I used to overpack camera gear and regret it by day two. Now I build kits by shooting scenario and carrying tolerance. If I cannot carry it for a full day, it does not come.
Gear families I currently rotate:
- DJI Pocket 3
- GoPro setup
- Sony compact full-frame setup
- Insta360 action setup
How I map gear to trip type
- City walk-and-talk: DJI Pocket 3
- Hiking, rain, rough movement: GoPro
- Low light and still photos: Sony
- Creative POV and reframing: Insta360
My default kit now
- DJI Pocket 3
- Sony body + one lens
- Tiny microphone
- Two spare batteries
- Lightweight card wallet
This kit is not maximal, but I actually use it all day.
What I removed
I stopped carrying extra lenses "just in case." I stopped bringing two camera systems with overlapping purpose. I stopped packing heavy tripods for city-only itineraries.
Quality vs consistency
My best trip footage now is not always the most cinematic. It is the most complete story because the kit is easy to deploy quickly. Moments are easier to miss than technical quality.
Practical rule I follow
If setup takes more than 15 seconds in a busy street, it is too heavy for that trip. Speed is a creative advantage.
The right creator kit is the one you keep using from morning coffee to late-night walk, not just during golden hour.
Editing workflow note
I now set a 20-minute daily "clip hygiene" window during trips. This keeps storage clean and avoids post-trip editing panic. A lighter shooting kit only works fully when file management is equally simple.
Capture and organization should be designed together.