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My Camera Gear 2025 - 2026
My camera gear used to be simple in the early days. One camera with two lenses. As our photography lifestyle evolves, so does our equipment. From cameras, lenses and accessories to our lifestyle behind it, we learn many lessons along the way. Lessons of what gear we need, gear we want and that gear that stays in the camera bag. If it stays in the camera bag for a year and is never used? We already know the answer.
I’m sharing my photography and lifestyle gear favorites below. This includes mirrorless setup, accessories, backups and camera bags.
Please note that these are links taking you to shopping sources where there’s additional product information.
In 2022, I switched from my DSLR to Mirrorless. My first Z lens purchases included the 24-120 and the 100- 400 focal lengths. Over time I replaced older lenses with the new Z lenses. The Z 14-24mm 2.8 was next due to needing a super-wide, big aperture lens especially for night skies.
Just recently, I added my second mirrorless camera, Nikon’s Z8 and the 24-70mm 2.8. The primary reason is a significant amount of my work requires travel. I need to minimize weight, gear and my complete gear now fits into one camera bag.
Additionally, I also need to have a backup in the event of breakage to a given lens. This set of gear completes that criteria.
As many of us carry a backup camera, acquiring two cameras in addition to lenses, adapters, filters, is quite expensive. I continued to keep a backup DSLR minimal set in the event of camera lens breakage. This allowed for a gradual approach to building a backup approach.
The backup DSLR gear set I used is also included in the next section. Note that the Nikon 850 continues to be ranked high even when compared to mirrorless.
Aerial Photography – Drone Gear
In 2024 I learned how to both fly and apply my photography using a Mavic 3 Classic Drone. After becoming a Part 107 Certified UAS pilot, I added the Mavic 4 Pro into my gear line up. I love it!
Carrying My Gear. Less is More.
Especially when it comes to carrying gear and weight distribution. Plus, when traveling, we need camera bags that offer solid protection and make it easy to carry our gear.
As we hike, pack our campers, SUV’s, room is limited. Bags that hold it all work great for packing, not for hiking. For air and car travel with my mirrorless gear, drone, laptop and external drives, I swear by the combination of Think Tank’s Streetwalker Pro and Think Tank’s Mirrorless Mover Backpack. For my detailed review see: Review of Think Tank Streetwalker Pro. The wheels make it easy to get around. It’s sturdy and easy to carry when it has my basic camera gear.
For hiking, I keep two options. A full-on back pack to carry my camera and a couple of lenses. Or if hiking with a camera with one lens attached, I choose a shoulder bag. Both bags are sturdy and continue to stand the test of time. My Lowepro backpack is revamped with more current options.
The Think Tank shoulder bags continue to be available in camera shops and at Amazon as well. For pricing, click on the links in the images.