These are what help me take my photos. The list you see here has not happened overnight and is the culmination of a number of things over a number of years completely driven by the subjects I have tried to photograph. This has been a lot of work, discovery, research, studying and most importantly - using as much as possible. Almost all you see here is customised to suit my particular preferences and to enable me to get the maximum out of the equipment.
Remember all these are just the facilitators, the final photograph is what you see in your mind.
And why Canon? Because of the glass - period.
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Also a lot of times I am asked where I purchase my equipment and where I get them serviced. these are the friends and stores I buy from and these are the same people I reach out to when I need help with servicing and/or cleaning my equipment. They have been around a long time and I treasure their experience and advice. Click on the image to learn more.
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Camera Bodies
Canon 1Dx Mark ii
What can I say - my go to body. Absolute workhorse and has never let me down come rain, snow and what not.
Canon 7D Mark ii
When I decided to get into Wildlife and Nature this was it. And it has held its own since then. Now I use it when I need that extra reach rather than crop the photo in post and when the noise provides for the ambience.
Canon EOS Rebel XTi/ 400D
On 31st December, 2007, in Bangkok, this was my first digital after film, a gift from my parents. Still have it, still love it and most likely will adapt it for Astro specific use.
Canon AF35M
My father’s and therefore my first 35mm film camera. What can I say - I learnt on this beauty. Launched in November 1979 and purchased, I think, the same year in Germany. It still works like a charm and creates stunning images. With the resurgence of film, I’ve managed to source some beautiful rolls but still need to find a good developer.
GoPro Hero 7 Black
Primarily for quick videos, timelapses, hyperlapses and of course the stabilization when you want to shoot from a moving car over very bumpy tracks.
GoPro Hero 4 Black
A hand-me-down from my sister from a number of years back. Still love it, still use it and hate that it is not waterproof.
Both the GoPros I use primarily for shooting while on the move or when I need to go water, weather and bird poo proof. Sometimes they sit on the main camera body and sometimes they sit on the side to help with the second and third perspectives.
Lenses
Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS III USM
OMG!
Tamron 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2
The first step to a 600, when the 400 next door just wasn’t cutting it. Shoots really well but there is just that something missing. I don’t exactly know what it is but the photos just don’t get that kick. Now I use it for my shoot the sun, moon and stars ideas.
Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM
Another OMG! The sharpness of this lens is simply out of this world. When I know I will be close to my subject and I want the ‘eye’. Doesn’t matter where in the range one is, it is SHARP!
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS III USM Lens
Probably the BEST all purpose lens out there. From wildlife, nature, portraits there is nothing this cannot do.
Canon EF 70-200 f/4L IS USM
Simply because this, I think, is the sharpest landscape lens there is.
Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art
If you are thinking buttery bokeh and stinging sharpness.
Sigma Japan actually replaced this free of charge as my first copy was decimated by moisture when I moved to Singapore - a total disaster.
Canon EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM
My favorite all purpose. Take it anywhere, shoot anything and it will be great.
Canon EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM
Because the stars, they need the 1.4 love. My only grouch with this is the coma it has.
Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM
Another landscape, dof, multi pointed stars and sharpness personified great. Most of my Urban photos have come from this.
Samyang 14mm f/2.8 ED AS IF UMC
My go to workhorse for astro. I am yet to come across a sharper lens than this - maybe the Zeiss Distagon T*15mm f/2.8 is a hair better but that is now out of production and still on my wishlist to Santa. I also broke this shooting stars in the Little Rann and Sethu Chimalgi was kind enough to get it fixed. A huge thank you to him and his team for all the help.
Canon Extender EF 1.4x III
Simply for the reach - Birds, Wildlife, Nature, the Sun, Moon and stars.
Canon Extender EF 2x III
For some more reach
7Dii+600f4+2x = 1920mm
This is by no means comprehensive and are just the ones that help me get the photos I want and they aren’t random. Here’s why:
They are sharp as all get out and get me from 14mm to 1920mm.
Mostly weather-sealed or sealed with a front filter.
The MOST important reason - they are almost all 77mm Filter thread so I can leverage all my filters on almost all my lenses for all purposes. For the rest there are step up rings and other whatnots.
Both my Canon main cameras and GoPros run on log versions customized for each and all the big lenses and tripods are sheathed in LensCoats.
Why do I run log versions? Because it makes the color grading easier.
Sound
RODE VideoMic Me
RODE Video Micro
RODE Wireless GO
Deity V-Mic D3 Pro
Zoom H1n & Accessories
Deity V-Lav
Beachtek DXA-MICRO PRO+
Accessories & Triggers
Olympus EE-1 Dot Sight
Alpine Labs Pulse Trigger
Vello Shutterboss 2 - Wired & Shutterboss 3 - Wireless
Yongnuo YN-568EX II
Lume Cube Air with White & Warm Diffuser
The VIEW is an advanced intervalometer designed for high-end timelapse cinematography especially holy grail time lapses.
A simple-to-use smart motion control device to record smooth 2-axis Pan and Tilt motion for time-lapse and video.
Fenix LR35R
This light, portable & powerful Torch throws out 10,000 lumens of output in a wide beam angle, and a throw distance of 1640 feet. More than enough to spot animals in the dark.
Tripods & Monopods
ProMediagear TR424L Pro-Stix - Carbon Fiber
The Manfrotto’s leg fell off in the Great Rann!!! So I decided I will get one which will last a lifetime, won’t shake, won’t rattle, will absorb minor shocks without disturbing the camera, take a massive load and allow me to shoot vertically up standing upright etc etc. This is it!
Manfrotto MT055XPRO3 Aluminium 3-Section Tripod
My first set of legs which didn’t really last very long. That’s when I realised that its cheaper in the long run to buy a good sturdy tripod to suit all purposes, climes, terrain etc. Still use it sometimes when I need to run a dual camera gig.
Induro Series 3 Baby Grand Tripod - Carbon Fiber
Got to be close to the ground and for times when I am in a public place and can’t really have a massive set of legs people trip all over every 10 mins. Not to mention the amount of load this too can carry.
Both the CF tripods can and usually run on PromediaGear 75mm Half Ball Levelers allowing me to balance the heads with out fiddling with the legs up and down.
Novo Explora MP20 Carbon Fiber Monopod
I literally stumbled on this real treasure. As light as a feather, rock solid and can take a massive load. A huge thank you to Debbie and the UK Digital/ UK Optics team for getting this to me. Absolutely love it!
Manfrotto 680B Aluminum Monopod
Again a first purchase but incidentally this has lasted a very very very long time through a lot of travel especially in the mountains of Bhutan.
SwitchPod Handheld Mini Tripod
A minimal, versatile, handheld tripod. Switches from handheld to placed on a surface or on the ground in seconds. It is lightweight, compact, and nearly indestructible
Telephoto Video Stabilisation
Ikan Stratus ARRI-Standard 10" Dovetail with 15mm Baseplate & Carbon Fiber Rods
Axler 15mm Carbon Fiber Rod Set (18", Pair)
SmallRig 15mm LWS Universal Lens Support with 2.1" Vertical Adjustment
SmallRig 15mm LWS Rod Support for 2660 Matte Box
Heads
Sachtler FSB 8T
Probably the best fluid head available for video and photography. Works flawlessly in extreme temperatures. This is equipped with the Sachtler tie down short knob for 75mm bowls and a Kessler Kwik Release receiver
ProMediaGear GKJr. Katana Junior
My very light and very sturdy gimbal head. If only it had a lever release and not a knob - but then one can’t have everything.
RRS BH-55 Ball Head with Lever-Release Panning Clamp
Especially for panoramas. Again very sturdy and very very reliable.
Manfrotto MHXPRO-3W Head
Another one of my earliest purchases. Still works well after so many years but because of its shape I’ve had it stuck on branches and shrubs when walking through the thick brush.
Really Right Stuff Monopod Head MH-2 with Indexed Lever Clamp
Perfect for use with the Novo Explora and a permanent fixture on it.
Manfrotto 496RC2 Ball Head
My first ball head. Worked well in its heyday and then as the loads increased it started to struggle and slip its grip.
Syrp Ball Head
This light weight ball head is designed to work with the Genie Motion Control Time-Lapse system and it is just the right weight to load capacity for the Sy Watcher Star Adventurer. It can hold up to 12 kgs and weighs less than 350 grams.
Acratech Large Leveling Base
For straightening out the horizon when close to the ground.
Lenscoat Lenssack Pro
The big fellow. Rest the lens on it, rest your head… it just works. I fill it with Buckwheat Hulls to keep the weight down but heavy enough to not jump around on the safari vehicle. The hulls are organic and absorb vibrations effectively due to their shape. They are lighter than rice but heavier than thermocol Balls
WildRoar.in Bean Bag
The little fellow and in all ways on par with the big fellow at less than a quarter of the price.
WildRoar.in Wildlife Photography Mat
Sometimes waiting for wildlife one needs to sit for hours on a rocky surface, on ground infested with ants and small insects or in a boat with water sloshing at the bottom.
These are times for a handy mat like this. The top is in a convenient camouflage print and the bottom is a rugged waterproof material with cushioning inside for comfort.
GimPro Swivel Arm
Usually sits on my beanbag and paired with the Katana Jr from ProMediaGear it transforms the single pivot point on the bean bag into a multi angle mount. It also works well with various clamps.
Star Tracker
Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer Pro
A long desired and long awaited addition to the kit bag. Finally I will be able to shoot sharp, long exposure images of deep-sky objects in space. For me, this is often a large nebula or galaxy, but it could be anything from a star cluster to a comet especially now that we have so many comets in the skies above us.
NatureScapes Skimmer Ground Pod II
The Skimmer Ground Pod II is possibly the best nature photography accessory for ground-level photos of birds and other wildlife. Pairs extremely well with my Promediagear Katana Jr.
Bags
Hardcases, Rollers, Backpacks, Messenger Bags
Pelican Storm iM3220
A rolling hard case to carry the tripod with head, a couple of additional heads, various accessories, a pro body and long lens if needed. Fitted with TrekPak on the inside and usually carries my tripod and a folding chair. This happened after the ProMediaGear Bag ripped and this thing can survive a nuclear blast.
ProMediaGear Bag 01
A soft bag to carry just the tripod and one long lens. The bag itself is very sturdy and its weakest links are at the joints where the straps meet the bag. A couple of flights and the strap was ripped off by the luggage handlers.
Manfrotto MBAG90PN
My first tripod bag. Very sturdy and can take absurd weights. I’ve stuffed tripods, chairs, cameras and lenses in it and it has survived. Water resistant and very tough cordura.
Pelican 1560
Considering the places these bags get to, and the abuse on the flights, Pelicans are the only ones capable of surviving. I’ve used this one as a chair in a blizzard as well. Equipped with TrekPak to be able to reconfigure as needed.
Pelican 1535TRVL
A hybrid - can function as a camera case and also as a carry on for clothes.
Pelican 1615TRVL
Another hybrid to match the 1535TRVL. Two cases to carry everything from clothes to cameras and lenses in complete safety no matter what.
Lowepro Lens Trekker 600 AW III
An amazing bag for the 600mm with a full frame and even space for memory cards, extenders, rain covers and other knick knacks.
Think Tank Airport Security V3
My favorite bag - fits a ton of stuff, extremely well built and can sustain a high degree of rough use in the wild. Includes a chain and TSA approved locks for those times at the airport.
Think Tank Airport Navigator
Another masterpiece from ThinkTank. Perfect for rolling into some stunning landscapes. Fits a pro body, a couple of lenses and a filter case like their own Mindshift Gear Filter Hive.
Lowepro Tahoe BP150 Camera Backpack (Black)
A small backpack for the times when I need a wide angle and/or medium focal length lens or two to go along to play with the big boys.
National Geographic NG 2346 Camera Bag
A lovely little messenger bag - doesn’t fit too much but the branding on the flap helps get into a lot of places. I ended up at the UNESCO World Heritage site of Ayutthaya in 2012 and basically got a free run of the place because I was toting this one.
Peak Design Camera Cube Medium
A lovely little cube I use to pack stuff into a suitcase or even turn into a sling for traveling light.
Out of all the bags I have seen, used and have seen my friends & travel buddies use - the ThinkTanks and the Pelicans are out and above the best performers. The only difference between the two is the weight of the Pelicans which I feel is outweighed by the protection they offer.
Color Management & Calibration
Datacolor Spyder Display Calibration System
I realised the importance of color management when I went about publishing my first calendar. The photos I saw on my screen were not the ones that came out of the publishers printer. Green became a dirty grey and some more ugh. Now, hopefully, what I see and post is also what each of you is able to see. Please do email or post a comment if you see different.
To set white balance, meter for exposure and dust map the sensor with the only calibrated and certified 18% transmission incident light metering filter. Love it!
An easy, fast & reliable method of measuring and adjusting the focus performance on my camera and lens combinations. This helped my adjust the back focusing on my Tamron G2. None of my Canon’s have needed it and I have tested them all.
All these tools have been invaluable and have enabled me to reproduce the colors as I have seen them especially in challenging situations like snow and hard sunlight. The focus has been quick and sure and most of the time I get my exposures right. Saves me a ton of time in post, avoids over processing and when I compare with my earlier work I can clearly see my progression.
Filters
These are the various filters I use for all sorts of subjects - Landscapes, astrophotography, star and light trails, reflections, fireworks, nature and wildlife. I am not Brand specific and usually choose the one that works the best for the subject.
Filter Holders
Dry Cabinet
Circular Filters
Night & Special
Filter Cases
These are the cases that help me carry my filters into locations & keep them safe from the elements.
