One Camera, One Lens for Two Months: Minimal Travel Photography Gear
The gear you bring on a trip can effect a lot.
Gear: Do You Really Need More to Capture Great Photos?
Gear—it’s something most photographers love to obsess over. We can’t deny the thrill of buying a new lens, upgrading a camera body, or discovering a rare film stock that’s no longer produced. But here’s the truth: buying more gear won’t necessarily make you a better photographer. In fact, you could use just one camera and one lens for months and still capture some of your best images.
In this post, I’ll share my experience from a trip in the summer of 2024, where I relied solely on my Fujifilm X-T5 and a 35mm lens. This minimalist setup wasn’t just about simplifying—it was about proving how much you can achieve with less.
Travel Light: My Philosophy
I’ll never forget the look on my friend’s face when I showed up with a 20L backpack for a month-long trip across Europe. While most travelers lug massive Rimowa suitcases, I prefer the challenge of traveling with as little as possible. Picture me strolling down the street with a minimalist backpack, a few pairs of underwear and socks, and a big grin.
But let’s focus on what really matters here: camera gear.
When packing for a two-month trip to Asia, I faced a tough decision—what photography equipment should I bring? If you’ve read my post on iPhone photography, you’ll know that for years, my phone was my go-to travel camera. And honestly, it worked well—I’ve even had gallery exhibits showcasing photos taken on my iPhone. But for this trip, I wanted to focus solely on photography, so I knew I needed a “big boy” camera.
I laid out my gear: the Ricoh GR III, Leica M8, Fujifilm X-T5, and Canon AE-1. My internal debate lasted for hours. Should I avoid the hassle of film and skip the AE-1? Maybe bring the Leica for its unique Kodak-made sensor? Or perhaps the Ricoh for its portability?
In the end, I chose the Fujifilm X-T5, paired with two lenses. (Yes, I’ll explain how I ended up using only one lens later.) Years of traveling light have taught me that sacrificing a bit of convenience often leads to surprising benefits—a topic I’ll dive into in future posts
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The Camera: Fujifilm X-T5
I can’t say enough good things about this camera. Its compact size, stunning design, and intuitive controls make it a joy to use. From the moment I laid out my gear, I knew the X-T5 would be my primary camera—and it didn’t disappoint.
The X-T5 is a workhorse. It features dual SD card slots, full manual control via dials, and customizable buttons that make it incredibly versatile and reliable, especially for minimalist travel photography.
Of course, it’s not perfect. Like many Fuji cameras, the autofocus can be a bit underwhelming compared to competitors like Sony or Canon. It’s not terrible, but if you’re used to those systems, you might find it disappointing.
One of Fujifilm’s standout features is its film simulations, which many photographers love for their rich, nostalgic tones. Personally, I shoot in RAW and rarely use these looks out of the camera, opting to tweak my photos later in Lightroom. But if you’re someone who shoots JPEGs, Fujifilm cameras are a fantastic choice.
Even older models like the Fujifilm X-T1 can produce stunning images, and their lightweight bodies make them perfect for travel photographers.
The Lens: Fujifilm 35mm F/2 WR
For 97% of the photos I took on this trip, I relied on the Fujifilm 35mm F/2 WR lens. It’s sharp, fast, and incredibly lightweight. Its compact, low-profile design made it an ideal travel companion, perfectly complementing the X-T5.
I also packed a 23mm F/2, but it didn’t get much use. I ended up lending it to my girlfriend, and I think I captured maybe two photos with it the entire trip. The 35mm turned out to be all I needed, and I knew that if anything happened to it, I could simply ask for the 23mm back to use. Moving forward, I might consider bringing a zoom lens in the 25mm–50mm range, as there were moments where I found myself struggling with the fixed focal length.
Would I Change Anything?
If I could change anything, it would be to bring a sling bag for those long walks when I didn’t want my camera out and ready. While the focus of this trip was photography, there were moments when I just wanted to put the camera away and enjoy the experience with my girlfriend. A sling bag would have made it easier to store my gear safely while keeping it accessible when needed.
Why Minimal Travel Photography Works
This experience reinforced my belief that less is often more. By sticking to just one camera and one lens, I could focus entirely on composition, lighting, and storytelling without being distracted by gear or falling into gear paralysis. It also made traveling easier—no heavy bags, no endless decisions about which lens to use.
If you’re a travel photographer considering a minimalist approach, I highly recommend trying it. Whether it’s a Fujifilm X-T5 or another compact system, you’ll likely find that having less gear frees you to create more. below i’ll share some photos I took with this setup just so you can get an idea.
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Imagine we're still hanging out at our favorite cafe, cameras on the table, digging deeper into the conversation about photography. If you've enjoyed this little coffee break and feel like getting me a cortado with oat milk, hop over to my Buy Me a Coffee page. It genuinely keeps the conversation—and creativity—flowing. Cheers, friend!
I recently ran into this problem on a trip to Portugal. I ended up bringing too much gear. I brought my Hasselblad 500c, 3 film backs, 2 lenses (like you only really ended using one) and my Contax G1 with 2 lenses (again, only using one mostly). Lesson learned, I will defiantly only bring what I actually used and leave the rest at homes
I love the approach. Building upon my brief love affair with Ricoh GR IIIx, I’m now using Sony with a 40mm lens for almost all of my local photography outings. Occasionally, I would swap it for a medium format film camera with a similar focal length equivalent.
However, I find it hard to keep it this simple for photography-centric trips. It’s mostly fear of missing out in locations that I might never visit again, or at least not in the near future. It’s also because of the demanding subjects and their variety (from landscapes of various types, to street) and because I’ve been finding myself shooting photos and video with cameras of two different systems. I do feel like I could simplify and streamline it to some extent though. Maybe zoom lenses, which I’ve been avoiding, are the answer.