Equipment


Nikon D90

While Canon’s seem to be known for their speed, Nikon’s have a reputation for an excellent ISO range which makes the Nikon D90 a great camera for shooting concerts or other events in low light. The price tag and caliber (although the two don’t necessarily go hand-in-hand always) made it a great choice for me. It is an excellent camera which I can use professionally, while not being as expensive as the D700 or D300 or any of the higher caliber pro bodies. The body weight is also relatively light and much more compact than pro Nikon cameras. It makes it much easy to carry around at my side and to shoot with since it won’t tire my arms or tug on my neck.


Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8

While Canon’s seem to be known for their speed, Nikon’s have a reputation for an excellent ISO range which makes the Nikon D90 a great camera for shooting concerts or other events in low light. The price tag and caliber (although the two don’t necessarily go hand-in-hand always) made it a great choice for me. It is an excellent camera which I can use professionally, while not being as expensive as the D700 or D300 or any of the higher caliber pro bodies. The body weight is also relatively light and much more compact than pro Nikon cameras. It makes it much easy to carry around at my side and to shoot with since it won’t tire my arms or tug on my neck.


Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8G

I opted to buy the D90 body and get a better lens instead of getting one of the stock lens that come with it. I chose the Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8 because it can take a variety of shots from different ranges. Although it doesn’t have anywhere near the reach of the 70-200mm (which will be my next big investment), it can still capture things from a good distance with enough clarity to where I could always crop if needed. Up close it is a blessing with great quality. The wide lens lets in a lot of light to the viewfinder which helps me when I am manual focusing. Coupled with the D90, I am able to take some great shots of performers at low light concerts, or models under the light of the sun.


Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

I felt the need to get a fixed lens that would work well for portraits, which I am hoping to take more of. After browsing around, I found a lot of options when it came to 50mm lenses. One of the cheapest was the f/1.8D. I usually ignore the cost and focus on quality and functionality first and foremost. After reading the reviews though, I realized that I was not sacrificing either of those, even though this is a relatively inexpensive lens. Professionals to casual photogs praised the lens, which ultimately convinced me to purchase it; a decision I am now glad I made. It has proved to be a great lens for portraits and head shots as well as creating a nice depth of field in shots.


Nikon SB-900

While Canon’s seem to be known for their speed, Nikon’s have a reputation for an excellent ISO range which makes the Nikon D90 a great camera for shooting concerts or other events in low light. The price tag and caliber (although the two don’t necessarily go hand-in-hand always) made it a great choice for me. It is an excellent camera which I can use professionally, while not being as expensive as the D700 or D300 or any of the higher caliber pro bodies. The body weight is also relatively light and much more compact than pro Nikon cameras. It makes it much easy to carry around at my side and to shoot with since it won’t tire my arms or tug on my neck.


Crumpler 7 Million Dollar Home

The camera bag I currently use is a Crumpler 7 Million Dollar Home. The Million Dollar Home series comes in a variety of sizes (from 1 to 7, and then a Bazillion). I chose the 7 Million Dollar Home since it has enough room to hold what I am toting around, while having plenty left over if I decide to purchase some more lenses in the future and want to bring them along. Crumpler came highly recommended to me and I had heard from many other photographers that they were the toughest and safest bags out there. The other factor that helped my decision is that the Crumpler bags are essentially messenger bags, so they are very comfortable and aren’t awkward to walk around with in public.