Packing your bags for a trip can be a daunting task. Unfortunately, I can’t help you with clothes, toiletries, and other essentials you’ll need to bring on your vacation.
However, I can help you lighten your load when it comes to packing a camera.
Over the years, I have packed several different cameras from point-and-shoots like the Nikon Coolpix, mirrorless shooters like the Panasonic Lumix, expensive cinema devices like the Sony FX30, and even the Flip Video (remember those?!).
Credit: Matt Binder / Mashable
This year, I discovered the perfect camera — or really, combination of devices that include cameras — that significantly lightened my travel load. Not only that, the photos and videos I took came out better than ever before, and I was able to still spend the majority of my time just enjoying my vacation. Plus, as an added bonus, I found that I took way more photos and videos than I did with my bulkier cameras too.
Without any further ado, leave the clunky camera rig at home. Here’s what camera you should take on your vacation:
Insta360 Luna Ultra
Insta360’s answer to DJI’s Osmo Pocket line of gimbal cameras has only been around since June but I’m calling it now: The Insta360 Luna Ultra is the ultimate travel camera.
Mashable’s Amanda Yeo just recently published a full review of the Insta360 Luna Ultra and I concur with all of her high praise for the camera. And I’d like to add that it’s also the perfect camera for your travels.
Credit: Matt Binder / Mashable
The Insta360 Luna Ultra compact size makes it really convenient to carry around, whether you slide it in a side-pouch on your backpack, keep it handy in a sling bag, or just hold it. The built-in gimbal provides the perfect grip for walking and shooting and the stabilization it provides makes it look like you’re filming your vacation with a professional camera rig.
It’s not just the Insta360 Luna Ultra’s gimbal that has the device punching above its weight class either. The footage quality is cinema-esque. There’s truly no reason to bring around a clunky DSLR or mirrorless camera, numerous lenses, and other camera accessories now that the Luna Ultra exists.
Furthermore, the dual lens system gives you up to 12x zoom, which delivers crystal clear imagery that I honestly had to take myself to believe it was from this camera.
To showcase how good the Luna Ultra is, here are some stills from video I took on my trip:
Credit: Matt Binder / Mashable
Credit: Matt Binder / Mashable
Credit: Matt Binder / Mashable
As you may have heard already, the Luna Ultra’s screen detaches as a remote and portable microphone, which allows users to set up the Luna Ultra and control it from a significant distance away. I cannot stress enough how integral this feature is for a travel camera.
If you’ve already seen reviews from the Luna Ultra, you probably know about some of the potential use cases. You can set the Luna Ultra up on a tripod and get shots where you’d normally require a second person. But, you’re traveling. You’re not carrying a tripod around with you. But we’ve all been in a situation where we have asked someone to take a picture, only for them to be confused about how to use the camera. Well, simply hand off the Luna Ultra and ask that person to just stand there, holding the camera, and do nothing else. You can snap the photo, reframe the picture, and zoom in or out all via the remote.
Smartphone
OK, so I lied. You’ll be taking more than one camera on this trip, but this one you were bringing along for the ride anyway.
Your smartphone camera, whether it be an iPhone or Android device, is still far and away one of the best cameras you can take on your trip. Smartphone camera footage is always getting better and it’s just so convenient to use. You already have it in your pocket anyway! And it’s still the quickest option to pull out for a quick snapshot of a fleeting moment because it’s already on and ready to go.
And, as great as the Insta360 Luna Ultra is, I’m not looking to use it in certain situations. For example, I’d rather not get sand from the beach on the Luna Ultra with its moving parts. Even if your smartphone costs the equivalent of a camera — or even more — its built for everyday wear and tear in ways that standalone cameras just usually aren’t.
MyFirst Camera 50
If you’re a parent, there’s one more device you’ll want to take along with you, especially if your kids are aspiring photographers or filmmakers too.
You don’t want your child playing around with your camera or smartphone on the trip. But, you also don’t want to give them one of those big bulky children’s cameras with terrible quality that, for some reason, always tries to emulate the design of an old-fashioned camera.
Credit: Matt Binder / Mashable
On our most recent trip, my two oldest kids brought their MyFirst Camera 50. It’s a 20MP dual lens camera that can take 1080P. It’s built with a rugged body design for kids. And it’s shaped like an iPhone — you know, the modern day design that most kids today actually associate with cameras.
The image quality out of the MyFirst Camera 50 is actually quite good. In fact, images taken outdoors or other well lit areas are really good for a children’s camera.
It’s especially fun to see what photos your kids take, especially in comparison with the moments you thought were important enough to capture.
So there you have it: The Insta360 Luna Ultra will replace all your cameras for your travels. If you have kids, get them the MyFirst Camera 50. And if you forget all your photography equipment, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with using your trusty smartphone.