While camera equipment itself does not take pictures — photographers do that — I am frequently asked as to what equipment I use. Don’t go out and duplicate this list; buy the equipment you need to take the photographs you like.
But be careful. Let me quote my friend Jack Dykinga: “Cameras and lenses are simply tools to capture our unique vision. Concentrate on equipment and you’ll take technically good photographs. Concentrate on seeing the light’s magic colors and your images will stir the soul.”
I use Think Tank Photo and Mindshift backpacks to carry equipment in the field.
An Arizona sycamore leaf caught in sotol.
While I own quite a bit of equipment (after all, this is my livelihood) here is a list of the equipment I use the most. I tailor the equipment I actually carry depending on the job at hand.
Camera bodies:
Nikon D5, D500, and D850, all with Really Right Stuff L brackets
Lenses:
14-24mm f/2.8
19mm f/4 PC-E Tilt/Shift
Sigma 35mm f/1.4 Art
Sigma 50mm f/1.4 Art
70-200mm f/4 AF-S
300mm f/4 PF
80-400mm f/4/5-5.6
200-500mm f/5.6
500mm f/5.6 PF
600mm f/4 AF-S FL
Nikon 1.4X teleconverter
Tripods:
My standard tripod is a Really Right Stuff Versa 24L carbon fiber model with a Really Right Stuff BH-55 ball head complete with an Arca-style quick release (all cameras and lenses have Really Right Stuff quick-release plates mounted on them). I use a RRS leveling base between the ball head and my tripod to facilitate my panoramic work.
Links:
For the latest Nikon information visit www.nikon.com.
Think Tank Photo is at www.thinktankphoto.com. Click HERE for a special deal.
See www.reallyrightstuff.com for tripods, the BH-55 ball head, L-brackets, and custom lens plates.