Walking Gear - Tried and True
I love discovering gear that can make my walks more enjoyable and stress free. This week I thought I would share some of my favorite items that help me get out walking.
Cameras: This spring I bought a Canon 6D, my first full frame camera, and love it! It is just a tad bit larger than my old standby, Canon 60D, but it is about the same weight, making it an easy camera to use while walking. If you would like more information about what makes this a great camera, take a look at this short video.
Lenses: My go to lens is Canon's 24-105mm. I can take close up shots and zoom in while out on a walk allowing me to capture a variety of photos. This spring I bought two new lenses that I use on my walks. The first one is Canon's 50 mm f/1.4 lens, which I primarily use for portraits, but have found that it is also a good lens for walking.
Here are a couple of the photos I took while out walking one morning with the 50 mm lens. It surprised me with its ability to capture landscapes, as well as close up shots.
The second lens I bought is my Lensbaby Velvet manual 56mm portrait and macro lens. I have loved playing with it on my walks! As I have written before, there is a bit of a learning curve, since you manually focus on the subject. Take a look at this short video to learn more about what this lens can do. It is impressive.
I am loving the photos I am getting, and I am striving to improve my focus and technique, which makes my walks even more interesting.
Walking Gear: When I go out Camera Walking I like to be as unencumbered as possible. I walk with one camera lens and no bags, so I am always on the watch for gear that makes it easy to get out the door. One tried and true piece of gear is my Black Rapid strap. I recently bought a new one, Kick Pink, which was designed for women. Ten dollars from each sale goes to the Carey Foundation to support women and men who are diagnosed with breast cancer. The strap goes across my body, taking weight off of my neck, which matters a lot when you are on a long walk.
Since I do carry my cell phone, money, identification, keys, and kleenex, I have to stuff my vest or jacket pockets to avoid carrying a bag. The challenge this summer has been that it has been too hot to wear a jacket or a vest, so I had to resort to wearing an old "fanny pack," which I assure you wasn't the most attractive option, but it worked. You can imagine my delight when we were contacted by the owner of WalkaPocket, a U.S. woman-owned business, asking us to try one out. There are several styles, so I purchased the zippered pocket version and it is a great addition to my walking gear.
I wear mine both over my t-shirts, but also under them. It is made of light, wicking, quick dry mesh fabric. It is very comfortable, doesn't add much bulk, so I can use it under a jacket as well. After wearing it I realized that I could use it when traveling, as well as walking. Take a look at their website and try one out.
Let us know what gear you use to make your walks more enjoyable. Post a comment below, on our Facebook page, or send us an email at getmoving@camerawalking.com. We love to hear from you.
