This is what I carry everywhere with me...
Without perfect gear, there isn't a perfect photo/video... it may sound like a cliché, but when your camera decides to go on strike during a freezing night, water floods into your lens with the first rain, your tripod gets jittery with the first gust of wind, and your lens is as blurry as after five beers, you simply can't deliver first-class work to your clients...
I'm extremely demanding on my gear, and I take a long time to choose something before it goes into my backpack...
I love sharp, fast lenses, photo filters that don't distort colours, bodies I can always rely on, a tripod that doesn't shake in a storm (and doesn't break my back on a trek), and backpacks that can even be peed on by cows in the Dolomites, but nothing happens apart from the smell... =)
If you're tired of spending hours studying parameters, take a look at the gear that will survive with you from freezing nights to hot desert days... The list below may save you a few days of your life...
Some links are affiliate, some have a discount code (not everywhere, I'm not a pots salesman, only products that have survived all trips and I can 100% rely on them anytime), which basically means that if you buy any of the products through them, I'll be able to buy some food for my kids or maybe set out to hunt another story of ordinary madness...
I'm an ambassador of Tamron, 3 Legged Thing, and Jupio brands for Czech and Slovak markets. If you use the code MICHAL10 on www.penta.cz or www.epenta.sk, you'll get a 10% discount on them ;o)
Thanks a lot for your support and see you on a trip!"
CAMERA BODY (which just works and never freezes!)
-
33-megapixel Exmor R CMOS full-frame sensor
-
New BIONZ XR image processor
-
Focusing system with advanced Eye AF and Bird Eye AF technology
-
Max. continuous shooting up to 10 frames per second
-
UHD 4K 60p and Full HD 120p video resolution
-
5-axis sensor stabilization
-
Extended ISO range 100-51200 (expandable to 50-204800)
-
USB-C 3.2, Wi-Fi 5 GHz, NFC
-
Dual slots CFexpress Type A/UHS-II SDXC/SDHC and UHS-II SDXC/SDHC
-
Weight: 658g
-
Articulating touchscreen display
-
Sealed against moisture and dust
LENSES (sharp as my wife's tongue, light for the bag and sealed!)
-
Sony E mount
-
Aperture 2.8
-
13 elements / 11 groups
-
BBAR to minimize glare
-
Lens length - 99mm
-
Filter diameter - 67mm
-
Weight - 420g
-
Sealed against dust and moisture
LENSES (sharp as my wife's tongue, light for the bag and sealed!)
-
Sony E mount
-
Aperture 2 - 2.8
-
21 elements / 15 groups
-
BBAR-G2 to minimize glare
-
Lens length - 158mm
-
Filter diameter - 82mm
-
Weight 1,165g
-
Sealed against dust and moisture
LENSES (sharp as my wife's tongue, light for the bag and sealed!)
-
Sony E mount
-
Aperture 2.8 - 5.6
-
18 elements / 14 groups
-
BBAR to minimize glare
-
Lens length - 117mm
-
Filter diameter - 67mm
-
Weight 575g
-
Sealed against dust and moisture
LENSES (sharp as my wife's tongue, light for the bag and sealed!)
-
Sony E mount
-
Aperture 5 - 6.7
-
25 elements / 16 groups
-
BBAR-G2 to minimize glare
-
Lens length - 209.6mm
-
Filter diameter - 82mm
-
Weight 1725g
-
Sealed against dust and moisture
TRIPOD (which doesn't get shaky legs even in a proper storm!)
...and it has experienced a few!
-
8-layer carbon fiber construction
-
magnesium alloy joints for the aviation and space industry
-
3 detachable legs usable separately as a monopod
-
legs divided into 3 sections: 23 / 26 / 29 mm
-
maximum load: 14kg
-
minimum working height 13.5cm
-
maximum working height: 147.5cm
-
weight: 1.65kg
-
storage length: 66.7cm
TRIPOD HEAD (which doesn't slip even when you load it!)
...like really load it!
-
precisely milled casting from aircraft magnesium alloy
-
QR-Octa Arca-Swiss type quick release plate
-
1/4" and 3/8" threads
-
integrated spirit level
-
maximum load: 40kg
-
transparent panel revealing the mechanism inside
-
weight: 366g
-
beautiful color =)
L-BRACKET (the absolute must have thing for all photographers!)
-
Dedicated L-bracket for the Sony Alpha A7 IV, A7R V, A7 III, A7R III, A7R IV, A7S II, A7S III, A9 II and A1
-
Made from aerospace-grade magnesium alloy and gives users full access to battery door and side ports
-
Has two ¼”-20 threads for attachment of accessories – one in the base and one in the upright
-
Comes with a Peak Design compatible adapter for v3 Capture clip
-
Compatibility – Standard Arca-Swiss
-
Weight: 103 g
-
Colours!
MAGNETIC PHOTO FILTERS (which don't screw on and still don't fall off, they are Czech, top-notch and beautifully processed!)
DRONE (5.4K video, feather-light, with 4-direction obstacle detection!)
...it's even hard for me to break it!
-
1-inch CMOS Sensor, 20MP
-
5.4K/30fps + 4K/60fps video
-
12km FHD transmission
-
4-direction obstacle detection
-
ADS-B - Air Sense
Additional Photo/Video Gear
(Without which a photographer can hardly live...)
-
Backpack - it's great to wear, brilliantly organized, and besides lenses, drone, filters etc., you can even stuff a tent in it - Shimoda Action X70
-
Travel photo backpack - compact enough to take on an airplane, yet spacious enough to carry everything from a drone to telephoto lenses - Gitzo Adventury 30l
-
Filters - for the drone - Mavic Air 2S ND Filters Set(ND64/128/256/512)
-
I can't believe I lived without this - Peak Design Capture Camera Clip (v3)
-
Awesome strap - Peak Design Slide
-
Memory cards - camera - Sony SDXC Tough SF-M 128GB V60 U3 UHS-II
-
Memory cards - drone - SanDisk Micro SDXC 128GB Extreme 160 MB/s A2 Class 10 UHS-I U3 V30
-
Cleaning kit - Zeiss cleaning set (Lens Cleaning Kit)
Trekking Gear
...because nature doesn't compromise, and neither should your gear!
-
Jacket - or rather armor - High Point Protector 5.0
-
Outdoor Pants - for most of the year - High Point Saguaro 4.0
-
Outdoor Winter Pants - High Point Alpha
-
Lightweight windbreaker - Tilak Euphoria
-
Vest - Direct Alpine Alpha Vest 3.0
-
Functional T-shirts - base layer - High Point Code 2.0 SS Man
-
Functional T-shirts - second layer - High Point Woolion Merino 2.0 Sweatshirt
-
Long underpants - Sensor Merino Wool long trousers
-
Poles - I would never, but never, drag that backpack on my back without them! - Leki Khumbu
-
Indestructible shoes - Hanwag Nazcat GTX
-
Approach shoes - Hanwag Makra Low GTX
-
Gloves - for most of winter - Vallerret Markhof Pro V3
-
Gloves - for ultra winter - Vallerret Skadi Zipper Mitt PSP