Hello Friends!
I'm often asked what kind of camera I have. That's a complicated question, as more goes into a shoot than just "the camera." Of course, the most important components of a photographer's toolkit are the creative vision and experience of the photographer, but that doesn't have a model number or amazon link, nor can you put it in a camera bag, so it's not on the list (though it is reflected in my Portfolio). Some of the commentary is photographer-lingo, but I wanted to write this in such a way that it appealed to photographers and non-photographers alike.
I've bought most of my gear at Adorama and Amazon, and I encourage you to consider doing the same.
In no particular order, we begin with...
ThinkTank Speed Racer v2.0 convertible shoulder bag
I've had a number of camera bags over the years, but nothing compares to this. While it has a smaller footprint than other bags I've owned, its depth and outer pockets make all the difference in the world. I can store the D3S w/the 70-200mm f/2.8 lens attached, with room for my other big zoom lenses inside the bag. The outer pockets allow me to store extra batteries, memory cards, a small cleaning kit, 1-2 flashes + remote triggers, and a pack of business cards. The other gem of this bag is that it has an integrated waist belt that can be tucked away when not in use. The waist belt introduces a whole new level of flexibility, as I can add lens pouches and other add-ons that attach directly to the belt.
Nikon D3S camera
This camera is incredible - I can take photos in low-light situations impossible with any other camera. Every time I use the D3S, it blows me away. I can achieve incredible clarity and extremely low noise, even in the lowest of lighting conditions. Dual-CF memory card capability is key for in-the-field disaster prevention. With the spare battery, I can take ~8000 photos without recharging.
Nikon D700 camera/MB-D10 battery grip
A great professional body, this camera packs the same full-frame sensor, low-light capabilities, and auto-focus system found on the D3 into a smaller body, but also has the ability to "blend in" with soccer-mom cameras, as I can take the grip (MB-D10) off and have a less-noticeable camera. With the MB-D10's dual-battery capability, I can take ~3600 photos without changing batteries.
SanDisk Extreme 60MB/s memory cards
It's crucial that I have reliable memory cards during a shoot. These cards are capable of handling the large RAW filesize of the D3s/D700 as well as any HD videos I happen to shoot on the D3s.
Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 VRII zoom lens
This lens is nothing short of perfect - sharp, contrasty, and extremely flexible. The VRII designation indicates Nikon's newest Vibration Reduction technology is built-in, which allows me to shoot at 4 stops lower than non-VR lenses (ie, 200mm @ 1/13 sec vs. 1/200 sec). This lens is on my camera about 75% of the time, as it allows me to photograph without interrupting intimate moments during events.
Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8 zoom lens
The gold standard of normal-zoom lenses, this lens allows me to get in close (focusing as close as 1.5') or step back and zoom for a shallower depth-of-field and less intrusion on the moment.
Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8 zoom lens
This lens lets me get EVERYTHING in the frame while keeping straight lines straight (non-fisheye). This lens is excellent for venue shots and photographing large groups of people in tight spaces.
Nikon 50mm f/1.8 prime lens
Also called a "nifty-fifty," this lens allows for super-shallow depth-of-field and extremely low-light shooting, as it stops down 1.5 f-stops lower than the f/2.8 zoom lenses. Great for general use, this lens provides the approximate viewing angle of the human eye, and is extremely lightweight and low-profile if discretion is required. Nikon has a newer version of this lens (link) that has the auto-focus servo built-in, so the AF will work on any Nikon DSLR, even the D40/3000/3100. When people ask me "What's the first thing I should buy for my new camera?," I always point them in the direction of the 50mm f/1.8.
Marumi Macro +3 330 close-up lens/filter
This specialized filter allows me to photograph small items (rings, details, a baby's hand) without having to crop down the image in post-production. Auto-focus still works perfectly, and the filter takes up very little space in my bag.
Zeiss Lens Cleaning Kit
I take this little kit with me everywhere I go. It has everything I need to clean a lens in the field without worrying that a lens will get scratched.
Nikon SB-900 flash
Nikon's flagship speedlight, this allows me to add dramatic, powerful light (either on- or off-camera) to events and portraits, and also allows me to control the output level of my larger studio flashes.
Nikon SB-600 flash
While less powerful than the SB-900, this flash provides plenty of light to enable creative lighting designs.
PocketWizard FlexTT5 transceiver, AC3 ZoneController
The capabilities of this little device are incredible. I can trigger all my flashes (and control any that are connected to a CTL-enabled Pocketwizard, such as other FlexTT5s or PowerMC2 for my studio flashes) with 100% confidence. The FlexTT5 is powered by simple AA batteries, so changing batteries on-the-fly is super-easy. The AC3 allows me to control the light level of remote CTL-enabled units without a flash on-camera.
Pocketwizard Plus II transceiver
Simple and to-the-point, this device allows me to remotely trigger any flash I have setup. The Plus II enabled me to get into off-camera flash, which has transformed my photography.
Manfrotto 055XPROB tripod, 498RC2 ball head
This combination allows an infinite range of possibilities, as the tripod's fully-extended center column can be turned horizontally, allowing straight-down (product, etc) shots without the risk of camera-shake due to hand-holding. The ball head allows me to rotate the camera to suit any shooting need.
Sanyo Eneloop 2000 MAH rechargeable batteries
I used to buy alkaline (non-rechargeable) batteries like there was no tomorrow. Every event, I'd take out the partially used batteries from my last shoot and replace with fresh batteries, wasting energy and money. Not anymore - the Eneloops are incredible, as I can shoot an entire wedding without changing the batteries in any of my flash units, and can simply recharge prior to the next event. No wasted time changing batteries during an event, no wasted money using new batteries for the next event.
Adobe Lightroom 3
While this isn't in the camera bag, I'm often asked what I use for library management and post-processing. After using other software and having mediocre results, I use Lightroom to organize all my photos, and get 95% of my editing done with its built-in, non-destructive RAW editing capabilities.
Of course, there is much more equipment that I don't take everywhere with me (studio lights, portable battery packs, softboxes, beauty dishes, umbrellas, diffusers, reflectors, snoots, seamless backdrops, and, of course, my awesome second shooters and assistants). This is just a list for those who are curious to see what's in a professional photographer s camera bag, and gives me an easy way to answer people who ask the simple question "what camera do you have?"