Equipment
What do I use to create these images? In this section I'll give a brief rundown on my equipment and why I use it.
EQUIPMENT
Perhaps the most common question I get asked is what camera do you use? The question is in some ways badly phrased, it should be what camera body and lenses do you use?
For the last year and a half I have been using the Sony A700 mainly with the Sony 70-200G. This is a fantastic combination that has given me superb results. I simply cannot rate them highly enough. Well more than half of the images in my galleries were taken with this combination. I have also been using the Sony 100 Macro and the excellent Sony Zeiss 16-80 zoom.
I have played with the new Sony 70-400G lens and the image quality is excellent, I'm just a little put off by the silver color! For the moment I'll use the 70-200 with the 2x tele-converter. Resolution of the 70-400 is better than the 70-200G with the Tele-converter but if I take off the converter I have f/2.8 instead of f/5.6.
I have also recently gotten an A900 as it's certified for use by Getty images whereas the A700 isn't yet (as of April 2009). What can I say? It's a fantastic camera with amazing resolution and built like a tank. I'm certainly extremely pleased with the results I'm getting and the consistency of the user interface and controls mean upgrading was no work at all. I'll talk more about it once I've played with it more.
I'm missing a long Sony telephoto at the moment, but the Sigma 170-500 is doing the job for now and indications are Sony will bring something out by the end of the year.
I may also invest in a Sony f/8 mirror lens, it's light, sharp and it's the only AF mirror lens produced.
CLOTHING
I recently purchased a Gitzo Four Season Jacket as I was in the market for a new waterproof coat that I could use for photography. This jacket is a fantastic bit of kit and has kept me warm even in the sub-zero temperatures we have had.
It has staggering total of 13 pockets to handle all the gear I might want to carry including padded pockets large enough to hold lenses and camera bodies. It's not cheap, but it's well made and represents good value for money as I'm sure it's going to last me a long time.
You can find out where to buy in the UK HERE
Me looking remarkably warm in the circumstances -2C and blowing a gale!
Perhaps the most common question I get asked is what camera do you use? The question is in some ways badly phrased, it should be what camera body and lenses do you use?
For the last year and a half I have been using the Sony A700 mainly with the Sony 70-200G. This is a fantastic combination that has given me superb results. I simply cannot rate them highly enough. Well more than half of the images in my galleries were taken with this combination. I have also been using the Sony 100 Macro and the excellent Sony Zeiss 16-80 zoom.
I have played with the new Sony 70-400G lens and the image quality is excellent, I'm just a little put off by the silver color! For the moment I'll use the 70-200 with the 2x tele-converter. Resolution of the 70-400 is better than the 70-200G with the Tele-converter but if I take off the converter I have f/2.8 instead of f/5.6.
I have also recently gotten an A900 as it's certified for use by Getty images whereas the A700 isn't yet (as of April 2009). What can I say? It's a fantastic camera with amazing resolution and built like a tank. I'm certainly extremely pleased with the results I'm getting and the consistency of the user interface and controls mean upgrading was no work at all. I'll talk more about it once I've played with it more.
I'm missing a long Sony telephoto at the moment, but the Sigma 170-500 is doing the job for now and indications are Sony will bring something out by the end of the year.
I may also invest in a Sony f/8 mirror lens, it's light, sharp and it's the only AF mirror lens produced.
CLOTHING
I recently purchased a Gitzo Four Season Jacket as I was in the market for a new waterproof coat that I could use for photography. This jacket is a fantastic bit of kit and has kept me warm even in the sub-zero temperatures we have had.
It has staggering total of 13 pockets to handle all the gear I might want to carry including padded pockets large enough to hold lenses and camera bodies. It's not cheap, but it's well made and represents good value for money as I'm sure it's going to last me a long time.
You can find out where to buy in the UK HERE
Me looking remarkably warm in the circumstances -2C and blowing a gale!