Xander Budnick is an outdoors Youtuber who makes amazing camera shots, so I was really interested what camera and lenses does he use to produce these fantastic end results. I dug deep, found a livestream and some info in his old Facebook posts and here’s all the camera gear he uses to make his outdoor videos.
- Sony A7SIII (Main Camera)
- Sony 24–105mm F4 (Primary Lens)
- Sony A7III (Previous Main Camera)
- Sony RX100 VII (Compact Camera)
- GoPro Hero 7 Black (Action Camera)
- Sirui AM 254 (Hiking Tripod)
- Sirui ST 124 (Canoe Tripod)
- JOBY Ballhead 3K PRO (Ball Mount)
- DJI Mini 2 (Drone)
- Camera Clip & Mini Tripod (Peak Design + Manfrotto PIXI EVO)
In the livestream he actually shares that he uses now the Sony A7SIII camera which went underwater for 2 minutes on one of this 7 day trips, but it still works well. Previously he used Sony A7III. He also shares that editing takes a very long time, for 1 day of filming it’s 2 days of editing.
Sony A7SIII (Main Camera)
- 12.1MP1 Exmor R sensor, optimized for 4K, sensitivity and speed.Bluetooth : version 5.0
- New BIONZ XR processing engine delivers 8x more processing power2
- Low noise images with ISO up to 409,6003 and 15 plus stop dynamic range4
This is the camera he relies on for almost all of his current outdoor videos. It’s tough enough for multi day wilderness trips and performs well in low light, which is why it fits his style so well. In one of his livestreams he even mentioned that the A7SIII spent about two minutes underwater during a 7 day adventure and still worked afterward. That durability is a big part of why he sticks with it.
Sony 24–105mm F4 (Primary Lens)
- G-lens design with 4 aspherical and 3 ED glass (extra-low Dispersion) elements, for high corner-to-corner resolving power throughout the entire zoom range
- Constant F4 maximum aperture maintains exposure and depth of field throughout the Zoom range
- 9-Blade circular aperture contributes to beautifully de-focused backgrounds. Format – 35 mm full-frame. Lens Groups / Elements – 14–17
This is the lens he uses the most today. Paired with the A7SIII, it covers almost everything he needs on the trail. The 24 to 105 range gives him wide shots of landscapes, medium shots around camp, and tighter frames when he needs detail — all without swapping lenses in the rain or on a canoe. And OSS gives that extra stability to video recording.
Sony A7III (Previous Main Camera)
Before switching to the A7SIII, Xander filmed most of his earlier content on the Sony A7III. It handled everything from solo trips to multi day canoe routes. Even though it’s not his main body now, he still keeps it as backup gear.
Sony RX100 VII (Compact Camera)
- 20. 1MP 1. 0 Type stacked CMOS sensor, Zeiss Vario Sonnar T 24 200 millimeter F2. 8 F4. 5 large aperture high magnification zoom lens
- 0. 02 sec. High AF speed, 357 point focal plane Phase detection AF and 425 point contrast detection AF
- Up to 20 fps blackout free shooting, using up to 60 times/sec. AF/AE calculations. Diopter Adjustment: -4.0 to +3.0 m-1. Operating Temperature- 0 degrees C.- +40 degrees C. / 32 degrees F. – 104 degrees F
This small camera helps him grab quick shots when the main setup would be too bulky or risky. It’s pocketable and fast, which makes it ideal for second angles or moments on the move.
GoPro Hero 7 Black (Action Camera)
- HyperSmooth: Get gimbal like stabilization – without the gimbal. HERO7 Black corrects for camera shake to deliver insanely smooth footage.
- TimeWarp: Capture super-stabilized time lapse videos while you move about a scene. Increase the speed up to 30x to turn longer activities into shareable moments.
- SuperPhoto: HERO7 Black intelligently applies HDR, local tone mapping or noise reduction to optimize your shots.
When he needs something waterproof, mountable, or more rugged, he turns to the Hero 7. It’s useful for canoe sections, trail POVs, and any moment where the A7SIII would be in danger.
Sirui AM 254 (Hiking Tripod)
This is his go to tripod for hiking trips. It’s lightweight, stable, and easy to carry, which matters when he’s covering long distances with a full pack.
Sirui ST 124 (Canoe Tripod)
On canoe trips he switches to this model. It offers better stability on uneven terrain, wet ground, and rocky shorelines, which helps him get those steady landscape shots.
JOBY Ballhead 3K PRO (Ball Mount)
A compact ballhead he uses across his tripods. It lets him adjust shots quickly without unnecessary fiddling, which helps when he needs to film and move on.
DJI Mini 2 (Drone)
He uses the Mini 2 for short, purposeful aerial clips. It’s light enough to justify bringing even on heavy portages and adds extra perspective without overwhelming his grounded style.
Camera Clip & Mini Tripod (Peak Design + Manfrotto PIXI EVO)
These accessories help him mount cameras in tight spots or keep a small secondary camera ready to shoot. They’re practical tools that match his minimalist, efficient filming approach.
