Canon 5D Mark lll  

When I first decided to purchase a full-frame DSLR, I made my decision between Nikon and Canon very simply. Which one felt better in my hand. I know that people will argue the virtues of their favorite brand for days, competitions abound, but that was it frankly. I held the two bodies and the Nikon felt wide for my palm. I figured it would be a strain to hold on to it for a long period of time.  That was three years ago, and I love my Canon. I’ve put it through its paces. It’s scraped and worn ( I had a little issue with a stone wall during a storm in Cuba) and it’s been great. And I’ve loved the images I’ve taken since then so that’s pretty much the most important, right?

Canon 5D Mark lV

I’ve also used the Canon 5D Mark lV on assignments and I love it. If I could buy both I would. If you’re looking for something more affordable and great get the lll, if you can afford the lV, do that.

GoPro HERO7 Black — Waterproof Digital Action Camera

I took this on my trip to the Sea of Cortez and loved it. I used it to take video throughout my trip–stabilizer is incredible–but I especially loved it to capture underwater video when I swam with sea lions and whale sharks. (The accessories I used are below)

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM

This baby is a wonderful lens. It has a beautiful bokeh that makes images really pop. The autofocus is fast and it has image stabilization, which rocks. It’s an f2.8 so it works well in low light situations. This is the original version, version 2 is even better I’m told (though a tad heavier, and this is not a light lens by any means), but I haven’t shot with it. I’m good with this until it falls apart.  It’s great for portraits, street photography, nature and wildlife as well. Landscapes if the area you want is far away. Believe it or not, I’ve used it for some macro photography of flowers, though I admit, it wasn’t easy.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM

This was my *starter* lens, so to speak. I wanted something versatile and yet still give me great shots without breaking the bank. I still wasn’t clear how far I wanted to take this hobby, which is now a full-fledged passion.  It’s an f4, so I have to watch it in low light. I use it a lot for street photography (it’s one of my lighter lenses) and portraits.  I’ve used it for cityscapes and flowers as well.

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM Standard Zoom Lens

I have my eye on the 24-70mm f2.8 lens. It’s versatile, will pair well with my 70-200mm, and fast. The image quality is outstanding. I’ve used it a few times on trips and I want one. It’s on my to-get list for sooner rather than later.

Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L USM 

You can never really go wrong with a prime lens. I was nervous about being limited at first—not have the flexibility of a telescopic lens—but I found that the limitation was a good one. It forced me to think about how to approach a shot and be more thoughtful with composition. The fact that it’s a f1.4 means I can be creative with depth of field. I use this a lot for street photography when I’m in more of a *photojournalistic* mood. I think it’s because I originally bought it on the recommendation of some photojournalists I admire. It’s a fast lens too, so, again, it’s great for low light situations.

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L ll USM Zoom Lens for Canon EF Cameras

I love this lens. It’s wonderful for big imposing landscapes like mountain ranges and astrophotography. I also used it a ton in Cuba. I found the 16mm was perfect for inside homes and down narrow alleyways, and the 35mm was perfect for classic street photography. The fact that it was a fast lens too, made it one of my favorites. I hear the updated version is phenomenal. My v2 had a little bit of warping and focus issues at the sides, I’m told the v3 (below) is flawless.

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM Standard – Fixed

A great, big bang for your buck kind of lens. Not too expensive and great for portraits and food shots. It’s not heavy and no matter how packed my kit is I can always find room for this lovely.

Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4x

I don’t own this lens but I either borrow it from Canon or rent it when I’m going on safari. When you can’t bring a lot with you, this lens gives me a lot of versatility for wildlife photography. It’s heavy and takes a little getting used to but I would definitely invest in this baby if I was shooting wildlife exclusively.

Benro Carbon Fiber Tripod

Carbon fiber tripods will inherently be more expensive. They’re also considerably lighter than other metal tripods and you’ll appreciate that when you’re lugging it around.

Get flip-locks, flip-locks, flip-locks! Don’t get the legs that you have to unscrew. What a pain. Especially if you’re not paying attention and the leg sections come apart (been there). Screwing them back together is a nightmare. Trust me.

My model is no longer available but I am happy with the brand.

Lowepro Passport Sling lll

This bag has is a bloggers’ best friend. I learned about it from a blogger and I know a few other bloggers that own it. It’s expandable, comfortable, and perfect when you’re bopping around and don’t want to use a backpack. It has room for extra camera gear (batteries, memory cards, etc) but also for my wallet, sunscreen, tablet, and other *everyday* stuff.

Gura Gear Kiboko Camera Bag 16L, 22L,30L

Years ago I bought the original Kiboko 22L camera bag, but soon after I fell in love with the brand it was phased out when the owner acquired Tamrac. Photographers like myself bitched and moaned and I am happy to say Gura Gear is back with a new and improved Kiboko 2.0—now in three sizes: 16L, 22L, 30L.

It’s not cheap, I know. Consider it a splurge for that special person in your life (maybe yourself?) who is a real photography enthusiast. Its design features butterfly wings—two side-by-side compartments—which make it easier to organize your gear. It has plenty of room, it’s lightweight and very durable. Each side has a buckle and pocket to secure a tripod and/or a water bottle. There’s also a rain cover and a handy-dandy zippered side compartment for a 15″ laptop, plus interior and exterior zippered pockets to carry memory cards, batteries, lens cleaners and the like.

This post has a more detailed review of the Gura Gear Kiboko

BlackRapid Breathe Curve Camera Strap

Every camera comes with a shoulder strap and it’s free so I understand when people look at me as if I am crazy when I suggest buying a strap over $70.00, but I stick by my recommendation. It’s the best strap I’ve ever used. It’s comfortable and has a sliding ring that allows me to move my camera easily from my hip where it hangs up to my eyes in a flash.

BlackRapid Breathe Hybrid Camera Strap

This version of the BlackRapid strap enables you to carry two cameras easily at once. It’s surprisingly balanced and has worked well for me. If you don’t have two cameras, you can detach one of the components to use it with one body.

GoPro Fusion Grip (Official GoPro Mount)

On a trip to Kenya, a friend of mine used this GoPro stick and I got one for myself. It’s compact, hearty, telescopes, and acts as a tripod.

GoPro The Handler Floating Hand Grip (GoPro Official Mount)

A floating mount for snorkeling and underwater video. I wish it were longer or telescoped but it did the job.

GoPro Suction Cup Mount (GoPro Official Mount)

I used this in Saba to capture a time lapse of a drive up a mountain with over 23 curves. I mounted it at the front of the vehicle and it stuck like glue.

Pelican CompactFlash Memory Card Case

Pelican is the leader in hard cases and it’s no different just because this can fit in your pocket. It holds 6 CF cards (you can get one for SD cards too), as it a great way to ensure that your valuable cards remain safe and sound while you travel.

MindShift Gear House of Cards Memory Wallet (CF and SD Cards) 

I also use this foldable memory card holder when I’m also carrying along SD cards and I don’t feel like I need the ruggedness of the pelican case above.

Silicon Power 2TB Rugged Armor A80 IPX7 Shockproof, Waterproof USB 3.0 2.5 Inch Military Grade External Portable Hard Drive

If you’re on the road, having an external backup drive for your images is essential. A friend recommended this to me and I love it. It’s sleek, slim and durable and I’ve yet to need the 2TB of storage it comes with. Makes me feel good to know I have plenty of space. Don’t want to delete files to make room for others. I have a couple and keep one of them in my camera bag at all times.