Essential Camera Gear for photography at Angkor Temples.
Many people ask me, “What camera gear do I need to bring for a Temple Tour?”
If you are shooting the sunrise, it is essential to have a tripod. A tripod can also be helpful when trying to shoot HDR Brackets, or shooting long exposure shots inside the temples.
I also recommend going to the ticket office the day before and ask them to put the date of the Angkor Pass for the following day. Therefore, when you arrive at Angkor Wat at 5am, you are one of the first ones in line and can then get the best position for the sunrise.
When shooting long exposures for sunrise, it can really take a toll on your battery, so be sure to have your battery fully charged and bring a spare if you have one.
As far as lenses, this can be a tricky question to answer. I love my Nikon 24-70 f2.8. It is by far my favorite lens, and I use it 90% of the time at the temples. This focal length is enough for wide shots as well as detail shots.
Another great option is a wide-angle lens. Many temples have very large trees and it’s almost impossible to get the whole tree and temple in at 24mm. My 16mm is such a fun lens to shoot with because you can fit so much in the frame. Also if you are lucky enough to have a perfect sky (Blue sky, puffy white clouds) the wide angle looks amazing when shooting landscape shots of the temples.
If you have a telephoto lens, and don’t mind carrying the weight, it can be nice for portraits, as you can stay farther away from the subject in mind and can blend in with the crowd. A telephoto can also come in handy for details, at a temple like Bantey Srey, where it is roped off to visitors.
If you are traveling to Siem Reap in the wet season, I highly recommend a poncho, an umbrella, and something to keep your camera dry.
When visiting in the dry season, bring sunscreen, and sun protection.
When on tour with Siem Reap Photo Tours, you will safely be able to store any camera gear you don’t want to carry during that particular temple inside either our Tuk-Tuk or our vehicle, with our trusted drivers.
If you have any questions on specific gear, please feel free to contact us.