T2i, this card offers reliable storage for all our still photography needs. We always shoot in RAW mode, and for a 64GB card, we were pleasantly surprised by its ample capacity, allowing us to go for a while without needing to transfer pictures.
Gigastone UHS-II V60 256GB SD Card: We use the Gigastone UHS-II V60 256GB SD Card with the Sony ZV-E1 to capture stunning cinematic footage. Its high-speed performance ensures smooth recording and playback, allowing us to fully utilise the camera's advanced features. For recording in S&Q mode with the Sony ZV-E1, you need an SD card with a higher specification than V60. While we considered V90 cards, their high price was a significant drawback. Instead, we chose a 256GB V60 card, which performs flawlessly and allows us to capture cinematic shots without any issues. Additionally, it’s much more affordable compared to V90 cards.
External Hard Drive
Toshiba 4TB Canvio Flex Portable External Hard Drive: This versatile drive is compatible with Mac, Windows PC, and tablets, and works with most USB-C and USB-A devices, providing extensive storage capacity for all our footage and images.
I know the 4TB hard drive seems quite pricey, but we thought it's best to spend a bit more now, given all the footage we have, rather than run out of space and need to buy another one later. This approach is more cost-effective in the long run.
But if you don't require that much space, opting for lower storage options might be more affordable.
Editing Powerhouses
MacBook Pro (Intel) & MacBook Pro (M2 Pro)
Editing on the go is crucial, and our MacBook Pros handle it all. The Intel-based MacBook Pro is a beast for heavy-duty editing, while the M2 Pro model, with its 10-Core CPU and 16-Core GPU, is incredibly fast and efficient. Both ensure we can edit, render, and upload content no matter where we are.
Creative Tools
Adobe Premiere Pro
Adobe Premiere Pro is our go-to for video editing. It’s powerful and user-friendly, helping us create professional-quality videos with ease, from simple cuts to complex effects.
Premiere Pro is definitely not easy to begin with, but once you get the hang of the tools, editing videos becomes super easy. Paying for this editing software has proven essential for our content creation journey, as we can play with so many features like colour correction, transitions, effects, and audio.
We’ve also found it to be affordable. We currently pay £21 a month for Premiere Pro, which also includes Adobe Express and 100GB of cloud storage.
Adobe Lightroom is our main photo editing tool. It’s perfect for tweaking exposure, colour, and composition, helping us make our photos look their best.
The software’s non-destructive editing allows us to experiment without losing the original quality.
Presets save us time by applying consistent edits across multiple photos, maintaining a cohesive look. The cloud sync feature ensures we can access and edit our photos from anywhere.
For Adobe Lightroom, we pay for the software as part of the "Photography Plan", which costs us only £9.98 per month. This plan includes Adobe Photoshop and 20GB of cloud storage.
Adobe Lightroom
Adobe Photoshop
For detailed photo edits and graphic design, Adobe Photoshop is unbeatable.
It’s packed with features for retouching, compositing, and creative enhancements. Photoshop’s powerful selection tools and layers system allow for precise edits and complex compositions.
Much like Premiere Pro, it has a bit of a learning curve because there are so many tools and features, so you need to invest some time to learn how to use it.
As mentioned above for Adobe Photoshop, we pay for the software as part of the "Photography Plan", which costs us only £9.98 per month. This plan includes Adobe Lightroom and 20GB of cloud storage.
CapCut
CapCut is our favourite mobile video editing app. It’s easy to use and has lots of features, making quick edits on the go a breeze.
Whether we’re trimming clips, adding effects, or syncing to music, CapCut makes mobile editing fun and fast. Built-in templates and effects make enhancing our videos effortless. CapCut’s robust export options ensure our content looks great on all platforms.
The best part is that we can use extensive features without having to pay anything. There is a pro version, but we already pay for quite a few software, so we prefer to use the free version for now. We highly recommend you try it out before purchasing the pro version to see if it meets your needs.