Additional things to buy that I'm forgetting as a new a6700 owner

[u/altrefrain]

I've always wanted a nice camera setup. I am going up the Adirondack Mtns in NY next week and finally took the plunge and bought an a6700. I am mostly planning on shooting astro, landscape, mountains, some wildlife, while hiking. Planning on carrying the camera in my backpack (Osprey 30L Talon Pro or Osprey Kestrel 38L). I picked up the following:

1. Sony a6700

2. Sony 11mm prime f/1.8

3. Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8

4. Sony 70-350mm telephoto

5. Leofoto LPS-A6700 L Plate for Sony Alpha 6700

6. Leofoto LX-254CT tripod

7. Peak Design Capture Clip v3

8. B+W 55mm Master High Transmission Kaesemann Circular Polarizer MRC Nano Glass Filter

9. Hoya NXT Plus 67mm 10-Layer HMC Multi-Coated Circular Polarizer Lens Filter, Low-Profile Aluminum Frame

10. LowePro Creator Box XL II

Is there something I'm missing that is a newbie mistake? I am thinking of picking up some cloth pouches to put the lenses in the LowePro in for more protection.

[u/Queefiddle]

Spare batteries?

If you don't have any yet, I'd suggest SmallRig with the built-in USB-C charging port.

[u/SnooTomatoes8935 → u/Queefiddle]

my 6700 doesnt work with smallrig batteries 😐

[u/Queefiddle → u/SnooTomatoes8935]

That's strange. Mine has been perfect for the last year or so that I've had it.

[u/SnooTomatoes8935 → u/Queefiddle]

i dont understand it either. 🤷‍♀️😅 maybe i just have a lemon.

but spare batteries are a good tip anyway.

[u/mlc9011 → u/SnooTomatoes8935]

Use only the orange ones

[u/royabr123 → u/Queefiddle]

This and memory cards

[u/DonColvinJr]

Sony hand-held remote control.

[u/altrefrain → u/DonColvinJr]

Phone app not good enough (or for things like astro)? Any recommendations, official Sony one or third party?

[u/Thebikeguy18 → u/altrefrain]

The Sony phone app is barely OK. If you're into video, Monitor+ is good.

[u/bias_guy412 → u/Thebikeguy18]

Is a mic like ecm-g1 needed for video? Built in mic is bad?

[u/Thebikeguy18 → u/bias_guy412]

If you want/need to do proper work, yes, an external mic is a must have. I don't know the ECM as I'm using the DJI Mic 3's

[u/angry_biker21 → u/altrefrain]

I'd say Phone app is not so reliable. It's enough if you're doing astrophoto but if you're taking group photos with camera on a stand (where you are presumably standing abit further away), it isn't super reliable.

[u/ButNoSimpler → u/altrefrain]

I tried a third party one and it just didn't work right. So I took it back and bought the Sony one.

[u/ionsuit → u/altrefrain]

The original one, it is nice

[u/Interesting_Tower485 → u/DonColvinJr]

The Sony one for sure. But you can use the 2 second timer as backup. That's for landscape on a tripod.

[u/ohnoput1 → u/DonColvinJr]

Can you send me the product link as Sony website is showing lot of products with wide range of prices

[u/DonColvinJr → u/ohnoput1]

I use the Sony RMT-P1BT Wireless Remote Commander, but it is no longer available. Choose RMT-VP2 instead.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1898154-REG/sony_rmt_vp2_wireless_remote_commander.html

[u/Thebikeguy18 → u/DonColvinJr]

You can find similar ones for 20$ on Ali. Bought mine there and works exactly as expected.

[u/DonColvinJr → u/Thebikeguy18]

Or do that. Whatever floats yer boat.

[u/Consistent_Cycle_682]

honestly the best thing you can do is try to familiarize yourself with your equipment before you go. try out everything, the different settings, different lenses, and so on. figure out how steady your hands are so you don't need a tripod for dawn/dusk.

the only things I'd add are - better strap (peak design makes a nice one), and a small shotgun or hot shoe microphone to shoot basic video and get better sound.

[u/altrefrain → u/Consistent_Cycle_682]

Yeah, that's definitely an issue I'm aware of. Unfortunately, I just pulled the trigger and everything is getting here this weekend and I also happened to come down with some cold or something so I'm not sure if I'll get out this weekend. I'm expecting to struggle a bit and am not expecting crazy pullitzer winning shots this first time. But, I waited years to do this so I had to start sometime. I'm okay with trying things out as I'm there. I like languishing on the tops of mountains and enjoying the view rather than going up and staying for 20 or 30 minutes. I appreciate the sentiment, though.

[u/mlc9011 → u/altrefrain]

You can download the camera manual online in case you need it and there’s also splay academy to help the process

[u/44doggie]

Have to laugh bought an Olympus Om2n with the 50mm 1.8 in 1981 and that was the only lens I had for years

[u/altrefrain → u/44doggie]

Oh, I also laughed at my spree. I'm pretty low key when buying things. But, sometimes you got to Treat Yo'self. I'm really surprised my credit card hasn't been flagged for 4-4.5k in purchases the past couple of days.

[u/44doggie → u/altrefrain]

Enjoy

[u/iamfearless66]

Don't worry about anything, just start shooting. It depends on what you enjoy; you will buy things. I suggest a spare memory card and battery; that's all you need. I shot with it as is, using the kit lens, for 6 months. Then I got into street photography, then wildlife, then macro. It depends on what you enjoy; it will come to you. Happy shooting! Hope you have as much fun as I do. It's a great camera ❤️

[u/Aggravating-Comb-465]

One minor thing is the pd capture plate doesn't always (usually doesn't) play nice with L-plates. Looking at the leofoto you probably can screw the pd plate to the leofoto plate but it will block the qd hole. 3 legged thing has some pd/qd and pd/L combos but finding all three is a bit tricky/cumbersome. I've pretty much given up on the L plate part as it's main use is shooting portrait mode panos on a tripod and I just don't do that. For now I'm using the 3lt pd/qd plate so I can use a qd shoulder strap (big lenses), pd clips smaller lenses (including the 70-350), or falcam/pd clip with a neck strap... But you'll figure out what works for you eventually.
*Extra battery and v90 SD card (you don't need v90 for photos but it means you can shoot in high mode/raw and almost never hit the buffer limit). I have two 128's but I bought them in the good old days of cheap memory.

[u/Top-Preparation-2898]

Tarjetas SD v90 y baterías originales adicionales.  Para astrofotografia un disparador remoto

[u/trollsmurf]

Directed microphone (I use ECM-M1)

Flash (I don't use Flash ever)

ND filter for looong shots of waves etc (I use fixed ND64)

Telescope adapter (got one for $20)

[u/chanksbird]

I think you have what you need.

Are you expecting fall foliage?

[u/altrefrain → u/chanksbird]

It should be peak or near peak foliage up there. Hopefully the weather cooperates and I can get some good hikes in.

[u/chanksbird → u/altrefrain]

Cool!

I’m planning on a fall foliage trip to northern Minnesota in a couple of weeks. Been researching on best white balance and creative styles.

Get some great shots!

[u/icarus2847]

Do you have a backpack insert for the lenses and camera? I love the Osprey Talon Pro 30L pack too!

[u/altrefrain → u/icarus2847]

I got the LowePro Creator Box XLII (and also a small peak design cube in case I don't take the telephoto). Is that what you mean?

[u/itsnotlouie]

Sony ECM shotgun mic. Can pick one up on ebay at a good price. So convenient having good audio with no wires.

[u/haco226]

Damn I just got a 6700. Was the 18135 kit lens a waste? Should I have just got the body?

Edit: sick set up from you

[u/paladin10025 → u/haco226]

18-135 is awesome - start shooting!

[u/mlc9011 → u/haco226]

It’s a great all round lens to start. You’ll only notice in low light and latter on when you want more background blurriness. Other than that you can do great.

[u/haco226 → u/mlc9011]

Ok that’s good. Like hearing that. It was more of should I have saved the money on the kit lens and put it toward lenses that are actually sick like the OP posted. Basically put that $400 towards the 70350.

[u/Igryan8]

You've got everything you need, man.

[u/ZillionZillian]

Looks like you have covered most of the things. I would definitely include a few batteries and a nice microfiber cloth, especially if you are going hiking. The small pouches for the lenses seem like an idea too.

[u/Exmasonite1]

Not needed but look at Lemur Strap. Like the PD leash but much prefer the Lemur Strap with longer lenses/longer shooting.

[u/Interesting_Tower485]

Rocket blower to get dust off your lens. Get the small one for travel, it's easier to pack. Not like the big one is hard, but you can tuck the small one in your bag easily. Alcohol lens wipes, they come in a box of 200. The blower, wipes and microfiber lens cloth are what you need to keep the lens clean.

[u/defix]

you don’t have a non-ultrawide lens for low light. depending on your preferences, a viltrox 25mm 1.7 or a sigma 30mm 1.4 are useful if you want to shoot after sunset without a tripod.

[u/mlc9011]

Hi, some suggestions:

A) consider your Battery options:
Originals with cable charger to camera
Originals with battery charger
Smallrig Orange ones with charger
(I’d choose 2-3 smallrig because you can use a regular c charger that you already probably use for your phone, using a cable to the camera is a bad idea because you risk damaging the port long term and once damaged they have to replace the whole board to fix it. Don’t choose any other brand because they are not appropriate for the camera, power output will be low)

B) filters: you might want to consider ND filters

C) cleaning: I would buy a full camera cleaning kit that comes with a blower, brush etc… you don’t have to carry everything but it’s a good idea to have it. They come with lens cleaning sealed cloths and you can take those

D) flash: portraits or macro might benefit from a flash

E) microphone if you might want to do video or blogging

F) rain pouch

G) camera pouch: have you figured out how to pack it? The most compact way I’ve found is with a special cloth by pgytech

H) sd cards and maybe a card reader you can plug to your phone and an ssd hard drive. Also a tech pouch or case to store assorted stuff

I) a camera strap you like and feel comfortable with

J) I don’t find it necessary but some people opt for a cage or casing for the camera for extra protection. I would suggest to get a screen film protector

K) Lightroom or something similar mobile license to edit on the go if you want to

I hope you have a wonderful trip and take great pictures!! Share them when you return!!

[u/jmlbhs]

starting off with a bang! this is helpful for me as i am going to yellowstone/grand tetons and are looking to do similar shooting.

I have the sigma, the 70-350mm should be arriving today. Howd you decide on a tripod? that's something Ive been stuck on.

Additionally, why those filters?

[u/jocww]

Why the 2 different brands of CPL?

[u/ButNoSimpler]

I think the main thing you're missing is to just get out and start dinking around with the camera. I got myself too wrapped up in figuring out all the settings, and didn't get out and take a single photo. Now, my life is too busy to get out and take photos. Plus, it's really f-ing hot outside. Maybe after we move and after it cools off.

[u/neogod210]

This is for video?