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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.

What's in my Bag

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

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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.

Sound

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 (very affordable) connected to the Zoom F3.

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.