Landscape photography asks a lot of a camera bag. It needs to be ready for the wide-open view and the small, distant detail, for a quick hike at sunrise and a long exposure after dark, for shifting weather, changing light and even the unexpected wildlife encounter along the way.
In this roundup, we asked 10 landscape photographers to open their bags and share the cameras, lenses and accessories they rely on in the field. From a compact all-in-one setup to high-resolution Alpha bodies and full G Master lens collections, these 10 kits offer plenty of landscape-photo kit-spiration.
Get more "kit-spiration" at alphauniverse.com/wimb.
The Freshly Upgraded Landscape Kit
Landscape legend Don Smith has used many different Sony Alpha cameras and lenses throughout his career (as seen by his previous kit photo below), but most recently the new Sony Alpha 7R VI has taken center stage. "To say I am pleased with the Alpha 7R VI’s ability to capture the subtle gradation of tones and colors in nature would be and understatement. Suffice it to say – I’m blown-away!"
He pairs the Alpha 7R IV with lenses like the Sony 12-24mm f/2.8 G Master and Sony 24-105mm f/4 G. And he also just added the new Sony 100-400mm f/4.5 G Master to his kit. Read more about his setup in From Milford Sound To The Milky Way: Don Smith Tests The Alpha 7R VI In New Zealand.
The Lightweight Landscape & Wildlife Kit
Landscape and wildlife photographer Nate Luebbe puts the all-in-one Sony RX10 V at the center of a deliberately minimalist kit. For trips that call for both expansive scenery and the reach to photograph wildlife, the RX10 V gives him the flexibility to cover both without carrying a separate set of interchangeable lenses. "I frequently go on trips with strict weight limits and this is an awesome camera to help keep my long-telephoto reach, but without the weight of a full size lens," he says.
The appeal is simple: less gear to manage while moving through the landscape, with a versatile camera ready when a distant subject or dramatic vista presents itself. Learn more about Luebbe’s kit in What’s In My Bag: The RX10 V For Landscape & Wildlife Photography.
The America The Beautiful Landscape Kit
Veteran photographer and Sony Artisan Andy Katz has traveled the country to photograph America’s landscapes, and his kit is designed for detail, flexibility and long days on the road. His constant companions are two Sony Alpha 7R V bodies, whose 61-megapixel sensors and dynamic range give him the latitude to make large prints and work through challenging light.
Katz pairs the Alpha 7R V with the Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 G Master II, Sony 20-70mm f/4 G, Sony 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 G Master and Sony 14mm f/1.8 G Master. While the wider lenses capture the scale of a location, the 100-400mm GM lets him isolate distant details and compress perspective. He also values the Alpha 7R V’s stabilization, which has allowed him to leave the tripod behind more often. Get the full scoop in What’s In My Bag: A Landscape Photography Kit For “America The Beautiful”.
The Two-Camera Outdoor Kit
Domenic Börnicke’s outdoor and landscape kit pairs the full-frame Sony Alpha 7 IV with the compact Sony Alpha 6300. The Alpha 7 IV is his primary camera for scenes ranging from sunrise to the night sky, while the smaller Alpha 6300 stays close as a reliable second body for travel and spontaneous moments.
For longer reach, Börnicke carries the Sony 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G. It joined his bag for a South African safari, but that kind of reach also opens up possibilities for isolating distant forms within a landscape. Magnetic ND filters, a lightweight tripod, head torch, remote shutter and camera clip round out a kit made for early starts, late finishes and the trail in between. Read more in What’s In My Bag: 2 Classic Alpha Cameras For Outdoor & Landscape Photography.
The Lightweight Low-Light Landscape Kit
Jon Engele’s kit is the result of miles on the trail. He prefers to travel light, relying on the Sony Alpha 7 III, Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 G Master and Sony 24-105mm f/4 G to cover the majority of the scenes he finds in the backcountry.
The 16-35mm GM is his go-to for sweeping scenes, foreground detail, panoramas and nightscapes, while the 24-105mm G offers practical everyday versatility. Engele also carries 3-stop and 6-stop ND filters for silky water, a remote release, drone, cleaning supplies and a red-light headlamp for preserving night vision. “Hiking 10 miles up mountains everyday teaches you pretty quickly what the absolute necessities are,” he says. Learn more in What’s In My Bag: A Lightweight Kit For Low-Light & Landscape Photography.
The Landscape & Adventure G Master Kit
Bend-based landscape and adventure photographer Taylor Duncan brings two high-resolution bodies into the field: the Sony Alpha 7R V and Sony Alpha 7R IV. His lens collection stretches from ultra-wide to super-telephoto, built around a wide-angle approach that helps immerse viewers in the landscape.
In Duncan’s bag are the Sony 14mm f/1.8 G Master, Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 G Master II, Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master II, Sony 85mm f/1.4 G Master II, Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 G Master II and Sony 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 G Master. It is a complete system for working from close, immersive compositions to compressed views of distant terrain. See the full kit in What’s In My Bag: An Alpha 7R V & G Master Kit For Landscape & Adventure Photography.
The Five-Zoom Landscape & Wildlife Kit
Todd Frame's bag is built around two high-resolution cameras – the Sony Alpha 7R V and Sony Alpha 7R IV – and five zoom lenses that cover the scene from 12mm to 600mm. The Sony 12-24mm f/2.8 G Master is the choice for grand landscapes, while the Sony 16-35mm f/4 G PZ and Sony 24-105mm f/4 G offer lighter wide-to-standard coverage.
At the long end, the Sony 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 G Master is a go-to for longer landscapes and moon photography, with the Sony 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G there when even more reach is needed. A Sony wireless remote commander, drone, filters and durable camera bags complete this comprehensive field setup. Read more in What’s In My Bag: 2 Cameras & 5 Zooms For Landscape & Wildlife Photography.
The Urban & Natural Landscape Kit
Seattle-based photographer Amy Corcoran photographs the outdoors in all its forms, from nighttime cityscapes to daytime mountain and waterfall scenes. Her Sony Alpha 7R V is the one body she takes everywhere. “It’s a beast in low light,” she says – a key consideration because those are her favorite times to shoot.
Corcoran’s lens trio includes the Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 G Master, Sony 24-70mm f/4 and Sony 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 G Master. The latter helps her isolate details and create a sense of depth and scale. A compact travel tripod, circular polarizer, variable ND filter, spare battery and personal safety alarm are just as purposeful for long exposures and solo shoots. Get the full scoop in What’s In My Bag: An Outdoor Photography Kit For Urban & Natural Landscapes.
The Hiking & Landscape Kit
Violetta Scott spends her time hiking, backpacking and occasionally splitboarding through the landscapes around her Utah home. Her camera bag needs to hold not only gear but the food, water and layers that make a full day in the backcountry possible.
Her primary setup is the Sony Alpha 7R V paired with the Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 G Master II and Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 G Master II. Scott says the Alpha 7R V “completely transformed” her low-light photography, especially for Milky Way scenes and blue-hour landscapes. Her kit also includes a lightweight carbon-fiber tripod, filters, extra batteries, power bank, drone, headlamp and a Peak Design Capture Clip that keeps the camera accessible on technical terrain. Learn more in What’s In My Bag: An Alpha 7R V Kit For Hiking & Landscape Photography.
The High-Resolution Sunrise-To-Sunset Kit
UK-based photographer Jonny Gios builds his bag for long landscape days, from sunrise through sunset, while keeping enough capacity for spare layers and emergency supplies. His two-camera system combines the Sony Alpha 7R V and Sony Alpha 7 IV.
Gios reaches for the Sony 14mm f/1.8 G Master, Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 G Master and Sony 24-105mm f/4 G. The Alpha 7R V’s 61-megapixel sensor lets him crop without sacrificing resolution, an advantage that can mean carrying less heavy glass while climbing the fells. Spare batteries and a dependable tripod are non-negotiable. See more in What’s In My Bag: A High-Res Photo Kit For Landscapes & More.
Interested in more landscape photography content?
–Explore more landscape photography articles at alphauniverse.com/landscapes.
–Check out our list of Best Lenses For Landscape Photography.
–Take our free Landscape Photography 101 course on Alpha Camera Academy.
