Equipment

Like many photographers, I’m a bit of an equipment nut. I used to work at a camera store and miss being able to try different cameras and lenses when I wished. But one thing I did learn, it’s what between your ears that makes a nice photo. The equipment just facilitates what you see and create.

So, though I list the equipment that I use here, almost any camera and lens would work, as long as it’s a quality build and the right type for your photography.

	CAMERAS
	Canon 7D I bought the 7D to shoot video if I travel, but I have shot very little with it yet. I have enjoyed the new features that include: Up to a 3 f-stop range on auto bracketing – this gives me more flexibility for HDR photos. Two second self-timer – Allows me to shoot time exposures without a cable release. Electronic level – I use this more than I thought I would and has reduced post processing corrections. Custom user settings – I’m just starting to use this and have found that I can switch between setups much faster (great feature) It just feels good in my hand. The contour of the grip is better. The viewfinder is larger and easier to use than the Rebel series cameras. I didn’t realize this until comparing them side-by-side.
	Canon XTi This was my first DSLR I bought on sale as they were phasing the model out. It’s still a great buy for someone looking at used cameras. Because I was worried about dust in the body, I purchased the Camera Armor to help keep the body sealed. Better yet, it gives me more to grip on to and feels more like the D series than a Rebel. It does not cover the battery grip below though. When I’m shooting on the tripod with the 7D, I’ll carry this for handheld and non-HDR photos.

	LENSES
	Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 A great lens for general shooting, shallow depth of field photos or in low light. It’s very inexpensive too. I hope to replace it with the f/1.4 sometime. The 1.2 would be nicer, but is very expensive and much heavier.
	Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM Not a fast sports lens, but still a nice general purpose telephoto. The IS feature works well also. Be prepared to use a tripod or monopod at the 300 end though. Also, the front element rotates on focus, which means you have to adjust your polarizer more often. The step up from here would probably be an L series lens.
	Tokina AT-X 11-16mm f/2.8 PRO DX This lens stays on the 7D almost all the time. It’s my favorite for my wide-angle shots. I don’t use f/2.8 much, but the brighter viewfinder at night is nice and aids in faster focusing too.
	Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM My most recent purchase, this has become my walk-around lens. The 15mm is why I opted for this, as I tend to shoot more wider angle images. I’m actually quite pleased with the results and the flexibility on the range it covers. With its wide range and the image stabilization, it is a fun lens to shoot.
	Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 This is the kit lens that came with the XTi. It’s actually not bad for general photos and many of my early photos were taken with this lens. But with its limited range, I usually am using the 15-85mm.

	STORAGE
	Lowepro Pro Runner 350AW This is what I use for my primary storage and travel. With the equipment above, it is filled completely. It carries well and is built to last. I have a review of this bag here. If I buy any more gear, I may have to move up to a larger size, but then I would never want to carry it.
	Lowepro Flipside 300 The Flipside opens from between the straps and provides great security in urban areas where pick-pockets could be an issue. It’s a great size bag; not to big and not too small. It’s very comfortable and carries enough gear for a day shoot. Read my review here.
	Tenba Messenger CAMERA Bag I won an auction on ebay for a Tenba Messenger bag. What was delivered was a Tenba Messenger Camera Bag. The auction had the smaller bag’s photo and description, but the larger “camera” bag was delivered instead. I decided to keep it for daily photo jaunts and sell an older Tamrac bag. I later discovered that it was the 2010 PDN Photo Bag of the Year, so I have high hopes for it.
	Tenba Messenger Bag After spending way too much time researching messenger bags, I decided on the Tenba Small Photo/Laptop Messenger bag for a daily carry/briefcase” bag. The “small” is misleading, as it’s large enough for a 15″ laptop. I’ve only had it a short while, but so far, it’s been great. I recently took it on a week long trip and it did superb. It’s very comfortable with a great padded strap, and the top entry zipper comes in much handier than I thought. Now, I would not buy a messenger that didn’t have a top zipper. It has a ton of storage pockets, plus the camera portion can pull out, leaving it open for an overnight bag if desired. Notice the manly brown color, but it’s available in others if you’re a girl.

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