My Camera Equipment
male Wilson's Phalarope
The question most often asked of my photography is “what equipment do you use?”.
I’ve been a Nikon user since I bought my first SLR back in the early 1980’s.
For many years I used the dependable Nikon FM2, later adding Nikon F4 to the mix. I resisted the change to digital until the end of 2006 when I finally bought a DSLR in the form of a Nikon D200.
I quickly realized the versatility of a good digital camera.
Shortly after, the D300 came out, and everything changed for me.
I immediately became comfortable with a fast and responsive auto focus (I preferred manual focus up to this point).
With the D300’s clean, high-quality sensor, and the ability to change ISO in the middle of a photo-shoot,
I found myself capturing images under conditions I never would have tried with film.
Now, with Nikon’s amazing D3s (possibly the best commercial camera ever made), I feel unstoppable as a photographer, approaching any assignment with complete confidence.
Here is what I’m currently using for the vast majority of shoots.
CAMERAS
* Nikon D3s
* Nikon D700
* Nikon D300
LENSES
* AF-S Nikkor 300mm f4D ED-IF (two of them)
* AF Zoom-Nikkor 80 – 200mm f2.8D ED
* AF-S ED Zoom-Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8G
* AF-S DX VR Zoom -Nikkor 18 – 200mm f3.5-5.6 GII ED IF
* AF-S Teleconverter TC-14E II
ACCESSORIES
* Manfrotto Monopod with joystick head
* Various generic gunstock shoulder supports.
* (rarely used anymore) Manfrotto Tripod
Sharp-shinned Hawk
February 28, 2010
Category: Advice, Featured, Recommendations, Technical Discussions
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by SG
On March 13, 2010 at 2:49 pm
I love technology too. It is exciting to see advances and interesting to learn what others use. But it isn’t the equipment but the photographer behind it that is the key factor. Many times I have people say to me that “your camera takes such good photos”. Er, I think I have something to do with the end result! (nothing to compare with work of the owner of this blog of course). You can make lovely images with a point and shoot. Isn’t it a shame that the “question most asked of your photography is what equipment you use” Not about the subject, the technique, etc.
Is this a guy thing? If I am out in the field with my long lens it is inevitable that some guy will ask about it. Yawn. (Of course, there is another theory about that particular behaviour).
by David Lilly
On March 22, 2010 at 8:47 pm
Great photography Tony. Keep up the excellent work.
David
by John MacDonald
On March 27, 2010 at 7:33 am
I use a Nikon D300. I have several lenses but for birding I use a Sigma 50 – 500 1:4-6.3 most often. Most birds I see in the woods are small and at a distance and I find without a high powered lens the photos are invariably too small. It is cumbersome at times but the payoff is worth it.
Invariably a bird photo needs cropping and the image suffers when a small picture is cropped and subsequently enlarged. To me, the bigger the image the better. This is not to say that a small point and shoot camera or a “small” lens can’t capture a good image but your odds are greatly increased with a “large” lens.
In a woodland setting it tends to be dark( photographically speaking) and you can’t use the high shutter speeds you would like so I find a monopod really helps to keep things still. A tripod is too cumbersome and less agile.
by Tony
On March 30, 2010 at 4:32 pm
Thanks David… stay tuned
by Tony
On March 30, 2010 at 4:40 pm
Hey Susan… there might be some truth to the theory you suggest (even though you didn’t write it down, I can imagine what it is).
Is it a guy thing? Perhaps.
For me, all I want is results. I let the work speak for itself.
But, no matter what I create, some will criticize.
So, maybe we just have to make ourselves happy first.
by Tony
On March 30, 2010 at 4:49 pm
No question, the larger the lens, the more you can fill the frame with a tiny subject, and the further away you can be.
But, the larger the lens, the steadier it needs to be in order to capture a sharp image.
Like many aspects of photography, the right choice for a specific situation comes down to a balance of several different things.
Through practice, we discover the right balance best suited to the situation and our style of photography.