My definitive photo and video equipment list

What camera did you use? What lens are you shooting? How do you edit your images? I often see these questions posted on social media, written in emails or spoken during my photography workshop series. While they’re always easy enough to answer, I hope you find value in this definitive photo and video equipment list.

Although it is impossible to write reviews for each piece of equipment, I sometimes post field tests and in-depth reviews on my blog.

Just remember, I’ve dubbed this my definitive photo and video equipment list for a good reason. I want to emphasize the keyword: my. These gear choices might not suit every photographer or videographer’s needs; however, this is the gear I’ve grown to trust and rely upon. If it’s on this list, I would recommend it without hesitation.

This article is long, so I am dividing it into three categories: In The Field, In the Office, and Behind the Scenes.

Before I get started, I want to set three ground rules:

1. If you see an *, I didn’t pay for the product. It doesn’t change anything. I use and love every piece of gear on this list, but I feel it’s important to disclose what I’ve paid for and what I’ve been If you see an *, I didn’t pay for the product. It doesn’t change anything. I use and love every piece of gear on this list, but I feel it’s important to disclose what I’ve paid for and what I’ve been given.
2. If you click a gear link, it might be an affiliate link, but most won’t be.
3. If you’re reading this before a major purchase, please understand this is the gear I use. I will try to highlight the updated kit whenever new versions of my favourite equipment are released.

With the introduction taken care of, let’s look inside my camera kit!

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Photo and Video Equipment List: In The Field

As you’re about to learn, I use a lot of different photography equipment. I rarely carry everything at the same time. In fact, it probably wouldn’t fit in my camera bag. And even if I could squeeze it all in, I certainly couldn’t lift it into an overhead compartment without assistance like Air Canada requires.

Cameras

Sony FX6 – Throughout 2020 and 2021, it was evident that I’d transitioned away from photography and into video. I didn’t have a single assignment that didn’t include a video portion. Knowing that the Sony FX6 was in short supply, I never thought I would find one, but a trip to The Camera Store coincided with somebody bailing on their pre-order. I didn’t hesitate, and it’s been my go-to ever since.

Sony A1 – When this camera was announced, I couldn’t believe its price tag. I was impressed with its capabilities. It had everything I needed for photography and for video. Literally a one-camera solution to everything. It took a few months for the sticker price shock to wear off. When I finally ordered it, I couldn’t believe how good the camera was. It’s a Sony A7Siii, and A7Riv and A9ii rolled into a single camera.

Sony A7Riii – Since upgrading to this camera, it’s been, my daily driver. It is truly a workhorse. On the technical side, it shoots 42.6 mp images with incredibly low noise from ISO100-6400. The auto-focus is fast, and its battery life is incredible, especially compared to the A7Rii.

Sony RX100 VII – I only purchased it in December 2019, and I’ve only just begun to explore its limits. It shoots 20.1 mp raw images and s-log video. But I bought it because it fits in my pocket, so I can carry this camera whenever photography is a secondary priority (when I go skiing or cyclingSony RX100 VII – I only purchased it in December 2019, and I’ve only just begun to explore its limits. It shoots 20.1 mp raw images and s-log video. But I bought it because it fits in my pocket, so I can carry this camera whenever photography is a secondary priority (when I go skiing or cycling).

DJI Osmo Action– Essentially, it’s a GoPro. I use it exclusively for video, especially high-action situations where I cannot use a larger camera. While I wish it had a wider field of view, its colour profile is beautiful and perfectly fits my edit workflow.

DJI Mavic 2 PRO – Inexpensive, excellent quality and only occasional connection issues. Owning a drone is indispensable when shooting video, but let me take this opportunity for a small PSA. Please follow the rules wherever you fly. When you don’t, it makes it harder for everyone.

Camera Lenses:

Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM – If I could only own a single lens, this is what I’d choose. It’s great for landscapes, night sky and big-landscape/little person action shots. It’s tack sharp, too, so the only downside is the steep price tag.

Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM – Truthfully, I’ve always felt this is an unnecessary camera lens. I prefer photography with broader or longer lenses. I’ve embraced this as my single-lens film lens as I have transitioned to video. It’s tack sharp and shockingly expensive, like the 16-35mm f2.8 GM lens. Yet it continues to prove itself, and I consider it money well spent.

Sony FE 70-200mm f/4.0 G OSS – This is the only lens I’d love to upgrade in my kit. I’d trade it for the FE 100-400mm f4.5-5.6 GM OSS in a heartbeat, as I’d simply love the additional reach. Having said that, this is a great lens that I use to compress mountain scenes. It’s also relatively inexpensive.

Sony FE 200-600 f/5.6-6.3 G OSS – Over the next three years, I expect this lens to change my photography career more than any gear I own. It’s a long story that I won’t dive into in this post, but I dream of photographing wildlife and conservation stories, and this is the mandatory lens to get started.

Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art – When I travelled to Scotland last year on a family vacation, this was the only lens I carried. It shoots beautiful portraits, compresses landscapes and quickly stitches panoramas. It’s great for night sky images, too. With a retail price under $1000, it’s a lens every photographer should own.

Tripods, Gimbals and Sliders

Gitzo GT2545T Tripod with Arcatech GPSS Ball-head – I spent some serious money on this tripod about ten years ago, and it’s been worth every dollar. It’s put up with unbelievable abuses, like being submerged in the ocean, driving tent pegs into the ground, or hiking through desert landscapes. I’ve never cleaned it and, honestly, it still works as good as the day I purchased it.

Benro TMA37C Mach3 9X Carbon Fibre tripod – It’s heavier than my Gitzo but decidedly more stable. I use it when I’m not venturing far from my vehicle. It’s inexpensive and works well; however, it’s nowhere near as durable as I’d like. I’m constantly fixing its locking mechanisms.

DJI Ronin S – After two years with a Zhiyun Crane, I upgraded to the Ronin S and immediately discovered the benefits. In my opinion, it’s far more intuitive to use.

Rhino Slider – Adding motion to timelapse is critical, so I purchased a used Rhino slider and arc a few years ago. I love how easy it is to use; however, I wish it had a third axis to add vertical motion.

Photo and Video Accessories

Lee Filter Kit – When I first dove into photography, I bought a Lee Filter holder, 3 graduated neutral density filters, a little stopper and a big stopper. Everything except the big stopper is still in my daily kit.

Formatt Hitech Firecrest ND Filter – In 2020, I want to shoot more long exposures, and I needed a colour-neutral ND. In my opinion, this is the best one on the market.

Polarpro Variable ND Filter – Variable ND filters are essential for video, and I had no idea what to buy. I chose this one because Peter McKinnon recommended it.

Pholsy wired release – I borrowed this wired release from Jack Fusco and simply never returned it. I felt terrible until I realized it cost less than $10 on amazon.

Sandisk Extreme Memory Cards* – I’ve always used Sandisk memory cards, and, beginning in 2017, I’ve partnered with them on numerous projects in the Faroe Islands and Iceland.

Cleaning Kit – I primarily carry four products: a blower, sensor swabs, lens cloth, and a lens pen.

Camera Bags

In September 2021, I joined the f-stop Pathfinder ambassador program. Since then, I’ve begun using their camera bags exclusively and continue to be impressed. I have three I use, depending on the day.

f-Stop Tilopa Backpack – This bag is an absolute beast. It’s massive, maxing out at 50L, but I’ve always managed to sneak it onto airplanes as a carry-on. It holds a shocking amount of camera gear and still has space for extras like avalanche gear, extra layers, and food. It’s an adventure photography essential.

f-stop Anja Backpack – This is a small, lightweight bag that I use for massive photo missions in the mountains. It’s only 32L, so I don’t carry my whole kit. But it lets me keep the bag light, which often means I can travel further

f-stop Navin holster – I used a Lowepro Top Loader for a decade. The Navin replaces it, adding waterproof material and size adjustability depending on my lens choice. This bag is always on my hip.

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Photo and Video Equipment List: In The Office

My office changes constantly, as I either work in my office or from a random hotel room. I’ve tried to match my office and on-the-road workflows as much as possible, but they’ll never be identical.

I’m fortunate to work with both Dell and Samsung, so I favour windows and android work environments. In my experience, they’re less expensive, perform better and remain equally reliable.

Computers, hardware, and hard drives

Dell XPS17 Laptop – This new laptop, which was just released, has become my go-to for editing both at home and on the road. It has essentially replaced my need to have the XPS27 and XPS15 2-in-1.

X-Rite i1 Display Pro – Because I can control my office environment, I diligently calibrate my monitor to ensure colour accuracy when editing images and videos.

WD My Book 6TB Harddrives – Photography, timelapse, and video are all data-intensive, especially when it’s essential to have an active copy and backup copy of each file. I’ve used these WD My Book hard drives for years and never had an issue. I always wait until they’re on sale and buy them in pairs.

Sandisk Extreme Portable SSDs* – I don’t think it’s hyperbole to suggest these are indestructible. I’ve seen one run over by a toy tractor, skipped across saltwater like a stone, left out overnight in the rain and strapped to a toy sailboat for a race across a puddle in the Faroe Islands. Beyond durability, these SSDs are fast enough to support 4k video edits.

Apple iPad Mini – Remember when I said favoured Windows and Android work environments? I didn’t lie. I’ve kept my old iPad for a single reason. I use it to see how my images look on retina displays.

Post Processing Software

Like most photographers, I rely heavily on Adobe Creative Suite, but there are a few important plugins and software that I use to make my job easier.

Website

Smugmug – My website is based on a WordPress template; however, it’s powered by Smugmug and its image storage. I cannot recommend a better system. If you’re looking for a website solution, check out Smugmug using this link, and it’ll save you 15%.

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Photo and Video Equipment List: Behind the Scenes

As an adventure photographer, I simply don’t believe my photo and video equipment list would be complete without mentioning the gear I use in the field. This isn’t photography gear; it’s adventure gear.

Apparel

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Photo and Video Equipment List: Wrap Up

When I started putting together this list, I had no idea that it would surpass 2500 words! The craziest part? I am sure that I’m forgetting a few items that will inevitably be added in the future.

Please remember that this photo and video equipment list is designed to help you understand what gear I use regularly. It is not a list of essentials, and you don’t need to own everything on this list to launch your career.

My rule of thumb is that I only purchase new equipment when my current gear is holding me back, or the new kit will pay for itself. If you’re just getting started in photography or filmmaking, I recommend attending a workshop or investing in your portfolio before purchasing more gear.

If you have any specific gear questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch via the contact page on my website.