Im heading to Tokyo in just three weeks and honestly Im starting to panic about my gear setup. I finally managed to pick up a used Sony a6000 for a decent price because my phone just wasn't cutting it for the shots I want to get, but now I have no idea what else I actually need to carry around. I have a limited budget of maybe 200 bucks left over for accessories and I dont want to waste it on junk.
I spent all night scrolling through photography blogs and saw a ton of people raving about buying a Peak Design strap because its quick-release, but then I read a thread on another site saying that unless you have a heavy lens, a basic neck strap is totally fine and you should spend money on batteries instead. I have one battery right now and that definitely doesn't feel like enough for a full day of street photography if Im constantly checking my composition on the screen. Also, what about storage? I saw some people swear by those rugged portable hard drives, while others say just buy three cheap SD cards and call it a day. Im super overwhelmed by the sheer volume of conflicting advice.
Since I'll be walking around the city for 12 hours a day, comfort and minimalism are the only things that really matter to me right now. Do I really need a dedicated camera bag, or can I just get away with a padded insert for my existing backpack? Is a screen protector actually going to save my backlight or is it just a waste of money? Im worried about dropping the thing in a crowded crowd, so should I prioritize a wrist strap or a neck one? Just let me know what worked for your trips because I feel like if I dont get this figured out by next week I'm gonna be stuck with a dead camera in the middle of a temple somewhere...
Honestly, Tokyo is gonna be spectacular with the a6000! Forget the fancy bags, just grab a Tenba BYOB 7 Camera Insert to throw in your daily backpack. It keeps things small and light for those long walking days. Definitely prioritize batteries over a strap because the a6000 is notorious for eating power. Grab the Wasabi Power Sony NP-FW50 Battery 2-Pack with a charger, it is a total lifesaver for all-day shooting. For storage, skip the drive. Just get two SanDisk Extreme Pro 64GB SDXC UHS-I Card cards and swap them out so you have a backup if one fails. Stick with a simple wrist strap like the Peak Design Cuff Camera Wrist Strap so you dont feel weighed down in crowds. A cheap screen protector is totally worth it just to avoid scratches while your gear bounces around in your bag. You got this, have an amazing time!
Forget heavy bags, get a Sony PCK-LM17 Screen Protector so your display stays mint. Also, swapping to a BlackRapid Breathe Sport strap beats neck pain long-term, trust me.
Stumbled on this thread and honestly, take a deep breath. Tokyo streets get crazy busy and you really need to be careful with your grip. Do you currently have a decent microfiber cloth and a blower? You would be surprised how fast dust gets on the sensor. Also, are you planning on shooting mostly raw or jpeg files while you are out there for those long days?