What Equipment Do You Use

[lexcell]

EricZ asked me a question about the equipment I use and what I carry into the field in another thread so, I thought I'd begin a new thread here discussing the equipment I carry into the field and why.

First off, remember, I do this for a living so, I carry alot of equipment. I go places to photograph, most people photograph places they go.

As I think most of you already know, I am a wildlife and nature photographer so my equipment reflects the type of shooting I do.

My bags are...MP-5, MP-3 and MP-1 depending on what I am out photographing. They are designed and sold by Moose Peterson and they will fit in any overhead compartment on any plane...even the small commuter planes. This is important to me because I don't ever want to let my equipment out of my possession.

My stock equipment that goes everywhere with me is...
2-Nikon D3
Nikon AF 16mm 2.8 Fisheye
Nikon AF-S 14-24mm 2.8
Nikon AF-S 24-70mm 2.8
Nikon AF-S 70-200m 2.8 VR
Nikon TC-17E 1.7X teleconverter
Nikon SB-800 Speedlight
Nikon SC-29 TTL Flash Cord or SU-800 Wireless transmitter
Canon 77mm 500D Close Up Lens
HiTech ND.9 Graduated ND filter
Singh Ray Vari-ND (2-8 stop variable neutral density filter)
Nikon 77mm Circular Polarizer
Spare batteries for the camera and flash
A couple of card wallets full of Lexar 8 & 4 GB CF Cards
Shutter Hat cover to protect my equipment from the elements if it is nasty.

This equipment goes with me everywhere I travel. If I am traveling light, this may be all I carry in my MP-5 bag

If I am heading out for big game I carry all that plus...
D300
Nikon AF-S 200-400mm 4.9 VR
Aquatech rainshield to protect against the bad weather
in my MP-3 backpack

And, if I am out for smaller game or birds I trade the 200-400mm for the AF-S 600mm f4 VR in my MP-1 backpack.

I use a Gitzo GT3540LS tripod with a Really Right Stuff ballhead for everything up to the 70-200mm. If I am going to be using the 200-400mm I carry a Wimberley Gimbal head and if I am going to be using my 600mm I change out my tripod for the Gitzo GT5540 instead.

I have a Hoya HMC UV filter on every lens that can take a filter for protection and I use the new Nikon slim line Circular Polarizer.

In addition to that (as if that's not enough), I may carry my Nikon AF-S 105mm 2.8 VR Micro if I am going out specifically for some macro work. A Nikon AF 28mm 1.4 if I am going to be doing some night work like star trails, etc. A Nikon AF-S 300mm F4 for hand held birds in flight.

This is what I take with me on a trip. Depending on the subject and the distance I have to travel on foot to get to my subject, I scale down what I carry in the field. I will set up my biggest lens on the tripod with a body attached, a moderate zoom on another body over my shoulder and either my MP-5 or a fanny pack with a couple of wide zooms, fisheye, teleconverter, batteries and flash cards. this way I can be quick to respond to almost anything that happens.

Let me know if you have any questions. Anyone else who wants to share what they use and for what, please join in.

[JulieM]

Laurie, I'm tired just reading it let alone carrying it!

[NMarti]

Julie
I think Laurie forgot to mention the chiropractor who travels with her.

That is a lot of equipment. I can't imagine taking that much with me, but then she's a professional and I take snapshots.

[Whiplash-GT]

damn, 2 D3s??
and i was starting to like you

LOL

jokes aside, you're carrying around what i'm hoping to in the next year or so
right now i'm trying to tell myself i don't really need the D3, that the D300 will suffice (i haven't stopped arguing with myself for almost 2 months...and i haven't been able to figure out who's ahead ).
once that's figured out it's time to start looking at the better glass, right now i could use a 17-55 and 70-200, wedding season approaches, but the FX would mean the 14-24 and 24-70 as well as the 70-200


your list is very impressive Laurie!!

[GaryK]

Laurie

What is the Canon close up lens??? How does it mount on a Nikon?

[Joe M]

Very impressive Laurie. While most of us don't need all the gear you have. It is helpful to see the brands that a professional relies on to get the job done.

As others have mentioned the chore is must be to haul that stuff around. I'm curious, as a professional, what kind of pain reliever do you use? Do you go with aspirin, acetaminophen, or the nsaids family?

[lexcell]

Well, I used to be 5'9' and now I am down to 5'4" if that tells you anything about carrying all that equipment around.

As mentioned, most folks don't need all that equipment but, it gives you an idea of what professional wildlife/nature photographers carry around. I'd say that most of my colleagues have about the same setup.

[Not4wood]

I agree with Gary. How does a Canon lens mount on a Nikon body??

Seems that a lot of the Canon equipment is by far cheaper then the Nikon stuff with very good sharpness. If we could mount the Canon Lens on a Nikon Body and go a lot cheaper this would open up a whole new venue I think..

[lexcell]

Sorry, no such luck. It attaches to the front of the lens like a filter. It comes in a variety of filter diameters. Canon calls it a Close Up Lens because it has two elements.
It is excellent quality (not as good as a true macro but, good, nonetheless...plus it's small and I carry it everywhere.

[nkeevers]

Wow, I'm with Julie! I definitely couldn't carry all that stuff around with me...I have trouble enough with my camera and my tele...LOL! It's interesting though seeing what the professionals carry around. I go to golf tourneys all the time and I'm always amazed at just the cameras and zooms they have on them...those are big enough!