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India Travel Readers' Questions

Karl Rock’s Camera and YouTube Gear

A lot of people ask me what equipment I use to create my videos on YouTube. I’m a very minimal person. I try not to own much equipment or possessions in general. The more stuff I have, the more I have to lug around, it’s a pain while travelling.

I still use my first GoPro HERO5 Session camera as my primary camera, and it’s what I’ve filmed most of my viral videos on – just the camera, no external microphone or anything else.

In the beginning, I was even borrowing my friend’s computer to edit. I literally only had a GoPro.

With a Chaiwala
Going to an Taj Mahal viewpoint
Trying Milk Cake
Inside a Hindu temple
Me vlogging about all the great sites and tastes of Agra in Uttar Pradesh.

I tell you this because the equipment you use does not matter. I made viral videos with millions of views with just an idea, my GoPro, and a borrowed computer!

The story you’re telling is what matters the most! I’ve seen travel vloggers make stunningly beautiful vlogs… but there was no personality or story in the video, so they only had a few hundred views.

A story makes the video, not the equipment.

Recently, I’ve begun to buy more equipment to increase the quality of my videos, live streams, and social media posts. But in my opinion, if I only had 1 camera for everything (vlogs, videos, live streams), it would be a GoPro.

My Olympus OM-D E-M5 with my Chai in Pakistan.
Vlogging in the rain with E-M5 and Rode Wireless Go in Muzaffarabad.

My YouTube video and vlog equipment

Cameras

My original GoPro HERO5 Session shooting a timelapse somewhere in India.
  • GoPro HERO5 Session
  • GoPro HERO10 Black
  • Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III (My previous DSLR was Panasonic G85 Mirrorless)
  • DJI Mavic Mini 2
  • Jobi Gorilla Pod 3
  • Manfrotto BeFree Aluminium Travel Tripod

Lenses

  • Panasonic’s LUMIX G VARIO 12-60mm
  • Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm f/2.8-4 ASPH
  • Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 17mm f/1.8 Lens
  • Samyang 7.5 mm Fisheye
  • Hoya ND & UV filters

Microphones

Lights

  • Aputure AL-MX

Software

  • Adobe Premiere Pro, After Effects, and Audition
  • Transcend StoreJet 25H3P 2.5-inch 2TB external HD (I bought a shockproof HD when I dropped my first HD and lost all my data)

Live stream equipment

  • Elgato Cam Link 4K for DSLR

By Karl Rock

Karl Rock, is a Hindi speaking Kiwi ex-pat who take viewers behind the scenes of incredible India and its neighbours. He has visited every state and union territory in India, and its culturally similar neighbours – Pakistan and Bangladesh, and aims to make others fall in love with India and the subcontinent.

23 replies on “Karl Rock’s Camera and YouTube Gear”

Hello Karl,
I love India. I spent a wonderful full year there in 1971, mainly on foot, wandering and living in the villages. I’m from the UK, and then with a UK passport there were no visa restrictions. I have been several times there since then but for shorter periods under the present visa restrictions caused by Margaret Thatcher in the 1980’s. Mainly for three month or three week periods.

I have a major yearning to spend my time there now on a much more permanent basis, but there really does not seem to get around the visa requirements. I would be very grateful for any advises.

Best wishes
Harry

Hello, karl I’m from Delhi i just want to meet you once please contact me i’m your biggest fan I watch your video evry day and whenever I feel low your video help me out to see my own city in different ways I just want to thank you. Please reply me back.
With love tanvee

Hi karl,
i follow u from a year. I know your video is pretty genuine, but plz dont make video on some scam and such things, its negatively impact my country’s image. I know such people meet in much places in most of countries, but i pretty sure you meet some good people too, make video on them. You also observe that scam video get millions of views than other what does it mean, people always want to know only negative part of country.
So plz avoide making video on such things, and make your as usual video of traveling. Good bye and namaste

I watched his scam videos and still came to India .. watching the videos don’t stop us tourist from coming it just makes us aware and helps us enjoy the country more

I think he lets people know about the scams etc because he loves India so much. Its actually doing a huge favour to your tourism, let me explain… knowledge is very valuable so these tourists that visit won’t get upset or have bad memories if they know the things that can happen. Making people aware lets him help people to enjoy the country as much as he obviously does. Far more damage to your country would be done if tourists are unaware. I have visited your country many many times and it is beautiful, the people are wonderful and the food is a feast for the senses. Having some knowledge before my visits made the visits even more special. India is my favourite Place in the world by far and as World Wide Airline Crew I have been lucky to visit a huge part of the world.

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