Suggested Equipment For Our Workshops
Let’s make it clear right here at the beginning of this article that none of the equipment that we recommend on this page is required for any of our photography workshops. We believe that you can capture great images using any camera body or tripod system. We hope this page will be helpful if you’re considering an equipment purchase, but none of these items are required to participate in any of our programs.
It is easy to spend a fortune on photography toys that you do not really need so please don’t let this list overwhelm you. We do not expect you to buy a lot of expensive equipment just for one of our programs. In addition, almost all of the equipment that we recommend in this article is available for rent from reputable companies like BorrowLenses.com. Renting a nice camera body for the duration of a photographic workshop makes a lot more sense than buying something expensive that you are unlikely to use on a daily basis in your regular photographic endeavors.
Camera Body Advice
Working with a modern digital SLR or mirrorless camera body makes life much easier. We live in an amazing time where each year all of the camera bodies on the market continue to get better and better. This is by no means a complete list, and admittedly one with a clear bias towards the kind of camera bodies that we think best suit landscape and travel photographers, but any of the following camera bodies are excellent choices for our workshops.
Modern mirrorless camera systems are usually smaller, and lighter, than their bulky DSLR cousins yet their image quality is equally spectacular. If you are looking for a lighter camera body than a mirrorless system might be the way to go!
No matter what type of camera body you choose please remember to pack a couple of spare camera batteries, your camera’s battery charger, and plenty of extra memory cards when you are getting ready for your workshop. Although we pride ourselves in our general camera knowledge, each model offers unique features and functions. If you still have it then please make our job easier and remember to bring along your camera’s manual.
If you are looking for more detailed reviews of specific camera bodies or lenses we strongly recommend visiting the experts over at cameralabs.com.
Lens Advice
High-quality wide-angle lenses are always useful on the kind of landscape and travel photography workshops that we teach. Lenses in the 16-30mm (full frame equivalent) range are our favorites for sunrise and sunset shots in the kind of beautiful places where we usually go. Canon, Nikon, and Sigma all make excellent wide-angle and telephoto lenses.
The Sigma “Art” line of wide-angle lenses, in particular, are amongst our current favorites. In general, the Sigma Art line of lenses are incredibly sharp, well-built, and they often cost hundreds of dollars less than some of their competitors. Recommend wide-angle lenses include:
Middle range lenses, those in the 50-80mm category, are often useful for shooting panoramas and general travel images. Recommended mid range lenses include:
Telephoto lenses in the 100-300mm range are also useful on our workshops. The narrow field of view that telephoto lenses offer are useful when you want to eliminate a distracting background or draw in a distant subject. Telephotos are also great for close-up photos and portraits.
A reasonably powerful telephoto lens should be more than adequate if we encounter eagles, osprey, elk, or any other types of wildlife in our travels together. You are welcome to bring longer lenses along too but since wildlife photography will never be a major focus on our workshops, super powerful telephoto lenses are not necessary for any of our programs. Recommended telephoto lenses include the:
We believe that a dedicated lens hood for each of your favorite lenses is a good investment. Most high-end lenses these days come with their own lens hood but if you are shopping for used gear, or if your old lens hood has gone missing, then we think that these are worthwhile small investments. Lens hoods offer some protection from the elements and they can produce sharper images in environments with lots of glare.
Tripod Leg And Ball Head Systems
No other piece of equipment will improve the quality of your photography as much as a sturdy tripod system. Many of the techniques that make landscape and travel photography so rewarding, like shooting in low light or at night, simply cannot be done without a reliable tripod. Everything that we will shoot at dusk or dawn is best done with the help of a sturdy tripod.
One of the biggest choices that we all face when it comes to tripod legs is the difference between aluminum or carbon fiber. Carbon fiber has every technical advantage over aluminum but carbon legs are always far more expensive. Unless the weight of your tripod is a top priority for you then aluminum legs are always a more affordable option.
Along with the aluminum vs. carbon decision, please choose a tripod system that can adequately support your camera body and your heaviest lens. There is nothing more frustrating than trying to work with a tripod that slips due to the weight of your camera system. Finally, we recommend selecting a leg set that will hold your camera at a comfortable height for you to use without extending the tripod’s center column. Recommend tripod leg sets include:
If you choose to buy legs only then you will need a ball head to complete your system. Some tripod systems, like the Peak Design models mentioned above, are sold with a quality ball head but many other leg sets are not. If needed, recommended ball heads include the Induro BHL1S, the Kirk BH-3, and the Really Right Stuff BH-40.
I know that the price tag on a top-quality Really Right Stuff, or similar quality ball head, is a hard pill to swallow. These are expensive items but in the long run a high quality ball head is totally worth the money! Investing in a high quality tripod system is a purchase that should last you many years.
Circular Polarizing Filters
Circular polarizing filters are essential tools when photographing water and other reflective surfaces such as fall foliage and wet rocks. Circular polarizing (CPL) filters do two things for us in photography. First, they remove glare which can be very helpful on sunny or rainy days around lakes, streams, and the ocean. Second, circular polarizers add contrast and saturation into our images especially on cloudy overcast days.
Recommended circular polarizing filters include the B+W Circular Polarizing Filter, the Hoya HRT Circular Polarizing Filter, and the Promaster Digital HD Circular Polarizing Filter.
Neutral Density Filters
Neutral density (ND) filters are also fun tools to have in your camera bag. Neutral density filters are like sunglasses for your camera. These light-blocking filters are useful when you want to shoot at slow shutter speeds to create that milky water effect using the motion of the waves during bright daylight hours.
Unfortunately, high-quality strong neutral density filters from brands like ProGrey or Breakthrough are expensive. If you decide to invest in a high-end filter holder system from ProGrey then please use the discount code DAVIDMARX to receive 10% off all orders over $100.
It is easy to spend a lot of money on neutral density filters and holder systems. If you are serious about shopping for an advanced filter holder system or a large set of neutral density filters before one of our workshops beings then please give us a call for more specific recommendations.
Cable Release / Intervalometer / Remote Trigger
Cable releases, or remote triggering tools, are not essential items for our workshops. Although these accessories are optional, this kind of toy can be very helpful when you are shooting long-exposure images and for creating sharp photos at night. Simple inexpensive wired cable release systems, or wired intervalometers, are our preference. Anything wireless is going to cost you more and add additional complexity that you probably do not need to get great images at twilight or night.
Unless you already own one or have a specific reason, we suggest using a wired cable release instead of a wireless trigger whenever possible. Intervalometer functionality is only necessary for time-lapse shooting and other advanced applications.
Laptops and Image Processing Software
Digital photography is a computer driven form of art. Unless you are taking one of our Adobe Lightroom image processing workshops then we do not expect you to bring along a laptop. You are welcome to bring your own laptop along, and we are happy to answer questions as we can, but a laptop is not required on most field workshops. Tablets, like the Apple iPad Pro, are also welcome in our classroom sessions but is neither expected nor required.
Accessories
The photographic equipment industry thrives on selling you endless accessories and gadgets. While it is true that there are a few extra items that we find really useful, most of the accessories that we have bought over the years end up sitting in the junk drawer. The following list includes some of those rare “extra” items that we find handy enough to bring along every time.
There are two other simple items that have nothing to do specifically with photography but that we find invaluable on our workshops. First, we always try to pack a flashlight or a Dual Color Headlamp. We cannot stress enough how often we end up needing a flashlight or a headlamp since so many of our photo shoots begin or end in the dark. Second, a small travel umbrella can keep you, and your equipment, dry during a short squall or keep the sun off your head on a hot afternoon.
Camera Backpacks
There are numerous options when it comes to camera bags and cases. We believe that backpack style bags are the best choice for our workshops. Walking around with your gear in a backpack that features quality shoulder straps, and a padded hip belt, gets the weight off your shoulders and frees up your hands. Camera backpacks are designed to protect and organize your photo equipment, and many will also include space for additional personal items such as a water bottle, snacks, and a warm hat. We particularly like photo backpacks that open from the back because this will give you quick and easy access to your camera and lenses without having to dig too deep.
It can be challenging to find the perfect camera backpack, so you may need to try a couple to see what fits you and your gear best. As mentioned above, for outdoor adventures, it is best to have a pack with a supportive hip belt so that most of the weight is transferred from the shoulders to the hips. A hip belt with padding rather than a thin strap of webbing is far better. It's always a good idea to try out a backpack fully loaded with weight to make sure it's a comfortable fit.
After years of trying many different packs, we have found that packs made by f-stop are well designed and very comfortable for hiking. In particular, we like the Ajna pack and the Loka UL pack. With this system the internal compartment for organizing your camera gear is sold separately in different sizes. F-stop calls these ICU's.
Lowepro also makes good packs at an affordable price point. The Lowepro Pro Sport BP 200 AW II pack is a nice option for mirrorless cameras or other small cameras systems. A roomy pack for DSLR systems that also includes space for personal gear is the Lowepro Flipside Trek BP 450 AW.
Mindshift and Shimoda are two other high quality brands to consider for photography backpacks.
If you already own a non-camera daypack that you like, another option is to purchase lens and camera holders to protect your gear inside the pack. Lowepro makes several lens cases for this purpose. Thinktank also makes a great mirrorless camera holster and also a slightly larger bag called the Mirrorless Mover for carrying additional lenses. The disadvantage to using a regular daypack rather than a camera specific pack is that it usually is a little more cumbersome to dig out camera gear when needed. There also may not be an easy way to attach a tripod to the outside of the pack.
General Clothing Recommendations For Our Workshops
It is always a good idea to bring a raincoat, a warm insulating layer, and a wool hat along on all of our excursions. Trying to shoot while your fingers are freezing is no fun. Wool socks, and a light pair of mittens or gloves, are highly recommended even in the middle of the summer for all of our dusk or dawn excursions. It’s always better to bring more than you think you’ll need. Extra clothes can be left in our vehicle. Please pack some layers that will keep you dry and warm so that you do not have to miss out on any of our shooting opportunities if the temps drop or the wind blows.
Slick leather loafers, dress shoes, and flip flops are poor choices for our workshops. Please wear shoes with good traction during our field shoots. Seriously, slips and falls are dangerous so please bring along supportive walking shoes or boots.
Additional Questions
We are here to help you get the most out of your workshop experience. If you have any additional questions about equipment, or anything else, please give us a call at 406-285-8571 or send us an email.
Finally, if you are shopping for any type of camera equipment that is on not on our list then please give Alan Samiljan at Hunt's Photo & Video a call at 781-462-2383 or send him an email at alansamhunts@gmail.com. Alan, and the wonderful folks at Hunt's Photo, are often able to come up with special pricing and offers for our workshop participants.
See you soon!
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