CAMERAS

CANON EOS R

The image quality on this camera is absolutely stunning. Featuring a full-frame CMOS sensor matched with excellent low-light performance and incredible video capabilities, this first attempt at a mirrorless system from Canon has never disappointed.

FUJIFILM X100VI

This camera was very highly anticipated. This is my first digital foray into the world of Fujifilm, having shot hundreds of rolls of Fujifilm films over the years. I love the form factor and the fixed lens for traveling and a daily carry. It has a nostalgic look that so many crave in their Fujifilm cameras.

CANON EOS 1n-HS

The Canon EOS-1N HS is a professional 35mm film SLR camera that was known for its rugged build, fast performance, and advanced autofocus system (at the time). The camera was manufactured from 1994 - 2000 and preceded the final film camera from Canon. The HS (high speed) model features a high-speed power drive booster (capable of shooting at up to 10 frames per second on film.

CANON POWERSHOT G15

Unlike its predecessors, the Powershot G15 finally offered a wide aperture for better low light quality. This camera has a 12.1 megapixel sensor and an aperture range starting at f/1.4. It's got impressive image quality for such a small package. Paired with an underwater housing this is another lightweight option to advanced images.

MIRRORLESS LENSES

CANON RF 14-35MM f/4.0L IS USM

A Canon professional quality, wide-angle zoom lens that limits barrel distortion. I’m a huge fan of shooting wide, and adding image stabilization to this lens helps with low-light, handheld shots. You’ll notice I’ve opted for the slower versions of these lenses and that was an intentional decision to save on weight.

CANON RF 24-105MM f/4.0L IS USM

This is my standard zoom focal length if I’m limited to a single lens when traveling light. I know a lot of people prefer the 24-70mm focal length, but I find that too boring. I don’t get excited to shoot with a 24-70mm lens. The added advantage to these lenses is that all of these RF lenses use the same diameter filter so I need only carry one graduated ND or polarizer.

CANON RF 70-200mm f/4.0L IS USM

This is the third in the zoom lens trifecta for me. Again, a little bit slower than other L-series glass, but the weight savings means that I can haul this without fatigue. That translates into more shooting and my camera is always with me and at the ready. I love the change to no tripod collar for this lens so I can stay lean and mean.

Canon RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM

The Canon RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM Lens is a versatile medium telephoto lens offering a bright f/2 aperture, making it ideal for portraiture. Another IS lens with built-in image stabilization and a smooth, quiet STM autofocus motor. It’s fast and it’s sharp, and it’s great for details and faces.

SLR LENSES

CANON EF 20MM f/2.8 USM

The Canon EF 20mm f/2.8 USM is a lightweight and compact ultra-wide-angle lens ideal for landscapes, architecture, and indoor photography. With a fast f/2.8 aperture and Ultrasonic Motor (USM) for quick, quiet autofocus, it delivers sharp images and excellent performance even in low-light conditions.

CANON EF 50mm f/1.4 USM

The Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM is a versatile standard prime lens known for its bright f/1.4 aperture, offering excellent low-light performance and beautiful background blur. Its Ultrasonic Motor (USM) ensures fast and quiet autofocus, making it a favorite for portraits, street photography, and everyday use.

CANON eF 100mm f/2.0 USM

The Canon EF 100mm f/2.0 is a compact and lightweight medium telephoto prime lens, ideal for portraits and low-light photography. With its bright f/2.0 aperture and fast autofocus, it delivers sharp images with smooth background blur, perfect for isolating subjects.

FILM ACCESSORIES

Sekonic Speedmaster L-858D-U Light Meter

The Sekonic Speedmaster L-858D-U is an advanced light meter designed for photographers and filmmakers, offering precise incident and reflected light measurements for both ambient and flash lighting. With features like high-speed sync flash metering, a touchscreen interface, and expanded sensitivity, it provides unparalleled control in complex lighting scenarios.

VALOI EASY35

The VALOI easy35 is a compact film-scanning kit that simplifies digitizing 35mm film by attaching directly to most macro lenses, eliminating the need for a copy stand or tripod. With its built-in light source and professional-grade film holders, it enables fast, high-quality scans, making home scanning accessible and efficient.

Laowa 90mm f/2.8 2x Ultra Macro

I listed this here because I primarily pair it with the Easy35 for creating RAW files from film. The Laowa 90mm f/2.8 is a specialized macro lens that offers up to 2x magnification for capturing fine details in extreme close-up shots. This lens allows me to fill the frame with a film negative while minimizing chromatic aberration, delivering sharp, high-contrast images with excellent color accuracy.

TRIPODS

MANFROTTO 190XB TRIPOD LEGS

This is a full-sized set of aluminum tripod legs that allows me to place the camera above eye level if need be. It's heavier than many carbon fiber tripods, but comes with greater stability at a lower cost.

MANFROTTO 3021BPRO TRIPOD LEGS

I use this set of tripod legs when traveling as they easily fit into a carry-on bag. Though shorter than the 190XB legs above, this tripod still gives me great reach with the center-column extended.

MANFROTTO 804RC2 TILT PAN HEAD

This head has been a workhorse for me over the years. The precision and ability to make minute adjustments makes it great for shooting landscapes and architectural work.

MANFROTTO 468MGRC2 MAGNESIUM HYDROSTATIC BALL HEAD

Every photographer needs a good ball head for their tripod. I love this head because it's relatively light and allows me to dial back the friction on the ball. This allows for quick adjustments without having to ratchet down the ball head.

MEMORY CARDS  

SANDISK EXTREME PRO 256GB SECURE DIGITAL CARDS

A huge reason for the camera lineup that I have is that I can utilize SD cards in all cameras. That means a smaller case, and fewer options I am required to drag along for the vacation. I limit my cards in size so that I don’t lose everything if I lose a card. The fact that SD cards are waterproof also helps a ton.

VIDEO

RODE VIDEOMICRO

This compact microphone takes audio to another level. It easily eliminates in-camera noises such as shake and autofocus while maintaining a very small shell. I patch this straight into the Atomos Ninja V to better record audio in-camera.

Shure MoveMic

The Shure MoveMic is a compact, wireless lavalier microphone system designed for content creators. It connects directly to smartphones via the Shure MOTIV app, offering up to 24 hours of high-quality audio recording with its discreet form factor and robust performance.

ATOMOS NINJA V

Having a monitor will definitely improve your video work. This monitor requires an additional battery (Sony) which I don’t like, but I have a 1TB drive that can record hours of 10-bit C-log footage. The addition of the Atomos NInja V has upped my video game immensely.

COMPUTERS

STORAGE

LACIE RUgged 5TB HARD DRIVE

I have two of these drives and they store copies of my photo library. With ever-increasing portability for large drives, this helps insure I have an off-site copy of my work at all times.

SANDISK 2TB extreme portable ssd

The SanDisk 2TB Extreme Portable SSD offers high-speed storage with read speeds of up to 1050MB/s and write speeds of up to 1000MB/s, making it ideal for transferring large files quickly. With its rugged design featuring IP55 water and dust resistance and drop protection, it's perfect for travel and adventure photography.

UGREEN NASync DXP4800 Plus

The UGREEN NASync DXP4800 Plus is a 4-bay Network Attached Storage (NAS) device powered offering robust performance for data storage and management. It supports up to 112TB of storage with additional SSD slots for caching. I love its user-friendly app for seamless file access across multiple devices, even online access of your photos.

BAGS AND CASES

nomatic luma 18l camera backpack

This camera backpack is a compact and sleek bag designed for photographers and videographers in tandem with Peter McKinnon.I like its versatility for camera gear, accessories, or personal items. Its water-resistant exterior helps on those bad weather days and for traveling. It has comfortable straps and a customizable interior are added bonuses.

PELICAN 1510

Hard sided and weather sealed, this case is everything but bomb proof. I love the capacity of this roll-on case, especially when paired with the TrekPak inserts and a Pelican 1519 lid organizer.

PELICAN 1519 LID ORGANIZER

After buying the Pelican 1510 without foam, I had the option of adding a lid organizer with several pockets or one with a laptop case. I went with the pockets so I could keep all of my camera equipment together. I like having everything together in a stand-alone package. This ensures I haven't forgotten anything when I get into the field.

TREKPAK INSERTS

These are a lifesaver and coincidentally a space saver. I know I have raved about these on my blog several times, but they really are revolutionary in the camera bag field. They adjust easily, are completely customizable, and very durable. These beat Velcro dividers any day of the week!

DEUTER MEN'S FREERIDER PRO 30 BACKPACK

This bag was designed as a rear-entry ski mountaineering pack. From there, TrekPak adapted it to be a camera bag with removable inserts. I have taken this bag to the bottom of canyons and to the top of mountains and it's comfortable and durable.

THINKTANK AIRPORT NAVIGATOR

This bag acts as a bit of a catch all for me. I carry my laptop and iPad in the outside pocket and stuff the interior with smaller bags carrying grouped equipment. I have a cleaning kit, backup kit (hard drives and cords), connectivity kit (computer cords), GoPro kit, charging kit (batteries and chargers), audio kit (microphone and cords), and video kit (monitor and cords). All of these things live in this bag and make packing for travel a breeze.

LOWEPRO PHOTO RUNNER 100

This bag replaced a previous waist pack I carried because of the extra depth it provided. I can easily carry a body and 3 lenses in this bag with a few needed accessories. This is my go-to bag for short hikes or quick weekend trips where photography isn't the main goal.

CLIK ELITE STANDARD SLR CHEST PACK

I bought this bag with the intention of having a bag that could carry a point and shoot camera and underwater housing safely down a canyon. The added feature of external buckles that can be applied to any pack always comes in handy.