Camera

Since december 2009 I own a Canon Eos 7D.I use my 7D with a batterygrip. This allows me to better handle the camera in vertical position. As a backup camera I use my 'old' Canon Eos 30D (withbatterygrip).

 

Lenses

Canon EF 24-105 L IS USM

The lens I use as 'standard-lens' is a Canon EF 24-105 L IS USM (lens hood not on the image). Beside the range from quit wide angle to tele, this lens incorporates an image stabiliser ('Image Stabilisation' = IS) to prevent camera shake from spoiling the shot. Because the 30D hasn't a fullframe sensor the focal lenght of this lens is 38-170 mm, compared to fullframe. However, in the field I hardly miss the loss on wide angle for 'standard shots'.

Canon EF-S 10-22 USM

For landscape photography and other wide angle shots I use a Canon EF-S 10-22 USM. This lens has an angle of 107.5 degrees and a range which is similar with 16-35 mm at full frame (almost fisheye!). The lens is great for magistic landscapes and narrow city streets. It produces a very sharp picture and the minimum focal distance is 9,45 inch!

Canon EF-S 60 Macro

For macrophotography I use a Canon EF-S 60 MACRO USM. This lens can focus over the full range from infinity down to life size (1:1 reproduction ratio). The distance then is around 7.9 inch from the sensor to the subject, therefore around 3,5 inch from the front of lens to the subject. With a aperture of 2.8 this is wonderfull lens. Although in macrophotography manual focusing is usually prefered, the autofocus on this lens realy works rapid and quietly. I have especially chosen this lens with its 'relatively shorter' focal lenght, because it works great for the kind of macro-photos I like to shoot. With this lens I can come close to my subject. Moreover: 60 mm EF-S is similar to 96 mm fullframe, so this lens is also perfect as portretlens.

Canon EF-70-300 IS USM

When I need to travel light or want to take serveral pictures within the 70-130 mm range, I use my Canon EF 70-300 IS USM lens. This lens was my standard telelens before I bought a Canon EF 100-400 L IS USM. It also works well in combination with life-size converters for shooting macro.

Canon Canon EF-100-400 IS USM

Besides the Canon EF 24-105 L IS USM as standard-lens I use a Canon EF-100-400 L IS USM for telephotography (lens hood not on image). This lens has a perfect range for most of the telephotos I shoot. It also incorporates an image stabiliser, which certainly is very useful. In combination with the 30D the focal lenght of this lens should be multiplied by 1,6 (since the 30D is not a fullframe camera). The telerange than is similar with 160-640 mm at fullframe. Very useful!

 

Life-size converters

For macrophotography, besides a macrolens, a set of life-size converters is very useful. With life-size converters you can usually easily reach life size (1:1 reproduction ratio) even without a macrolens. I use life-size converters in combination with my EF 70-300 IS USM or EF 100-400 IS USM lens. This gives me the opportunity to take photo's at longer distance from the subject than possible with my macrolens. Life-size converters are manufactured by several compagnies. Since life-size converters do not contain any glass (it is actually an empty 'shell' that places the lens further away from the camerabody, but keeps the communication between the camerabody and the lens intact), it doesn't really matter which compagny produced the life-size converter.

Accessories

Flashes

I don't use I flash very often. I own a Canon Speedlite 430EX II. It works very well. This flash has a flashhead which can rotate horizontally and vertically, so I can also flash straight-up. The 430EX II also has E-TTL and highspeed flashsynchronisation. For me it's a very good flash for those moments I need one, since I rather don't use it. Moreover: usually I use a 'difusor'. This is a plastic cap that is placed over the flashhead so the light is getting diverted. Similar as if you flash through a bulb. The effect is usually a smoother picture.

Trip- and Monopods

I use tri- and monopods, all made by Manfrotto. Beside a firm tripod with a ball head with quick-release (type: 055xPROB with 486RC2 ballhead), I use a monopod, also provided with a ball head (type: Manfrotto 676B Digi Monopod with the Manfrotto 484 mini Ball Head). The choice for a ball head on my tri- and monopod is because I have experienced that this works the best for me (simple and quick). When I travel I usually take a small tripod with me (Manfrotto 345-Table-kit), instead of the Manfrotto 055xPROB. Especially at citytrips, it's frequently not allowed to take a tripod with you into buildings (churches, museums, etc.) A table-kit is very useful in those cases and it is not so heavy.

Angle view finder

In landscape photographs a foreground is of great importance, so I usually take my landscape pictures close to the ground. By using an angle view finder, it is not necessary to lie down on the ground every time. It makes photography more enjoyable. In addition, my angle view finder has a zoom option, which is great doing macro photography.

Remote controle

If you need a tripod for making a photograph, then a remote control cannot be lacking. I use the Canon RS-80N3, which can be connected to the camera with a cable. With a remote control it is also possible to make so-called ' Bulb-shots'. This means the remote control helps you in keeping the shutter opened for a longer period of time. Very usefull for nightshots.

Cases

When I go out to make pictures I use a Lowe Pro Fastpack 250 or Lowe Pro Compurover AW backpack. I Use the Fastpack when I only need my camera with standard lens, a flash and a wideangle lens. The upper compartment of the bag provides space for food and drinks. The advantage of the Fastpack is you don't have to take off the backpack to get to your gear (like the Slingshot series the backpack has a side-access). The Compurover fits the camera, all lenses, other camera accessories like life-size converters, remote controles, grey filters, etc., a coat, food and drinks. When needed it is also possiblle to bring my notebook. If you put the backpack down, you can rapidly and easily take out your equipment. If I only want to take the camera with me, I use a Lowepro Topload Zoom case (fits the camerabody, including batterygrip and my standard-lens). In those cases I use Lowepro-lenscases for my telelens and wide-angle lens.

Raincover

It's not always dry-season. And because I want to have the option to take pictures anytime and anywhere I sometimes use a rain cover (trademark Matin). Except the fact that this cover is impermeable, it is also conducted, as a result of which the camera is also protected against getting damaged or the cold, as well as my fingers.

Imagetank

When you travel and you take a lot of pictures, you will easily find yourself in the position that you'll need a lot of memorycards. At least, I do, since I useally don't bring a notebook. For this reason I have bought an other portable medium to store lots of photo's: an image tank. Besides the fact that an image tank reads Compact flashcards directly (you put the card partly in the tank), there are models on which you can watch the photographs when the copying proces has finished. Some image tanks can also play MP3's and movie files. Image tanks are available in several GB capacities. I use an Epson image tank (the P-3000) which has a capacity of 40GB.