I haven’t really done a gear post yet where I explain what I use everything for and what not. This is that post. If you want just a basic rundown of my gear hit the “gear” link at the top of the page.

Camera

Canon EOS 40D – My camera, aka my baby. I love this thing. I use the camera with the battery grip for added comfort and functionality. This camera has really taken what I can do to the next level compared to my old XTi. This camera is versatile, has decent ISO performance, and a high enough FPS that I can use it for sports. One of my most prized possessions.

Lenses

Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 – The lens that is normally on my camera when I first take it out of my bag. This is my walk-around lens. It may not be the fastest lens, or produce the world’s sharpest image but it works well for what it costs. If I were to go out with just my camera and one lens it would be this one. Does great outside but inside you have to push the ISO a bit to get anything decent.

Canon 85mm f/1.8 - Perhaps my favorite lens, why? I have no idea. It could be the fact that it never lets me down, focuses fast, and the 1.8 aperture is awesome. Or it could be because it is my basketball lens, a sport that I love to shoot. If you are doing indoor sports you need this lens. This is the only lens that I use when shooting indoor basketball. If you are doing portrait work the 85mm range is also great. Not too short, and not to long.

Canon 70-200mm f/4L – My only L lens, but probably not my last. If you want a 70-200mm lens but can’t afford the 2.8L version get this one. This is a tac sharp lens and works great outdoors. Once inside it gets a bit iffy but you get what you pay for. This lens is also built like a tank, if you get lost in the woods you could use it as a hammer. This lens was my first major purchase for my camera besides the actual camera. Worth every single penny.

Canon 50mm f/1.8 – The nifty-fifty, the plastic fantastic, this lens has many names but I just call it cheap and versatile. Whenever somebody tells me they are getting a Canon SLR I tell them to buy this lens. It costs around $80, it works well inside, and it will help you get better at photography. If you don’t have 50mm lens go get one. Also probably one of the best reasons to buy a camera without the kit lens.

Bags

I have a bit of a camera bag fetish, I need one for every application. If somebody asks me what bag to get I can’t tell them because it depends what you are doing and what you need to bring with you.

Kata DR467 – I use this bag (backpack) when I want to take my camera, all my lenses, and my laptop with me. When I’m not using my gear it resides in this bag.  You could say that it is my main camera bag.

Crumpler Six Million Dollar Home – I love Crumpler, they make some amazing bags. I use this bag when I just want to bring my camera and a few (sometimes all if I squeeze) of my lenses. A great shoulder camera bag. Large enough for all the gear I listed above but it doesn’t scream “Steal me, I’m a camera bag!”. If I’m heading out with just my camera gear (family event, around town, etc.) this is the bag I use.

Canon Camera Backpack – The first camera bag that I bought. I rarely use this one as it now has really only one use, for when I go hiking. Just the camera and lenses, on my back, nothing else. When I use this bag I also normally have the 70-200 attached incase some wildlife decides to appear.

Well that’s all my major pieces of gear. I hope I explained how I use everything well enough. If you have any questions please post them in the comments.

A few weeks ago I got the awesome opportunity to shoot some youth boxing ringside with Phoenix photographer Bryen Ford. The lighting was so bad that he was nice enough to let me use his extra Canon 1D Mark II body. It was fun to use a true professional camera and it was great to have the kind of access that we did. Many times we were literally laying on the ring trying to get shots that didn’t have ropes in them. Some of my shots are below:

On Saturday I upgraded my gear a bit. I bought a 40D from Bryen, and wow what a nice change over my XTi. I haven’t gotten much of a chance to shoot with it yet but that will all change soon enough. I plan on selling my XTi soon to get some money back. I think the 40D will last me many years. More to come later.