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Below you will find a list of everything that is in my camera bag. These are the tools that I have chosen to carry taking into account a variety of factors. I hope you will find this list useful.

If you happen to find some good information on this page or on other pages on my site I would really appreciate it if you would consider making your next equipment purchase through one of my affiliate links to B&H Photo Video. You’ll pay exactly the same, but I will get a small commission for the referral. It all helps! Simply click on the image of the product you are interested in and you will be linked to the B&H site. Cheers!

MAIN GEAR

Canon 7D

As of December, 2009 Canon's EOS 7D will be my primary camera. This camera provides a lot of bang for buck!. The autofocus is a definite step up from the XXD camera series. Add HD video to the mix and a few other new features and this was a big step up from the 50D.

Canon 50D

I use Canon's EOS 50D as my back up camera. The EOS 50D incorporates a host of features with Canon's highly acclaimed 15.1 megapixel CMOS sensor and new DIGIC IV Image Processor.

Canon Powershot S95

I had been waiting for a good point and shoot that was small, shoots RAW images, and shoots HD video. Finally the S95 has arrived!

500mm f/4 IS

For a long long time I dreamed of owning this lens. Now that I have it I have to say that it is probably the best lens I have ever used and I could not be happier. Incorporating image stabilization technology, this is truly one of the world's best lenses for wildlife and nature photography. It may have cost more than my car - but I love it!

Photo's with the 500mm f/4 IS - here

400mm f/5.6

The ultimate lens for photographing birds in flight! The lens is very light and it focuses extremely quickly.

300mm f/4 IS

For larger subjects, when photographing in a blind, for flight shots or when 500mm is simply too much lens this is a great lens to have. The lens is very light and its close focussing distance of 1.5m makes it a great tool for macro photography as well.

Photo's with the 300mm f/4 IS- here

70-200mm f/4

This is an awesome lens to have in the bag. It performs great and is so light and easy to use taht every time I put it on my camera I am amazed. Canon recently released an image stabilized version of this lens. For me though, IS seems unnecessary. Regardless the 70-200 is the perfect mid range zoom lens.

Photo's with the 70-200mm f/4 - here

100mm f/2.8 macro

When you want to get up close and personal with your subjects this is the lens to do it. For insects, amphibians and any other little critters this is lens awesome and it allows 1x magnification.

Photo's with the 100mm f/2.8 macro - here

17-40mm f/4

For scenery this is the lens to have. At 17mm it's pretty much as wide as I ever want to go and at 40mm its a great walk around lens. Very versatile, fairly light and reasonably affordable.

Photo's with the 17-40mm f/4 - here

Canon 1.4x Converter

When it comes to wildlife, and especially birds, it is often a case of the more focal length the better! As a result I find myself using the 1.4x converter very often with my 500mm lens. The converter features a multi layer lens coating and lens design that reduces flare and also creates an optimum color balance.

Canon 2x Converter

The 2x converter is a very valuable accessory for the nature photograpger. But for the time being I don't use this converter very often as I lose two stops of light and also autofocus capabilities with my current camera body. Eventually though, I will upgrade to a 1 series body and I'm sure I will use this accessory heaps.

550 EX

This was Canon's formertop-of-the-line Speedlite. Its got plenty of power and I have always been pleased with its performance.

430EX

I use the 430 EX flash as a backup option to the 550EX. I was extremely glad to have had it in Costa Rica when my 550 EX stopped working on me. It's always good to have a backup!

I actually own eight 430EX's because I use them for multi-flash hummingbird work and also for fill flash in difficult lighting situations.

MR-14 EX Macro Ring Light

This ring light is used for close-up and macro shooting. It is extremely useful to have when photographing insects at life-size magnification as it allows the extra depth of field that is so necessary in macro photography.

Better Beamer Flash Extender

Tthe "Better Beamer" Flash Extender will extend the distance of your flash range. But what I find much more useful is the fact that it allows for faster refresh rates and reduced battery consumption, creating a better chance of catching the action when it happens.

Kenko Extension Tube Set

Extension tubes are designed to enable a lens to focus closer than its normal set minimum focusing distance. Getting closer has the effect of magnifying your subject (making it appear larger in the viewfinder and in your pictures). They are exceptionally useful for macro photography or when photographing small birds inside of the minimum focussing distance of telephoto lenses.

Canon Off Camera Shoe Cord

The Canon Off Camera Shoe Cord 2 was designed to assist photographers in more efficiently lighting their subjects. I use this item with my wimberley flash bracket to allow for better flash positioning, which translates into more controllable illumination.

Gitzo GT3540 XLS

When shooting with a 500mm lens a sturdy tripod is an absolute must. The Gitzo tripods are the strongest and most stable available on the market. I finally got this carbon fiber model and I love it! The beauty of this tripod is that with just 2 sections extended it is the perfect height for me. Yet with the 3rd section extended it goes well over head height. This can come in handy when the birds are up high.

Gitzo 1340 Mk II

When shooting with a 500mm lens a sturdy tripod is an absolute must. The Gitzo Systematic tripods are the strongest and most stable available on the market. Even though it is a bit on the heavy side, I am extremely happy with this tripod.

Now that I have a carbon fiber tripod this one will be used as my "water tripod" that I take into swamps, the ocean and anywhere else that would damage my carbon fiber tripod.

Wimberly Head Version II

The Wimberley Head is a specialized tripod head for telephoto lenses. Its gimbal-type design allows you to rotate your lens around its center of gravity and thus easily manipulate very large lenses. The Wimberley Head has is prety much the industry standard for serious nature photographers using super-telephoto lenses.

Wimberley Flash Bracket

There are many occasions in nature photography where flash is best used off camera. In telephoto applications, raising the flash higher minimizes red or "steel" eye in wildlife photos, since the directional lighting is on a different plane than the lens. This also helps reduce shadows from flash use by casting the shadow downward behind the subject where it less apparent.

Custom Brackets Gimbal Head

The Custom Brackets head is very well built and has a few innovations that I really like. The fact that it comes apart makes it nice to travel with and the locking arm makes it much safer for shooting while in the water.

Custom Brackets Flash Bracket

There are many occasions in nature photography where flash is best used off camera. In telephoto applications, raising the flash higher minimizes red or "steel" eye in wildlife photos, since the directional lighting is on a different plane than the lens. This also helps reduce shadows from flash use by casting the shadow downward behind the subject where it less apparent.

This flash bracket extends much higher than others on the market. It is very well built and is now my every day flash bracket.

Markins Q-Ball M10 Ballhead

This light weight, all-in-one type ballhead comes with a quick release clamp and panning capabilities for panoramic photography. It is extremely smooth and sturdy. I use it for macro work, landscapes and very often when shooting at ground level with my "pan-pod".

Giottos 1301 Mini Ballhead

This little ballhead is amazing. For about $100 you get a super lightweight ballhead that is capable of supporting an SLR and light lens. If I am going hiking and am taking landscape images this is the head I bring.

Lowepro Pro Trekker 600 AW

This backpack is a monster! It easily fits my 500mm lens attached to the camera, 400mm, 300mm, 17-40mm, 6 flashes, laptop, and a tonne of accessories. It is where my equipment lives when I am not travelling and is my everyday bag when not travelling by air.

One Way to Support this Site...

Below you will find all of the accessories that are in my camera bag. I hope you find this list useful.

If you happen to find some good information on this page or on other pages on my site I would really appreciate it if you would consider making your next accessories purchase through one of my affiliate links to Naturescapes Online Store. You will pay exactly the same. You will get the best price and service on the internet. But I will get a small commission for the referral. It all helps! Simply click on the image of the product you are interested in and you will be linked to the NSN site. Cheers!

Powerex Imedion Batteries

These PowerEx Imedion 2400mAh NiMH batteries can be stored for an extended period of time without substantial loss of power. They are rechargeable up to 1000 times and have a 2400mAh ultra high capacity rating.

Powerex 8 Cell Charger

The PowerEx MH-C801D battery charger features eight independent circuits that charge 1 to 8 AA or AAA NiHM or NiCD batteries in any combination. Embedded with a high-rate battery conditioner, this unit will charge, deep-discharge and recharge batteries automatically for maximum rejuvenation. A new eight cell (0.001V resolution) microprocessor will charge batteries to their maximum capacity without overcharging or undercharging, providing maximum battery longevity.

Quick Camo Blinds

Kwik Camo photography blinds are designed to cover you and your camera gear—from a telephoto setup on a tripod to handholding a flight lens. A mesh camo window allows you to vew wildlife without disruption, or you canunzip across the top of the window for a totally unobstructed view. Adjustments under the blind are concealed from your subjects and you can use a left and right slot in the blind for easy access outside the blind. A slot on top of the blind allows use of a flash unit externally.

Better Beamer Flash

Use of the "Better Beamer" Flash Extender will extend the distance of your flash range. It also allows for faster refresh rates and reduced battery consumption, creating a better chance of catching the action when it happens. It's lightweight, simple to attach with the Velcro strap provided, and conveniently folds flat for packing. "Better Beamer" Flash Extenders are intended for use with focal lengths of 300mm or greater.

NEOS Overshoes

These NEOS Overshoes are fantastic and I always have a pair in my car. I personally hate rubber boots and I much prefer to slip these on over my hiking boots or running shoes when wading through shallow water. A great accessory!

Completely waterproof, they slip right over existing footwear and at fifteen inches high, they protect both shoes and pant legs when working in shallow water, wet grass, or muddy conditions.

Lens Coat Lens Cover

LensCoat  telephoto lens covers offer your valuable equipment some protection from scrapes and bumps, preserving its resale value. They also help break up the shape of your lens, making it less noticeable to wildlife.

Covers are available for most lenses in a variety of patterns.