Must-Have Gear for Summer
Back to Blog |The South African summer haze has been known to cause an insatiable appetite for beaches, poolside rendezvous’, views from mountain tops and unforgettable road trips bound to end in one of the above. The long days, warm nights and clear skies provide the ideal setting for adventures and quality time spent with friends and family. We’ve put together a list of our must-have gear to make sure you can capture all those fun-in-the-sun memories with ease whether you’re hiking, biking, swimming, basking or camping.
1. Reflectors, Perfect Lighting Everytime
Sometimes the sun’s positioning is not always ideal when shooting in natural light. A reflector will help to bounce light in just the right way, providing the perfecting lighting for outdoor summer portraits of your friends and family. A small collapsible reflector is lightweight and takes up a minimal amount of space in your gear bag.
2. Lens Filters & Polarizers For Picture Perfect Shots
Think of lens filters as sunglasses for your camera, an absolute essential for the summer! They help to control the amount of the light that gets in and are of great assistance when shooting in very bright conditions, a notorious challenge when it comes to achieving the correct exposure.
UV lens filters will help reduce the effect of atmospheric haze and double as added protection for the front element of your lens should you camera take a tumble while hiking. Circular polarisers will instantly take your summer photographs to the next level by enhancing the colour saturation so that you have bluer skies and whiter clouds. They also eliminate reflections from non-metallic surfaces such as water.
3. A Camera Bag That Can Stand The Heat
Summer demands a camera bag that is versatile and functional. Ergonomic designs make it easy to take your gear along with you whether it’s up a mountain or down to the beach. A great example of the this would be the MindShift Gear rotation180° Horizon Backpack. It’s lightweight and features a breathable airflow harness, a detachable beltpack (ideal for days when you prefer to travel light) and a three litre water reservoir. The beltpack holds a DSLR camera with lens, an extra lens and a 10” tablet.
Aother great choice would be the Lowepro Photo HatchBack 22L camera bag due to it's compact and innovative design that makes it one of the most comfortable, secure and versatile options currently on the market. Able to hold a DLSR with attached lens, 2-3 extra lenses, flash or other accessories, a tablet, water bottle, extra gear and personal items, this workhouse easily converts into a fully functional daypack by removing the padded camera box that offers customizable storage for your entire camera kit.
4. Surviving The Watery Nature Of Summer Backdrops
Situations involving substantial bodies of water are usually unavoidable in the summer. The smart thing to do would be to make sure that your gear is waterproof as accidents happen quickly. Waterproof cases for your phone and cameras will lessen the risk and ease your anxiety. The LifeProof range of NUUD cases feature Naked Screen tech that will keep your iPhone's screen open for direct touch while still completely waterpoof up to a depth of 2m!
Cameras able to readily shoot underwater without the need for additional casing will provide complete peace of mind and a few refreshingly fun underwater snaps. The unmatched durability of the Olympus Stylus TOUGH TG-4 digital camera make it one of the most popular options when it comes to choosing a summer adventure sidekick you can depend on. This highly portable and surprisingly lightweight camera is water, crush, shock and dustproof while featuring an impressive 16MP BSI CMOS Sensor, a TruePic VII image processor and Full HD 1080p Video Recording.
5. Phone & Camera Mounts For The Adventurous Photographer
Phone and camera mounts make it possible to capture all those summer adventures. Choose between a whole array of options from head straps, dog harnesses and bike mounts to suction cup and POV mounts. Getting that perfect outdoor action shot has never been easier!
For a full selection of all our recommended products for the summer and a roundup of the season’s specials, head on over to our Essential Summer Gear Guide.
