What is your photo arsenal?

[Bill_Anderson]

Here is my current arsenal which is working very well for me.

I have two Canon camera bodies: Rebel XSi and 7D. I keep my Canon 100-400 super zoom attached to the 7D for bird photos and the 18-55 kit wide angle zoom attached to the Rebel for sunset and landscape shots. The 55-250 kit zoom sits in the camera bag.

The 7D + 100-400 zoom is about the heaviest camera/lens combo I would care to shoot hand-held. I have a Manfrotto carbon fiber tripod, but I don't like to be tied to it, much prefering the "walk & stalk" school of bird photography. This rules out my purchasing Canon's 600 or 800 super telephotos, as if the $10,000 and $12,000 price tags did not! :>)

There are times when I wish I had a bit more zoom than the 18-55, but it is a PITA to change to the 55-250. I am looking to buy a zoom in the 18-200 range which will bridge the gap between the wide angle zoom and the super zoom.

Tamron is releasing an improved version of their 18-270 zoom which I will check out when it arrives at my local camera store. [Their old version has a $150 manufacturer's rebate if anyone is interested.] A zoom like that would be a very good all-purpose lens and would eliminate the need to carry both the 18-55 and 55-250 zooms in my camera bag.

I use the SanDisk 8GB "Extreme" model (60MB/sec) compact flash. It enables me to use the high speed (8 frames/sec) rapid fire setting of the 7D for shooting birds in flight without buffering delays. It will take about 1,000 shots in jpeg mode. I still have to carry a backup one as I have taken as many as 1,700 shots in a day. Aside: the SanDisk factory reps at a recent local camera expo got a kick out of the ST4s embroidered on my shirt, as SanDisk had a marketing agreement with Ducati for a compact flash.

I bought a book on bird photography which was written just before the dawn of the digital camera age. The author emphasizes taking lots of photos and keeping detailed notes of camera settings, etc. One can now take literally thousands of photos at little/no cost and the computer records all of the camera settings.

Edit: I forgot to mention the 580EX II flash unit I bought last week to help with the bad lighting we get up here about 300 days of the year.

[SS904]

I freely admit I am a far better gear collector than photographer!

I have two bodies and a few lenses that I arrange to make up two distinct kits. Lenses are chosen based on the venue, but the two bodies are a Canon 1D3 and a 40D and form the basis for each kit. Since I have teenagers that are active in sports, I have become a "decent" sports photographer and have made a little money on the side from it. No intention of making it a business, it's a huge amount of work for not a lot of $$$. Those who shoot youth sports as a business work their asses off and have my total respect. It really is a lot of work. Both of my kids have chosen indoor fast action sports, where good lighting is always a challenge to image quality and focus ability. That's where the 1D3 comes in. It excels in both those challenging aspects of indoor sport photography. I primarily use it for the sports, but being a Canon 1 Series, it really is a do it all camera. The 1D is bulky and heavy, however. That’s where the 40D comes in. It’s a smaller, lighter weight, camera that mostly matches the 1D in image quality in “normal” situations. Not nearly as fast and responsive, or as good as high ISO, but that’s not what I use it for. It comes with me pretty much every where I go. It makes up my daily use kit.

Lenses include: an 85 f/1.8, 135 f/2.0, 24-70 f/2.8 and a 70-200 f/2.8.

Other notable stuff: 580EX and 430EX flashes. A Canon remote trigger for the flashes (STE2, I think). CPL in sizes for each lens. A “strobist” kit: lights stands and umbrellas for the flashes when I use the remote trigger. Tripod and monopod (never use these). Two Domke F2 bags that I have configured for each kit.

In the bag with the 40D I take the 85, 135 and 24-70 plus a flash. Also, the CPLs go in this bag. In the sports kit, the 70-200 is my go-to lens for hockey. The 24-70 is used if I’m shooting behind the net. For gymnastics, the primes rule! I’ll take the 70-200, but it only gets used for floor if the light is good enough. Other than that, f/2.8 is rarely fast enough for gymnastics… No flashes in gymnastics, ever! I will probably pick up a 50 1.4 (the Sigma version) to complement the other two primes. That’s it! Someday I want a 300 2.8, just because it freaking rocks!

Proof that I'm better at collecting than shooting InPhocusFotografy

[DUCeditor]

Originally Posted by SS904

I freely admit I am a far better gear collector than photographer!

Stephen,
You certainly do have a nice selection of relatively fast lenses. But I looked at some of your images and they are equally enviable!

Good work!

-don

[DUCeditor]

My own style of photography is a mix of slow studied work (75%) and grab shooting (25%). In the days of film I had several systems and set ups from carry-everything bags that held 2 bodies (one with motor attached), about 6 lenses and three finders, to multiple bag setups for medium and large formats shoots, to quick-access setups that held just one 35mm body and 3 or 4 lenses.

The later is what I have chosen for my new digital system. And since it is zoom lens based (something I never would or could have considered in the old days) I don't foresee ever needing more.

Presently my system consists of a single Canon T2i body with a battery grip attached, 3 lenses (18-55, 55-250, 60 macro). I hope to shortly add a 10-22.

I keep UV filters on each lens largely for protection but also carry circular polarizers in the two sizes needed, a lens cleaning kit, an extra battery, extra memory cards and when traveling a battery charger and a small tripod. The lens shades remain on the lenses, either reversed for storage, or in position when I'm actually on a shoot.

I chose a Canon Deluxe Gadget Bag 10EG to hold my gear, set up for quick access as here:



Note that there is still room for that additional lens and, should I ever desire to add it, a small sensor-driven flash.

The 10E also has well designed straps to hold the tripod and a beautifully designed hidden waist band - useful both for stabilizing the bag for quick and secure access on the move and (just as important!) making it harder to steal by the common (in some areas) 'slash the strap and grab' method. It is highly water resistant, comfortable to carry, and has two closure systems - zippered with flaps and quick connect for when actually shooting. (The later is all metal)

-don

[SS904]

Don.

Nice kit there. These new bodies just keep getting better and the T2i is among the latest of the breed. I still can't get over the video capabilities, though.

And thanks for the comments!

[pimouss]

Cool, there are photographers here!

So, I have a nice package too:
Canon EOS 7D,
EFS 10-22 f3.5,
EF 50 f1.4,
EFS 17-55 f2.8 IS,
EF 70-200 f4 IS L,
EF 300 f4 IS L,
EF 1.4 L extender,
Flash 580 EX II,
Remote control EC-80N3,
Kenko rings for macro,
Monopod and tripod Manfrotto,
Extreme CF cards (4 to 16 go), Hoya pro filters and a large Tamrac expedition 8.

And I'm dreaming for a huge EF 500 f4 L IS USM !

[Bevel-Heaven]

Hi Guys, Below is my current gear collection. Yes I have posted some of my photos in the forum in the past [MotoGP, AMA etc] when I had time to do those things. Now I would rather spend time with my little girl than just about anything else.....

Nikon D700 + MB-D10 Grip
AF Nikkor Fisheye 10.5mm DX 2.8 G ED
AF Nikkor 50mm 1.4 D
AF Nikkor 60mm Micro 2.8
AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm 2.8 G ED N
AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm VR 2.8 G ED
AF-S Nikkor 300mm VR 2.8G ED-IF
AF-S Nikkor TC-14EII + TC-17EII Teleconverters

I just picked up the new Nikon 28-300 for a carry around which I am pretty impressed with so far keeping in mind what it is [and is not]. It's nice to have that kind of range and not be toting around a bag of heavy glass...

SB800 Speedlights, manfrotto #694 Carbon Fibre monopod w/#3229 tilt head, manfrotto # 725B tripod with Q/R ball head

[Javielo]

Hi!, I have the following:

Nikon D90 with BGD80
Nikon 17-55mm f/2.8
Nikon 50mm f/1.8
Nikon 35mm f/1.8
Nikon 55-200mm

Alien bees SB-400
Vagabund II

I see I'm the only Nikonian here jaja

[04749s]

Originally Posted by Javielo

I see I'm the only Nikonian here jaja

we're out numbered for sure.
D700 +MBD10
Nikkor AF 50 F1.8
Nikkor AF 28 F2.8
Nikkor AF 85 F1.4
Nikkor AFS 12-24 F4
Nikkor AFS 28-70 F2.8
Nikkor AFS 70-200 F2.8 VR
Nikkor 135 2.8 AIS
Nikkor 500 Reflex F8
Sigma 15 Fish F2.8
Su-800
Radio Poppers
TC 1.7EII + an elcheapo Vivitar 2x Macro converter
x3 Sb-800's x2 SB-600 + gels and holders
not including stands, back ground stands, muslins, filters, flash cards.

[oalvarez]

as Bill and DucEditor have said, it's almost impossible to just have one. started with a Nikon D40 years ago, and have since upgraded to the following:

Nikon D300S
Nikon Speedlight SB-900
Nikkor 24-70mm, 2.8 (absolutely phenomenal around the house, travel)
Tamron 17-50mm, 2.8
Nikkor VR 18-200mm, 3.5 (great all arounder)
Nikkor VR 70-300mm, 3.5 (soccer season)

Lumix LX5, 24mm, 2.8 (my new fav)
Lumix DMC ZS7