Camera Gear

...It DOES Matter

GOOD GEAR + GOOD SOFTWARE + TIME

RESULTS you are happy with

The photo on the left [if on your phone, view in landscape mode] above is a cropped image of a Crested guan I took in Costa Rica. The image on the right is an even more cropped version of the photo. If you look carefully at the reflection in the bird's eye, you can see I was wearing a red shirt! You simply can't get that level of detail without the proper camera, lens, and software. Photography is expensive and buying the wrong gear is especially costly. It also matters where you buy from. I strongly advise staying away from sites like e-bay and Facebook Marketplace. Below, I list the products I have used in the past and right now. I have links to places where you can buy them AND return them. Please note, I may earn a small commission on some of these links.

CAMERAS

Canon R5 Mark II

I have owned many cameras over the years, and this one is the best one yet for wildlife photography. Superior autofocus and other features make this a great camera for wildlife as well as general photography.

Canon R5

If you do not photograph moving objects such as birds, animals, or sports, you may want to consider the original R5 as it has slightly better dynamic range and less noise and is a real bargain. Compare for yourself.

Canon EOS 5d Mark IV

The last Canon DSLR. I took a lot of great photos with this camera! It is still available, and at a great price. Please note that Canon is no longer making new EF lenses so if you want to future-proof your gear you may want to consider a mirrorless camera.

LENSES

Canon RF15-35 2.8 IS

I have used this lens extensively in Europe to get super-wide shots of Church interiors and other architecture that I simply could not get with my 24-70.

Canon RF24-70 2.8 IS

The perfect all-around lens! Super sharp, fast and accurate focusing. Image stabilized. Great for landscape and portrait photography.

Canon RF100 2.8 IS Macro

Mind-blowing sharpness. If you are, or would like to get into macro photography, this is the best that Canon has to offer.

LENSES

Canon RF70-200mm F2.8 L is USM Z (White)

This is the best 70-200 lens Canon has ever made. Internal Zoom: Fixed-length barrel design maintains a static center of gravity, ideal for video gimbals.

RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L is USM

This is the lens I use for all of my wildlife photography. I previously owned the EF100-400 and this lens is superior in every way. This is further proof that Canon continues dramatically improve their products.

Canon RF600mm F4 L is USM

This is my DREAM lens. The best Canon lens for wildlife photography. The only downsides are weight and price! Even used, this lens retains its value and high price. Unparalleled performance. Works well with the 1.4 teleconverter.

MORE GEAR

Canon RF1.4 Teleconverter

Get even closer to distant subjects with Canon’s Extender RF1.4x. Featuring a smart-connect design, this extender seamlessly attaches to select RF series lenses and increases the focal length by a factor of 1.4x, helping expand your reach without compromising on overall quality or performance. Built with the latest high-refraction, low-dispersion glass to minimize chromatic aberration, and optimized coatings that reduce ghosting, this powerful extender is an ideal choice for sports and wildlife photographers.

Magnus GH-M1 Gimbal Head

I used this inexpensive gimbal head on my Benro MeFOTO GlobeTrotter Pro Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod extensively in Costa Rica. Smooth and steady (no wobbles). An incredible bargain. Available at B&H Photo. Click on the Learn More button below.

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Benro MeFOTO Pro Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod with Photo Ball Head

6 in 1 tripod- Tripod, Monopod, Boom Pole, Selfie stick, High Hat, tabletop tripod. Convertible arca style QR plate-holds cameras or phones. 2 section column-adds height but folds small. All metal leg locks.

SOFTWARE

Adobe Lightroom

I own and use several programs to edit and enhance my photos but my go-to choice is Adobe Lightroom. Adobe is the leader in image processing and continuously updates Lightroom, Photoshop, and the rest of their Creative Suite.

Adobe Photoshop

The most popular and powerful program for digital art. It is a part of my subscription plan from Adobe. I believe a free trial is available.

Topaz Photo

Topaz Photo is an intelligent image enhancement software that lets you sharpen details, restore focus, and adjust levels on every shot you take. Choose from 11 AI-powered tools to perfect your images, or let autopilot get you started. I use this as my last step in the editing process.

READY, SET, ACTION!

DJI Osmo Action 6

This is not only a great action camera that I mount on my bike, but also how I shoot 4K time lapses. The image stabilization is amazing! Better than a GoPro. You can see my results on my YouTube channel.

DJI Mini 4 Pro

I have been flying DJI drones for years in the US and Europe. The image quality and stabilization are amazing for such a portable drone. You can see my results on my YouTube channel.

DJI Mini 5 Pro

The latest and greatest version of the mini pro series. I do not own this drone yet, but I can recommend it. It has a better image sensor and better obstacle avoidance. Is worth extra money?

FLASHES & ACCESSORIES

Canon Speedlite 430EX III-RT

I use this with a soft box for portraits and with a flash extender for wildlife. Simple controls and an intuitive interface. Zoom flash head covers a range of 24-105mm; maximum guide number 141ft. at ISO 100. "Customers find this flash unit to be a great mid-range option that works well with Canon cameras."

Canon Speedlite EL-5

This is the newer and better flash by Canon, specifically designed for the EOS R mirrorless cameras. This flash will not work with older Canon cameras. It uses a rechargeable lithium-ion battery instead of 4 AA batteries. More powerful, as well. Bottom line: a great flash.

Vello Softbox

I have used this hundreds of times and it produces great results when photographing people. Eliminates harsh light when using a flash. Using flash eliminates unwanted shadows and brigs out details. Very affordable. Attaches to the flash with a hook & loop strap.

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Flash magnifier

I use this with my Canon flash when photographing wildlife. It simply magnifies the flash so that it lights up distant objects. Wildlife often prefers to be in the shadows, and this extender brings out the details that would otherwise be lost. Very affordable. Attaches to the flash with a hook & loop strap. .

Leftfoto Replacement LensFoot for Canon RF70-200mm

For some unknown reason, Canon lens feet are not ARCA-SWISS compatible. Well, this product solves that problem! Works great and is a must-have if you own the Canon RF70-200 and use an ARCA-SWISS plate on your tripod.

Godox MF-T76C TTL Macro Flash

I don't own this flash - yet, but would like to! 76Ws Dual Flash Head,1.2s Fast Recycle, 550 Full Power Flashes/Type-C Rechargeable/1/1-1/256 Power/0°-150° Adjustable Heads/with Adapter Rings/Modeling Lamps

BRIDGE CAMERAS

Arelatively simple and inexpensive option for wildlife photography

Sony RX10 V Digital Camera

Sony RX10 V – Premium 25x high-Zoom Camera with 24–600mm F2.4-4 Super-telephoto Lens, 20.1 MP Stacked Backside-Illuminated Sensor, AI-Based autofocus, up to 30 fps Burst Shooting.

This would be my first choice.

Nikon COOLPIX P950 Digital Camera

NIkon COOLPIX P950 Superzoom Digital Camera | 83x Optical Zoom with Image Stabilization 16 MP 4K Ultra HD Video Wi-Fi Connectivity RAW Format and Rotating LCD Screen (Black) | Image Stabilization 16 MP 4K Ultra HD Video Wi-Fi Connectivity, Rotating LCD Screen. Second choice.

Nikon COOLPIX P1100 Digital Camera

Nikon COOLPIX P1100 Superzoom Digital Camera | 125x Optical Zoom with Image Stabilization 16 MP 4K Ultra HD Video Wi-Fi Connectivity RAW Format and Rotating LCD Screen (Black) | Image Stabilization 16 MP 4K Ultra HD Video Wi-Fi Connectivity, Rotating LCD Screen. Third choice.

QUESTIONS?

If you have any questions or comments, please contact me.

I look forward to hearing from you.