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Nature Documentaries

Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) - Parc marin du Saguenay-Saint-Laurent - 2021-08-23
Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) - 2021-08-23

Cameras, Lenses and Accessories

Gear selection isn't just about megapixels. It involves considerations like equipment weight, focal length and aperture, autofocus and focus speed, among many others. The gear should enable me to capture pleasant and useful photos of any interesting subject in any situation I might encounter during a field trip.

Camera

I upgraded to full-frame NIKON Z8 because my previous camera NIKON Z6 has limited autofocus abilities with birds in flight and or other fast moving animals. NIKON Z8 did its job well, although it is a heavy camera and carrying it around with mounted lens is a constraint on my stamina.

Lenses

Parc Michel-Chartrand - Common Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis)

Tap image to enlarge

The selection of lenses available allows me to capture photos and videos of animals at a distance, landscape shots with a short focal length, and macro images of small critters and flowers.

For photos and videos of animals, I use the NIKKOR Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 zoom telephoto lens. It’s a practical option, covering focal lengths from 100mm to 800mm when paired with a TC-2 teleconverter. However, it comes with compromises: the aperture is limited to f/4.5–f/5.6 without the teleconverter and f/9–f/13 with it, resulting in unsatisfactory performance in low-light conditions.

Carrying two lenses—the NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8 and a longer focal length lens—is not an option due to the weight. I am, however, considering returning to the NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8 and compensating for its shorter focal length by better positioning myself relative to the subjects.

For landscapes, I use the NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 a flexible option covering wide-angle shots up to 24mm. Since I rarely use it beyond 24mm, I’m considering replacing it with either a fixed focal length or a zoom lens around 24mm. The 24-70mm f/2.8 is a heavy lens!

Finally, for macro photography of flowers and critters, I use the NIKKOR Z MC 105mm f/2.8. It performs exceptionally well in all situations where I deploy it.

Audio Recording

Parc de la Frayère -

Tap image to enlarge

The photo demonstrates my previous soundscape recording setup with iPhone and Zoom HN4Pro. Although used on several occasions, the output of this setup didn't satisfy my expectations.

I record either the sounds of individual animals, such as bird songs or frog calls, or ambient sounds. For individual animals, I use the Rode NTG-2 shotgun microphone connected to the camera via the Zoom F3. When recording ambient sounds, I use a pair of Behringer C-2 microphones connected to the Zoom F3.

What's in my Bag

Depending on the subject, the gear I carry changes. Since carrying all equipment together weighs far too much, I maintain a checklist for each type of photography and decide which style I will focus on before leaving.

Birds, Larger Animals

  • NIKON Z8
  • NIKKOR Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S
  • Teleconverter 2x
  • Rhode Videomic NTG
  • Tripod Large w/ Video Head

Macro: Flowers, Amphibians, Insects

  • NIKON Z8
  • NIKKOR Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S
  • Tripod Large w/ Video Head
  • Ulanzi LT028 & Ulanzi RBG Light

Soundscapes

  • NIKON Z8
  • NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S
  • Tripod Large w/ Video Head
  • Microphone Behringer C-2 (pair)
  • Zoom F3
  • Powerbank USB-C
  • Tripod Small

Price Tags

The prices are estimated at current market value and listed only to give me a sense of how much my hobby has cost me. It’s significantly more than what I paid for my used car. Price tags don't include taxes (~15%)

Item Details Price (CAD)
Camera & Lenses
NIKON Z8 Mirrorless Camera Body $5'400
NIKKOR Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S Telephoto Zoom Lens $3'400
NIKON Z Teleconverter TC-2.0x Doubles focal length $800
NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S Standard Zoom Lens $2'700
NIKKOR Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S Macro Lens $1'200
Audio Equipment
Rode VideoMic NTG Compact Directional Mic $340
Rode NTG-2 Shotgun Microphone $380
Behringer C-2 (pair) Small Diaphragm Condenser Mics $65
Rycote WS ORTF Kit Windshield Microphone $1'050
Zoom F3 32-bit Field Recorder $440
Accessories
SIRUI AM-284 + SIRUI VH-10X Tripod Camera + Head $580
SIRUI P-424FS Tripod Microphone $210
Ulanzi LT028 RGB Light Handheld tube light $160
Ulanzi RBG LED Light 10" LED panel $50
Rode PG2 Pistol Grip Grip Shock Mount $75
Lexar 128GB CFexpress Memory Cards 2x $350
Lexar CFexpress Card Reader $70
Anker 737 Powerbank USB-C / USB-A $150
Li-ion Battery EN-EL15B. Batteries NIKON Z8 2x. $150
Tilta EN-EL15 4-Bay Station. Battery Charging Station $50
Grand Total $17'620

Maybe a great opportunity to remind you that you can support my project: Ways you can support Muuuh.

Still Missing?

I definitely miss my NIKKOR Z 70-200mm f/2.8, which I used for whale photography. Its image quality is unmatched and far superior to that of the NIKKOR Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6.

At some point, I may want to replace the Behringer C-2 microphones with Sennheiser MKH 8040.

Disclaimer

I am not sponsored by, affiliated with, or receiving any incentives from any brands or products featured in this article. All equipment mentioned was purchased at market price, and any mention of specific brands or products is for informational purposes only and should not be considered a recommendation.