WHAT’S IN MY CAMERA BAG?

Have you ever wondered what camera gear I rely on during my safaris? Here’s a glimpse into some of my most frequently used items.

I am not sponsored or affiliated with the equipment listed below but Canon if you are reading this, then you could make me a very happy woman!

Building my extensive kit over the past 42 years has been a journey of discovery and growth. It all began with second-hand gear; my first SLR was a generous gift from my neighbor when I was in early high school. He recognized my eagerness to express creativity, yet saw me grappling with the limitations of my cherished point-and-shoot camera that my parents had bought for me.

Throughout my photographic journey, I’ve captured some of my best images using entry-level camera gear. I firmly believe in the age-old saying that “the best camera is the one you have with you.” The key to creating stunning images lies not in the equipment alone, but rather in the skill and knowledge you develop over time.

Before investing in professional-grade gear, it’s crucial to become proficient with the equipment you currently own. Mastering your camera, understanding its settings, functionalities, and nuances, allows you to fully harness its potential. This knowledge not only boosts your confidence but also enhances your ability to think creatively under varying light conditions and tricky moments in the field.

Additionally, familiarising yourself with your current gear will help you make informed decisions about upgrades in the future. You’ll gain insights into what features you truly need for your style of photography, instead of getting caught up in the allure of the latest technology. As you grow as a photographer, you might find that you can achieve breathtaking results without needing the most expensive gear.

Ultimately, investing time in mastering your current camera gear paves the way for a more meaningful photographic journey, ensuring that when you do decide to upgrade, you do so with both confidence and purpose.

My main camera is the Canon R1 and I have an EF adapter attached to it so I can use my older style EF 400mm lens. This camera was designed for sports and wildlife photographers. The auto-focus on this camera is exceptional and it is fast becoming my favourite camera that I have used.

The Canon R3 is another camera designed for sports and wildlife photographers. I use this as my second body and I have the 70-200mm RF lens attached to it.

This is my most used lens for wildlife photography. It is a fixed lens so I do have to move myself or the vehicle for different compositions. It is the sharpest lens I have ever used and is superior in low light.

The 70-200mm lens is the perfect lens for animals in their environment and portraits. I will pick up this lens when wildlife comes close to the vehicle. It is my most used lens when shooting primates such as gorillas and chimps in the forest.

This wide angle lens is perfect for landscapes, astro photography and street photography. I will also use this when large wildlife such as elephants come close to the vehicle. It is also great for photographing sneaky images of people.

My main reason for using an F-STOP bag is the internal camera unit. All your equipment is placed in the ICU and can be removed from the bag very quickly. This is handy for smaller flights or in smaller vehicles. There are many different sized ICU options. Great bag for the outdoors and can handle a little bit of rain and wet conditions.

I love the way my images look on my Macbook. I use a Macbook Air 15″ due to it being lighter. You need a minimum of 16 GB of memory to run software such as Lightroom and Photoshop. My Macbook Air has 24 GB of memory.

I travel with a 1.4 extender that I might occasionally use on my 400mm lens. I only use it when the light is good and for important subjects that are just out of reach of the 400. It provides me with a focal length of 560mm. Remember you lose an f-stop!

I spend many hours looking through binoculars in the field, especially when observing birds. I like to look through quality glass so I saved up and purchased what are considered the best binoculars in the business. The Swarovski have a lifetime warranty.

I travel with a Go-Pro to shoot videos where it is not possible to use my camera or phone. Mostly used for water and adventure activities.

My phone could be my most used item on safari. I use it to capture many behind the scenes videos and stills of my safari adventures. It also used for maps, books, communication and music. The must have accessory for travel!

I used to carry around a large tripod on safari and only occasionally use it. I switched to this little guy as it is strong enough to support my camera body and lenses. Only catch is that it is very low to the ground. You need to rest it on something solid.

I pack a ND1000 filter to help capture landscape images in the daylight hours. It allows me to use slow shutter speeds when there is too much light and I want to slow down movement such as a waterfall shot in the middle of the day.

I made the switch to solid state drives a few years ago when my faithful Lacie hard drive crashed and failed! There are no moving parts in the SSD and it is so small and lightweight.