Over the years, people have come into the gallery, and the most common question I get asked is, "What camera do you shoot?"
And while I try to explain that it's not the camera creating the image, and in fact many cameras have the ability of creating similar imagery, I figured I'd put together a post showing my favorite setup that you'll find on me most of the time. I do a lot of hiking and climbing with my gear, and therefore have become quite a minimalist when it comes to shooting, using the least gear for the most visual impact.
Without further adieu..... my camera bag:
A: Lowepro TLZ AW Camera Bag, which has now been replaced with the Lowepro Toploader Pro 75 AW II. - Small enough to take anywhere and just the right size for all the essentials. It also has a built in rainfly which comes in handy during rainy hikes.
B: Canon 7D - Crop sensor DSLR. Pretty old model these days but still works for everything I need it for. You can pick it up here, or check out the updated versions 6D and 7DmkII.
C: Tokina 11-16mm 2.8 - Nice wide angle rectilinear lens for landscapes, architectural work, and other shots where you need to capture a lot of the scene. Also, nice large aperture making it ideal for nighttime shots.
D: 50mm 1.2 - A beautiful low light lens. With an aperture of 1.2 which can create nice creamy background, and a crop factor that makes it equivalent to 75mm, this has become my go to portrait lens. Its also great for shooting events and concerts where ambient light is dim at best. I also like the smaller lighter 1.8 version. Still great in low light, and plenty sharp for most uses. Nikon Version.
E: Nikon 105mm 2.5 - This vintage classic is easy to come by these days fairly inexpensively. I use it for portraits but it tends to be a bit long. You have to back way up to get whole subjects in frame, but it's nice when I need a little more reach than the 50mm can give me. Great for interviews because of its beautiful look and being able to place the camera far from the subject hopefully seeming less intimidating. Because it is an older lens aperture, it is controlled right on the lens and is manual focus only. You can slap this right on to any modern Nikon DSLR but it needs an inexpensive adapter to work on a Canon body. You can also add a 1.4x or 2x teleconverter to give you an effective focal length of nearly a whopping 300mm!
F: Audio-Technica ATR-3350 Lavalier Microphone - A must have for anyone shooting films that include interviews or in-field narration. This little microphone clips to the speakers lapel and effectively records their voice while substantially cutting out background noise. With a 20ft cable it can be plugged into a camera audio in or directly into an audio recording device like the Zoom H1. and then placed in the pocket of the speaker for a mobile solution.
G: Zoom H1 Audio Recorder - This small device has its own stereo microphone and records stereo audio in either WAV or MP3 format. You can use the on board microphone for picking up ambient noise or recording voice in a quiet setting, or use it how I do and plug in a different mic for a range of audio recording options.
H: Tripod - Though I often carry a larger tripod like the Dolica 60" Carbon Fiber, the one pictured here is an inexpensive minipod. I use them often with light cameras like a gopro or when doing really long hikes or canyoneering.
I: Intervalometer - These are inexpensive pieces of equipment that can used to create long exposures, time lapses, timer delayed photos, and plenty other functions. These days, many newer camera bodies are being built with them included.
J: Battery Charger - Though I carry 4 batteries with me, adding a charger takes up room but ensures you can stay on the go and keep shooting as long as there's an outlet nearby.
K: Batteries - I always carry one in the camera and 3 backups. Some think its a bit excessive, but with my long exposures, and timelapse shooting I tend to burn through battery life quickly. Also helps battle battery drain in colder climates.
L: Circular Polarizing filter - Great for making those skies pop, cutting down on glare, and creating rich colors. Another addition you might use is step down rings to make your largest filter compatible with all you lenses.
M: Backscatter Red Filter for GoPro - Balances blue looking video for shooting underwater.
N: Media - Important to have back ups and all the different cards you need. I use Lexar CF cards for my DSLR and microSDs for my audio recorder and GoPro. And SD cards for misc things.
O: Selfie Stick/Monopod - Great for getting a stable shot, using it either on a stable surface or using it as a counter balance while filming video with the Gopro.
P: GoPro HERO4 - great little sport camera in case I want to set a timelapse, jump in the water, film in a water fall, or as a general backup.
This plus a few other pieces of equipment gives me most of the equipment I would want to use.
Other things that can be brought a long in another "expansion pack" would include:
Glidecam
Strobes - Nikon SB700 speedlight, or the more modestly priced Yongnuo YN-560 II Speedlight Flash for Canon and Nikon.
Radio Triggers - Yongnuo Radio Triggers
CMT Housing or Aquatech Housing to make things water and impact resistant.
Here's what it looks like all closed up and ready to go. The perfect minimalist setup.
