Occasionally, I get questions about my camera equipment. It started with a single camera body and one telephoto lens. But I love tools - and toys - and I'm finding that there's no better hobby for a "gadget freak" to spend lots of money than photography. I'll use this post as a perpetual home for my equipment list and a couple thoughts about each tool. (Last update: October 2009)
Camera Body
Nikon D200 with a multi-power battery pack. When I bought my D-SLR in March of 2008, the D300 had just come out. I opted for the less expensive, older model because I wasn't sure if photography was going to be a short-lived hobby for me. Now I know better... but I love my D200. It's a solid camera.
Lenses
Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED AF-S DX Autofocus. My first lens, and my go-to for everyday candid shots.
Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II AF-S DX Zoom. This inexpensive wide-angle lens is the one I use least often, but I know it'll come in handy for travel. It does a good job at the 18mm end with minimal distortion. Unless I'm shooting straight up a tree, in which case it gives me exactly the effect I'm looking for.
Tamron 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di LD Macro Autofocus. I asked for this inexpensive telephoto lens for Christmas in '08 so I could see if 300mm worked for me. This lens taught me two things: one, I get great candids with 300mm; and two, when it comes to glass, you get what you pay for. My major beef with this lens is the fact that it's slow to focus. When I'm shooting at 300mm, it's usually because I'm chasing a child with my camera, and I don't have time to wait on the motor. I've now retired this lens.
Normal AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.4D Autofocus Lens. Hands down, the best piece of glass I own. It took me a while to learn how to "zoom with my feet", so to speak, but this is now what I use for all my portraiture work. And when I want some yummy bokeh, I pop on this lens.
NEW 10/09! Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED AF-S VR Zoom. My newest (and most expensive) lens, it's quickly become my favorite ... second only to my fixed 50mm. The Vibration Reduction is phenomenal when it comes to those shots of Veronica's drill team shows or volleyball games. And the SWF motor is fast, quiet, and smooth - so I can keep up with the most rambunctious toddler on the playground.
Lighting
Nikon Speedlight SB800. I use this on-camera most of the time, but I'm starting to delve into strobist techniques. This communicates wirelessly with my D200 with just a few quick menu settings.
Gary Fong LightSphere II Inverted Dome Flash Diffusion Cloud System. It looks strange, it's a little bulky, but it's super-inexpensive and both spreads and diffuses your flash like nobody's business.
32" 5-in-1 Reflector with Lightstand. The reflector is super-handy and versatile. It's a must-have on bright, sunny days. I've used the stand just a couple times for posed shots, and I liked the results ... but quite frankly, it's a pain to set up and carry.
Bogen/Manfrotto Justin Spring Clamp. I bought this because Scott Kelby said I needed one. Turns out, he was right. (He usually is, I'm told.) When shooting with my flash off-camera, this is an absolute must-have. I love how I can turn anything into a light stand: a chair, a fence, a tree limb ... anything.
Bogen/Manfrotto Stacker Light Stand. An all-purpose stand I bought to use with my Justin clamp. Works well ... when I use it. Just like the reflector stand, it's a pain to lug around and set up. I've come to discover I'm more of a "mobile, on-the-go" photographer.
Straps & Bags
RS-5 R-Strap. The best camera strap EVER. Why I waited so long to buy it, I'll never know. Instead of hanging the camera around your neck, this strap runs across your body, and allows you to swing the camera from hip to face. Plus, with all the storage in the pockets at the shoulder, I can keep extra memory cards + batteries right with me.
Tenba Shootout Sling Bag. Hands down, my absolute favorite camera bag ever. Quality construction, comfortable to carry, and easy to arrange the padded inserts to hold all my gear. Although, I'm finding I leave it in the car - if I'm shooting with just one lens - in favor of carrying just my camera on the R-Strap.
Lowepro Vertex 300 AW Backpack. This bag can hold absolutely every piece of my camera equipment (stands excluded) plus my Wacom tablet and my external hard drive ... but then I can barely lift it. Intended for traveling with my equipment, I have to use a folding luggage cart to drag it with me. I'm still looking for a better solution, and suspect I may need a hard-side case suitable for checking with the airline.
Computer Tools
Adobe Lightroom 2. I shoot almost everything in Nikon RAW format, and Lightroom handles it like a champ. I'd be lost without this tool for processing shoots: photo triage, metadata management, cropping, web gallery creation, and more.
Adobe Photoshop CS3 Extended. I've been using Photoshop since 1998, and I've come a long way. (Come to think of it, so has Photoshop!) My post-processing work is done here to "polish" my favorite images.
Wacom Intuos 3 Graphics Tablet. I am nowhere near fully proficient with my graphics tablet, but quite simply, I need to use it more. (Practice is key with these things.) I've found it invaluable for more detailed touch-up work in Photoshop.
