Camera Gear

2011 Recommended List for Pro and Enthusiast Photographers

Here is some of the gear I am currently using:

Canon 5D Mark II Digital SLR Camera

Canon EOS 7D Digital SLR Camera

Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 AT-X 116 Pro DX Autofocus Lens

Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Lens

Canon Zoom Wide Angle-Telephoto EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM Autofocus Lens

Canon Wide Angle EF 24mm f/2.8 Autofocus Lens

Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM Autofocus Lens

Voigtlander Ultron 40mm f/2.0 SL-II Manual Focus Lens

Canon Normal EF 50mm f/1.8 II Autofocus Lens

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM Telephoto Zoom Lens

Canon Telephoto EF 100mm f/2.0 USM Autofocus Lens

Canon Telephoto EF 135mm f/2.0L USM Autofocus Lens

Canon Telephoto EF 200mm f/2.8L II USM Autofocus Lens

I also use have used the  Tokina 50-135 f/2.8 and Canon 80-200 f/2.8L. (These lenses are no longer available on the new market but they can sometimes be found used at stores such as Adorama.) If I were making a purchase today, I would choose one of Canon's highly-regarded 70-200L lenses (actually, I may be getting one in the near future as a supplement). Any of the four are worthy- which one to buy depends on whether you shoot action or low-light photography and what kind of weight you're willing to carry around. Personally, I'm eager to pick up a 70-200L f/4 or 70-200L f/2.8- as an action photographer with reasonably steady hands I have not found that image stabilization offers anything for me worth the crazy surcharge Canon tacks on for those lenses. If you're specialty is portraits or other still subjects, you might find the IS is more important.

• Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L USM Lens
• Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM Lens
• Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM Lens
• Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM Lens

Additionally, I am a big fan of Lomo cameras. While some criticize Lomo for its high prices, I have not found an alternative that has the size, feel and quality of the LC-A+ (I did spend several days perusing legacy cameras in Shanghai's used camera market). Thus, I recommend the LC-A+ without hesitation.

Lomography LC-A+ Compact Automat Manual Focus 35mm Camera

I am an active reader of far too many camera blogs and I enjoy testing out cameras in the store. Based on my knowledge, these are cameras and lenses I am considering (and ones that readers may wish to consider, too)

Canon Kit (sports/action emphasis)

• Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM Autofocus Lens
• Sigma 17-50mm F2.8 EX DC OS HSM Lens
• Rokinon 35mm f/1.4 Wide-Angle US UMC Aspherical Lens for Canon
• Canon Normal EF 50mm f/1.4 USM Autofocus Lens
• Rokinon 85mm f/1.4 Aspherical Lens for Canon
• Canon 200mm f/2L IS USM Autofocus Lens
• Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 EX DG OS APO HSM AF Lens (For Canon)
• Canon EOS 1D Mark IV SLR Digital Camera

Nikon (full-frame)

• Nikon D700 SLR Digital Camera 
• Nikon AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8G ED Autofocus Lens 
• Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 80-200mm f/2.8D ED Lens
• Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II Lens
• Nikon NIKKOR 50mm f/1.2 AIS Manual Focus Lens

Pentax (travel gear)

• Pentax K-5 Digital SLR Camera
• Pentax smc-DA 15mm f/4 ED AL Limited Series Autofocus Lens
• Pentax SMCP-DA* 16-50mm f/2.8 ED AL (IF) SDM Autofocus Lens
• Pentax smc Pentax FA 31mm f/1.8 Limited (Black)
• Pentax Telephoto SMCP-FA 77mm f/1.8 Limited Series Autofocus Lens
• Pentax Zoom Telephoto 60-250mm f/4 ED DA* SDM Autofocus Lens
• Pentax AF160FC Auto Macro Ring Flash (Guide No. 53) For Pentax P-TTL (for use in portraits)

Panasonic (video kit)

• Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 Digital Camera W/14-140mm Lens (Black)
• Panasonic Lumix 20mm f/1.7 Aspheric G- Series Lens
• Panasonic Lumix G Vario 100-300mm F/4.0-5.6 OIS Lens

Fuji (retro-styled high quality digital cameras)

• Fujifilm X10 Digital Camera

Samsung (mirrorless camera)

• Samsung NX20 (pending release)
• Samsung 16mm f/2.4 Ultra Wide Pancake Lens (For NX Cameras)
• Samsung 30mm f/2.0 Standard Pancake Lens
• Samsung 60mm f/2.8 Macro ED OIS SSA Lens (For NX Cameras)
• Samsung 85mm F1.4 Lens

Point and Shoot Cameras

• Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 Digital Camera (Black)
• Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3 Digital Camera (Silver)

Olympus Lenses (micro four-thirds)

• Olympus M. Zuiko Digital ED 12 mm f/2.0 Lens
• Olympus M. Zuiko Digital ED 45 mm f/1.8 Lens

Disclaimer: I (and every review site that I'm aware of) make money through commission for any sales. I have only suggested equipment I either own or am strongly considering for future purchase. Thus, I have left off some big ticket items such as the Canon 5D Mark II and Fuji X100- while both have their use, I feel their price is greatly inflated for what they offer. Please support this website by making purchases from B&H, Adorama or Amazon through our links.