CAMERA EQUIPMENT
UPDATED SUMMER 2020:
People often ask me what camera gear I use, so I thought it would be fun to do a little write-up. As a hiking and backpacking photographer, I have found myself constantly trying to balance the pursuit of better image quality (higher resolutions and more dynamic range) with the desire to carry smaller and lighter gear on my adventures. Every piece of camera equipment is some sort of compromise between size, image quality, and price. And while big dSLRs used to be the mark of serious photographers, smaller mirrorless interchangable lens camera systems have really taken off in the past few years, giving people many different lighter, but not necessarily cheaper, alternatives.
For serious high-resolution landscape work, I shoot with the popular Sony A7r series cameras, and for situations where I need a really small and light camera, I shoot with the Canon M6. Previously I used to shoot with Nikon dSLRs for over a decade as well as Micro Four Thirds (Panasonic and Olympus) and Fuji X cameras. It's important to note that while each of these systems has their own slight advantages/disadvantages as well as quirks, they all allow photographers to take great photographs. It's really up to you to learn how to get the best out of whatever gear you have and do something artistic with it. But below I'll give a shout-out to some of the gear that I love!
Although I've shot with Nikon cameras since I first started, I made the switch to Sony because I wanted a high-resolution mirrorless camera that was lighter and smaller than a big brick of a dSLR. The current Sony A7r IV has a whopping 60mp of resolution and handles just like the previous generations. Image quality is fantastic even at higher ISOs. And while its controls and menus aren't very intuitive by default, it is possible to customize the buttons, joystick, and touchscreen to give yourself a pleasant user experience. The Sony A7r has been my go-to camera for several years now.
A beautiful corner of the Zion Narrows bathed in golden light.
Sony A7rIII with Sony FE 16-35mm f/4 G. |
Pros:
- Exceptional image quality in a small and solid camera body.
- Large and solid hand grip; the camera feels very secure in your hand.
- Sophisticated focusing system modes, including eye tracking for portrait shots and focus peaking and magnification for easy manual focusing.
Cons:
- Body and lenses are more expensive than the competition, but that's to be expected as this system is so in demand.
- Camera controls not as intuitive as Fuji or Nikon; it's easy to get lost in the buttons and menus and forget how to do something when you're in the field.
The Milky Way glows brightly above Zion Canyon!
Sony A7rIII with Tokina FiRIN 20mm f/2. |
Favorite Sony FE Lenses:
- Sony FE 24-105mm f/4 G OSS Lens: This is a wonderful standard zoom lens perfect for general use and for travel photography. If I could bring only one lens with me on a trip, I would choose this lens. It's versatile and sharp throughout the range and not too big and heavy. As an added bonus, this lens renders beautiful light rays when pointed at the sun.
- Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8 Di III for Sony FE: I'm usually hesitant to buy 3rd-party lenses, but the Tamron 17-28mm is a fantastic wide-angle zoom! Impressively sharp throughout its range, small and light, a bright f/2.8 aperture, and less expensive than similar Sony lenses. I love this lens for landscape work when I'm hiking! (Note: I used to shoot with the Sony FE 16-35mm f/4 ZA OSS Lens, but the lens's field curvature made it a constant struggle to get sharp corners. I have also used the Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM Lens which is a fantastic performer, but it is bigger, heavier, and more expensive. And if you're wondering if I'm sad that the Tamron doesn't go to 35mm, I do not care at all.)
- Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G Lens: While I love the convenience of zooms, this prime is a fantastic wide-angle lens, sharp throughout the frame and nice and light, perfect for astro/night photography. I have used the amazing Sony FE 24mm f/1.4 GM Lens as well, but I personally enjoy the wider 20mm focal length for my work. (Prior to the Sony 20mm, I used the Tokina FiRIN 20mm f/2 which is a great manual-focus lens for nighttime work.)
- Sony 12-24mm f/4 G Lens: This is another favorite of mine; can you tell I like wide-angle lenses? When you want to go super, super wide on a Sony camera, this is the lens. It delivers impressively sharp corners throughout its range, but like many similar ultra-wides by other manufacturers, it does not take filters.
- Sony FE 90mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS Lens: This is another one of my favorite FE lenses; it is a tack-sharp macro lens that can also do double duty as a portrait lens. It also has convenient controls for turning optical stabilization on/off, limiting focus distance, and switching between auto and manual focus.
- Sony FE 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 G OSS Lens: This isn't the smallest lens on the planet, but it's a wonderfully sharp travel telephoto zoom. OSS does a terrific job of allowing you to handhold many shots even at relatively slow shutter speeds.
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The immaculate Alumni Memorial Hall at the University of Michigan Museum of Art.
Sony A7rIII with Sony FE 12-24mm f/4 G. |
Like Nikon, Canon is best known for its big SLRs and was a bit late to enter the mirrorless camera market when it introduced its first M-series camera in 2012. The "M" line is based on the smaller APS-C sensor size, similar to the Fuji X and Sony E camera systems. Now I have to admit that I actually enjoy shooting with the Fujifilm X System more; Fuji has a very mature line of cameras and lenses that make photography feel artistic and fun. But I choose to shoot with the Canon M line because it's cheaper, lighter, and smaller. If you need to go as small and as light as you can on an adventure and still get fantastic high-resolution results, the current Canon EOS M6 mkII (32mp) paired with the 11-22mm wide-angle lens makes for a wonderfully simple and compact landscaper's kit. I really enjoy shooting with the little Canon M6 cameras despite them not having all of the bells and whistles of their competitors.
That magical slot canyon glow!
Canon M6 mkII with EF-M 11-22mm f/4-5.6 IS STM. |
Pros:
- If going small is your goal, the M6 mkII with a few EF-M lenses is the lightest and most compact option available.
- Excellent image quality and higher resolution than other APS-C cameras like the Fuji X and Sony E cameras.
- M cameras and EF-M lenses cost a lot less than their peers.
- Just about all of the EF-M lenses have excellent sharpness, even in the corners.
Cons:
- The M6 mkII does not have a built-in electronic viewfinder, although this helps keep the size down. An optional external viewfinder is available, but it is expensive.
- Limited selection of EF-M lenses, especially bright primes.
- Most EF-M lenses do not have the brightest apertures, but this keeps the cost and size down.
Climbing up Lady Mountain.
Canon M6 with EF-M 11-22mm f/4-5.6 IS STM. |
Favorite Canon EF-M Lenses:
- Canon EF-M 11-22mm f/4-5.6 IS STM Lens: This is my favorite, favorite EF-M lens and is the reason I bought into the system. An extremely compact wide-angle zoom lens with excellent sharpness (even in the corners) that only costs $400. As a bonus, when set at 22mm, its minimum focus distance is less than 6", making it a pseudo macro lens as well. Wonderful!
- Canon EF-M 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM Lens: This is the general zoom kit lens that comes with several M-series cameras. While this might be a boring lens on paper, it performs well and has excellent sharpness throughout its range.
- Canon EF-M 55-200mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM Lens: This is a convenient and compact telephoto zoom lens, although its maximum aperture is a bit dark and like most of its peers, it loses a bit of sharpness as it approaches 200mm.
- Canon EF-M 28mm f/3.5 Macro IS STM Lens: This is a great little macro lens, a bit wider than you would expect, but nice and sharp. As an added bonus, LED lights are built into the lens and can be used to help light up your subject. This is a cool and uniquely-designed lens and it is only $300!
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Sundown at Olmsted Point, Yosemite National Park.
Canon M6 with EF-M 55-200mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM. |
Tripods, like cameras, are a compromise between stability and portability. I typically like to have two types of tripods ready for different shooting situations, a heavier and sturdier one for maximum stability for solid time exposure shots and alternatively, an altra-lightweight one to bring on long hikes where weight matters. While there are many big names out there from Gitzo to Manfrotto and dozens of others, I'm a big fan of the relatively unknown Asian company, SIRUI. The
Sirui N-1004SK Tripod is my reliable main tripod that easily supports a big heavy SLR and features a removable monopod and interchangable middle columns. The Sirui T-005KX Tripod is a good backpacking tripod when you want to go light, but it's a bit short and wobbly for long time exposures. As for lens filters, I sometimes use ND (neutral density) filters and polarizers. Polarizers can often make the sky more dramatic, bring out details in clouds, and remove unwanted reflections in water, but when overused, they can also make water look lifeless and turn the sky to an ugly dull shade of blue.
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Mystical sunrise in Acadia National Park.
Nikon D800 with Nikkor 18-35mm f/3.5-4.5G at 18mm. |
If there is one thing I have learned, it's that you can get great results from just about any camera system if you're willing to study it and make it work for you. And while it's always fun to look at and fantasize about the latest gear or debate which brand is better than the other, remember that it's not just about gear! Technique and composition make the difference. Below are some of my favorite images listed with the random gear that was used. Whatever camera equipment you use, get out there and have fun!
Wahclella Falls in the Columbia River Gorge.
Nikon D810 with Nikkor 18-35mm f/3.5-4.5G at 18mm. |
High water at the Barton Dam.
Sony A7rIII with Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8 at 19mm. |
Rappeling in the golden light of Pine Creek, Zion National Park.
Fujifilm X-E2S with 14mm f/2.8. |
Magical light show above Western Point, Acadia National Park.
Nikon D800 with Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8 at 14mm. |
Pink winter sunset under Chapel Rock.
Fujifilm X-T2 with XF 18-135mm at 24mm. |
Joe Braun Photography
