WHAT'S IN THE BAG?
On this page you'll find an inventory of the equipment I currently own and utilize on a regular basis. I've used a variety of gear over the years (click here to learn more) and created this page as an insight for photographers into what I bring along for both my professional assignment work and my personal work. Note: there really are no poor camera systems today and one can truly make amazing images with any of them. Find the gear that works optimally for your particular use case and stick with it. Remember, the camera doesn't feel, nor can it see. Only the photographer can do that. As a general rule, I believe it's far better to familiarize oneself with one's existing system inside and out—so that it becomes an innate extension of one's vision—than make a wholesale switch to a new brand every two -to-four years. Manufacturers leap-frog each other continually, so any gains you might make in the short term, you may lose over the long term.
For reasons upon which I elaborate a bit more below, Nikon and Fujifilm remain my primary systems of choice; Nikon for the past three decades, and Fujifilm since 2011. Suffice to say I've chosen my kit because as a motion picture and television stills photographer I need to feel confident my gear is capable of shooting in a wide variety of circumstances that are oftentimes physically challenging and taxing on equipment. After image fidelity and technical functionality, dependability is of paramount importance to me. Nikon, in particular, has decades of experience and a storied history delivering that.
This list goes through periodic modifications—over the past decade a conversion from Nikon DSLRs to a combination of Nikon and Fujifilm mirrorless cameras, for example—so specific items in my camera bag this month might not be there next month (though, once again, switches are piecemeal and typically involve an occasional upgrade here or there). Moreover, this isn't necessarily a complete inventory of my kit, nor does every piece of gear come along for each and every assignment.
CAMERAS AND LENSES
NIKON DIGITAL BODIES
Nikon's professional legacy is legendary. For my money, the best full frame camera system on the market today, when all metrics are tallied holistically. Renowned build quality, ergonomics and optical performance are all offered here in spades, with the Z-Mount lenses in particular consistently ranking at or near the top of all full frame optics on the market...from any manufacturer. The system to reach for when you absolutely, positively have to bring home the shot, no matter the conditions or circumstances.
I use Nikon primarily for unit stills work, but it's also my first choice for any sports, action and/or wildlife photography I might be required to do, especially when lighting conditions are at their most challenging. With the largest diameter bayonet mount, and shortest flange distance of any full frame mirrorless system, the Z bodies also pair seamlessly (via adaptor) with most of Nikon's legendary F-Mount lenses, along with a vast array of lenses from other manufacturers.
Nikon Zf
Borrowing a page from the retro design aesthetic that has worked so well for Fujifilm over the past decade—and directly homaging Nikon's FM/FE series cameras from the 1970s—the Nikon Zf is more than just a handsome shell that pulls on nostalgic heart strings, however. Using the superb high ISO full frame sensor from the Z6II and combining it with the fast Expeed 7 processor from the Z9, the Zf improves on the Z6II's exceptional low light performance. But now it couples that with enhanced operational speed, much quicker and more potent AF algorithms, and some world's first features as well, including Focus Point Stabilization, which biases the in-body image stabilization system in favor of whatever focus point is selected. This camera is full frame retro done right and is perfect as a third backup body for my Nikon Z system, while also being an ideal choice as a full frame travel, street, and documentary tool.
NIKON ANALOGUE BODIES
Although digital has long since supplanted analogue in my workflow, there are periodic instances when I will be asked to shoot some rolls of 35mm film for a particular project or assignment. And on occasion I will still shoot some 35mm film for my own purposes, too. While I retain a large assortment of 35mm cameras from different brands, I ensure two of my 35mm Nikons remain in ready status should the situation call for it. I also maintain a curated selection of F-Mount Nikkor lenses, including AF and AF-S (along with some Ai and Ai-S glass not listed here).
Nikon F4S
Designed to succeed the wildly popular Nikon F3 professional camera, the F4 was also sculpted by Italian designer, Giorgetto Giugiaro. Introduced in 1988, it was Nikon's first autofocus professional body, and while only utilizing a single, central point AF system, it works well enough in many situations. The camera's real benefit, however—in addition to what it inherits from the F3—is its wonderful ergonomics, deft blending of both automated and mechanical control interfaces, multimode exposure control, and its ability to utilize matrix metering with older Ai and Ai-S Nikkor lenses, along with providing select operability with the latest AF-S Nikkor lenses (a level of backwards and forwards functionality no other analogue Nikon body offers). The most capable 35mm camera in my kit, and still my favorite to reach for when called upon to do serious 35mm photography, thanks to its extraordinary durability, compatibility and versatility.
Nikon F3HP
Introduced in 1980 to replace the iconic Nikon F2, the F3 is considered by many to be the greatest 35mm SLR ever made. Or at least certainly the greatest electronically-controlled, manual focus 35mm SLR of all time. Indeed, the F3 was in production for 21 years—continuing alongside both the F4 and the F5—which speaks volumes about its enduring popularity and longevity. With today's resurgence of analogue photography, particularly amongst younger generations picking up 35mm as a serious passtime, or seeking a different and somewhat less clinical look to their photography, the F3 has become a highly coveted SLR once again. Extremely well built, with the system modularity of Nikon's pro bodies of the period, the camera was drafted by famed Italian designer, Giorgetto Giugiaro. I have retained mine over the years, and still occasionally use it for personal and professional work, when a relatively compact, more lightweight 35mm solution is desired.
NIKON LENSES
FUJIFILM BODIES
Sporting both the world's first stacked APS-C sensor, and the world's first 40MP APS-C sensor, respectively, no other manufacturer today offers a truly compact camera system as universally capable or complete as Fujifilm's X-System. Characterized by the classic dials and switches of the bygone 35mm era, the X-System is also wonderfully light and compact compared to full frame systems, and features beautiful SOOC color science that is commonly lauded as among the best in the business. While the X-System is a fantastic choice for street, travel, and social documentary photography due to its small size and excellent image quality, I also occasionally deploy it for some of my unit stills work, particularly in daylight conditions where I need to maintain as unobtrusive a footprint on set as possible.
Fujifilm X-Pro2
The successor to Fujifilm’s innovative X-Pro1, the X-Pro2 dramatically improves upon the formula in every way, with an excellent 24mp APS-C sensor, faster processor, weather sealing, twin card slots, dedicated focusing joystick, and myriad other operational features and improvements. Yours truly was one of five X-Photographers™ in Canada selected to help launch the X-Pro2 in late 2015, and you can read more about my experiences with it here. Though it has since been usurped by the X-Pro3, it remains a highly capable camera today, ideal for street, travel and social documentary photography.
FUJIFILM LENSES
LEICA
Leica Q2
The iconic marque that made 35mm reportage photography a staple around the world in the mid-20th century, and has been closely associated with such photographic luminaries as Henri Cartier-Bresson, Robert Capa, Gary Winogrand...and countless others. Sporting 47MP, the Leica Q2 produces stunningly beautiful image quality; an easy match for the Nikon Z9 and only bested by larger format cameras such as the Fujifilm GFX series. This is the compact camera to carry with you if you want the ultimate image quality possible...and you favor the 28mm focal length. It also offers the added benefit of 3 stops of optical image stabilization.
LIGHTING
STROBES AND SPEEDLIGHTS
LIGHT MODIFIERS
BAGS
SUPPORTING APPARATUS
Below are miscellaneous paraphernalia and software that round out my core kit. I've kept this list to the more significant supporting items and excluded the myriad widgets and grommets one accumulates over the years. They're too numerous to account for, and at this level each person will find adaptations that best suit their own individual shooting needs.
Nikon Z Teleconverter TC-2.0x
Allows for the doubling of focal lengths for select Z Mount lenses. AF and VR functionality, minimum focusing distances and weather-sealing are all retained.
Nikon FTZ/FTZII Mount Adapters
Enables adaptation of Nikkor F Mount lenses to Nikon Z Series bodies. Note: This adapter does not support the screw-drive autofocus mechanism required by older Nikon AF, AF-n or AF-D lenses. Only manual focus may be employed.
Fujinon WCL-X100
Wide angle adaptor for Fujifilm X100 series cameras, offering an equivalent 27mm focal length in full frame terms.
Fujinon TCL-X100
Telephoto adaptor for Fujifilm X100 series cameras that provides a 49mm equivalent focal length in full frame terms.
Benbo 1 tripod
Heavyweight Benbo tripods (manufactured in the UK) utilize a unique bent-bolt design mechanism, with legs that can be used both in a traditional upright tripod configuration, or spread to any angle of support by means of a single lock-handle.
Giottos VGRN 8255 - M3 tripod
Compact, lightweight carbon fibre tripod with removable centre column and head that can quickly be combined together to form a monopod.
Nikon SC-17 Remote Cord
Enables Nikon Speedlights to be operated up to one-and-one-half meters from the camera, with automatic shutter speed and ready-light indication in the viewfinder.
SmallRig Cage Kit for Nikon Z8 body
Provides multiple accessory mounts for enhanced flexibility, along with additional exoskeletal protection for the camera body.
Spider Holster
An ideal carrying solution for mirrorless cameras, which takes the weight off one's neck and shoulders during a long day of shooting, while securely fastening the equipment to the waist.
Black Rapid Camera Sling
The original cross-torso camera sling that enables quick and secure access to your camera using a sliding carabiner and case screw that affixes to the tripod socket on the bottom of your camera.
Cameron lighting stands
6' medium-weight stands with collapsible pneumatic configuration.
SanDisk / Sony Memory Cards
PRO SD and SDXC / XQD / CFexpress cards ranging from 16GB to 512GB configurations.
Adobe Creative Cloud
The complete photographic editing suite, including Camera Raw and Photoshop.
Topaz Photo AI
Complete suite that supports enhanced sharpening, noise reduction and resolution upscaling for imagery.
DxO - Nik Collection Six
Multiple image editing plug-ins and tools for digital image processing and enhancement.
Synology DiskStation DS920+
Network-attached storage that streamlines data management and productivity. Two built-in M.2 SSD slots and Synology SSD Cache technology with scalable storage.