Photo gear, what to take?
There are a ton of blog posts, videos and opinions on what to take to Everest Base Camp (EBC). In a nutshell a lot of it revolves around your choices as a photographer. There is no right or wrong. I can share with you what I took in 2019 and what I’m looking to take in 2021.
The biggest consideration is you have to carry it!
In 2019 my photo kit consisted of:
Sony A9 camera
Sony A7R4 camera
6 - Sony FZ100 batteries
Sony 55mm 1.8
Sony 16-35mm 2.8
Sony 100-400mm 4.5-5.6.
Gitzo 1545TA travel tripod
RRS BH-40 Ball Head
Atlas Athlete Photo Pack
Rocket blower
Zeiss lens wipes
Gnarbox 2.0
11” iPad Pro
8 - ProGrade 64mb SD cards
Sony voice recorder
That was a totally do-able kit but it was a bit heavy. I spent a lot of time hustling to get ahead of the group for images and while I was in really good shape it was a workout. Keep in mind everything we pack has to be able to meet the weight restrictions on the flight from the lowlands (Ramshapp or Kathmandu) to Lukla. So being smart about packing photo gear is key.
As this is a once in a lifetime trip for many folks I would advocate for a second camera body or a good point and shoot back up as a second body. It’s helpful that the Sony A9 and A7R4 share the same battery as do many Nikon, Canon, Fuji and Olympus cameras. Being able to charge batteries is a bit hit and miss depending on the demand for outlets at the tea houses. Having a good number of spare batteries, which do not weigh much, is smart and prudent. 6 Sony Z batteries for the 2019 trek worked out well.
What would I change? I’d say about 80% of my shots were with the 16 - 35 2.8 and many of those at 16mm. The scenery is breathtaking and being able to get it all in is key. With a camera like the A7R4 at 61 megapixels it is possible to crop in and still have a stunning photo. I usually hiked with the 16-35 on the A7R4 and the 55 1.8 on the A9. The 100-400 was strictly for being at a spot with the tripod and long mountain shots. Everest in the morning or Everest through the clouds. There were about 10% of my images with the 100-400. So knowing what I know now here is what I am looking at for the 2021 trek. New items have an * before them.
*Sony A9II camera
Sony A7R4 camera
6 - Sony FZ100 batteries
*Sony 135mm 1.8
Sony 55mm 1.8
*Sony 20mm 1.8
*Really Right Stuff TFC-14 Mk2 tripod
*AcraTech GP Ball Head
Atlas Athlete pack
Rocket blower
Zeiss lens wipes
*Cleaning brush
Gnarbox 2
SanDisk 1tb Extreme Pro SSD
11” iPad Pro
*64gb & 128gb Sony Tough SD cards
Sony voice recorder
In the next post I’ll review why I’ve changed up my kit a bit. A lot of it is due to type of photos shot and weight. In addition to camera gear in your pack you’ll also want to have the following and it all weighs something!
Rain jacket / shell.
Rain shell pants
Water (usually 2 liters)
Water purifier (steri pen, bottle purifier, tablets or MSR)
Sunglasses
Light weight fleece gloves
Hats (baseball hat or a wide brim hat for sun, and then a beanie for cooler temps).
Snack (Snickers bar, M&M’s, Trail Mix, Cookie)
Trekking Poles (useful for balance, an uphill boost and downhill stability).
Buff or Scarf (great for cooler mornings or to cover up in sun).
Lightweight insulated jacket. Down or synthetic w/ hood.
Notebook & pen/pencil.
Toilet Paper!
Something to think about once you throw the pack on your back!