Photo Pouch 2025

After what i’d call a full migration from mirrorless to smartphone (Read here about it)[] this is the first iteration of the photo pouch. Its a photo pouch because a bagpack is too much. And its also so convenient, travelling just toss the pouch inside a backpack and you’re good to go. This is a list of what’s in it in 2025, this is going to evolve and its not the first per say

Cameras

• iPhone 15 Pro Max

• iPhone 13 Pro

The Photography Pouch

Peak Design Tech Pouch Link

This is my new camera bag. I used to carry a big backpack with lenses and everything I needed. After moving away from mirrorless, I downgraded to the peak design tech pouch. I got the pouch a while ago to pack all the cables and tech needed for travel, and that i did. Through travel, the Tech Pouch slowly started holding more and more camera accessories until it was exclusively for that. Eventually, the bigger camera bag went away.

{*< image src=“images/posts/gear-25/tech-pouch.jpeg” caption="" alt=“alter-text” height=“240” width=“300” position=“center” command=“fill” option=“q100” class=“img-fluid” title=“Peak Design Tech Pouch” webp=“false” >}}

Lenses

I’ve tried a bunch over the years — the original Olloclip back a decade ago, then Moment’s anamorphic and fisheye lenses, currently the Reeflex Telephoto is the one in active rotation, it lives on the pouch and it gets used fairly often, mainly for macro shots in the yard of the house. But will come with the pouch and has gone many places as its super handy.

Reeflex G-Series Super Telephoto 240mm Link

Reeflex Case

I’ve used iPhones since their inception, and over the years I’ve gone through a lot of cases. Usually, I replace them once during the mid-cycle of the phone, so about two cases per phone.

Honorable mentions:

• Peak Design cases (great quality)
• Fjorden cases (fantastic design)

Currently in active rotation:

Reeflex Leather MagSafe Case Link

{*< image src=“images/posts/gear-25/reeflex-case.jpeg” caption="" alt=“alter-text” height=“240” width=“300” position=“center” command=“fill” option=“q100” class=“img-fluid” title=“reeflex-case” webp=“false” >}}

Grip

This is one of the most controversial accessories. Many folks gravitate towards mobile because of the lightness — no extra batteries, lenses, etc.

For me, one of the best things about actual cameras is the tactile control. With buttons and dials, you can eventually drive the camera without even looking. Phones don’t offer this… except, almost.

There have been a few grips over the years. For the most part, they just trigger the shutter or adjust volume.

Honorable mentions:

• Fjorden Grip — one of the coolest. It has dials, buttons, and switches that can control different settings like lens changes or exposure. Unfortunately, it only works with the Fjorden app and a few third-party apps. However, ergonomics aren’t great, its to thin and feels awkward to hold (to me, my hands and my preferences) Its an amazing grip, don’t get me wrong, its all you could ask, changing lens with a switch, exposure with a dial, configurable buttons, doesn’t get any better than that. But instead of fitting my hand feels i need to hold it funny (perhaps is a matter of getting used to, don’t konw).

Currently in active rotation:

• SnapGrip (ShiftCam) — this one stayed. It’s comfortable, MagSafe, and feels great to use. It takes a bit of time to power on and start shooting, but once it’s on, it transforms the phone into a proper-feeling camera. I wish this had extra buttons and a dial, like the fjorden girp, but it doesn’t. It does, however provide this feeling of ‘Im a photographer now, lets make art’.

SnapGrip Classic Link

Filter/Cone Holder

This is a specialty piece of gear. The impact is subtle but useful.

I originally got it for the cone it came with — I often leave devices against glass windows for timelapses, and glare is the most annoying issue. The cone solves that, and as a bonus, it also takes filters. I still have filters from my mirrorless days, so this was perfect. Its mag safe and it fits the iphone 13, on the 15 is a bit off but still works very well. It also works on top of the snap grip.

JJC Magnetic Filter/Anti-Reflection Hood Link

{*< image src=“images/posts/gear-25/filter-holder.jpeg” caption="" alt=“alter-text” height=“240” width=“300” position=“center” command=“fill” option=“q100” class=“img-fluid” title=“filter-holder” webp=“false” >}}

Filters

These aren’t exclusive to phones — any lens filter will do as long as it fits the holder. From the mirrorless days I have all 85mm filters and have expansion rings, this works the same. 1 expansion ring to fit the holder and all filters are fair play now. That said, i don’t think there’s use for all kinds of filters.

Currently in active rotation:

• CPL
• IR filter

Cone

The cone itself is a rubber piece that screws onto the filter threads. Pressed against a window, it removes glare completely. It’s MagSafe, snaps on quickly, and works flawlessly.

{*< image src=“images/posts/gear-25/glare-cone.jpeg” caption="" alt=“alter-text” height=“240” width=“320” position=“center” command=“fill” option=“q100” class=“img-fluid” title=“glare-cone” webp=“false” >}}

Clamps

These are incredibly useful. I have them installed all over the house — in the kitchen, office, and everywhere I do work. Each has a MagSafe disk so the phone can snap into place instantly.

Ulanzi Clamps Link

(placeholder photo) {*< image src=“images/posts/gear-25/clamp.jpeg” caption="" alt=“alter-text” height=“240” width=“320” position=“center” command=“fill” option=“q100” class=“img-fluid” title=“clamp” webp=“false” >}}

Mounts

There’s an adapter that converts a GoPro mount into a 1/8-inch screw mount like a tripod. That means I can snap my phone onto any GoPro mount or tripod with a MagSafe disk.

• GoPro to Tripod Adapter
• Moment Pro Tripod Mount

Tripods

With smartphone cameras these are not as handy as they are to regular cameras. Also smarphones don’t have the kinda power an actuall camera with a mechanical shutter has. However, they’re still handy, having the phone there even to have a zoom call or watch a movie or a game. And the ocational timelapse video.

• Manfrotto Befree — everyday tripod around the house
• Peak Design Travel Tripod — my go-to tripod for travel

Peak Design Travel Tripod Link

{*< image src=“images/posts/gear-25/tripods.jpeg” caption="" alt=“alter-text” height=“120” width=“160” position=“center” command=“fill” option=“q100” class=“img-fluid” title=“tripods” webp=“false” >}}

Batteries / Power Banks

These are huge. A couple of Anker power banks cover me for extended shooting sessions.

Anker Power Bank Link

{*< image src=“images/posts/gear-25/power-bank.jpeg” caption="" alt=“alter-text” height=“160” width=“120” position=“center” command=“fill” option=“q100” class=“img-fluid” title=“power-bank” webp=“false” >}}

Underwater housing

This is one of the most fun things. For big mirrorless and DSLR cameras these are incredibly expensive and unaffordable. For smartphones they’re not cheap, but they’re affordable. Over the years i’ve tried a handful of different underwater housings going form the ziplock looking bag, an actual ziplock, the case tailored for the actual model and goes out of date when the new phone comes up, and the big box that fits loads of devices. I’ve used them thuroughly in the ocean and swiming in pools. The big generic box works fine and carries over different devices, however these are big and bulky,does not fit in the pouch.

Underwater case Link

---

This pouch was put together organically. Started focused on bringing cables, chargers and adapters while travelling but slowly evolved into the camera pouch it now is. There’s also a few cables, and adapters that go there by default, card readers, lens cloths and all the extra things one could use.