Nearly everywhere I go with my camera someone will inevitably stop and ask me questions or strike up a conversation on photography.  Most all people who are into photography are nice and want to share the knowledge, which is something I totally love about photography.  Along with that, gear changes a lot, so staying current with what is out usually requires reading a lot of boring reviews on websites or magazines but asking someone who already owns it what they think is invaluable.  Here is my photography kit along with some notes on why I have it and what I love and hate about each piece.  Hopefully it will help some of you out with future purchases or get an eye into what a professional carries and uses.

Canon 5d.  I’ve owned this camera for nearly two years now and absolutely love it.  It was a long after due replacement to a 10d I bought in 2003 and an opportunity came up with a deal I couldn’t pass on, so I got it.  I shoot with a grip, since I do a lot of portrait work I prefer the extra set of controls.  The full frame sensor is great and I do not miss the 1.6x crop of my old 10d at all.  The camera isn’t perfect, but I don’t think any cameras truly are.  I wish it had the 45-point auto-focus system of the 1-series and that the ISO was a bit more acceptable at 1000 and higher and it had a slightly faster frames per second capabilities, but overall, I’ve totally loved owning this camera.

Canon 24-70 f/2.8L. This was the first real lens I bought.  Up until this point I was using a Sigma zoom lens and figured it was just fine.  In 2004, after saving for a while, I purchased this lens and never looked back.  It’s my total workhorse lens and on the camera about 80 % of the time.   Amazingly sharp and the perfect working lens for both 1.6x cropped sensors and full frame, the 24-70 has two down sides.  It’s large, really large.  Most people who see it assume it’s a telephoto zoom lens. It’s also really heavy, tipping the scales at 2.1lbs!

Canon 70-200 f/4L IS. I did a full review on this lens recently, but it’s worth mentioning again that for a longer zoom lens, being L glass, it’s the best bang for the buck and weighs less then the 24-70!  No real downsides to this lens, I love everything about it.

Canon 50mm f/1.8. This is another lens I did a full review on and firmly believe that everyone should own a 50mm.  I’ve tossed around the idea of upgrading to the f/1.4 version but at roughly 250% more money, I can’t really justify it yet.  The lens is not an L lens, but it’s still amazingly sharp.  If anything, but build quality feels a bit cheap, but that has zero affect on the quality of images captured with it.

Sigma 12-24 f/4.5-5.6 Ultra Wide Angle. This lens on my full frame 5d is amazing.  Wide as wide can be with no vignetting.  It does come at a price though – distortion.  Shooting buildings or anything too close can show wild distortion can make images look un-natural.  This is not a fisheye though.  The other downfall is that wider than f/8, it’s not super sharp.  Since I usually use this lens for landscapes or creative shots, I don’t mind the distortion and rarely shoot more wide open then f/8 anyway.  The ability to get super-wide with this lens far outweighs the down sides for me.

Canon 580EX II Flash. Upgraded from a 550EX flash, absolutely love the new locking mechanism over previous models screw down method.  The functions are laid out better and the ability to quickly and easily make changes with one hand is great.  There are no negatives about this flash.  Everything is an improvement over the 550ex I upgraded from, including battery door and recycle time.  Standard throw-away AA batteries last 300+ shots without an issue!

Stroboframe Press-T Flash Bracket. Getting the flash off the camera reduces red-eye, this bracket also allows the flash to stay above the camera when shooting vertically thanks to a unique hinge.  It’s compact and super solid.  I’ve owned the same bracket going on six years with no signs of wear.  This, along with an off-camera flash cord will give you markedly better flash photography pics, especially with people as the subject.

Zenitar 16mm Fisheye. This quirky Russian made lens is something I picked up ten years ago but don’t use very often.  It’s actually meant for a Pentax M42 screw-mount camera, but I have an adapter to fit the EOS system.  Because of the adapter all electronic signal is lost, so I usually shoot in aperture priority mode in the camera and set the aperture ring on the lens since the light meter still functions.  Because it’s a fisheye, shooting wider then f/8 isn’t really acceptable anyway due to depth of field concerns.  Focus is also manual, but usually not a problem to do by hand.  This is a fun piece and a fraction of the price of an auto-focus Canon model.

Rokkor 58mm f/1.4. Another quirky lens in my collection is a Minolta mount Rokkor that has been modified to fit EOS.  Same down sides as the Zenitar, but I got the lens for very cheap and had it modified for cheap.  Why?  Because I like the bokeh it produces.  It’s far from a practical lens to use but when I do, it’s fun and I enjoy it.

Alien Bees B-800 Strobes. A pair of these for the studio, nothing bad to say.  Solid, light weight, come in funky colors and perform day in and day out.  A number of umbrellas and a recently purchased 5′ octabox softbox, along with light stands, 5-in-1 reflectors and holders round out my studio kit, along with an Alien Bees Ring Flash.

Crumpler Whicky & Cox Backpack.  After 5 years and several trips across the country, I love this bag still.  It’s not a bag to work out of, it’s a bag to transport gear from point A to point B.  Everything is awesome.  The interior is powder blue so you can see everything and the zippers are all top notch.  It shows virtually no wear!

Tenba Small Messenger Bag. My working bag for nearly two years now, I wish it had a light colored interior like Crumpler but it’s the only messenger bag on the market that I know of that has a zipper along the top flap.  This means full access inside the bag without the need to undo the buckles and velcro.  It is the perfect working bag for me.

Minolta Auto Meter IV F. Purchased last year, the lonely flash meter is often overlooked by today’s photographers but is the best investment I’ve made in years.  No more guessing in the studio or utilizing off camera flashes for location shoots.  Simple.

In addition to all of this hard-goods are the accessories like circular polarizing filters, background stands to hold paper in the studio, banjo ties, clamps, gaffers tape and other little things that make up photography.  Most all of my gear is what would be considered premium gear.  Like I mentioned at the start of this article, I previously had a Sigma lens for an all around lens and quickly sold it when I got the 24-70L.  It’s expensive yes, but the quality to me is worth it.  Camera bodies will always be needing an upgrade but with lenses and the rest of my gear, I look for overall durability and quality and don’t mind spending a little bit more up front to buy something that will honestly last years and years.