Equipment

I shoot all my images with Canon equipment, because many years ago, I started this  hobby with an entry level Canon 300D and I was pleased with its performance. Before that I had used a film based Canon and that worked just fine too, by the standards of the day.

Prior to that, my collection included the three film cameras that you see illustrated, alongside, although I should hastily add that two of those considerably pre-date me. To the best of my knowledge, they are all still fully functional although as I concentrate on wildlife photography, they are unlikely to accompany me on any significant shoots in the near future.

Once you start buying compatible lenses and dedicated ancillary equipment, you tend to become committed to a particular manufacturer’s brand, since they are not generally interchangeable.

Does this matter? Personally I don’t think so as it is hard today to buy a bad camera such is the high quality and functionality coupled with the fast developing electronic wizardry. Modern camera bodies have so many options built in, it is hard to imagine most people using more than a fraction of their camera’s potential.

Professional camera bodies are not cheap and at the top end of the range can break the bank. Lenses however are even more expensive and are arguably more critical in enabling you to get pin sharp images.

Most photographers would agree that a decent body and a poor lens is not a great combination. An expensive but optically excellent lens when mated with a decent DSLR camera body will always out-perform the former. The lens and body need not be from the same manufacturer, because a number of companies produce excellent competitively priced lenses that are offered with fittings that are compatible with the well established brands.

So what is currently in the bag?

Camera bodies:  Canon EOS R3 Mirrorless EOS :1DX MkII:  EOS 5DMkII 

Lenses:                EF 500mm f4 prime:                                                                                                                                                             RF 100-500mm f4.5 -7.1 L IS USM                                                                                                                                     EF 300mm prime f2.8;                                                                                                                                                         EF 100-400 IS USM MkII;                                                                                                                                                   EF 24-105mm;
                             EF 20mm f2.8 prime;                                                                                                                                                           Sigma 105mm f2.8 DG Macro

 In conclusion …

“When people ask me what equipment I use – I tell them my eyes”  – Anon