This is a list of the gear my partner and I have now. It also includes most of the gear that I’ve had over the years that I’ve sold or disposed of. Before I get too far ahead, we are both very much hobbyists, we don’t sell or make money from our photography, we just enjoy it.
Current Bodies
In 2015, I switched from the Canon APS-C format to the Sony Full Frame Mirrorless system. My partner and I now have the exact same body, so we can share all of our lenses.
Sony A7R IV
Amazon | B&H Photo Review | Sony Australia | Digital Camera Warehouse | DP Preview | My Photos
I love this camera body. I suppose it will always be the case that my current body is ‘the best I’ve ever owned’. Bought two in Feb 2020, one for myself and one for my partner. We didn’t get to use them on the inaugural trip for a few years, but broke them in towards the end. 61 MP sensor, a fast 10 frames per second (FPS) in burst mode, and really nice ergonomics. The layout isn’t that dissimilar from the Sony A7R II. I’ve been using more or less the same layout for about a decade now. The A7R IV is slightly thicker than the A7R II, which actually makes it feel better in your hands.
Sony RX100 IV
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This was, arguably, an interim solution. The weight of the Canon 7D and associated Canon 18-55 mm f/2.8 were a bit much. So we went for something that we could travel easily with, and also have it ready on the moment. We purchased it around the start of 2016, and we also purchased the underwater housing for it. However, with a 20 MP sensor, it wasn’t even a match for the older Sony A7R II, and it quickly has just taken space in the shelf. I’m not keen to get rid of it, as I wouldn’t get much for it, and it can maybe get more use at some point. I will say, I have a friend that just got the Sony RX100 VII that I would consider upgrading to, but probably low on my priority list.
iPhone 16 Pro
We’ve had a number of iPhone over the years, but we both currently have iPhone 16 Pros. Handy for the quick snap, and with Wi-fi 7, 5G mobile, USB-C and a 48 MP camera, it is more than capable. I still like to use my ‘fancy’ camera for most of my photography.
Current Lenses (Prime)
For the Canon ecosystem, I really only purchased two lenses over the years. I’ve gone ‘all-in’ on the Sony E-Mount lenses.
Sony 14mm f/1.8
Amazon | B&H Photo Review | Sony Australia | Digital Camera Warehouse | DP Preview | My Photos
This is my latest lens purchase. While normally, my Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 is on my camera 75%+ of the time, this lens has offered some interesting versatility. It is especially useful in European cities where you don’t have much space, and want to get a whole scene. It also excels in wide-open expanses. My first use was in the Dolomites in northern Italy. I would recommend, especially if you are seeking an ‘ultra-wide prime lens’. I’d love to get my hands on the 14mm f/1.4, but Sony isn’t making one yet, even though Sigma is.
Sony 24mm f/1.4
Amazon | B&H Photo Review | Sony Australia | Digital Camera Warehouse | DP Preview | My Photos
I really want to like this lens. I mean, I really want to like this lens. It is just in a strange interim focal length that my existing Sony 24-70 mm f/2.8 covers the length, even if the 24mm f/1.4 is faster and produces better colours. However, I really struggle to pick it out of my bag. It’s slightly too wide for normal perspective, and I’ll normally just use my Sony 24-70 mm f/2.8 if I want to get to 24 mm. I don’t see myself selling it anytime soon. I do struggle to find the ‘sweet spot’ when I would pull this lens out.
Sony 50mm f/1.4
Amazon | B&H Photo Review | Sony Australia | Digital Camera Warehouse | DP Preview | My Photos
I love this lens, especially after previously having the Sony Zeiss 55mm f/1.8. The colours are fantastic. The auto-focus is quick and locks on. Its weight and distribution make it a dream to have on the camera. My only issue is that portraits are not my normal go-to style. I’ve used it somewhat sparingly since I purchased it a little over a year ago. I really like the output and would recommend it to anyone.
Sony 85mm f/1.4
Amazon | B&H Photo Review | Sony Australia | Digital Camera Warehouse | DP Preview | My Photos
I bloody love this lens. It is a long enough focal length that you can use it in public (as opposed to studio) quite effectively. The colours are great, the sharpness is fantastic, and the auto-focus is incredible. I’ve used it most at small concert venues with a friends’ band. I would love to get more use out of it. Highly recommended.
Current Lenses (Zoom)
I will say, there are some people that are quite ‘religious’ about prime lenses versus zoom lenses. I like to use both. I find in non-studio situations, having a zoom lens is much more flexible in public or on the streeet, where is ‘controlled’ situations, primes generally produce more optimal colors, clarity and speed. I will say, I probably have a zoom lens on my camera more than 85% of the time.
Sony 24-70 mm f/2.8 II GM
Amazon | B&H Photo Review | Sony Australia | Digital Camera Warehouse | DP Preview | My Photos
This is my complete work-horse lens. As I’ve said above, it is on my camera probably 75% of the time. I have had both the Sony 24-70 mm f/4.0 as well as the Sony 24-70 mm f/2.8 Mark I, and this new lens is smaller, lighter and quicker, and just generally better.
Note : I also previously owned the Sony 24-70 f/4.0 and the Sony 24-70 f/2.8 Mark I.
Sony 70-200 mm f/2.8 II GM
Amazon | B&H Photo Review | Sony Australia | Digital Camera Warehouse | DP Preview | My Photos
I know my parents that have kids say that ‘they are not supposed to have ‘favourites’. Well, I hate to say it, but this has to be my favourite lens. It is so versatile and quick. It has such good colour representation and balance that it is really hard not to like. I ran into a guy at a ferry boat crossing some 18 years ago that had the Canon version of this lens, and when I asked him what he thought of the lens, and his reply was “it is quickly becoming my favourite lens”. That’s is pretty much how I feel about this Sony lens. Again, I had previously rented the 70-200 mm f/4.0 as well as owning the 70-200 mm f/2.8 Mark I. This lens is leaps and bounds above. Again, if I could only have 1 or 2 lenses, this would be one of them.
Note : I also previously owned the Sony 70-200 f/2.8 Mark I.
Sony 100-400 mm f/4.5-5.6 GM
Amazon | B&H Photo Review | Sony Australia | Digital Camera Warehouse | DP Preview | My Photos
This is an extremely useful lens, but really only in a couple of scenarios. Primarily, this is my go-to lens when I go on safari. I used it as my go-to lens when we went to Rwanda, to Borneo and to South Africa. The only other time I really used it was during my niece’s University graduation. I was well up in the stands, and she was on the floor of the auditorium. I’d still recommend it, and it can produce great colours, but it really is a slightly limited use-case. Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t turn down the Sony 200-600 mm. The Sony 400mm and Sony 600mm are also great. However, I can’t really afford the latter two, as they run upwards of $12,000+ each. I can’t wait for the ‘expected 100-400 GM II’.
Current Accessories
Peak Designs Slide
Peak Designs | Amazon AU | B&H Photo
This was my first ‘after market’ camera neck strap, since our cameras generally came with a branded strap that was ‘good enough’. The thickness and quality were much better (you don’t want to drop a multi-thousand dollar set of gear). The interchangeable anchors and the dual quick adjustable brackets are brilliant, and it helps that it has a padded shoulder portion. I would recommend this to anyone that wants something more than the strap that comes out of the box with a camera. Many colours to choose from for your liking.
Peak Designs Slide-Lite
This is nearly identical to the Peak Designs Slide, but thinner. Same length, same anchors, same brackets, just slightly thinner and a bit more manageable. Also, the shoulder padding is a bit reduced. I like it to feel a little less ‘cumbersome’. I’d still happily go with either the Slide or the Slide Lite. Many colours to choose from for your liking.
Peak Designs Cuff
Peak Designs | Amazon AU | B&H Photo
For about 6 years, I walked with the over 4-foot Slide wrapped around my wrist 2 or 3 times. I did this so I didn’t have to wear the strap around the shoulder. Until I finally bought the Cuff. Most of my photography is walking around cities, around nature, just out and about. Even I get tired of the weight of a camera and a nice lens on my neck and shoulders. This makes me need a massage. I found the Cuff is a brilliant solution. The strap is long enough to fit naturally around your wrist. All my modern cameras have a nice, ergonomic grip. This ensures it is placed comfortably in my hands and secures it well. On my walking days, I often use a sling or backpack. The shoulder strap then increases the strain on my poor shoulders. I still travel with my Slide. I take it just in case I’m up for a big hiking day. It will help me offload or free up my hands on a long day-walk. The Cuff is on my camera and in my hand 90% of my time. Again, it uses the same anchors, which are easy to switch out. It uses the same fabric, comes in many colours, and just slides on and off.
Manfrotto 190CXPRO3 Tripod
Manfrotto Site | Amazon | B&H Photo Review| Digital Camera Warehouse
I have had this tripod for about 20 years. The links above are to the newer (v4) version of the tripod. As mentioned earlier, I don’t do a lot of work in a studio. Carting around a tripod isn’t ideal when you’re on steep hikes. It is a workhorse, is light at 3.6 lbs / 1.6kgs, and has 4 sections. I don’t use it that much, but I doubt I would pick anything else. I still have the Manfrotto 498RC2 Ball Head on it.
Manfrotto BeFree Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod (MKBFRC4-BH)
Manfrotto Site | Amazon | B&H Photo Review| Digital Camera Warehouse
I bought this tripod because the 190CXPro was generally too big to travel easily with. This tripod has 3 sections. It also has a center column that can extend another section. Basically, it reaches up to 150 cm / 5 foot tall. This fits into a standard, carry-on suitcase. This feature makes it even easier to just chuck in the luggage. I use it if needed (I’d say I only break it out 1 out of 10 trips). I’d definitely recommend it, it’s also ~30% the cost of the Peak Designs travel tripod (which I haven’t actually used, but I generally love their products).
Old Bodies
iPhones (Various)
I think over the years, I have had the iPhone 3, the iPhone 5, the iPhone 7, the iPhone X, and the iPhone 12 Pro. Always increasing the quality in the camera, and I’ll guarantee, I always have one with me. Very handy.
DP Preview | Amazon | B&H Photo | My photos
This was again an attempt to get on the same level between myself and my partner. Most of our photos are travel photos. Once we get done with a trip, I’ll sort through them. I’ll delete some and edit some. Then, I’ll post some online for friends and family. My partner would get upset, understandably so. The reason was that I wouldn’t ever post any of her photos online. I tried to reassure her that it was just a quality issue. The Canon S120 was only 12MP. In contrast, the Sony A7R II was 42 MP. So, the clarity and the crispness were a huge difference. I attempted to bridge the gap by purchasing the Sony A6500. It was still lightweight, at just under 500 grams / 1 pound. This camera could also share all the lenses I was purchasing for the A7R II. It sounded like a solid trade-off, but in the end, there was still a massive gap in quality of the photos. The A7R II was at 42 MP, and the A6500 was at 24MP, or about half. You could tell the difference in the images. As mentioned below, we both upgraded to the Sony A7R IV in February 2020. This is the camera body we both still have now.
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This was a big step. As I mentioned, the Canon 7D plus lens was a heavy piece of tech to carry. Plus, I really wanted to upgrade to a Full Frame camera. Also, we have a month-long trip across southern Africa, including Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Mozambique. I proposed an upgrade to the body. We would go from the Canon 7D to the Sony A7R II. This meant moving from an 18MP sensor to a 42MP sensor. That change is huge. Plus, the Sony A7R II was the new mirrorless style. It was basically half the weight of the Canon 7D. I bought it in Aug 2015, before leaving for that trip across Southern Africa in Oct 2015. The step up in resolution, the advance in technology, was nothing short of amazing. At that time, the lens options were still quite limited as Sony had basically started an entire whole new ecosystem. We began slowly. But we collected more lenses. We added them and figured out what lenses are good for each kind of situation. And the camera was nothing short of amazing (for 2015). I ended up carrying that camera across every continent on Earth, with the exception of Antarctica. In the end, we both upgraded to the Sony A7R IV in February 2020, which is what we still have now.
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This was an upgrade to the Canon S95. We wanted slightly better specs, but it was really just an in place upgrade. Canon upgraded from a 10MP sensor to a 12MP sensor, and improved the lens to a 24-120 mm zoom lens. It was a worthwile upgrade.
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This was a direct rebound from the weight of the Canon 7D. We thought it might be more handy to have a light, point and click camera. This made it a little easier in social situations and making it lighter to carry. It was only 10MP, so it was decent, and only just under half a pound / or 195 grams. Made it easy to carry around and take some candid shots. It was released in Aug 2010, and we had it for a few years.
Once again, never satisfied with the existing gear (and wanted a reason to spend more money on gear), we upgraded to the Canon 7D. Half the reason was so that I could start shooting in RAW format, instead of just JPEG. At the time, it was advertised as a ‘pro-sumer’ type of camera, sporting a decent 18MP sensor, faster shooting speeds, and enough bulk that you could really feel the tech inside. We bought in time for our second trip to Australian – Melbourne this time – as well as Queenstown, New Zealand.
This also coincided when we took our first photography class. I learned more in that 8 weeks, than I had figured out on my own over the prior 5 years. Well worth the time.
This was also the time that we bought a couple of serious lenses. The main one was the Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8. Because the Canon 7D was an APS-C sensor, which is also known as crop sensor, (1.6x a full frame sensor) which means this lens would have been the equivilent of a 24-70 mm on a full frame camera. This was our workhorse lens, and was on the camera most of the time. The other was the Canon EF 50mm f/1.4, and really opened my eyes to how different lenses can have really unique differences.
The only downside to this camera was that, between the camera body and the lens, it was pretty heavy. It got to the point that my partner didn’t want to use it when we travelled because it it strained her neck.
We had a couple of Kodak digital camerasin the mid-2000’s, unfortunately, I cannot find any evidence of what model they were. One of them we left outside our hotel on the sidealk at my brothers wedding, and the other we friend in Thaliand as we didn’t understand different electric voltage around the world. After this, my partner wanted to ‘escalate’ our hobby. We bought it around 2008, and didn’t know much more than using the ‘Auto’ setting. We had fun getting creative with it. We started to practice and used it on our first trip to Hong Kong, Vietnam and our first time to Cambodia / Angkor Wat. We also took it on our first safari in Tanzania and South Africa. It was a decent start for a interchangeable lens DSLR camera, we really only had it a few years.
This was released in 2002, and we used it basically for selfies when out with friends at dinner or bar. This was well before everyone had a phone, let alone a phone with a decent camera.
Paul Rin Travel Photojournalism 