My Gear: Photography equipment
that I use and recommend

Here's where I get to show off the photography equipment I've accumulated over the years, either for my own camera bag or at my day job:

Please take note:

  1. These are my recommendations based on my years of experience practicing and teaching photography. Most of what's listed here I either own or have used, but I also offer some competing equivalents from different brands.

  2. My personal experience is with Nikon and Canon systems. I recognize I'm excluding several excellent photo manufacturers, but I'm just one guy.

  3. Manufacturers change their offerings frequently and often without warning. If one of the links below leads to a discontinued product, please let me know.

  4. I welcome suggestions about alternative systems, including off-brand lenses of similar quality that may be available at a significant savings.

  5. Finally, the links below all lead to BH Photo Video in New York, NY, USA, a well-respected vendor of photographic equipment that I have personally patronized for years, and whom I trust to give you excellent service, whether you are in the USA or abroad. As a BH Photo affiliate, I receive a small percentage of purchases you make from them through this site. My affiliate revenue keeps me motivated and solvent as I continue adding to this site. Thanks for your support!

    6. Digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) camera bodies

    • Canon 5D. This phenomenal, full-sized chip camera was the top of the line when we acquired it. It has since been superseded by the Canon EOS 5D Mark II Digital Camera.

      This camera is probably more than is needed for day-to-day shooting and by weekend warrior photographers, but if you desire the best DSLR money can buy, it's hard to beat this camera. The full-sized chip means all your EOS lenses can be used without any magnification changes.

      PS: Canon's absolute top level camera at this writing is the Canon EOS 1D Mark IV SLR Digital Camera. This baby is designed for top pros, or others who use it daily. It will set you back a pretty penny, but there is no finer "shooting iron" on the market.

    • Canon 20D. This body has been discontinued, but a similar body in a similar price range can be found in the Canon EOS 60D DSLR Camera.

      A smaller chip translates to a more affordable camera, but you will have to take magnification changes into account. As for the image files, at 18 megapixels the files can be enlarged to your heart's content without pixelation (click here for a discussion about printing resolution and image size).

      Both of these camera bodies fit the Canon EOS series lenses only.

    • Nikon D70. Also discontinued, this body has been replaced by the Nikon D90 SLR Digital Camera.

      In keeping with Nikon's lens-mount design strategy, it will fit nearly every Nikon lens ever made. Of course, full autofocus control is only available on newer lenses.

    Camera lenses

    Canon EOS lenses

    I acquired my EOS lenses for an EOS film camera body, which as we've discussed requires longer focal lengths for the same coverage than lenses used for smaller-chip cameras. Refer to this table for a back-of-the-envelope conversion chart, and base your lens purchases on the appropriate focal length for your camera body of choice.

    • Canon 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro Autofocus Lens. My "go-to" macro lens with great optics and 1:1 magnification capability. Although the autofocus is sluggish, I never use AF when shooting macro photography, so no problem. This is also a nice portrait lens, allowing full-face framing at a working distance of about 3 ft./ 1 meter.

    • Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM Telephoto Zoom Lens. I pinched pennies for a long time to be able to afford this lens, but it's been worth every penny. It's fast, razor sharp, and a joy to use. The version listed here has image stabilization to allow an extra four stops of stability for hand-held shooting. Fitted to extension tubes, this lens works great in macro mode with the benefit of a longer working distance and extremely narrow depth of field to isolate your subject. This is one dreamy hunk of glass!

    • Canon 24-105mm f/4L IS USM AF Lens. A versatile general-purpose lens for everyday shooting. I use the older 28-105mm version, which has been discontinued; this lens is equivalent, but with better wide-angle capability.

      I usually leave this one in my bag when doing macro photography (I have better alternatives), but if I'm out and about with friends and family, this is the lens I use. The zoom range is good, and it is fast and sharp.

    • Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM Autofocus Lens. I own the now-discontinued 20-35mm zoom, but this one is a step up, with a wider angle of view.

      This is a phenomenal lens for shooting in crowds, or where you need to get wide. It's not great for macro photography, but it has other virtues that make it a solid addition to any camera bag. If you aspire to be a versatile shooter, you'll eventually want a good wide-angle lens, and this wide-angle zoom is a solid choice.

    Equivalent Nikon lenses

    As you can tell, I'm a Canon guy by nature, but I use Nikon equipment often. Their prominence in the world of photography is well-deserved. Here are Nikon's equivalents to the lenses listed above:

    Lighting and lighting accessories

    Tripods

    As I've stated before, no one tripod can do it all. Most serious photographers end up owning several. Here's are some suggestions to get you started:

    Close-up and macro accessories

    Table-top and studio accessories

    • Light domes come in a variety of sizes, from several manufacturers. Here's the model I selected: Impact Digital Light Shed - XL. If you do close-up photography only, you'll do fine with a smaller model.

    • Collapsible reflectors are versatile, lightweight, and fold up very small. Amaze your friends with your flick-of-the-wrist reflector collapsing skills!

      Here's a basic model: Photoflex LiteDisc Circular Reflector, White Opaque/Silver, 42" (107cm), and a smaller one that will fit into your camera bag: Photoflex LiteDisc Circular Reflector, Silver/Gold, 12" (30.5cm).

    • Camera bag. Opinions range widely on this subject. The best rule-of-thumb is to choose a bag that, when full, you can carry comfortably for several hours. There are many, many well-made camera bags out there, and range from shoulder-type bags to backpacks to fanny packs to everything in between. A good camera bag will give you years of good service, so give this one a lot of thought.

      I've had good luck with a model similar to this one, so try this link to get started: Tamrac 5607 Ultra Pro 7 Camera Case .

    Flatbed Scanners

    Yes, a flatbed scanner is photography equipment, and not just to digitize slides, prints, and negatives. A good scanner can fill in nicely for a macro camera, as I explain on this page.

    Make sure your scanner has transparency capability (achieved by way of a light source in the lid) for double the flexibility. I have used the Epson Perfection V750-M Pro Scanner for several years, and I recommend it highly. Of course, I welcome alternate suggestions!

    Photo Editing and Desktop Publishing

    I have used both Adobe Photoshop Elements 10 and Adobe Photoshop CS5 Extended Software, and they are both excellent.

    While Photoshop CS5 will challenge your photo editing skills for years to come, Elements is a stripped-down version lacking in many capabilities but still a powerful program for a much lower price. Be aware that Adobe discounts their software prices heavily for teachers and students. Check for the specific link that states Student and Teacher Edition, and check the link to see if you qualify.

Finally...

    I hope this list gives you some guidance as you choose your macro photography equipment.

    Good photographic gear will give you years of good, reliable service. Please contact me here, or use the Facebook comment box below, if you have anything to add. Thank-you!

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