Over a-year-and-a-half ago, I wrote about what was in my bag. A lot has happened since I purchased my Nikon D60 more than five years ago. Since then, I’ve started a legitimate business, quit my full-time job, hung an image in an Austin art gallery, entered other print competitions, met many other great and inspiring photographers, grew my skill at professional-level workshops, shot with an award-winning, international wedding photographer, and have started my journey to becoming a master photographer. But, the one thing I’m still pinching myself about is what is in my camera bag. Even as I wrote about my camera bag on February 11, 2013—18 months ago, I was already dreaming of owning a Nikon D4. Then, Nikon released a D4s capable of shooting at just about infinity ISO.
The order sat in my B&H shopping cart for a few weeks. This was so unbelievably foreign to me, I could hardly will myself to push the “buy” button. Just when I’d talked myself into the purchase, the other me would talk myself out of it. Back and forth, back and forth… that’s how the weeks went, until one day I closed my eyes and entered into full-frame photography. And, even now that I’ve been a FX owner for over two months, it’s still hard to imagine that I own not one, but two of the best DSLRs on the market today.
The things I like most about the D4s body is that I still have the awesome capability to make instantaneous backups of every image I take with the dual card slots, and I LOVE LOVE LOVE the improved ISO capabilities. I can shoot at 20,000 ISO with virtually no noise. I can’t wait to see how this improves my wedding reception and sports photography.
When I left my cropped-sensor bodies behind me for good, it meant that I had to upgrade all my DX lenses. I’m not good at all the science behind these things, but from what I understand, shooting DX lenses on an FX body is something like driving a V8 with only 7 pistons firing. If I wanted to take full advantage of a full-frame body, I had to use the correct lenses.
My two zoom lenses are comparable to what I had and what I’ll use during wedding ceremonies and sporting events. With these two lenses, I will be covered from focal lengths of 24-200mm. This is a Nikon 70-200 f2.8, and a 24-70 f2.8.
This 85mm f1.4 is the lens I am hoping will be my main portrait lens. Although, after about 15 minutes with it during one of my last senior portrait sessions, it went in the bag and the 24-70mm finished the job. I can’t put my finger on why I didn’t love it other than I felt a little too far away from my subject. My 50mm f1.4 on my D7000 cropped sensor was actually shooting the equivalent of a 75mm lens–so maybe that’s why. I’m now a full 10mm further away from my subject with this new lens. It will definitely take some getting used to.
This 105mm f2.8 macro lens didn’t replace anything—not even an extension tube. I’ll have lots of gorgeous ring shots to use this on! I can’t wait to have the opportunity to use this!
My flashes and firing system are still the same: Nikon SB600s with Photix Odin. I don’t have any plans to upgrade my lighting system, but I may expand it in the future. I’d like to be able to have a set for backup and that my second shooter can use at receptions. With enough transmitters and receivers, we could each trigger our own lights without interfering with each other—especially since the SB600 doesn’t have a slave mode.
The only other item on my wish list (for the time being) is a Tamron 150-600mm F5.6-6.3 super telephoto. I’d love to have this thing on the football field ESPECIALLY since I can now shoot in infinity ISO! But, I will have to wait until October, 2013 for it to be released!
Until next time, be positive, happy, and healthy, and don’t forget to be photographed.
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I am a San Antonio-based wedding and senior photographer who started Ata-Girl Photography Co., LLC in 2010. As one of the up-and-coming San Antonio wedding photographers, I am also available to shoot in Austin, Houston and Dallas and the surrounding areas. I am also available for destination weddings worldwide. Ata-Girl Photography Co. offers an amazing wedding photography service that you won’t soon forget. As a professional photographer, my sole purpose is to provide you the absolute best photography experience.
I am a professional photographer who enjoys documenting the important milestones and captivating moments in people’s lives. I firmly believe that the unique set of circumstances I have faced in life has prepared me to take a personal and genuine interest in my photography clients. When I’m not photographing a wedding, family or high school senior, I love hiking, cycling, reading, listening to Elvis and most importantly, I enjoy seeing my daughters happy!
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