EQUIPMENT - PROGRAMMES AND ALL THAT JAZZ ...

Choice of equipment is the second largest amount of inquiries I receive, after the number one - event information.

A lens, flash or an entire outfit is being considered by someone every minute - but is it the right equipment for

your needs?

The first few questions you need to ask yourself before buying equipment are:

What are my real interests in photography? Could this change in the foreseeable future? That is, make sure you

have set yourself goals to help direct your photography. Will this new equipment make a difference to your work?

How much can you buy it for? Will it fit in with the rest of your kit? For example, can it fit in your camera bag?

Finally, are you buying it because you think you need it, or it will fill an important role.

I suggest that you do not rush. Ask experts and then make the final purchase.

WARNING - general chat on the

internet is dangerous! Often negatives are bias and from people offering a lack of experience and the right technical

skills to give such information. Nothing is worse than spending several hundred, or thousands of dollars, only to

find that you use the piece of 'must have' equipment once a year. Personally, I like to keep my kit light in weight and

hence mobile. Generally, all my gear fits in a backpack (Tamrac Expedition 7) with power cords etc in a smaller bag

in the main travel bag. Yes, two bags only! If it does not fit or is too heavy - it does not go!

You get what you pay for ...
I rarely buy 'the best', as deemed by its expense. Yes a 500mm f4 lens is a great working tool! As a good friend says -

'its a great chick magnet' - but does it do the job I require? I have owned Canon 600mm f4.5, 400mm f4 and similar

such lenses - but all are sold in time because they are inflexible for my shoot needs, weigh too much and are too large

for travel. So I stick to a 100-400mm lens or similar. However, if a specific shoot requires a special lens, I will

consider it. What I am saying is that you need to balance out your needs and sometimes compromise.

The Right Tripod ...
I can not stress enough how important this is. I do not use a tripod often, but when I do, it is invaluable. I see so many

enthusiasts talked into a cheap tripod at the camera store. Often it is too small, flimsy and has a terrible head for the

camera. If you want a good tripod, start with the Manfrotto 190 series. I currently use the 55 series. I highly

recommend the Manfrotto 322 head. The right tripod will last you many years and importantly help you get

'that unique' image in low light.

So what is my current kit? (As of Xmas 2010)

Nikon D700 body. I also use a Nikon D3X body.

Nikon 16-35mm f4 super wide lens.

Nikon 24-120mm VR - general use.

Nikon 105mm VR macro lens - My key creative lens!

Sigma 150-500mm telephoto - Great from people to wildlife and landscape.

SB900 flash - Key to good light in tough lighting conditions.

Laptop computer - With Adobe Lightroom & Photoshop, work tools.

2 X 320GB mini drives.

Manfrotto 55CXPRO4 tripod with Manfrotto 322 head - A must.

Hoya Polarising & 400 ND.

Tamrac Expedition 7 backpack fits all this except the tripod - A must.

Other Bits

Cheap poncho raincover - in case of tropical downpour.

Shower cap - great for rain forest and wet days over camera.

Extra batteries, flash cards and lens tissue.

Software & Computers
Yes, I am sponsored by Adobe, but I have to say that either way, I would be using Adobe products. Why? Because

they work very well and have a broad use and backup service in the photo world. My key programme today is Lightroom.

This fantastic tool allows me to use my KIS principle and be a photographer, rather than a digital whiz. I still use Photoshop,                     

however this is for more creative use after Lightroom, especially in Layers.

I also use Adobe Indesign - a lot! I am not an expert with it, but I do find it easy to use. It covers everything from our

annual brochure, to day to day letters. It is far more creative than Word or similar. To allow others to view, I simply

export as a PDF. ( See, I do think of PC users ...).

On Computers, I have been a MAC person since 1994. I tried PC twice and both times - well ...
Some say it is like driving a Holden to a Ford. Maybe ... A simple tip is to compare Apples with Apples ... (Sorry)

That is, if you are going to compare a MAC to a PC, then compare it to something like a Sony PC. Top tips -

Buy the most up to date version, with maximum speed, RAM, hard drive space and graphics card. You get what you pay for ...


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