Our Favorite Camera Gear for Family Travel (and Why We Use Each One)
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Over time, we’ve built a simple but versatile camera kit that lets everyone in our family — kids included — tell the story in their own way. Each camera has a job. Each one shines in different situations. And together, they help us document trips without turning travel into a production. One thing we do not use are drones. There are awful to fly and get through security and most places have strict restrictions or permits required to fly them. They are not worth the bulk and effort.
Below is how we actually use each piece of gear on our trips, plus a spot to add links if you want to check them out yourself.
Canon EOS R6 Mark II – Our “Storytelling” Camera
Best for: Main videos, intentional photos, family moments we want to preserve forever
This is our primary camera and the one we reach for when we want cinematic video, beautiful photos, candid shots, and reliable performance. It comes out for:
Sit-down or walking-and-talking travel clips
High-quality landscape photos that you want to edit post trip
Important moments where a high quality images matters
It’s fast, dependable, and produces footage that feels timeless. This is the camera that turns a trip into a story, not just a recap.
LINK: Canon EOS R6 Mark II
LINK TO MY FAV CAMERA BAG: K&F CONCEPT Camera Sling Bag Small Crossbody Camera Case DSLR/SLR/Cute Compact Shoulder Photography Bags for Photographers
Canon PowerShot – The “Grab-and-Go” Camera
Best for: Quick moments, kid-friendly shooting, low-stress days
The PowerShot is perfect when we want something simple and unintimidating. My kids use this every day to make YouTube shorts for their channel about our pets. It’s small enough to toss in a bag and easy enough that our kids can confidently use it without help.
We love it for:
Casual day exploring (it is a lot lighter so less tiring for your back and shoulder!)
Kid-captured photos and videos
Backup footage when we don’t want to pull out the big camera
This camera empowers the kids to document the trip from their perspective — and some of our favorite moments come from their footage. Sometimes when taking pictures in public places with a lot of people, it is less intimidating to use a smaller camera. People get uncomfortable with a big camera pointed anywhere in their direction so the Powershot is far more conspicuous.
👉 Link : Canon Powershot
LINK TO MY FAV CARRYING CASE: BAGSMART Digital Camera Case, Protective & Waterproof Small Camera Case with Shoulder Strap, Lightweight Camera Sling Bag for Canon PowerShot
DJI Osmo – The “Steady Story” Gimbal
Best for: Smooth walking shots, dynamic videos, 4K quality
The DJI Osmo is one of our favorite everyday shooting tools. It combines stabilization and motion so that even when we’re walking, the footage feels intentional.
We reach for this when:
We’re exploring cities on foot
We want cinematic walking shots
The kids want to film each other without worrying about shaky hands
It’s lightweight, easy to use, and perfect for capturing the feel of a place in motion. It is also great for solo travelers that want the camera to track them if you have it setup on a tripod.
👉 Link: DJI Osmo
GoPro – The “Action & Chaos” Camera
Best for: Rides, water, movement, hands-free moments
The GoPro shines when everything else would be a hassle. It’s durable, wide, and worry-free.
We use it for:
Theme park rides
Beach days and water activities
Bike rides, hikes, and spontaneous kid energy
Situations where dropping a camera is a real possibility (like when your youngest kid wants to help take pictures)
It captures moments we’d otherwise miss because no one wants to hold a fragile camera at that moment.
👉 Link: GoPro
DJI Mic – Clean Audio Without the Fuss
Best for: Talking clips, windy days, family conversations
Good audio makes a huge difference, and the DJI Mic keeps things simple. We clip it on and go.
We rely on it for:
Walk-and-talk travel segments
Explaining history or locations on the go
Recording kids clearly without shouting into the camera
It’s one of those pieces of gear you don’t notice — until you don’t have it.
👉 Link: DJI Mic
Large Memory Cards – The Unsung Heroes
Best for: Peace of mind
We always travel with large, fast memory cards. No one wants to:
Stop filming mid-moment
Delete footage in a hurry
Choose between photos or video
More space means less stress and more freedom to capture everything.
👉 Link: Memory Card
iPhone + Anker Battery Pack + DJI Osmo Mobile 7P Gimbal Stabilizer– The Always-Ready Combo
Best for: Everyday moments, backup footage, emergencies, last minute
Sometimes the phone really is the best camera — especially when it’s already in your hand.
We use our iPhones for:
Quick photos and videos
Behind-the-scenes moments
Clips the kids want to grab instantly
Backup when everything else is packed away
The Anker battery pack makes sure the phone stays alive all day, even when we’re navigating, filming, and uploading.
We often pair our iPhone with the DJI Osmo Mobile 7P for smooth, stabilized video without pulling out a big camera. It works with iPhone and Android, has built-in tracking, a small extension rod + tripod, and enough battery to last all day—perfect for kids, walking tours, and quick family moments.
👉 Link: Anker battery pack
👉 Link: DJI Osmo Mobile 7P
How This Works for Our Family
What we love most about this setup is that everyone participates.
Kids grab the PowerShot or GoPro
Adults handle the main camera when it matters
The Osmo brings motion to life
The phone fills in every gap
No pressure. No perfection. Just capturing life as it happens.
Because at the end of the day —
the best camera isn’t the newest one or the most expensive one.
It’s the one that’s in your hands when the moment happens.
