I am a big photographer, I love taking pictures and have actually taken courses at school on the history of it, and what not. Its something I realized I never expressed on this blog which is a shame as it is a big part of my life, and I do love to talk about it. Recently while browsing a friends photo website, I saw a great little post on what he wanted in the coming year for his gear. I loved the idea because often I have the same idea's but throughout the year it gets mixed up in my head. With the blog I plan to at least have some form of outline, that way I can look back and see what I needed, and hopefully express some of my love for photography. Lets do this!
Top Photo Gear I wish for this year
This is not going to be in order of what I want or need, but rather just a list of things in no order.
1. Camera Body (Canon 6D or Canon Mark III)
I right now am sitting on a Canon 60D which I love, it is fast, does great for video's, and really I have yet to have any big complaints about it. The reason I am looking at full-frame though is both the quality does increase, and many of lenses which I cropped on my 60D will look even better. I have found as well the 60D is increasingly running into performance issues, nothing seriously but I am starting to find the limits of its capabilities, though I do demand lots of my camera. The other reason I want another body is so I can have more video capabilities. o My 60D would stick with me as a 2nd camera, while the new one would act as primary. The 6D is the more likely of the two do to its nice price tag but it does have its own limits and I wonder if I would just need to upgrade in a few years. Let me state though that I don't think a photographer needs to upgrade their bodys almost at all, but because I do video it does force me to run into more issues.
2. Tripod
For Christmas I received a nie Monopod which I love. It is small and can easily be carried, and allows me to quickly set up for a shot. My problem as of late is that if its dark, the monopod even if it does help keep it stabilized is not meant for still photography at night. I need a tripod so I can do better night photography without worrying about the actual camera moving. I am thinking about a carbon fibre tripod which means it will be light and strong because they can get heavy fast. The head has to be fluid though because I will be using it for video work thus need it to not jerk around which is why I got rid of my last tripod.
3. Lesnes
Oh ya, the problem of any form of photography is the fact that once you get one lens, you start wanting more. I am currently sitting on three, a 50mm 1.8, 40mm 2.8, and a 28mm 1.8. Now you may see a trend there and that is there are all primes with fast apertures. I use primes because I need one zoom length for video's which is my main purpose of the camera. As well I find I shot inside lots so I need to have the lenses fast that way can have lots of light be pulled in. My favorite right now is my 28mm 1.8, because it is so wide and so fast it makes it a breeze to shoot. I find thought I need a more wide angle zoom, like 10-22mm would be great just to give my stuff a more wide spread look, plus I just love the way they look. As well I have been thinking of a zoom lens, nothing crazy but something that goes from 50mm or shorter to about 100mm as I have been running into situations where I need to zoom and can't walk forward. The problem with lesnes is the cost so who knows how far this will be.
4. Stabilization
The video work that my camera does usually is extensive and the biggest problem I run into is stabilization. I plan for this year to get a mount for my shoulder to better address this problem. I am tired having jerky video and would like a nice film rig for my stuff. The problem of course is cost as this gets expensive fast. I have a few cheaper options in mind that allows for a nice shoulder rig, a follow focus (much needed) and a matte box.
5. More SD cards!
This is not actually a huge need, but I would love more as I find when working on a project I am burning through SD cards, luckily their cheap but its just the fast of laying down another 20 for a card when I sit beside about 120GB of SD memory.
6. Camera bag
I need a bag for my gear, I have a backpack which is great for heavy stuff though find even it is not big enough. Looking at messenger bags has seemed like a good course due to their size, look, and ability to adapt.
7. Lighting!
By the end of this year I want to have many lighting options as during a shoot, or out at night I find myself needing some light. I am looking at both a new Flash, and a LED light source to help.
I think that's all I want, though I'm sure there is more. I hope this list gave you an idea of just the things that go into makings photos.
Scottish Samurai
Top Photo Gear I wish for this year
This is not going to be in order of what I want or need, but rather just a list of things in no order.
1. Camera Body (Canon 6D or Canon Mark III)
I right now am sitting on a Canon 60D which I love, it is fast, does great for video's, and really I have yet to have any big complaints about it. The reason I am looking at full-frame though is both the quality does increase, and many of lenses which I cropped on my 60D will look even better. I have found as well the 60D is increasingly running into performance issues, nothing seriously but I am starting to find the limits of its capabilities, though I do demand lots of my camera. The other reason I want another body is so I can have more video capabilities. o My 60D would stick with me as a 2nd camera, while the new one would act as primary. The 6D is the more likely of the two do to its nice price tag but it does have its own limits and I wonder if I would just need to upgrade in a few years. Let me state though that I don't think a photographer needs to upgrade their bodys almost at all, but because I do video it does force me to run into more issues.
2. Tripod
For Christmas I received a nie Monopod which I love. It is small and can easily be carried, and allows me to quickly set up for a shot. My problem as of late is that if its dark, the monopod even if it does help keep it stabilized is not meant for still photography at night. I need a tripod so I can do better night photography without worrying about the actual camera moving. I am thinking about a carbon fibre tripod which means it will be light and strong because they can get heavy fast. The head has to be fluid though because I will be using it for video work thus need it to not jerk around which is why I got rid of my last tripod.
3. Lesnes
Oh ya, the problem of any form of photography is the fact that once you get one lens, you start wanting more. I am currently sitting on three, a 50mm 1.8, 40mm 2.8, and a 28mm 1.8. Now you may see a trend there and that is there are all primes with fast apertures. I use primes because I need one zoom length for video's which is my main purpose of the camera. As well I find I shot inside lots so I need to have the lenses fast that way can have lots of light be pulled in. My favorite right now is my 28mm 1.8, because it is so wide and so fast it makes it a breeze to shoot. I find thought I need a more wide angle zoom, like 10-22mm would be great just to give my stuff a more wide spread look, plus I just love the way they look. As well I have been thinking of a zoom lens, nothing crazy but something that goes from 50mm or shorter to about 100mm as I have been running into situations where I need to zoom and can't walk forward. The problem with lesnes is the cost so who knows how far this will be.
4. Stabilization
The video work that my camera does usually is extensive and the biggest problem I run into is stabilization. I plan for this year to get a mount for my shoulder to better address this problem. I am tired having jerky video and would like a nice film rig for my stuff. The problem of course is cost as this gets expensive fast. I have a few cheaper options in mind that allows for a nice shoulder rig, a follow focus (much needed) and a matte box.
5. More SD cards!
This is not actually a huge need, but I would love more as I find when working on a project I am burning through SD cards, luckily their cheap but its just the fast of laying down another 20 for a card when I sit beside about 120GB of SD memory.
6. Camera bag
I need a bag for my gear, I have a backpack which is great for heavy stuff though find even it is not big enough. Looking at messenger bags has seemed like a good course due to their size, look, and ability to adapt.
7. Lighting!
By the end of this year I want to have many lighting options as during a shoot, or out at night I find myself needing some light. I am looking at both a new Flash, and a LED light source to help.
I think that's all I want, though I'm sure there is more. I hope this list gave you an idea of just the things that go into makings photos.
Scottish Samurai
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