Andrei Kostromskikh (@kosnio) is a photographer and videographer who has been passionate about capturing the world since childhood. "I first fell in love with photography and video when I was a kid, and after finishing school I got my first DSLR and started taking it seriously," he explains. "These days I mostly focus on travel and street photography. I believe the best shots are the ones that tell a story and let you feel the atmosphere of the place. I try to bring the viewer into the world I see, to make them feel like they are right there with me."
He continues, "The gear in my bag helps me work in many situations, whether I am in the middle of a busy street or in a quiet hidden spot. I need to be able to move fast, stay unnoticed, and adapt to whatever moment is happening in front of me. This setup makes that possible." Keep reading below as he shares what's in his bag for street and travel photography.
Shop This Kit:
Cameras: Alpha 1 II, Alpha 7C II
Lenses: 50mm f/1.2 G Master, 24mm f/1.4 G Master, 85mm f/1.8, 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master II, 70-200mm f/2.8 G Master II
Accessories: TOUGH 128GB Memory Cards
Cameras
Alpha 1 II (Buy Now): My main camera is the Alpha 1 II. I switched to it recently, and for me it is the perfect fit for my work. Since I shoot both photos and videos, I need a camera that can handle both without compromises. The A1 II lets me capture 50-megapixel stills with incredible detail and also record stunning video with no rolling shutter thanks to its stacked sensor. The autofocus and AI tracking are outstanding, which is especially important for street photography and fast-moving scenes in video. It gives me the confidence that I will get the shot exactly how I imagined it.
Photo by Andrei Kostromskikh. Alpha 1 II. 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master II. 1/250-sec., f/2.8, ISO 200
Alpha 7C II (Buy Now): Before getting the Alpha 1 II, my main camera was the Alpha 7C II. Now it serves as my backup or as my go-to option when I want to travel light. It is extremely lightweight, yet still delivers excellent results for both photo and video. The resolution is a bit lower than the A1 II, but more than enough for most needs, and the video quality is impressive. I think it’s one of the best cameras for anyone starting to take photography and video seriously. Most of my work from the past two years was shot with it.
Photo by Andrei Kostromskikh. Alpha 7C II. 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master II. 1/160-sec., f/3.5, ISO 1600
Lenses
50mm f/1.2 G Master (Buy Now): This is my favorite lens and the one I use most often. It feels perfect for street photography, not too tight and not too wide, which makes it very versatile. I love how it works for a variety of shots, from wider street scenes to intimate portraits with beautifully blurred backgrounds. It’s also incredible at night thanks to the fast f1.2 aperture, letting me capture low-light scenes with stunning clarity.
Photo by Andrei Kostromskikh. Alpha 1 II. 50mm f/1.2 G Master. 1/250-sec., f/2.8, ISO 320
24mm f/1.4 G Master (Buy Now): This lens works perfectly alongside the 50mm. With these two primes, I can cover most of my shooting scenarios. I use the 24mm when I want to capture wider street scenes or show the scale of a location. I also love it for detail shots, interiors, and product photography, where it gives a clean and immersive perspective.
Photo by Andrei Kostromskikh. Alpha 7C II. 24mm f/1.4 G Master. 1/1000-sec., f/4, ISO 500
85mm f/1.8 (Buy Now): The 85mm is perfect for creating cinematic portraits or street scenes with strong subject separation. It’s much tighter than the 50mm, so I use it when I want a more compressed look or when I’m shooting from a distance. It’s also very light, which makes it a great choice when I want to shoot cinematic street frames without carrying heavy gear.
Photo by Andrei Kostromskikh. Alpha 1 II. 85mm f/1.8. 1/2000-sec., f/1.8, ISO 100
24-70mm f/2.8 G Master II (Buy Now): This is my go-to all-around lens, especially when traveling. It’s lighter and sharper than the first version, and the zoom range covers everything I need for a full day of shooting. I can quickly move from wide street scenes to tighter frames without changing lenses, which is perfect for unpredictable moments on the go. During the day, this lens often stays on my camera, while at night I switch to primes for the extra light.
Photo by Andrei Kostromskikh. Alpha 1 II. 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master II. 1/250-sec., f/4.5, ISO 800
70-200mm f/2.8 G Master II (Buy Now): I love this lens for its compression and the unique perspective it creates. The second generation is noticeably lighter, which makes it much easier to carry during long days of shooting. I often use it while traveling for portraits, candid street moments from a distance, and scenes where I want to completely isolate my subject from the background. There are certain shots only a telephoto can give, and this lens delivers them beautifully.
Photo by Andrei Kostromskikh. Alpha 7C II. 70-200mm f/2.8 G Master II. 1/500-sec., f/2.8, ISO 100
Accessories
TOUGH 128GB Memory Cards (Buy Now): I carry two main types of SD cards. The SanDisk Extreme Pro 512GB gives me a huge amount of storage, perfect for long travel days when I am shooting a mix of high-resolution stills and 4K video without needing to swap cards. TOUGH 128GB is my go-to for situations where speed and reliability are critical, such as high-burst photography or 4K/120p video. Having both options in my bag means I’m ready for any project, no matter how demanding.
Photo by Andrei Kostromskikh. Alpha 1 II. 50mm f/1.2 G Master. 1/800-sec., f/1.2, ISO 100
PolarPro VND Filters (2–5 stop and 6–9 stop) with MagLock: For video work, I always keep two variable ND filters from PolarPro in my bag: the 2–5 stop and the 6–9 stop, both with the MagLock system. They let me control exposure quickly without affecting the look of my footage. Whether I’m shooting in bright daylight or during golden hour, I can fine-tune my settings without changing my aperture or shutter speed, which keeps the motion in my videos looking natural.
Photo by Andrei Kostromskikh. Alpha 7C II. 24mm f/1.4 G Master. 1/250-sec., f/5, ISO 100
1/8 Mist Filter: This filter is almost always on my lenses. I love the soft, cinematic look it gives by slightly blooming highlights and reducing the digital sharpness of modern lenses. It adds a subtle atmosphere to my shots, both in photo and video, and has become a big part of my visual style.
See more of Andrei Kostromskikh's work on Instagram @kosnio.
To see what’s inside the bags of more of your favorite photographers, explore alphauniverse.com/wimb.
