Equipment
Taking photos in Finland with my Nikon D3 and Nikkor 500mm f/4.0 VR lens
When I started to take photography seriously back in 2009 I was lucky enough to move from my well-used Sony DSC-T10 compact camera to my first dSLR, a Nikon D3000, and spent many years with this and a basic lens kit (the Nikon 18-55mm VR, 55-200mm VR and 50mm f/1.8D lenses). I grew to love it, and it was with this kit that I started to improve my photography leaps and bounds. I still have the D3000, but as times have moved on the equipment I use has moved on with it. Below is a rather exhaustive list of my current kit as of September 2019 and should hopefully answer most gear-related questions! Please note that this level of equipment is not essential and doesn't drastically improve the resulting images from my original kit, it is just what I currently use to make my job easier! For more information on any of the following please contact me and I'll happily answer any questions.
I currently use Nikon cameras and lenses, along with a variety of other equipment. I shoot Nikon simply because it felt better in my hands at the time of buying my first dSLR, and as equipment developed it became too expensive to seriously consider other brands. I have regularly shot Canon systems and have no significant kit preference.
My most used set-up is the Nikon D810 with the Nikkor 500mm f/4.0 VR or Nikkor 300mm f/2.8 VR lens. This is an amazingly sharp and fast combination, and is able to capture anything from flying birds to jumping foxes. My secondary set-up always travels by my side, and usually consists of the Nikon D4 (for a bit of extra reach if needed) and Sigma 135mm f/1.8 Art lens for close up or 'wider-angle' work. All current camera-trap photography is done with either the Nikon 50mm f/1.4G or Sigma 24mm f/1.4 Art lenses and the Cactus laser trigger system.
Many other shots are taken with borrowed or 'test' equipment, which currently includes the Nikon D800 and D850 cameras and the Nikon AF-S 70-200mm f/2.8 VRI, Nikon AF-S 24-70 f/2.8G and Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 OS Sport and 200-500mm f/2.8 lenses.
Camera Rigs and Lenses
- Nikon D810 (Main FX)
- Nikon D4 (Main FX)
- Nikon D3
- Sea & Sea DX-D70 Housing + Two YS-90 Strobes (Main underwater rig)
- AF-S Nikkor 500mm f/4.0 VR
- AF-S Nikkor 300mm f/2.8 VR
- Sigma 135mm f/1.8 Art
- AF-S Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8 VR
- AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.4G
- Sigma 24mm f/1.4 Art
- AF Fisheye-Nikkor 16mm f/2.8D
- Nikon AF-S TC-14EIII Teleconverter
Lighting
- Nikon SB-700
- Visual Echos FX-4 'Better beamer'
Triggers
- Nikon MC-30 cable release
- Nikon ML-L3 wireless remote
- Cactus LV5 wireless triggers
- Cactus LV5 laser trigger
- Camtraptions PIR trigger
Support
- Manfrotto 679b Monopod with 234RC Quick-Release head
- 3 Legged Thing Jack tripod
- Manfrotto MVH500AH fluid video head
- Manfrotto 498RC2 ball head
- Gitzo GHFG1 gimbal head
- BlackRAPID Yeti camera strap
Bags
- ThinkTank Airport International V2.0 (Main kit)
- Lowepro Vertex 200 AW (Main kit)
- Lowepro Flipside 500 AW (Long lens bag)
- Lowepro Micro-Trekker 100 (Trail cams etc.)
- Lowepro Dashpoint AVC2 (GoPro kit)
- Lowepro Passport Sling (Carry around for commercial jobs)
- Peli 1600 (Underwater rig)
Miscellaneous
- Nikon right-angle viewfinder (If you haven't got one, get one!)
- Various Cokin P-Mount filters
- Lee Filters BUG Hero 3 underwater kit
Editing
- Apple Macbook Pro 15"
- Dell Ultrasharp 2407WFP monitor (Calibrated editing monitor)
- Wacom Bamboo Intuos Pro
- G Technology GRAID External hard drives
- Adobe Photoshop
- Adobe Premier Pro/Audition/After Effects (Video editing)
- Nik Software Suite (Specialised editing - specifically Silver Efex Pro II for black and white work)