My Equipment
I get asked for camera suggestions all the time. Everyone has different needs and, tbh, I don’t shop for cameras very often. I’d rather be shooting than looking at specs.
This is a list of what I have in my kit now. I’m also making notes of what I plan to upgrade/switch out. I am a VERY simple shooter. My shooting style hasn’t changed much since I first started 27+ years ago.
The MAIN WORK HORSE
CAMERA: Canon 5d Mk4 w/ 24-70 Lens ($3,435)
This is my main gun for jobs, anything I want printed large, or when I am working in studio. 98% of my work (before I bough the Olympus TG-6) has been shot with this camera. They just made this camera right. It’s full frame, shoots raw, built like a tank, has solid ergonomics, very simple to use, and easy to mod out without spending a ton. This is ideal for professionals, or someone who wants to blow a shit ton of money on a solid camera.
Don’t forget to get a car charger ($13). There is always a chance you’ll forget to charge your batteries so it helps to have a spare charger in the car. And don’t forget a proper strap ($65) - the strap they include sucks ass and it’s important that it’s easy to carry. Peak Design are my fav straps because you can move them from camera to camera in seconds.
LIGHT: GoDox V860-C ($249)
I switched from Canon speed lights to GoDox a few years ago. They’re essentially the same exact flash, but less expensive because they don’t spend money on marketing. It looks like they switch out the housing and probably make them at the same factory as Canon. It’s truly weird how similar they are to the more expensive Canon Speedlights.
You may also want to get a SpeedLight cord ($20). This is to connect your Canon with your GoDox. You don’t need this. It just helps if you want to handhold your light in one hand.
LIGHT MODS: MagMod Gel Kit ($90)
People ask me “how do you get the colors in your pics?” Gels. It’s gels people. This isn’t a magic trick, it’s just gels. People have been using gels since forever.
But what is magic? These MagMod kits! For the longest time I would buy a pack of gels, cut them to the shape of my GoDox, and carry them in my pocket. I would use gaffer tape to affix them to the flash but usually the tape wield lose strength and they would fly away with the wind. The loose gels also crinkled in my pocket so it always sounded like I was wearing a diaper. MagMods come with harder plastic gels that slide in to a pocket. The magnet holds them to the flash firm so there is NO chance they will fall away and you don’t need to fuss. You can still use the plastic gels but you probably won’t need to. You can also grid your shit with the MagMods, or get a bounce for them.
EVERYDAY CARRY
CAMERA: Olympus TG-6 ($450)
Do you want something that will fit in your pocket? Want something that is silent? Want to shoot underwater? Want to shoot in the desert and not worry about overheating? Want to drop your shit and not worry about it breaking? Want a camera that you can bring to an event and not worried security will stop you? Want something you can hand to anyone to take some pics and they will immediately know what to do? Want a camera that has a zoom that doesn’t stick out of the camera when fully zoomed? Want to shoot close up pictures of bugs and eyes under an internal microscope? That’s the TG-6.
It was basically the camera for divers, fishermen, dentists, and people who like shooting bugs until I found it. Now it’s shooting people in crazy-ass scenarios.
I’ve also encouraged a lot of the models I work with to get one as well.
The downside: the sensor size is rather small in size (similar to your iPhone) so you can’t blow up images beyond 16x20”. But you’re most likely not concerned with that. Get it. (for the people who ask the dumb question “how many megapixels?” It has 12. That’s enough. honestly stop asking because you sound like an idiot when you ask about megapixels in 2021. sensor size is more important than megapixels. You sound like my 70 year old dad when you ask about MP’s)
The strap it comes with sucks balls so get yourself a peak design strap. You can use this same strap on a small mirrorless or the TG-6 - it;’s easy to switch it between the two. Peak Design Camera strap.
NOTE: I’ll soon be replacing this with the Ricoh GRIII ($900). I’ll keep the Oly for underwater and macro, but the Ricoh will mostly likely be my everyday camera since I want that larger sensor size for printing my work.
Sitting in the Camera Bag
Fuji X-T20 ($1,100)
This was my first mirrorless. As a novice or amateur, this camera is great, but it’s not a professional grade camera. I tried a T3 a friend had and figured “Eh - the xt20 is close enough!” Wrong. The T series is larger and more robust than the X series. I plan to upgrade to the T4. I got this because I was being cheap. It’s still a great camera if you’re novice but it doesn’t hold up for professional projects.
Olympus Epic Zoom ($300)
This is sometimes referred to as the Muji and is the one and only film camera I own! TBH I never use it. But I have it. I almost always get Muji’s because I have been shooting with them since the 90’s. An ex fiancee had a pearl Muji that I inherited. I lost that one and kept buying new Muji’s everytime I lose them. They’re light, quick, and easy to use. Perfect for someone who wants film point and shoot camera.
Fuji SQ10 ($300)
This is a “toy camera” I keep around. It spits out square instant images (similar to old school polaroid). But the two differences between regular polaroids and the SQ10:
1) The images are slightly smaller than regular polaroid (2.4” x 2.4”)
2) this is technically a digital camera with a printer attached. So you shoot as much as you’d like, and only print the images that you want. Some purists would say this is cheating. I say “this doesn’t fuck the environment as much.”
Honestly it’s not the most fascinating camera. But I’m sure some kids in BK shooting fashion will be like “ermagawd! This is the bees knees! I’m edge lord with film! I need polaroid!”
VIDEO
Canon Vixia HF R800
GoPro 6
>>Ricoh
>>
LENSES
24-70mm
105mm
LIGHTING
Godox
Gels
OLD EQUIPMENT
Leica S
Leica ??
Canon 7D
Fuji x70
TECH
MacBook Pro
iPad Air w/ Pencil
Think Tank Camera Bag ($220)
Camera bags are a stupid necessity. So you want one that fits in overhead rack, and holds all your cameras, a laptop your iPads, and whatever drugs you’re smuggling.