Before we get started with this, an important disclosure.

Cameras

Over the years, the size and content of my camera collection has changed on a regular basis, but at the moment I find myself with a relatively simple setup – although I’m occasionally borrowing additional cameras for testing from my partner, B&H Photo.

The Canon 5D Mark IV has been a real workhorse for me since the moment it was first launched. Image quality, particularly dynamic range, was a huge step up from the 5D Mark III, and the modest boost in frame rate to 7fps was enough to cement this further as Canon’s ultimate “all rounder”. I trust this camera in harsh environments, and I appreciate the small size compared to the larger 1D bodies.

For a while my second body was the 7D Mark II and it served its purpose well by giving me some additional reach for wildlife photography when I needed it. But then Canon launched the new RF mount and I knew that I needed a camera body that I could use to test new RF lenses with. I skipped over the first EOS R as the specs and the price point didn’t seem to match up in my eyes, but I jumped on the EOS RP when it was announced. $1300 for a 26MP full frame camera is a killer deal, and I’ve been incredibly impressed by my time with this camera. I’m sure that I will upgrade it to a more professional R-series camera when one is launched, but for now this serves my purposes by allowing me to test new RF lenses. With the EF to RF lens adapter I can use my existing EF lenses and that means this also meets my needs as a backup body to my 5D Mark IV. The fact that it is smaller and lihter than my 7D Mark II is an added bonus.

The only other camera I have right now is a GoPro Hero 5. I mainly use this for capturing behind-the-scenes content for my social media channels and the “5” does just fine for that right now. I haven’t been tempted to upgrade to a newer model yet.

Lenses

Much like my camera kit, my lens kit is often changing as I try new gear. At the moment I have a relatively small kit, having sold my Canon 200-400 f/4. After several years of owning that alongside the Canon 400mm f/4 DO IS II, I found I grabbed the DO lens far more often due to its much smaller size and weight. That smaller size allowed me to carry a broader range of other lenses in my pack and at the moment that suits my eclectic photographic interests which range from landscapes to wildlife and adventure sports.

In the near future I’ll be purchasing and testing some Sony gear to see how it compares to the Canon system I have loved for so many years…

Camera Bags

*1 If you use my links to reach either the MindShift Gear website, or the Think Tank website, and then spend over $50, you’ll get a free gift at the checkout! For more details on these two special offers, please see the deals page of my site.

The majority of my camera carry gear comes from MindShift Gear and their sister company Think Tank Photo. My primary backpack is the MindShift BackLight Elite 45L pack which is designed to be the ultimate rugged outdoor photo pack for adventures anywhere in the world, in any kind of condition. I should know, I helped to test and refine the pack for over two years during the development phase before it was released to the public.

When I travel by plane, my current favourite laptop bags to use as that “personal item” for carry-on are the Retrospective 30 shoulder bag and the uniquley designed expandable Shape Shifter backpack. For big car trips where I need to take everything but the kitchen sink, I load up the gigantic Logistics Manager 30 roller bag, and if I need maximum camera gear volume in a backpack then I use the First Light 40L.

Yes the BackLight Elite 45L and FirstLight 40 are similarly sized, but the FirstLight is entirely for camera gear, where the BackLight saves a lot of space for other outdoor equipment. For bulky items like my underwater housing, the FirstLight is the right choice.

I also really like the Gura Gear Kiboko bags for safari style photography. There’s no other bag on the market that can give you such easy access to a pair of ready-to-go cameras with big lenses already in place. The butterfly opening is unique and specific, but it’s a worthy addition to the gear closet for wildlife photographers. These bags went off the market for some time, but I’m happy to see them back now and available exclusively through B&H.

Sometimes a very specific situation calls for a pack with a laser-targeted purpose and when that happens, I usually turn to Arc’teryx’s lineup of adventure packs and convert them for camera usage by adding the previously mentioned MindShift Multi-Mount Holsters or the MindShift Stash Master 13.

Lighting

Tripods and Tripod Heads

Most of my support equipment comes from Really Right Stuff. They continually produce the finest carbon tripods and machined aluminum heads on the planet as far as I’m concerned. Over the years I have owned all of their heads for one purpose or another, so I wrote an extensive RRS ballhead and gimbal guide to compare them all. I also wrote a specific gimbal guide that talks in detail about the unique side mount design of the RRS PG-02 gimbal because people continually have questions about that.

My primary tripod is the TFC-24L which is one of their tallest tripods. I’m only 5ft9″, but a tall tripod allows you to have a long downhill leg whe you’re shooting on a slope, and still keep the camera at eye level. Honestly, buying a tall tripod was one of the best gear decisions I ever made!

Accessories

*1 Click through to Think Tank’s store and spend more tan $50 to get a free gift. More details about this offer can be found here.

*2 Peak Design have offered a discount to Shutter Muse readers, click here for details.

Most of the items in this list are things that I pack into my bags whenever I leave for a photo mission and with the exception of the big camera straps, it all fits in the the handy Peak Design Tech Pouch to keep all the small things organized. All I need to do is remember to grab it on my way out! 

Photography Gloves

I spend a lot of time shooting photos in cold weather and mountainous locations so functional photography gloves are important for me. For the Shutter Muse Gear Guide series I undertook a seriously in-depth group test of all the photography gloves on the market and these gloves from The Heat Company came out on top.

The Shoftshell 2 is a brilliant glove for milder temperatures and cold wind, and the Heat 3 Shell will keep you comfortable well below -30 degree with the liner. Read the photography glove guide for more details.

Filter Kit

*1 If you use my links to reach either the MindShift Gear website, or the Think Tank website, and then spend over $50, you’ll get a free gift at the checkout! For more details on these two special offers, please see the deals page of my site.

At the moment I’m really loving the line of filters from Breakthrough Photography. They are extrmely colour neutral and the X100 filter holder is a real bargain at only $50, about half the price of some other very similar options. One thing I do find odd is that they don’t sell their full range of products on Amazon or B&H Photo like most people. Selected products to pop up in those places, but to get the full range of products you need to buy directly from their website. That said, this isn’t a bad thing as they have free shipping and some exceptional customer service.

Of course you’ll need a case of some sort if you are going to have a few different filters, and the Filter Hive from MindShift is the only holder out there that will hold grad ND filters, circular screw-on filters and 4x4 filters. It’ll even hold the filter holder so everything is packaged up an a read-to-go case. Love that!

If you’re looking to get a filter “starter kit” as many people have asked me about in the past, I would suggest getting a 2-stop soft edge GND, a circular polarizer and a 3-stop ND filter. Check this aricle if you aren’t sure about the difference between a GND and an ND filter, and check out this article for help on choosing between square and screw-on ND filters.

Computer and Drives

At the moment I’m running a 15″ MBP that primarily stays in my office and only comes on the road when I know I need to process photos away from home. When I only need a laptop for downloading cards and writing, I take the much small and lighter 13″ Macbook Air.

I take my photo backup routine very seriously. Literally my entire career relies upon it so the setup is redundant in multiple different areas. This list shows you the drives I’m currently using, but if you want to read about the actual process and backup automations I have in place, I keep a series of articles on the site that go through this in great detail.

Audio and Video

I typically don’t shoot video for clients, but I do post videos on my Youtube channel and my social media channels on a regular basis. I also take part in quite a few photography podcasts and record tutorials for various photo editing applications.

All cameras these days are capable of recording video that is more than high enough quality for web consumption, but where they fall down is the audio quality. It sucks if you use the on-board microphone in the camera! Audio is hugely important, just as important as the video quality, if not more! Rode makes all kinds of excellent microphones at great prices, and the Sound Devices recorder allows me to route sound to a camera or a computer however I please.

Optics 

Anyone that does a lot of wildlife photography should have a good pair of binoculars. Much like a good tripod, this is something that with careful thought and research can be purchased perhaps just once or twice in your life. Good ones can be expensive, but they last well and they truly enhance the wildlife watching experience.

Yes they are great for spotting wildlife in the first place, but they are also great for watching wildlife that is simply too far away to get a good photo. If I can’t get a good shot, you can bet I’m still going to sit there for a while and study the animal’s behaviour so that I’m more familliar with their motions and patterns for future encounters.

The Monarch HGs are relatively new to the market but have quickly picked up near legendary status for the quality that they deliver at a price point that is less than half of other binoculars with similar optical performance. I’m sure I’ll have these around my neck for my whole career. They’re quite simply one of the best presents I ever bought myself!

Outdoor Clothing

Full disclosure: I get discounted Arcteryx gear, but keeping warm and dry is such an important part of my work that I wouldn’t use anything that didn’t suit my needs 100%. Here’s my personal favourite pieces of outerwear.  You get what you pay for, this stuff will last years of intensive usage and their customer service is second to none.

Outdoor Equipment 

I spend a lot of my time outside, so naturally I have amassed a fairly large amount of outdoor and adventure equipment alongside my photographic gear.  There’s far too much to list all of it, but these days, the stuff on this list is what I find myself reaching for on a regular basis.

The Guardian water filter is worth a special mention. This is the new king of MSR’s water treatment lineup and it’s effective against protozoa, bacteria, viruses, and particulates. Whether you’re camping or travelling in an area of the world with suspect water conditions, the Guardian is a great tool to keep you behind your camera and not… you know… in the bushes.

I’m also loving the new Prolite Apex sleeping pad. This is a 2″ thick self-inflating pad and whilst it’s slightly heavier than the previous NeoAir pads I have been using, it’s much more rugged and simpler to deal with. It’s the first self-inflating style of pad that I’ve been comfortable on as a side sleeper. 

WordPress Plugins

These are the valuable WordPress plugins that are used on the Shutter Muse website, as well as my personal professional photography portfolio. My websites are a hugely important part of my business so I spend a lot of time optimizing them and testing various plugins.