MY EQUIPMENT LIST:
CAMERA BODY:
Nikon D3:
This is the camera behind most of the images. With the release of D3, Nikon changed the face of photography. They brought photographers something which was missing from the market, a great camera with the ability of shooting in the low light conditions like no other camera did before. Its perfect for somebody like me who like to use natural lighting most of the time. For me capturing a great moment is everything and this is where Nikon delivers. Great moments are captured with great cameras and the Nikon D3 fits the bill. Its capabilities of shooting in low light, 9 frames per second shooting speed and world's best focusing system makes it the best camera in the world.
LENSES:
AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.4G:
This is the best lens for shooting in low-light conditions. Its low-light shooting capabilities are stellar. That's really why I bought this lens, as I already have several amazing lenses for portraiture/bokeh. I love this lens for events where I have room to move around (it's a little long in focal length for tightly-packed spaces) because I hate using flash if it's not necessary. This lens and a slight ISO boost is all you need to take flash-free pictures in many low-light conditions.
AF-S NIKKOR 14-24mm f/2.8G ED:
This lens is just phenomenal. The image quality from this lens is nothing short of spectacular. Its the sharpest wide-angle lens available in the market. This lens is capable of taking some very unique compositions. I use this lens when the surroundings are as important as the subject itself.
AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED:
This is the lens which is on my camera most of the time. With this lens I can shoot just about anything Landscapes, Portraits, Low-light shots, Street shots etc. Its the sharpest mid-range zoom i've come across and the responsiveness of the autofocus is just incredible. If I have to choose only one lens this is the one i'll choose.
AF-S VR Zoom-NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8G IF-ED:
When I want to shoot portraits this is the lens I pick up. Its focus is lightning fast and it produces very sharp photos with very good contrast and dynamic colors. while shooting at f2.8 it feels magical at times how beautifully this lens is able to separate subject and the background. The VR (Vibration Reduction) mechanism is very effective and helpful in keeping the photos sharp even when shooting at low shutter speeds in low-light conditions.
Carl Zeiss 35mm f/2 ZF:
This is my lens of choice for street photography. Its an amazing lens as long as you don't mind focusing manually. Its as sharp at f2 as on any other aperture. The only downside is that you cannot use it in low-light because its hard to see if the subject is in focus or not.
FLASHES AND THEIR ACCESSORIES:
Nikon SB-800 Speedlight Flash
Wonderful flash from Nikon. Its remote mode is just amazing, and the best thing about it is that it works with any flash, just set it on remote mode and off you go.
Nikon SB-600 Speedlight Flash:
My second flash but I use it as my main flash while using the CowboyStudio Radio Trigger.
Nikon TTL Remote Cord SC-29:
For times when I need high-speed sync (it syncs up to 1/8000) in FP mode. This way, I can use the flash at full power and still get the blurred background by using the lens at f2.8 during the daytime.
CowboyStudio NPT-04 4 Channel Wireless Hot Shoe Flash Trigger:
They only cost $24.95 and work perfectly. This thing triggers the flash each and every time. I only have a pair of them and I use them with SB-600 while keeping the SB-800 in remote mode and the setup works flawlessly.
TRIPOD & HEAD:
Gitzo 2220 Aluminum Explorer:
A very sturdy tripod but very heavy too. Much suited for macro photographers because it can shoot in almost any position. I'd be replacing it soon with a Gitzo 1541T which is much better for me as a travel photographer.
Manfrotto 488 Ball Head with Wimberley Quick Release Clamp:
A very good ball head, going to serve me for many years to come.
COMPACTFLASH CARDS & READERS:
Lexar 8GB Professional 300X CompactFlash: 4 of them
These high-speed CF cards from Lexar makes it possible to shoot in continuos shooting mode of Nikon D3. Their write speed is really fast.
Lexar Professional UDMA FireWire® 800 Reader:
When there's a lot of data to be transferred at the end of a day this FireWire Card Reader from Lexar helps a lot. Its build quality is very sturdy and the transfer speeds are super fast.
Lexar Professional UDMA Dual-Slot USB Reader:
I keep it as a backup card reader. Its really small and it also reads SD cards which is a bonus.
CAMERA BAGS:
Kata R-103 GDC Rucksack:
This is the bag of choice when I'm going in a remote area to shoot as its really tough and can accommodate my 15in. MacBook Pro. This bag carries most of the equipment I have.
National Geographic NG 2475 Earth Explorer Medium Shoulder Bag:
Its a lightweight bag with not a lot of protection but its very useful when I want to carry a couple of lenses and a couple of flashes. I use it as a light walking around bag.
RAINCOVER:
Kata E-702 Large Raincover:
Build quality of this raincover is excellent. The plastic sheeting used for the viewing screen is very thick and durable. This raincover made it possible to shoot Holi photographs, I used it all throughout the festival.
OTHER ACCESSORIES:
Pelican 0940 Compact Flash Memory Card Protective Case:
I use this case to keep all my CF cards safe in place. Its Water Resistant Seal makes it very reliable. It holds 4 CF cards securely and protects them from moisture and physical damage.
Nikon 7072 Lens Pen Cleaning System:
I always carry it in my bag as they are very useful in cleaning not only the lens but also the camera.
Lenspen SensorKlear II:
I use it when I'm out in the field and can't get any professional cleaning service.
Giottos AA1910 Medium Rocket Air Blaster:
This woks very well in cleaning my camera and lenses. I use it to blow any dust from inside the camera before cleaning the sensor with SensorKlear II.
MONITOR CALIBRATION:
Spyder3Pro:
I used to have Spyder2Pro for monitor calibration but I recently upgraded to Spyder3Pro. Its the most IMPORTANT thing to have, along with a good monitor, if you want to get the color right in your pictures.
My Website
Thanks
Poras Chaudhary
