Shooting Equipment (Patreon)

Eli asked for a post on which equipment I use for shooting. I think that's a great idea. Just wasn't sure if I should put this post into the "This is how I do it" tier or show it to all patrons. But at the end I thought it's not such a big secret wchih equipment I use so I like to show it to all of you :)

Shooting pack

On the picture about you'll see my shooting pack. I'm using Nikon full frame since the D800. My current shooting camera is a D850. The second D850 is my back up and just replaced my D810. The RAW files changed a lot since D800. I wouldn't say better in all conditions, but different. Of course, the specs and technique became much better, but for example I liked the soft RAW's of the D800. Todays RAW's of the D850 have often to much contrast. So even though I don't use D800/D810 very often anymore, I still keep them at home.

Lenses from left to right:

Tamron SP 70-200 F2.8 VC USD G2
Don't use it often, but sometimes I want for that 200mm look. Mostly use it outside. 

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 105 F1.4 E ED
New lens in my shooting pack. Don't have much experience with it yet. I think it will be nice for portraits. 

Tamron SP 85 1.8 Di VC USD
The 85mm is one of my favorite lenses. Helps me to reduce the scenery. In this case I prefer the Tamron instead of Nikon due to the image stabilization and a super clear image quality and nice bokeh. 

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 58 F1.4 G
I call her the diva. A really nice lens if "she's in the mood to work". Sometimes focus doesn't want to do what I want. Really nice for portraits as well. 

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50 F1.4 G
My oldest prime lens and I love it. It's the best alrounder. Some people say the quality is not as nice as others, third party producers, but I don't care. For me it's good enough, small and light. Sometimes it's event better not to have a 100% perfect lens. 

Tamron SP 45 1.8 Di VC USD
Real nice glass from Tamron with amazing quality. Only I don't understand why they didn't produce a 50mm. To me, it's a little bit to wide and I prefer the Nikon instead. Still I always bring it. It's usefull in small rooms. 

Tamron SP 35 1.8 Di VC USD
Honestly, 35mm is not my lens in terms of people photography. I just bring it as just in case lens. I have a 35mm F1.4 from Nikon as well, but I'll always bring the Tamron as it's smaller. Can't say much about quality as I'm not using both of them very often. 

Tipp: If you like the 45mm from Tamron and you are a Nikon shooter, than I'd consider this line-up as perfect for people photography: 45mm Tamron / 58mm Nikon / 85mm Tamron.

Travel Pack

I love my Fuji's. The best looking cameras on the market. Due to the APS-C sensor they are much smaller then DSLR's, perfect for travels. Image quality is impressive for APS-C and the lenses are amazing. Usually my travel cam is the XT2 as the XH1 is already bigger and heavier. And the X100F is my every day cam which I also bring in a normal bag if I just go out with my family or friends or something similar.

Even though it's rather my travel pack, it feels good to have a camera with you, which you can use for a regular shoot as well. On some street shoots (especially black & white) I even prefer the Fuji's instead of the Nikons. 

Lenses from left to right: 

FUJINON XF23mm F1.4 R
On travels I like 23mm (35 on full frame) much more. That's why it's always in my bag when we travel. Not as fast as the F2 from Fuji, but real good quality. 

FUJINON XF35mm F1.4 R
Small and good, the 35mm from Fuji which equals the 50mm on full frame. The perfect alrounder. 

FUJINON XF56mm F1.2 R
This is quite an outstanding lens. Amazing quality and a awesome aperture for an APS-C lens. My favorite on the Fuji's.

New kids on the block

They just arrived yesterday, so ther's not much I can tell you yet about the Nikon Z7 and the NIKKOR Z 35 mm 1:1,8 S and NIKKOR Z 50 mm 1:1,8 S yet.

Of course I hope they will be able to combine both packs (Shooting and Travel) sooner or later. So far I'm still a user of DSLR'S when I do professional shoots. I wonder when this will change because one thing is for sure: The future is mirrorless. 

As soon as I can tell you more about the Z7 I'll write a short review about it ;)