Kathryn’s Gear

Kathryn’s (almost the same as Jeff’s) Gear

The challenge of having a shared photography hobby is that it is not possible to shoot at the same time with the same gear. Since Jeff and I are competitive, we are often trying to one up the other with the same shot. This necessitates a duplication of almost every piece of equipment (and why I copied  Jeff’s Gear page). Yes, this makes our hobby even more expensive. 

While Jeff likes to experience the latest and greatest, I take a more conservative approach. I had believe that you don’t need new gear until you realize the limitations of what you have. So I upgrade my equipment when I realize it is holding me back (or when Jeff decides to upgrade and I get his hand me downs). Also, being of smaller stature, I need to think about what I can realistically carry and use.

Below is a list of what I currently use: 

• Camera Bag (TBD): In search of a new one – My longtime friend, an old LowePro AW350, ended its life during our recent trip to India. I am frantically evaluating new bags.  Until I figure it out, I am using Jeff’s beat up old MindShift Gear BackLight 26L Backpack.
• Camera Bag (Street): Think Tank Photo Lily Deanne Mezzo (no longer available) for walking around or street photography. This looks like a classy woman’s bag versus a camera bag, and carries all I need for day out including an extra lens.
• Camera:Sony Alpha 1 and the Sony A7r5. I have made the natural progression through DSLR cameras, starting with the Nikon D90, then D600, then the D800. The D800 frustrated me with the way it handled low-light situations, so when the D850 became available I opted to upgrade. This was my favorite camera for several years until I realized that for wildlife and bird photography it was too limited. The increased camera stabilization, faster frame rate and better tracking algorithms available on the newer mirrorless systems, required letting go of the D850. With the Nikon Z8 nowhere in sight and an upcoming wildlife trip to Africa, I followed Jeff to the Sony side. 
• Lenses:
  • Wide Angle Zoom: Sony 16-35mm f/4 G. 
  • Mid-Range Zoom: Sony 24-105mm f/4 G OSS.
  • Telephoto Zoom: Sony 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM OSS.
  • Prime: Sony 300mm f2.8
• Threaded Filters. Though I don’t need these filters as I have a 77mm adapter for my wide angle filter system, I often find them easier to use in the field.
  • Circular Polarizer: B+W 77mm XS-Pro Kaesemann Hight Transmission Circular Polarizer MRC-Nano Filter
  • Neutral Density 2-Stop: B+W 77mm MRC 102M ND 0.6 Filter
  • Neutral Density 3-Stop: B+W 77mm SC 103 ND 0.9 Filter
  • Neutral Density 6-Stop: B+W 77mm 1.8-64X Multi-Resistant Coating Nano Lens Filter
• Tripods and Ball Heads.
  • Really Right Stuff BH-55 Ball Head: It is heavy duty (50lbs load capacity) and heavy (1.96lbs) but is my workhorse and rock solid.
  • Really Right Stuff TVC-33 Carbon Fiber Tripod: Used with BH-55 Ball Head, is heavy duty (50lbs to 85lbs load capacity) and heavy (3.72lbs).
  • Really Right Stuff BH-30 LR II Ball Head: Used as part of my hiking/travel tripod kit. It is much lighter than the BH-55 at 13oz but maintains a load capacity of 15lbs (greater than my camera and heaviest lens combination).
  • Gitzo GIGT1545T Traveler Series 1 Carbon Fiber Tripod (16.7″ version). As its name suggests it is my hiking/travel tripod. It is very light at 2.34 lbs with a maximum load capacity of 22.05lbs. 
  • Platypod Max Camera Support. Although not a tripod, it is a great camera base for those areas that do not allow tripods (I.e., inside certain buildings)
• Threaded Filters. Although not needed, these are sometimes easier to use in the field:
  • Circular Polarizer: B+W 77mm XS-Pro Kaesemann Hight Transmission Circular Polarizer MRC-Nano Filter
  • Neutral Density 6-Stop: B+W 77mm 1.8-64X Multi-Resistant Coating Nano Lens Filter
• Hard Drives.
  • Samsung T5 Portable SSD – 1TB – USB 3.1 External SSD. (x2) I use this drive as my travel backup drive. It is light and durable. And, 1 TB is the perfect amount for traveling, especially for wildlife. I have a second one of these drives for all my current year’s images, those images I am still doing post-processing. The drive is super fast.
  • SanDisk 4TB Extreme Portable Ssd V2 . This is my main travel backup with the Samsung used as my secondary. 
  • WD 10TB External Hard Drive. (x2) I use this drive as part of my image backup strategy. Every few months I place a copy of my images onto the drive and put in my friends firesafe file. 
  • Synology DiskStation DS1515+. Primary backup system for all my images. This system is RAID based providing peace of mind for local backups.

• Mono/Tripods
  • RRS Carbon Fiber Versa Series (TVC-33) with the RRS BH-55 Ball head – This is my main setup, a workhorse, and I love it. 
  • Gitzo GIGT1545T Traveler Series 1 Carbon Fiber Tripod  with the RRS BH-30 Ballhead – My “Travel Tripod” setup
  • RRS Monopod Carbon Fiber 
  • PlatyPod Pro – This small plate provides and an excellent stable and portable platform to which to mount the camera. It works fabulously for interior architecture shots where tripods are not permitted. 

We purchase my gear from:

• B&H.  We buy most of our gear from B&H, especially if it is camera body or lens. 
• Amazon. Great place to purchase accessories such as: batteries, memory chips, hard drives, etc.
• Really Right Stuff. Excellent but expensive tripods.