You keep asking, the answer keeps changing...
One popular question asked of pro photographers is "what gear are you using?" Sometimes it'll be asked about a specific category, as in "what raw converter do you use?" Sometimes it's just a broad generic question. Some askers are seriously interested in what the pro is using, some are just curious, some are looking for validation of their own choices, and some, well let's just say that they need therapy that a list isn't going to provide.
What follows isn't a recommendation (see right column). It's just what I've chosen to use at the moment. I should note that because I do a lot of testing of gear, sometimes I happen to be carrying things that aren't on this list, so if you see me in the field with an Exacta D1 and a 15-75mm Varex lens, it's not because I've abandoned my usual equipment. But the following is the list I'd likely use if you hired me to shoot a magazine or other assignment in my usual style.
The Basic Kit
- D3 and D300 camera bodies. The D3 is the primary shooting body, but the D300 comes into play for wildlife and long hikes into the backcountry.
- 10.5mm Nikkor (for D300). Not always carried, but a fun lens for a different perspective.
- 12-24mm Nikkor. When I shoot wide with the D300 in the backcountry, this is the lens I use. Why did I switch from the Sigma 10-20mm? Because the 12-24mm can be used from 18mm on the D3. Why not the 14-24mm? It doesn't take filters (but it's a better lens than the 12-24mm).
- 24-70mm Nikkor. I don't shoot mid-range much, but this is the lens I do it with.
- 70-200mm Nikkor. Every time I shoot with this lens I'm reminded why I like it. Hard to beat in any way in this focal length range.
- 200-400mm Nikkor. I'm still undecided about this range, actually, as my eventual review will show.
Sometimes I'll carry the 70-180mm Micro-Nikkor (plus extension tubes and CU filters) in place of the 70-200mm if I know I need to shoot macro and don't need fast focusing telephoto. Otherwise, I just carry a Canon 500D filter set for the 70-200mm for casual macro.
Also in the basic kit:
- EN-EL4a and EN-EL3e camera batteries. The older EN-EL4 are okay, but don't last as long between charges.
- Speedlight SB-800 with accessories. Sometimes two or three Speedlights are carried. Depends upon the assignment.
- Filters. Singh-Ray 1SS, 2SS, 2HS, and sometimes 3HS graduated neutral density filters with my modified Cokin P-mount; 77mm Singh-Ray Variable ND filter, 77mm B&W polarizing filter. Just the basics, thank you.
- Remote release. Varies with assignment, but a basic release like the MC-30 is usually enough, though I usually use the Phottix Cleon. When I'm out by myself, a wireless remote is absolutely necessary.
- Right Angle Viewfinder. I shoot low a lot, and it's easier on my body this way. Often I'll have a GroundPod with me, as well. Oh: and knee pads.
- Minimum 60GB card storage (almost all SanDisk Extreme III right now). Normally that's about a week's work of serious shooting. If I think I need more I'll supplement this with the Epson P5000 for in-field backup.
- Some sort of compact. If I'm seriously shooting with the compact, it's the Ricoh Caprio GX-100 or the Leica D-Lux 3. If I'm not seriously shooting with the compact, the Nikon P5000 is fine.
The Supporting Cast
- Think Tank Airport Antidote. My basic carrying case. Carries the cameras, lenses, computer, and storage while traveling by plane, and the cameras, lenses, plus auxiliary shooting equipment while moving through the landscape photographing.
- Gitzo GT2530LVL. This is about as light as you can go with a D3. If I'm shooting with long lenses, then my old 1325 and leveling base comes instead. Both tripods have leveling bases on them because it is just so much faster to set up panos with a leveling base.
- Really Right Stuff B-55 head. You need a strong head for all that weight on it. Sometimes I'll use the RRS B-40 if I need to go light weight for hiking.
- Really Right Stuff pano equipment. The full pano setup on the Gitzo leveling base takes moments to set up and gets the camera positioned right.
- Apple 15" MacBook Pro, maxed out in RAM and hard drive. Pretty much the best portable computer I've seen; it isn't the best at all things, but it's the best balance between performance, features, weight, and quality. I've got a Verizon EVDO modem for wireless connectivity where WiFi isn't available. Plus I carry dual 250GB portable hard drives.
After the Shoot
- Photo Mechanic. For ingest, basic browse and delete, captioning, renaming and moving. However, the more I use Lightroom, the more I see that I'll eventually move to it instead of Photo Mechanic. But I still need to learn Lightroom better, especially the database implications of doing things on my laptop, desktop, and server and keeping them synced.
- Capture NX. For raw conversions that require the "best possible conversion."
- Photoshop CS3. For serious image tweaking. Numerous roll-your-own Actions plus Neat Image are my main additions.
- Autopano Pro. For panoramic and HDR stitching (though I'm waiting for the D3/D300 update). This actually highlights a problem with all the photographer-centric software solutions for ingest and management: they don't understand "related" images. Good thing Autopano Pro can just look at a folder of images and figure out which ones are part of a pano.
What's not to Like
Now it's time to wave my magic wand. Considering the above, what would I change? Not a heck of a lot, actually:
- Smaller body. Take the vertical grip off the D3 and give me a smaller body size. Carrying a big behemots on assignment is a bit much. What happened to the Japanese predilection for small?
- Better wide choice. If I carry a DX body with my D3, then I need something wider than 17mm, but I don't want to carry two wide lenses (one for each sensor size). I'm not 100% sure what the answer is, as making a big range wide angle zoom makes it bigger than I'd like and tends to make the front element too curvy (thus removing front filter options). Perhaps a 12mm f/4 DX lens would solve my problems, as I could carry the 24-70mm plus a 20mm for the D3.
- Better auxiliary carrying. The Think Tank Airport Antidote doesn't have the best tripod carrying option I've seen. I really want to carry the tripod centered on the back, anyway. Moreover, the case's sides aren't well configured for adding even Think Tank's own accessories. Where do I put the RU Thirsty, for instance? All the LowePro's that will carry what I need are too big for regional jets and small prop planes. The perfect pack for both air travel and backcountry travel doesn't yet exist.
- Lightroom for Traveling Photographers. I use three different computers, depending upon where I'm at. While I know I can force the issue by moving files the right way at the right times, I really don't want to think about it. I want an automated syncing option (for both the images I worked on with my laptop and the backup ingest (archive) that's on my portable hard drive). And please make the next version better at "related" images (that's actually a broader category than just panos or HDR, by the way).
- The ultimate compact. APS sensor, 10mp, high quality lens that has a real wide angle capability and manual control. I've harped on this before.
Yes. You should read the above as you probably did: there really isn't much I'd change for my type of shooting. I want a smaller camera and a better compact camera, plus a few odds and ends and I'd be 100% happy. Sure, more pixels would be nice (as long as they're at least as good as the pixels I have ;~). Sure, I'll take any increase in dynamic range or noise reduction that comes along. But generally I'm happy with what I've got, so these are icing on the cake, not missing cake ingredients.
For almost a decade now photographers have been deep into a constant churn on equipment as the digital cameras matured. But we're getting close to the time when we can just go out and shoot again, and not worry so much about what the latest and greatest equipment is. Don't be surprised if my list doesn't change much over the next couple of years.
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