As photographers, we’re often asked for photography gear recommendations. What cameras and lenses and gear do I use…or use most often? I wish I could say there’s a magic bullet for making images compelling. But, there’s not. Don’t get me wrong, the gear is awesome…and I can do things with my my current camera bodies and lens line-up that I just wasn’t able to do in the past.
But, even with those lenses and cameras, there are some times that I still struggle. That I still have to work to find my creativity. That I have to find the frame that matches my vision. So, I work and I struggle…sometimes. But, the others? I totally dig what’s in my bag. So, here you go…My gear.
Camera Bodies
I now shoot with Sony camera bodies. But, I’ve used and loved Canon, Nikon, and Fuji in the past. It’s really a Coke/Pepsi taste preference…they’ll all get you what you need in the end. When photographing clients, I use my Sony a7iv and a7iii. But, the camera body I carry with me everywhere I go in my day-to-day personal life is my a7cii. It’s lightweight and has most of the features of my a7iv, just in a much smaller package.
My camera bodies are my 3rd and 4th…and 5th…children. I use them daily, and they each suit different needs. The a7iv is a low light & fast motion monster. It allows me to get images in places and times that I wouldn’t otherwise be able. The a7iii still packs a punch and is my 2nd camera body for professional work. The a7cii is the camera I carry I grab in my daily life because lightweight matters most to me now. And, it really lets me focus on the candid photography that I so love. The dark horse of the bunch is the a7riii. It is, admittedly an older model that has seen several newer incarnations in recent years. But, it is still the camera I turn to for landscape work because it is a resolution BEAST! It’s phenomenal for capturing detail in wider environmental portraits, and in all of my recent landscape imagery from the past several years.
But the thing that remains unequivocal for me is the lightness and portability of my current gear. My current kit allows me the flexibility to take one or two cameras with me everywhere, so that I can document my family’s daily life on a more routine basis. And, let me just say this, the color renderings & dynamic range of the Sony Alpha lineup are BEAUTIFUL! I love the inconspicuous feeling of this kit…my camera bodies let me get close to my subjects (family or clients) without them feeling like there is a big, black monster of a machine in their faces. Any combination of my cameras work beautifully together.
Zoom Lenses
As much as I love my cameras, my lenses are what hold my affection. And, no photography gear recommendation list would be complete without them. In the past, I’ve amassed an embarrassingly large collection of them. But, since my switch to Sony & my emphasis on keeping things light, I have focused on what I absolutely love and need. Sometimes, simplicity is king. Featured below are my dynamic duo of zoom lenses:
- Sony 16-35 f/2.8 G Master
- Sony 24-50 f/2.8 (lightweight zoom for my a7cii)
- Tamron 35-150 f/2
- Sigma 150-600 f/5.6-6.3
Prime Lenses
My zooms are on my cameras more often than not. But, when they’re not, I have a collection of primes and specialty lenses that pretty much rock my creative world.
- Sony 35 f/1.4 G Master
- Sony 28 f/2
- Sony 85 f/1.8
- Sony 40 f/2.5 (lightweight prime for my a7cii)
- Lensbaby Velvet 56
Usually I tote a few of these babies around in my trusty Mindshift camera backpack. But, when I’m not doing that, I use my super versatile PomPom London crossbody tote. It small, lightweight, and doubles as a purse, and is an indiscreet way for me to carry my daily crap and one camera body with lens attached. I pretty much love it!
So, whether you’re looking to update your own kit, or are just starting out. I hope this list of photography gear recommendations, helps you in your journey. And, remember, it’s not about the amount of gear we have but rather, how we use the gear that we have. I’d love to help you grow!
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