A note about what’s in my camera bag.

My setup isn’t anything out of this world and, as you’ll notice, I have a very DIY approach to my craft. I believe in purchasing only the gear you truly need to get the job done. Therefore, the following list isn’t every single piece of equipment that you’ll require for success. It’s simply the equipment that I typically carry with me and can honestly recommend to you.

People are often asking me; “What gear do you use?” or “What camera should I buy?”. Very common questions that every aspiring photographer will ask at some point in their career. Well, now that I’ve answered these questions a few hundred times I’ve narrowed things down to what I believe is the best advice I can give you when purchasing new equipment; assess what you really want/need to get out of your purchase.

So, before you comment on anyone’s Instagram feed or even shoot me an email asking “What is the best lens for landscape photography?”, ensure that you have a good look at this list. You can see what equipment I have decided will meet my needs to help, not hinder, to achieve this or these.

Once you’ve assessed what you need, understand that a budget must be followed. As I’m sure you’ve already realised, it is far too easy to break your bank on things you really don’t require. Especially in the photography industry.

Finally, the benefits of buying new are that if you have any technical issues down the track you can always return to the supplier. This is something that can really get you out of a hole in the ground. Funding replacement costs as a professional starting out can really be a killer both in time and in money.

If you are in the market for new equipment you can choose to use the links I’ve provided below to purchase from Amazon and at the same time support my journey toward bringing more compelling photography and written content to you!

Tim

First up and, hands down, the best camera I have ever used. This is the third camera I’ve owned, it’s a beauty and I honestly can’t see myself upgrading for a while.

The things that are truly important in choosing the right camera body is design and customisation. Not only does the Canon 5D Mark III drag me in with a whopping 22.3MP full-frame sensor, but the way the menus can be modified with the rear and side buttons is also a huge attraction for me.

If you’ve been following my work for the last few years then most of what you’ve seen has been captured with this beast. And for good reason. Below, you can find a link to my full review as well as a link to Amazon for a comprehensive list of the Mark III’s features and statistics.

Second, on the list is my all-time favourite lens; the Canon 24-70mm f/2.8. A brilliant tool that not only produces a vibrant level of colour and incredible clarity but holds a particularly special feature that I simply can’t walk away from.

Canon has installed a switch which will now lock the zoom drive-train for time-lapse shots or, simply, for when you’re putting it away. This simple feature has helped me protect the life of this investment; something I’d experienced as a bit of a problem with my older lenses as the drive-trains tend to become loose and overused.

This lens has provided me with truly excellent results. Click the links below for more information!

Next on the list is the Canon 24-105mm f/4 that I purchased way back in 2008. This bad-boy took me across Australia and helped me launch my career. Whilst it does not have that handy locking switch, this entry-level L series lens is essential for any new photographer or videographer looking to get a DSLR with video functions. At half the price of the 24-70mm f/2.8, this was the most affordable and worthwhile investment that I ever decided to make in my career, and at a time when I had no idea what I was getting into.

The feature that stands out for me is the Image Stabilisation (IS) which briefly does exactly as advertised. This feature doesn’t negate the benefit of purchasing a gimbal for truly smooth footage, but it does, however, allow the lens to compensate while you shoot video, or accommodate for high wind during shots of long exposure and timelapse footage.

For anyone on a tight budget, this lens offers you high-quality video, long zoom and wide lengths. I simply can’t speak any higher of it. I’d only love to see a lock switch for transport and storage.

If you want to read more about it, click below for a full review or more information.

The Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 is easily the most powerful lens (or piece of equipment in general) I’ve ever had the pleasure of utilizing. It’s an all-rounder with its uses and that simply makes it very attractive to me. It wasn’t until recently that I used this lens but, man, the portraits and landscape shots that come out the other end are something else entirely.

This lens delivered entirely in overall quality once I unleashed the creamy f/2.8 aperture at 200mm. Click here to see and believe. Earlier, I mentioned the Image Stabiliser (IS) on the Canon 24-105mm f/4. This gadget has two different types of stabilisation that can be selected via a switch located right on the side of the lens!

The only real drawback I have to tell about the Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 is its sheer weight - plenty of glass to lug around.

If you’d like to learn more about this lens, its settings and how I tackle it, click the link below to read my full review.

In my dreams, I had always owned a 16-35mm lens. For years I had a crop sensor with 18-55mm and I always felt so restricted with what it allowed me to achieve. But, one day I wrapped my hands around this baby and my dreams came to life.

The Canon 16-35mm f/2.8 helped me fall in love with the landscape and architectural photography, both interior and exterior. I can thank this wonderful lens for where I find myself in my photography career today.

If you’re into video, combined with a handheld gimbal that can take the weight, this lens can produce some breathtaking results.

A tilt-shift would make this lens even better, and the lack of one makes me sad, but you can’t be too greedy.

Read my full review below, or click on the Amazon link for more specifications!

There’s a good chance some of you may have seen my drone photography floating around. This gadget is seriously the coolest and most fun I’ve ever had after a purchase.

Not only do I always need to look for a high-quality image when buying equipment, but it's also important the equipment that I invest in is going to stand the test of time. So far, the Phantom 4 has outlasted my expectations undoubtedly for durability, battery life and quality. This drone has seriously surprised me. It has a huge variety of formats and applications, and now that I have the appropriate accessories I can shoot in almost any condition.

If you’re thinking about buying a drone, do consider reading my full review below.

SanDisk has always managed to develop a solid high-performing card that can be used for photography as well as video and because of this, I’ve always opted in.

If you’re into high-speed photography or want to be quicker in general, you want to make sure you choose the right card for your camera. I’m aware that it’s not ideal to use a card with speed as slow as 90 Mb/s; however, on a tighter budget, this card will serve you well.

If you’d like to learn more about storage devices, click below for my Top 5 media storage list.

What can I say about the Extreme PRO 64GB apart from naming it my old faithful? Sure, I’ve been through a few of them but they are the most reliable cards I’ve ever used. Although they seem to run a bit clunkier when compared to more modern storage options, if you’re running a DSLR this is a nice, cheap option that still offers loads of storage space.

In a day I’ll typically shoot a full film-rolls worth of photos, plus a few videos and I’m on my way out. Hopefully, that gives you an idea of what to expect from this card and its capabilities.

Finding the right tripod for my kit took me such a long time. I needed something lightweight, sturdy and durable, and I found that in the Manfrotto MK290.

The carbon structure is so lightweight that it surprised me when I set it up, extended it to its full height and watched it stay completely still. Though, I’ll not lie; regardless of its sturdiness, I’ll still hook my bag to it as an anchor to make sure it ain’t going anywhere. Better to be safe than sorry and this way I always know where my bag is.

Click below if you want to learn more about the Manfrotto tripod!

This backpack is perfect for any travelling photographer needing to remain relatively lightweight. If this sounds like you, I beg you to check out this champion of a backpack!

I’ve bought this backpack in Melbourne over 7 years ago and it’s still perfect for me! It fits my MacBook Pro 15” perfectly and has a huge amount of storage in the form of pockets and compartments that are designed for greater organisation. To this day I still travel with this pack on assignment and even on holidays. Knowing that everything I need for a shoot is in one place really helps me relax when I’m out on the move.

One perk I’d really like to mention is the protective, water-resistant quality and strength of the bag’s material. It’s really no wonder it’s lasted me nearly a decade!

If you’d like to learn more about the Lowepro Fastpack 250 DSLR Backpack, please check out the links below!

You want to do your research when booking flights with heavy photography equipment. I love the Think Tank V3.0 Carry On for being exactly what it says it is, not to mention that this bag has saved me from hell on so many occasions.

On assignment, I often need to travel with a large amount of equipment to fulfil a brief. I’ll take my lenses, multiple camera bodies, accessories for video and audio, a tripod; you name it, I’m probably taking it. I can remember the first time I ever took this suitcase as a carry-on. It fit perfectly down the isles and in the overhead compartment. The whole experience was, thankfully, a breeze.

I will say that on the smaller flights you’d want to be careful. There have been times where I’ve been told my weight and size is fine, only to find that I need to pay a little extra.

If you’d like to learn more about this suitcase, please read my full review below.

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