My Photography kit list

[Steven Gourlay]

I thought this section would be a good place to see what equipment/hardware you's all use.

Cameras
Canon 5D MK II
Canon EOS 5D
Canon EOS 400D

Lenses
Canon 100-400mm L IS USM
Canon 100mm Macro
Canon 18-55mm
Sigma 24-70mm EX DG Macro

Tripod
Manfrotto 055CXPRO4 Tripod
Manfrotto 322RC2 Grip Action Ball Head
Velbon Sherpa

Accessories
1x Jessops Flash Gun
1x Canon Wireless Remote Control 100m JJC (WR-100C) for Canon 400D
1x Sandisk Extreme III 4Gig
2x 2gig OEM cards

Luggage/Backpack

1x Tamrac Expedition 7

Fieldcraft

1x Camo-Tree Elite 360° Wildlife Photography Hide
For more images vist the equipment gallery

Here are a couple of photos of my wildlife photography equipment

[Steven Gourlay]

I would have to say what i would love to be able to add to my kit box would have to be:

Canon EF 800mm f_5.6 L IS USM but the 10k is a bit much for me.
Canon EF 500mm f/4.0L IS USM i would love to try this but again i could not justify 5k

I want to get a better tripod the one i have is a cheapo and not very good as the top wobbles and cannot hold the camera 100% securely.

[Gannet1]

10k for a lens!!!!! That's one of the issues I had when buying a camera. I had the chance of buying a Nikon DSLR, but all i got for the money I had was a body with a 55mm lens, which is'nt all that useful for getting close-up shots of wildlife. Instead I chose to buy a Bridge DSLR with a 10x fitted lens which gives me equivalent 38mm-380mm lens. I know the image quality isn't as good as the Nikon/ Canon DSLRs but to my eyes they aren't to bad. For me it,s the challenge of getting as close to the wildlife without disturbing it and taking some great shot's, and at the moment this camera is doing that. One day maybe i,ll be fortunate enough to afford a DSLR, but at the moment i'm really enjoying the challenge of wildlife photography.

[Steven Gourlay]

Your photos are really good, at present me finding the time to get out with the camera is the hardest part. I am happy with the equipment i have and know i could be getting a lot better shots with more practise.

[Steven Gourlay]

The main camera companies Canon and Nikon seem to be fighting a bit now with bringing out lower end models and cutting the prices a bit which can only be good for us the consumer.

I started with the 400D and the 55mm lens and soon figured out i should have only bought the body and then got a suitable lens.

My wife to be went to NY and she got me a wide angel adapter for the 55mm which was pretty good for fitting as much as possible into the shot. The 55mm lens is really pretty poor but you can still get some half decent shots with it.

I then purchased the Canon 70-300 which was pushing the boat out in my wifes eyes, she thought i was mental spending that money on a lens. After using that lens i found it to be great to open my eyes at how close you can get with a lens but at the back of my head was i still need to get closer. I used the Canon 70-300 IS USM lens for both wildlife and motorcycle shots and found it good to take photos of my family from a distance.

I then got asked to take some photos at family wedding, i was not the main photographer just a backup really to take some photos of the guests. It was at this point i purchased the Sigma 24-70 lens. The Sigma lens was fine for taking photos at the wedding and i use it as a replacement to the 55mm for taking photos of family.

I then decided to sell the Canon 70-300 IS USM on ebay and tbh i got pretty back most of my money back, thats the thing i find with Canon lenses they hold their value well. I had saved up some cash by this point and decided to go for the Canon 100-400 IS USM. My wife was saying i was like a kid waiting for a present to arrive, always asking is that delivery for me, has there been any post. When the lens finally arrived i was over the moon and started taking photos straight away. Don't get me wrong i think the lens is amazing but still want to get closer and closer, don't think i will ever be happy enough. Im looking at maybe getting a 1.4 extender for the lens.

After taking photos of bees and wasps with the 100-400 lens i was not happy with the results as the lens is a heavy weight hand holding it still is not the easiest thing to do. So again i decided to get a lens dedicated to close up/macro photography so i went for the Canon Macro 100mm, ive not had that much time to play with it but it seems to be pretty good, got a decent shot of a dragonfly.

The 5D came later as i wanted to move up to a full frame camera and the 5D seemed a good choice. The replacement model is out in a few months but that is closer to the 2k mark which is out with my budget.

That equipment is a bit OTT in some peoples eyes (wife) but i tend to try and get a lens suited for i need.

[Isobel]

My kit box = what steven is not using, at present i am using his Canon 400D and Sigma 24-70.

[Steven Gourlay]

Just added Canon 5D MK II :-)

[CertEdFriday]

I have succumbed to the lure of the Pentax DA* 60-250 and DA* 300 f4 SDM IF during the last few months. Both lenses have silent motors and are sealed against moisture and dust - so just the job for the outdoors this winter!

Still no sign of the new tripod though - Gitzo closed for the August holiday and still haven't caught up with their orders...

[Steven Gourlay]

Think i will be selling my Canon 5D i don't really need two full frame body's and it will just be collecting dust.

Thats a bit of a joke with your tripod eh.

[CertEdFriday]

Well not too impressed - but just having bought the 300 f4 weather proof lens - the tripod can wait a bit longer I suppose as it is already a month past the delivery date first promised. Trouble is the seller is the nearest stockist around here. I like to go and see what I am buying with something that expensive!

Patience I suppose and maybe they will give me a bit of discount for having to wait for so long??