When it comes to equipment and gear, if I’m recommending it, I’m a user of it and believe it is worth using. I don’t give endorsements for a product that I wouldn’t own or use myself!
I like you depend on informative product reviews before making a purchasing decision. My choices tend to be more of a practical nature. Functionality and reliability first, fashion is low on my rating chart.
The camera harness you see me wearing in this picture is none other than the Cotton Carrier Camera System. If feel confident that my cameras are secure while I trek through the woods, up and down rock strewn cliffs or in the middle of a crowd of people at a major event.
What’s In My Gear Bag?
Cameras:
Panasonic/Lumix DMC-FZ50
For those not ready to upgrade from a point and shoot to a full fledged DSLR whether it be that they can be overwhelming to the novice or their price tag (when you factor in additional lenses) this “Superzoom” camera bridges the gap. A friend had a similar model and highly recommended it. I was glad that I took his advice and looked at the Panasonic products. I’ve had this camera for some time now and shot thousands of images with it.
I’ve accessorized my FX50 with a factory 1.7x tele conversion lens and a aftermarket wide angle converter. External flash and necessary lens protectors/filters. This camera is comfortably worn using an Op/Tech shoulder harness, which keeps the weight of the camera off your neck. It allows this compact camera to be carried under ones jacket for addition protection from the elements and while hiking through dense underbrush.
Definitely pick up a spare battery or two as well as a couple 4GB memory cards…for all day shooting.
Canon EOS Rebel XS/1000D
Lenses:
EF-S 18-55 / 3.5-5.6 IS
EF 75-300 / 4-5.6 III
EF 100-400 4.5-5.6L IS USM
Accessories:
Opteka Battery Pack Grip/Vertical Shutter Release w/2-LP-E5 batteries. This gives one greater control when holding the camera and lenses in the vertical position. It also gives you ample battery power for lots of pictures which require the use of the internal flash. I like it because I don’t expect the need to change batteries during a day of shooting whether at air shows or in the field.
SunPak 383 Super Flash
Gary Fong Flash Diffusers:
Puffer – The Puffer is perfect for cameras equipped with a Hot Shoe flash mount that also have a built in pop up flash. The Puffer diffuses the light more evenly and with less stark contrast.
Lightsphere II- Truly a versatile tool! Whether shooting in tight spaces or in large rooms this is a wonderful diffuser for use in conjunction with dedicated flash units.
How To Haul It All?
Murphy’s Law says you’ll never have everything you need when you need it. But if you plan properly you can have the essentials with you all the time. For those times when I need everything including the kitchen sink, I carry my Lowepro Pro Runner 450 AW Back Pack. This pack is roomy and has provisions to carry a laptop or in my case a nice place to slip my netbook in so I can take it along as well. Other than the equipment I keep in the studio, everything I need including other business essentials for the mobile photographer is inside this pack!
For lighter assignments, I carry my Tamarac Velocity 7. This over the shoulder bag is great for a single camera and multiple lenses, though it is a bit too small for my big 100-400mm lens. I carried this bag when the only camera I had was my Panasonic DMC-FZ50 and its accessories. Perfect for airshows as well as hiking a trail. Small enough to tuck under your arm or sling behind your back.
