I’m often asked what kind of camera gear I use for my images. Sometimes I dance around the question, not because I’m keeping it secret, but because I want the value in my images to be based on my skills, not the tools I use. It’s pretty hard to walk into a camera store today and buy a bad digital SLR – they are all very capable.
Below is a detailed list of all my current gear; Lenses and tripods, cables, filters and more. If you’re looking to expand your own camera kit, consider clicking through to B&H Photo and buy from them. Shipping is cheap, you pay the taxes up front and I don’t know of anyone with better prices.
You’ll also support me in a small way, as B&H returns a small percentage of the purchase price back to me as a thank you. I buy everything from them if possible.
Lumix GX9 with 12-60mm lens
Very powerful camera in a very compact size, I’ve been shooting with this body almost exclusively for roughly a year. Micro four thirds is a champion for macro photography and travel photography, my two favourite subjects.
Leica DG Macro-Elmarit 45mm f/2.8 ASPH. MEGA O.I.S. Lens
An exceptional macro lens with tack sharp details and an all-around robust design. The beauty of a smaller sensor is that 1:1 magnification on a micro four thirds camera is roughly 2:1 magnification on a full-frame sensor.
Kenko Extension Tubes
Need to get even closer? For more extreme macro work I add a set of Kenko extension tubes to get even closer to the subject. Turns any non-macro lens into a macro lens too!
Panasonic Lumix G Vario 12-32mm f/3.5-5.6 ASPH. Lens
My favourite travel lens. Almost always sold as a kit lens, the compact design is a really value when trying to travel light, and the images do not disappoint.
Leica DG Vario-Elmar 100-400mm f/4-6.3 ASPH. POWER O.I.S.
Flexible and light-weight, the 100-400 lens is in my bag as the best telephoto lens I can afford – and afford to take with me on my travels. I use it for background isolation (a factor controlled by focal length) as much as I do for wildlife.
Canon Macro Photo MP-E 65mm f/2.8 1-5x Lens
Insects, water droplets, snowflakes and flowers – getting close requires a special lens. Most macro lenses can’t get as close as I need to for my work, and this lens gets 5 times closer. Very difficult to use, and near impossible without flash… but worth all the trouble!
Canon EF Lens to Micro Four Thirds Camera T CINE Speed Booster ULTRA 0.71x
Coming from a full-frame camera system, these adapters work wonders to make use of my existing glass – particularly with specialty lenses like the Canon MP-E 65mm
Lumix G Fisheye 8mm f/3.5 Lens
My favourite class of lens for astrophotography is one with fisheye distortion to give a full 180 degree field of view, encompassing the night sky.
FreeWave LR Wireless Flash Trigger and Receiver Kit
Off camera flash is incredibly valuable – and these rock solid simple triggers deliver. No frills, manual only, but they are inexpensive and have never failed me.
YN-14EX-C Macro Ring Lite for Canon Cameras
While designed for Canon cameras, this ring flash works on ALL cameras in manual mode. I use it on the GX9 all the time! Uses Xenon flash tubes rather than LEDs, much faster operation.
P12 Compact Battery Pack for Canon Flashes
The framerate I use to photograph insects and snowflakes is often too much for the flash to keep up with. This unit gives extra power to the flash – it lasts longer, recharges faster, and work with my Canon and Yongnuo flashes. (takes 12 AA batteries)
BeFree Compact Travel Aluminum Alloy Tripod (Black)
Lightweight, compact, very solidly built and perfect for wilderness hikes. I prefer lever locks to twist locks as they are easy to confirm locked when setting up for a shot in the cold with gloves on.
Panasonic 128GB UHS-II SDXC Memory Card
I’m a strong believer that my memory cards are safer in my camera than out of it – go for the bigger cards. This one is built to handle the best video produced on micro four thirds cameras!
Breakthrough Photography X4 Brass Circular Polarizer Filter
I love the design and performance of Breakthrough Photography products, and this is the best circular polarizer I have used. The ridges on the outer edge help when changing filters, a unique feature to this company’s filters.
Breakthrough Photography X4 Neutral Density 3.0 Filter (10 Stop)
A Neutral Density filter is a necessary piece of equipment when photographing waterfalls, and it’s also a handy tool to show motion blur in clouds. This is a very dark one, difficult to even see through!
Hoya RM72 Infrared Glass Filter
Infrared Photography has always fascinated me – basically seeing the entire world in invisible light. A filter in front of an unmodified camera can still see this light with a little effort, and the results are surreal.
imagePROGRAF PRO-4000 44″ Professional Photographic Large-Format Inkjet Printer
I print all of my own work, and I don’t like anyone else in creative control of printing. From the choice of paper to the way the printer is calibrated, it’s all me.
