equipment

The equipment that I use on a regular basis is listed below. Generally, for wildlife photography, my most popular combination is the EOS-1D Mk II with the EF 500mm f/4L lens.

Cameras

Canon EOS-1D Mk II
The main camera body that I use is the recently released Canon EOS-1D Mk II. It boasts a frame rate of 8.5fps, an 8.2Mp sensor, 45 auto-focus points and a 20 frame buffer (when used in RAW mode).

Although historically better known for it's use by press photographers, I find this camera perfect for shooting wildlife - especially action sequences.

Canon EOS-20D with additional battery grip
I now use the Canon EOS-20D as my secondary body when taking photographs on trips.

The 20D has the same size sensor as the 1D, and produces a very high quality image. However, it is slightly slower in terms of frame rate, and has few focus points etc.

Canon EOS-10D with additional battery grip
Having moved from the EOS-10D to the EOS-1D Mk II, I now use the 10D as a backup body.

Although, slightly slower than the 1D, and with a smaller sensor, I find that the 10D still performs admirably and produces a good quality image.

Lenses

Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM lens
Amongst all of the lenses I use, this one is the Daddy! With a staggering 500mm focal length at f/4, this professional lens can produce amazing results, with background blur that is difficult to rival.

If find this lens perfect for wildlife shoots, particularly in locations such as the Masai Mara.

Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM lens
The Canon 300mm f/2.8L lens is a fine piece of kit. With such a wide aperture it has a large number of potential uses, and is an extremely good compliment to the 500mm.

Significantly lighter than the 500mm, this lens can be extremely useful in situations where weight and space is an issue.

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM lens
The Canon 70-200mm lens is a lovely piece of kit. It produces superb images across the whole range, and works extremely well with a 1.4x extender, turning it into a 100-280mm lens at f/4.

The lens features internal zooming, so the physical length of the lens does not change.

Canon EF 300mm f/4L IS USM lens
The Canon 300mm f/4 is dramatically smaller than it's vastly more expensive focal length buddy - the 300mm f/2.8. With build in image stabilisation it produces high quality images at a decent range.

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM lens
A relatively recent addition to my kit bag is the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM lens. This 'L' series lens provides a very high quality short focal length.

I recently used the lens out in the Masai Mara in Kenya, and it produced very nice results. The only criticism I would have, if any, is that the lens hood it huge compared to the size of the lens!

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM lens
My first 'L' series lens, I still view the 100-400mm with affection.

It produces a very good range of focal lengths and, for the money, is an extremely fine lens. In addition to this, the image stabalisation is extremely beneficial and allows the lens to be used in situations a non-IS couldn't.

Canon EF 2x converter
The EF 2x converter is provides a powerful double multiplication to the focal length of the lens to which it is attached, with the downside of the loss of a couple of 'stops'.

The 2x is compatible with being stacked with the 1.4x converter and I am shortly to undertake some shoots stacking these converters with the Canon 500mm f/4 lens.

Canon EF 1.4x converter
The EF 1.4x converter is a good quality multiplier for use with the majority of Canon fit EF lenses.

Although when used you lose a 'stop', it does provide that extra bit of focal length when you need it. The 1.4x works with all of the lenses that I use without inhibiting functions, such as auto-focus.

Sigma 105mm 1:2.8 EX Macro lens
My preference for lens manufacturer, after Canon, is Sigma - particularly their EX series of lenses.

The Sigma 105mm is my current choice for Macro lens, on the odd instance that I do point a lens at a flower or other object suitable for macro photography!

Sigma 15mm f/2.5 EX fisheye lens
I can't profess to be a regular user of my fisheye lens, but in some circumstances it can produce some very interesting results.

Recent uses have included a very wide angle close-up of an Ostrich (watch out - they're vicious biting machines), and a tame Roe-deer.

Sigma 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 lens
The Sigma 28-80mm is my general use lens. Although it doesn't get much of an outing these days, it can be handy for architecture and portrait shots. It is also a good all-rounder, or for instances where space in the kit-bag is at a premium.

Sigma 600mm f/8 mirror lens
The Sigma 600mm f/8 is a compact mirror lens. It can produce some very interesting and attractive ring effects when used in the right situation.

These days, where possible, I tend to use the Canon EF 500mm f/4 instead of this lens - although the Sigma is about a 12th of the size!

Flashes

Canon Speedlite 550EX
My primary flash unit is the Canon Speedlite 550EX. Recently superceeded by a newer model, the 550EX still remains an extremely competent and flexible flash.

In demanding situations I connect the 550EX to my Quantum 2x2 battery pack (see below). This provides a quicker recycling time, as well as getting more cycles to the charge.

Canon Macro Ring Lite MR-14EX
The Macro Ring Lite is, as it says on the tin, designed for macro use.

Combined with the Sigma 105mm EX Macro, this flash can aid in producing some nice macro pictures, with ferns and leaves being a favourite.

Interfit 500/500 Studio Flash Kit
Although not particularly into studio work, I have the Interfit 500/500 studio flash kit on stand-by for such occassions.

This kit provides all of the basics at an affordable price and is always handy for those portraits of the dog!

Other Accessories

Quantum Turbo 2x2 battery pack
For situations where power is an issue, the Quantum Turbo 2x2 is a real work-horse. Capable of powering both a flash and camera simultaneously, this unit is very flexible.

Canon TC-80N3 Timer Remote Controller
This multi-function remote controller provides a number of different methods for firing either the EOS-1D or the EOS-10D.

Options include count-down triggers, interval triggers, counted triggers etc. It also provides the obvious ability to fire the camera at a press of a button without wobbling the tripod/monopod.

Canon Angle Finder C
The angle finder can be particularly useful when using the camera at low heights, or other strange angles. A grated chin can often be avoided by using this device.

Phototainer
The Phototainer is one of my backup devices - the other being the PD7X below. This is a nice, compact little device into which I have fitted a 60Gb hard disk. Although download times aren't the fastest (~12mins/Gb), it nice to be able to verify the download on the screen.

Nextodi Backup Device
This is my newest backup device. It doesn't look quite as slick as the Phototainer, but is an impressive little beast. It runs of rechargeable batteries and can downloads about ten times quicker than the phototainer. I have two, and have installed a 80Gb drives into each.

Arca Swiss B2 Ballhead
The Arca Swiss B2 Ballhead is a stunning piece of equipment, manufactured to the very highest levels.

I have recently use the B2 on a trip to Tanzania, clamping it to the Land Cruiser in which I was travelling using Novaflex clamps. The results were brilliant, and the combination was incredibly affective.

Wimberley Tripod Head
The Wimberley tripod head is an amazing piece of engineering. When used with a large lens (and setup correctly) it really does make it virtually weightless. As tripod heads go, it's not the cheapest in the world, but it make such a difference that I'd say it's worth every penny!

Supporting gear, such as tripods, filters etc.
Amongst my kit I also have a wealth of supporting gear such as monopods, tripods, filters etc. By default I fit a UV filter to every lens I use (except the 500mm). I also have a drop-in circular polariser for the 500mm f/4 which I usually keep in situe.

Studio equipment, such as backdrops, light meters etc.
Finally, topping off the kit-bag are items such as backdrops, light meters, cables, and many high-speed CF and SD cards.

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		Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM lens Amongst all of the lenses I use, this one is the Daddy! With a staggering 500mm focal length at f/4, this professional lens can produce amazing results, with background blur that is difficult to rival. If find this lens perfect for wildlife shoots, particularly in locations such as the Masai Mara.
		Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM lens The Canon 300mm f/2.8L lens is a fine piece of kit. With such a wide aperture it has a large number of potential uses, and is an extremely good compliment to the 500mm. Significantly lighter than the 500mm, this lens can be extremely useful in situations where weight and space is an issue.
		Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM lens The Canon 70-200mm lens is a lovely piece of kit. It produces superb images across the whole range, and works extremely well with a 1.4x extender, turning it into a 100-280mm lens at f/4. The lens features internal zooming, so the physical length of the lens does not change.
		Canon EF 300mm f/4L IS USM lens The Canon 300mm f/4 is dramatically smaller than it's vastly more expensive focal length buddy - the 300mm f/2.8. With build in image stabilisation it produces high quality images at a decent range.
		Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM lens A relatively recent addition to my kit bag is the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM lens. This 'L' series lens provides a very high quality short focal length. I recently used the lens out in the Masai Mara in Kenya, and it produced very nice results. The only criticism I would have, if any, is that the lens hood it huge compared to the size of the lens!
		Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM lens My first 'L' series lens, I still view the 100-400mm with affection. It produces a very good range of focal lengths and, for the money, is an extremely fine lens. In addition to this, the image stabalisation is extremely beneficial and allows the lens to be used in situations a non-IS couldn't.
		Canon EF 2x converter The EF 2x converter is provides a powerful double multiplication to the focal length of the lens to which it is attached, with the downside of the loss of a couple of 'stops'. The 2x is compatible with being stacked with the 1.4x converter and I am shortly to undertake some shoots stacking these converters with the Canon 500mm f/4 lens.
		Canon EF 1.4x converter The EF 1.4x converter is a good quality multiplier for use with the majority of Canon fit EF lenses. Although when used you lose a 'stop', it does provide that extra bit of focal length when you need it. The 1.4x works with all of the lenses that I use without inhibiting functions, such as auto-focus.
		Sigma 105mm 1:2.8 EX Macro lens My preference for lens manufacturer, after Canon, is Sigma - particularly their EX series of lenses. The Sigma 105mm is my current choice for Macro lens, on the odd instance that I do point a lens at a flower or other object suitable for macro photography!
		Sigma 15mm f/2.5 EX fisheye lens I can't profess to be a regular user of my fisheye lens, but in some circumstances it can produce some very interesting results. Recent uses have included a very wide angle close-up of an Ostrich (watch out - they're vicious biting machines), and a tame Roe-deer.
		Sigma 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 lens The Sigma 28-80mm is my general use lens. Although it doesn't get much of an outing these days, it can be handy for architecture and portrait shots. It is also a good all-rounder, or for instances where space in the kit-bag is at a premium.
		Sigma 600mm f/8 mirror lens The Sigma 600mm f/8 is a compact mirror lens. It can produce some very interesting and attractive ring effects when used in the right situation. These days, where possible, I tend to use the Canon EF 500mm f/4 instead of this lens - although the Sigma is about a 12th of the size!

		Quantum Turbo 2x2 battery pack For situations where power is an issue, the Quantum Turbo 2x2 is a real work-horse. Capable of powering both a flash and camera simultaneously, this unit is very flexible.
		Canon TC-80N3 Timer Remote Controller This multi-function remote controller provides a number of different methods for firing either the EOS-1D or the EOS-10D. Options include count-down triggers, interval triggers, counted triggers etc. It also provides the obvious ability to fire the camera at a press of a button without wobbling the tripod/monopod.
		Canon Angle Finder C The angle finder can be particularly useful when using the camera at low heights, or other strange angles. A grated chin can often be avoided by using this device.
		Phototainer The Phototainer is one of my backup devices - the other being the PD7X below. This is a nice, compact little device into which I have fitted a 60Gb hard disk. Although download times aren't the fastest (~12mins/Gb), it nice to be able to verify the download on the screen.
		Nextodi Backup Device This is my newest backup device. It doesn't look quite as slick as the Phototainer, but is an impressive little beast. It runs of rechargeable batteries and can downloads about ten times quicker than the phototainer. I have two, and have installed a 80Gb drives into each.
		Arca Swiss B2 Ballhead The Arca Swiss B2 Ballhead is a stunning piece of equipment, manufactured to the very highest levels. I have recently use the B2 on a trip to Tanzania, clamping it to the Land Cruiser in which I was travelling using Novaflex clamps. The results were brilliant, and the combination was incredibly affective.
		Wimberley Tripod Head The Wimberley tripod head is an amazing piece of engineering. When used with a large lens (and setup correctly) it really does make it virtually weightless. As tripod heads go, it's not the cheapest in the world, but it make such a difference that I'd say it's worth every penny!
	Supporting gear, such as tripods, filters etc. Amongst my kit I also have a wealth of supporting gear such as monopods, tripods, filters etc. By default I fit a UV filter to every lens I use (except the 500mm). I also have a drop-in circular polariser for the 500mm f/4 which I usually keep in situe.
	Studio equipment, such as backdrops, light meters etc. Finally, topping off the kit-bag are items such as backdrops, light meters, cables, and many high-speed CF and SD cards.