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My complete hiking & photo setup
When hiking, your gear has to do two things at once: deliver the highest image quality for landscapes, details and distant subjects — and still be wearable for a full day. Over time I’ve settled on a setup where every piece has a clear job. Here’s everything that comes along on tour — and exactly why.
The centrepiece – Sony Alpha 7R V
The Sony A7R V delivers, with 61 megapixels, the headroom that landscape photos need: strong crops, large prints, fine detail. The robust, weather-sealed body is built for the outdoors — rain, dust and cold mornings included. It’s the foundation on which the entire rest of the setup is built.
➡️ View Sony Alpha 7R V on Amazon
The lenses
Three lenses cover practically every situation on the hike; a fourth has a special purpose.
Sony FE 16–35 mm f/2.8 GM II
The wide angle for broad valleys, forest and sky — the workhorse for the big panoramas on tour.
➡️ View Sony FE 16–35 mm f/2.8 GM II on Amazon
Sony FE 90 mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS
For flora, dew, fungi and everything small at the wayside. The focal length that captures the details others miss.
➡️ View Sony FE 90 mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS on Amazon
Sony FE 100–400 mm f/4.5–5.6 GM OSS + teleconverter
Brings animals and distant ridgelines closer without disturbing them. With the teleconverter, the focal length reaches even further — ideal for shy subjects from a safe distance.
➡️ View Sony FE 100–400 mm f/4.5–5.6 GM OSS on Amazon
➡️ View Sony teleconverter SEL14TC (1.4×) on Amazon
Sony FE 24–70 mm f/2.8 GM II
This lens isn’t primarily intended for hiking. I have the all-rounder for parties and events, where I don’t want to be constantly changing lenses and can work flexibly through the whole situation with a single focal length.
➡️ View Sony FE 24–70 mm f/2.8 GM II on Amazon
Light under control — two K&F magnetic filter sets
Instead of screw-in filters, I rely entirely on the magnetic system from K&F — filters are placed on rather than screwed in, and swapping takes seconds right on the trail. Two sets cover everything I need:
K&F Nano-Xcel series (CPL + ND8 + ND64)
With adapter ring and lens cap, 28-layer multi-coated. The polarising filter brings richer colours and reduces reflections from water and foliage; the ND filters (ND8/ND64) allow long exposures at waterfalls and streams, even in daylight.
➡️ View K&F Nano-Xcel Magnetfilter-Set on Amazon
K&F Nano-X series, magnetic 1s quick-change filter 5-pack
CPL + variable ND (VND2-32) + black diffusion filter 1/4, plus magnetic base ring and lens cap set with storage pouch, 28-layer multi-coated. The variable ND replaces several fixed ND strengths in a single filter; the diffusion filter gives videos and available-light shots a softer, more cinematic look.
➡️ View K&F Nano-X 5er-Pack Magnetfilter on Amazon
How I carry everything
On trail hikes: Höhenhorn “Allalin” softshell vest
On longer trail hikes I always carry a backpack with a hydration bladder anyway — a second camera backpack on top of that just gets in the way. The solution is a vest: the Höhenhorn Allalin Softshell. The lenses go into the side pockets, even the large tele fits in. That way I have all my gear directly on my body, everything within reach, nothing putting extra pressure on my back — and changing lenses takes seconds, without having to put anything down.
➡️ View Höhenhorn Allalin softshell vest on Amazon
For transport and travel: Lowepro ProTactic BP 350 AW III
When the gear needs to get from A to B, the Lowepro camera backpack takes over: weather-resistant, securely padded, and deliberately chosen to fit as carry-on luggage on a plane. On the actual hike it stays in the car or at the accommodation — on the trail I wear the vest.
➡️ View Lowepro ProTactic BP 350 AW III on Amazon
Clothing – functional from head to toe
Not only the camera has to suit the tour — so does the clothing. My standard:
Merino shirt (short sleeve)
Breathable and odour-resistant, stays fresh even on long days. Merino regulates temperature and dries quickly — ideal for hiking.
➡️ View men’s merino short-sleeve shirt on Amazon
VAUDE “Farley Stretch T-Zip III” trekking trousers
Stretchy, hard-wearing and quick-drying, produced in an environmentally friendly way. Zip-off to shorts in seconds when it gets warmer. Practical side effect: my small tripod fits easily into the trouser pocket.
➡️ View VAUDE Farley Stretch T-Zip III on Amazon
FALKE “TK2 Cool Short” hiking socks
Cooling Lyocell functional material, medium cushioning and anti-blister properties. Exactly what feet need on long routes.
➡️ View FALKE TK2 Cool Short hiking socks on Amazon
Steady footing — two tripods for two situations
Ulanzi MT90 travel tripod
Fits right in a trouser pocket and is always there. For quick stabilisation on the go, without having to carry anything extra.
➡️ View Ulanzi MT90 travel tripod on Amazon
Aluminium tripod O254A1 + BH-28L ball head
4 segments, up to 10 kg load capacity. The large tripod comes along specifically when I know in advance that something special is worth it at the destination — for example for long exposures, the blue hour, or tele shots with the 100–400.
➡️ View Aluminium-Stativ O254A1 + BH-28L on Amazon
Short videos on the go – Insta360 GO 3S
For quick clips in between, I bring the Insta360 GO 3S along — a tiny action camera, barely bigger than a thumb. It clips on quickly or attaches magnetically and is ready to go instantly, without setting up any extra equipment. Ideal for capturing spontaneous moments on the trail as a short video, without interrupting the main camera for it.
➡️ View Insta360 GO 3S on Amazon
Power & storage
So the long day doesn’t end prematurely:
- 3× Sony NP-FZ100 battery + dual charger BC-ZD1 – enough reserve for long days. View NP-FZ100 battery · View BC-ZD1 charger
- Battery grip VG-C4EM – more battery life and a better grip in portrait orientation. View VG-C4EM
- Remote control RMT-VP2 – shake-free shutter release, e.g. for long exposures. View RMT-VP2
- 2× Sony SDXC UHS-II R300 TOUGH – fast, shatterproof memory cards. View SDXC TOUGH R300
Sample images from this setup
A few shots taken with exactly this equipment:
Conclusion
This is an uncompromising but portable setup — every piece has a clear job on the hike. The vest makes the big camera trail-ready, the filters get the most out of the light, and from wide angle to tele every situation is covered. This is exactly how the images you see here on the tours are made.
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