Regardless if you are a sculptor, painter, or even a mechanic, your ability to create the best work is often determined by the tools of your trade. Even with great ideas and skills at your disposal, it’s also essential that you have the proper equipment to help you realize your creative potential.
As a photographer, my primary tool is obviously my camera. However, my equipment list does not end there. In my collection, there are different lens(es), external flashes, adaptors, cables and cords, and other accessories. Used separately or in combination, these tools allow me to create all the photographic effects in my work.
As a prolific advanced amateur photographer, I’m constantly searching for equipment with the best quality for its value and price. The items showcased below are the pieces of equipment I currently own and use regularly. After numerous hours of online research, reading countless reviews before purchasing them, plus also having actually used the equipment myself, I can confidently tell you this is the best set of photography gear you can own without having to burn too deep of a hole in your pocket.
(NOTE: If I leave out other brands of camera equipment off this list, it’s only because I am an avid Canon user and quite familiar with their cameras, tools, and line of products. Please feel free to recommend any great experiences you’ve had using other brands– I’d like to hear about it!)
My Gear:Please visit my Amazon.com aStore to find your favorite camera products and equipment. |
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Canon EOS 50D 15.1MP Digital SLR Camera The newest addition to my camera collection. I’ve had it for 2 months now and this easy-to-use camera gives me nothing but amazing shots. |
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Canon Digital Rebel XT 8MP Digital SLR Camera My very first digital SLR. Purchased about 3 years ago. Got close to 8000 great photos out of this camera. I’m currently using it as a backup camera since I just got the Canon 50D. |
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Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM Ultra Wide Angle Zoom Lens My first lens. 16-35mm Ultra Wide Angle. Great for landscape and full body portraits. Through using this lens, I’ve learned so many different ways to take better photographs in indoor and low light conditions. |
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Canon EF 50mm f1.4 USM Standard & Medium Telephoto Lens for Canon SLR Cameras This is a prime lens (non-zoom). Best NORMAL portrait lens you can get for your buck. Because of its large aperture opening (f-1.4), this superb fast prime lens allows you to easily achieve exceptional out-of-focused foreground and background effects. In addition, it’s an excellent lens for photographing indoor sports and/or in extremely low light conditions– no more depending on your flash to photograph while indoors. |
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Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM Telephoto Lens for Canon SLR Cameras This is a prime lens (non-zoom). The best Medium TELEPHOTO portrait lens you can get for your money. It has an aperture opening of f-1.8, another fast prime lens that gives you excellent output and easily achieves exceptional out-of-focused foreground and background effects. Yet another great lens for photographing indoor sports and/or in extreme low light conditions. |
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Canon 430EX Speedlite Flash for Canon SLR Entry level flash unit. If you are interested in learning about control lighting, this is a great one to start with. |
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Canon STE2 Speedlite Transmitter for Canon 580EX II, 430EX, 430EX II Speedlites Works with your camera and your flash unit. This device allows you to control your external flash unit without needing to attach it to your camera’s hotshoe mount. Each time the shutter button is pressed, it triggers a flash. Basically, it uses infrared beams to communicate with the flash unit. |
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Dot Line RS-0445 ETTL Off-Camera Cord for Canon, 3 ft. Works with your camera and your flash unit. This Flash Sync Cord allows you to control your external flash via a cord that connects your flash unit to your camera. |
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Canon BP511A 1390mAh Lithium Ion Battery Pack for the Canon 50D Battery for my Canon 50D. Always have extra batteries!! One battery for use while the other one charges. I carry 3 of these with me at all times. The last thing you want to experience is to be out of battery on a photo shoot. |
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Canon NB-2LH Rechargeable Battery Pack for Digital Rebel XT/XTi Battery for my Canon XT. Always have extra batteries!! One battery for use while the other charges. I also have 3 of these. |
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SanDisk 4GB Ultra II CompactFlash Card Takes more than 1000 JPG images for an 8 MP camera. Never run out of memory card storage space again. |
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Sunpak 620-092 9002DX Tripod with 3-Way Quick-Release Pan Head The Sunpak 9002DX Tripod is a great economical full-size tripod. Oversized, single action locks with rubber leg tips and retractable spiked feet give non-skid stability. The 9002DX has an oversized leg diameter of 1″, allowing this tripod to handle any 35mm camera with up to a medium telephoto lens or a total weight of 6.6 lbs. The geared center column gives positive up & down adjustments without the worry of slipping. |
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Sony VCTMTK Travel Tripod for Compatible Sony Cameras & Camcorders Not the best pocket tripod in the market. But it is small enough to use at locations where a larger tripod is not allowed. Extremely useful when you need to travel light. |
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Crumpler 6 MILLION DOLLAR HOME Shoulder Photo Bag Other than the fact that it gets very heavy at times, it protects and carries all my gear and then some. |
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