What are the essential travel accessories for the Canon EOS R6 V?

Question

I just pulled the trigger on the Canon EOS R6 V for my Japan trip next month and honestly im already stressed about it. I spent way more than I planned on the body alone—the budget is basically gone lol—and now I keep seeing these massive lists of stuff I supposedly need. I spent all night looking at reviews and everyone is obsessed with those Peak Design Slide straps but they look so over-the-top and bulky for just walking around Tokyo all day. Plus some people swear by these external battery grips but isnt the point of mirrorless to be lighter?? I dont want to lug around a ten pound brick. I also saw some stuff about UHS-II cards being mandatory but then some guy on a forum said regular V30 cards are fine for stills so I have no clue who to believe at this point. I am gonna be doing mostly street photography and some landscape stuff near Kyoto so I really need to stay mobile and not carry a suitcase of gear. What are the actual essential travel accessories for the R6 V that I actually need and what is just fluff people are trying to sell me?

AwkwardPenguin · Accepted Answer

Adding my experience here because I’ve done the Tokyo trek a few times. I remember my first trip to Akihabara, I was so worried about my gear getting bumped in the crowds that I overpacked and my back was killing me by day three. One thing I'd be very cautious about is the screen. The R6 series has that flip-out screen, but it’s a total magnet for scratches when you're swinging it around on a strap in a crowded subway or a busy Izakaya. I would suggest picking up a Spigen Tempered Glass Screen Protector for Canon R6 before you go. It's basically cheap insurance. Also, regarding the battery grip, just don't. It's total overkill for street stuff and defeats the purpose of being mobile. I actually found that being able to charge via USB-C was a lifesaver. I carried an Anker 737 Power Bank 24000mAh 140W in my daypack and it could top up the R6 while I was grabbing lunch. Technical-wise, if you aren't doing 4K60 video or high-speed sports, a Kingston Canvas Go Plus 128GB V30 SDXC is perfectly fine for landscape and street stills. You wont even hit the buffer limit. I'd also recommend a Think Tank Photo Retrospective 4 V2.0 Shoulder Bag since it doesnt look like a camera bag and helps you blend in. Be careful with those massive lists, honestly half of that stuff just stays in the hotel room... stay light and focus on the sights.

Apelly · Answer

I learned the hard way in Osaka that one battery wont cut it. My screen died right during a perfect sunset. Be careful with those massive gear lists, most of its just fluff. I would suggest staying light:

Get a Wasabi Power LP-E6NH Battery 2-Pack for cheap backup power.

Use a SanDisk Extreme Pro 128GB SDXC UHS-I V30 card for stills to save cash.

sheepsheadbaylife · Answer

Caught this thread a bit late but seriously, dont overthink the gear. If you are doing street photography in Kyoto, heavy stuff is your enemy. Since you mentioned the UHS-II dilemma, honestly you only need it if you are spraying 40fps bursts or doing high bit-rate video. For normal stills, a V60 card is the technical sweet spot for buffer clearing without the insane V90 price tag. I have used the Lexar Professional 1667x 128GB SDXC UHS-II V60 for years and it handles the R series data rates perfectly fine. Also about the strap... if the Slide is too much, the Peak Design Leash Camera Strap is way thinner and fits in a pocket easily. Since you are worried about weight, skip the grip for sure. Just grab a small charger like the Nitecore UCN2 Pro Dual Slot USB Charger so you can juice up via a power bank while you are eating ramen. Keep it simple so you can actually enjoy the trip.