Inside My Camera Bag
My camera bodies, lenses, and why I use each of them
I often get asked about what camera and lenses I use so here we go. This is not a sponsored post nor do I endorse any specific brands, but I’ll explain why I choose these specific tools when I work digitally.
Cameras
(And of course my iPhone 13 Pro)
The D850 and the A7R III have similar sized sensors that are the same 3:2 format, but I have both because of differences in their size, weight, and speed.
The D850 is generally my camera when working in a studio with flash, making a portrait, or using flash on location. I like to strap the battery grip on it which makes it easier to handle when shooting vertical portraits. When working with flash, I also like to be able to see the mirrored image through the ‘single lens reflex’ set up. It's a true image compared to the digital image you get through a mirrorless set up. The D850 is a handful, but it’s a fast ergonomic tool that is responsive and pairs well with flash kit.
The A7RIII is my travel camera. If I am hopping on a plane, need to walk to locations, or shoot reportage work, I use the A7 because it's a lighter, more portable kit compared to the D850. I can squeeze in a small bag and it's size also makes it more unassuming, which attracts less attention. People don't think I am professional, which is the ideal.
The RX100 is my backup camera and I rarely shoot with it seriously. I carry it on trips so if my A7 breaks, I know I can pull off the remainder of an assignment on the RX100. It’s an insurance policy.
Lenses
For Nikon F-mount -
For Sony E-mount
Tamron 28-75mm F/2.8 Di III RXD
Sigma 35mm F/2 DG DN Contemporary
I’d guess that 90 percent of my photos are made with either a 35 mm lens or an 85 mm lens. For portraiture I use the 85 mm for tight portraits of faces, like this Time magazine cover. And for all my reportage work, or environmental portraiture, I use a 35 mm lens.
I prefer fixed focal length lenses over zooms. Working with one focal length over a set of images helps give them visual consistency, it’s like writing in one tense. The 28-75 mm is my back up lens when working with my Sony gear, I simply carry it as a spare in case my 35 mm or 85 mm breaks, or I know I’ll need to oscillate between focal lengths in a short period of time.
Occasionally I use the 50 mm for a landscape, or a portrait that I would like to feel wider than the perspective of the 85 mm.
Got any questions about this gear? Let me know in the comments.
Thanks for sharing your tool bag. Just curious why you don’t use Nikon or Sony lenses.