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As I continue to make YouTube videos one thing I know many people tend to enjoy seeing is the gear used to capture, create, and transport. Instead of flooding every video with links to the gear I’m using, I’ll be keeping everything here and continually updated with new and past gear as well. The links throughout this page may be affiliate links which changes nothing for you, it simply means if you happen to purchase anything I have listed below through here then I’ll get a small percentage which helps me pay for this website!

Something I always remind people is that it’s really not the gear you have that makes a photo, it’s you and the moment. That said I don’t think there is anything wrong with enjoying something new or looking for upgrade to reinvigorate yourself either. Please take what I use below with much consideration and feel free to contact me with any questions you have if you’re thinking about purchasing anything. Always here to help. Enjoy!

Updated February 2024

• Canon R5 - I’ve spent almost 3 years with this camera at this point and covered my initial thoughts on it here. I still hold the opinion that strictly for images the changes from the 5D Mark IV to the R5 are likely not worth it. I absolutely love the articulating screen and many of the features that make using the camera more enjoyable. However strictly in terms of image quality, the change isn’t worth the upgrade. Once you add in the video capabilities of the camera, then the upgrade becomes worth it but that’s because I essentially combined the quality of my C100 and my photography camera into one. If you need both, this is absolutely a monster.

• Canon RF 70-200L f4.0 IS - If you’ve followed my channel over the past year you’ll know that the 70-200 focal range has become my favorite landscape lens. I made the “sidegrade” to this lens from my old EF lens listed below. While the image quality doesn’t change all that much, it’s become one of my favorite purchases ever simply for how light, accessible, and small the footprint is in comparison to my old lens. I did a whole video about this lens, thats how much I love it!

• Canon RF 14-35L f4.0 IS - Outside of not needing the adapter, being a bit smaller, and having better image stabilization - this lens is very similar to the 16-35L it replaced. Image quality hasn’t changed but the sunstars are certainly a little nicer. One downside is that if you’re shooting wider than 20mm, the lens actually extends out. Meaning if you’re changing filters or something, you can nudge your composition.

• Canon EF 16-35L f4.0 IS [OLD] - This is absolutely the lens I would recommend the most for anyone purchasing their very first professional lens who also focuses on landscape photography. Not only is it less than half the price of it’s f2.8 brother it is also lighter and even has IS. The only time I have ever wanted a larger aperture is when shooting astrophotography but the Rokinon below is better than both of them for that and I rarely shoot the stars.

• Canon RF 100-500L - I’m a little hesitant to include this in my “kit,” Well I bought this lens intending to only use it in Alaska and yet here I am almost two years later still owning it. You can find my most updated thoughts on it in this video.

• Rokinon 14mm 2.8 - I was somewhat hesitant to include this lens in my list because I rarely ever use it but it’s absolutely the best value you can find for astrophotography or even getting into landscape photography. The image quality for the price is unmatched.

• DJI Osmo Pocket 3 - I just got this and only have a handful of experience with it but so far it’s so convenient along with extremely good image quality that I’m not sure I need a secondary camera to film myself with anymore.

• Canon R7 - After 2 years with the Fuji X-T4’s amazing image quality but unreliable autofocus, I decided to switch. When the R7 was announced it matched everything I wanted in a video camera while allowing me to use all my Canon glass interchangeably and while I haven’t used it long enough for a full review, it’s been exactly what I expected with many of the features I love from the R5. Timelapse video mode being something I find myself using all the time for content now as it saves a ton of time.

• Sigma 18-35 f1.8 - This lens stays attached to my R7 but is widely known to be one of the best video lenses you can buy. I love this lens and wish there was an equivalent for full frame.

• Deity D3 - I decided to go with the non-pro version of this mic because it’s more compact and I actually prefer a non rechargeable battery. I carry an extra AAA battery in my bag for whenever that happens and it means I never have to worry about a dead microphone or charging something else. It’s also half the price!

• Zoom F2 Field Recorder [OLD] - I still carry this with me as a backup but it’s function has mostly been replaced by the 32-bit float recorder of the Pocket 3. Recording sound in windy places can be extremely tricky and I had no solutions for it previous to purchasing this affordable lavalier system. This uses 32-bit recording which means I never have to worry about clipping, and was a life saver for the windy moments on my coastal series.

• DJI Mavic 3 Pro - After nearly 6 years with the M2P, it was time to update. Not necessarily for image quality, but mostly for flight time. This is brand new and I’ll have more words on it eventually.

• DJI Mavic 2 Pro [OLD] - Absolutely my favorite drone for it’s size and image quality. I owned a Phantom 4 Pro previously that just gets completely outclassed because of it’s lack of portability. Haven’t felt the need to go smaller for the loss of image quality to the air or anything like that as well.

• Rode NTG3 - I only use this microphone when filming talking head style content. This is my go to shotgun microphone when filming documentaries and sounds wonderful. Cannot recommend it enough for professional work but undoubtedly know that it’s overkill for YouTube.

• Electro-Voice RE20 - This is the microphone I use for live streaming and voice overs. I don’t think there’s a better mic for either of those applications and it has been the standard for over 30 years for a reason.

• Mefoto GlobeTrotter Carbon Fiber - I bought one of these more than 11 years ago and a second one 6 years ago when one of the legs on the original detached. When I ordered a new one I also ordered a replacement leg for my old one so I can still use it. It should say a lot that I bought a second one after 5 years of use. I prefer very light tripods for their ease of travel but I’ll admit lately I have wanted a bit more height. These are still great and I would highly recommend anyone looking for a sub $500 quality tripod.

• Benro Mach3 Carbon Fiber - I bought this tripod (probably an older version) years ago on a huge discount for under $200 at the time. It sat in my studio rarely used but since moving into my 4Runner and shooting photos from my car, it’s been amazing. Any long treks, it stays behind but it’s still extremely light and comes with me on most of my shorter excursions. A great tripod for the money.

• PGYTech Mantis Pod - Almost over engineered but an absolute amazing piece of gear. With a phone mount housed inside the handle, an arca swiss ball head, and a million ways to use it - this thing gets a ton of use.

• Shimoda Action X70 - Overkill for 95% of photographers unless you have an excessive amount of gear. I only have this because I also carry a lot of equipment to record videos and would prefer a smaller pack if I could get away with it. That being said, having the giant pack makes traveling much better as I can fit everything I need in this bag and never feel like I’m leaving home without something I want. I’ve used this for over 3 years and absolutely recommend the bag, but likely the smaller version for most people.

• Osprey Stratos 24 - This is my main hiking bag even though it isn’t a photography bag. I use an insert that I got from an old Brevite bag that I got a few years ago to carry my photography equipment. One thing about most photography bags is they are awful for extended hikes and don’t have hip support you need for hiking. Brands like Shimoda are changing this but I still would recommend anyone getting a hiking backpack and using an insert unless they need to carry an excessive amount of equipment like I have recently.

• Maven Magnetic Filter System - I’ve had these for over a year now and cannot recommend them enough. You can watch my full review of them above, but if you want to skip it just know I’d recommend these to everyone. It’s rare I ever use my Wine Country system but I still have it with me on the road for those rare times.

• Wine Country Camera Filter System - This is a great system that I wrote a review for when I got them a few years ago. I have one 3 stop filter, one 6 stop filter, and one 3 stop graduated filter. At the time of purchase this was the only system using holders for their filters which was the main reason I liked them but since then quite a few other brands have started using filter holders. They just released version 2 but I have yet to try it. I will say this system certainly gets a lot of eyes anytime I’m shooting near other photographers and I’ve never had an issues. This is not a budget system though and it’s something I’ve had to buy slowly over time.

• Freewell Mavic 3 Pro CPL/ND Set - ND filters for a drone are absolutely necessary and these mix in a polarizer to help give your shots more clarity. These 4 filters are really all you need and it’s rare I fly without one attached.

• DJI Pocket 3 ND Filters - Little set to help keep the shutter speed at 180deg. Yes they fit and work when the gimbal is inactive and stored in the protective case - perfect!

• Canon 5D Mark IV - I’ve shot the majority of my portfolio on this camera and I don’t think there is much I can say about it that many others haven’t already. It’s a workhorse but also likely considered outdated by many at this point however I haven’t felt the need to change. I can practically sit in the rain with this thing and not worry. Not sure I can say that about any of the other cameras I’ve shot with.

• Canon 70-200L f2.8 II IS - I’ve had this lens longer than anything else on this list and cannot recommend it enough. I have the older version (v2) than the one linked but it only got better with the update. That said if you’re looking for a longer focal length lens for landscape photography I would suggest the f4.0 version as it’s lighter and much more affordable. When I bought my lens I was shooting live musicians nearly a decade ago and needed that extra light from the larger aperture.

• Fujifilm X-T4 - I bought this only a few months ago when I decided to focus on YouTube. It’s absolutely the best image quality you can get for the price but it’s not without it’s faults. The autofocus isn’t reliable and I’m still hoping for a firmware update regarding that. It also has a few quirks that I’ve found in my uses and I plan on doing a 6 month review. I’d still recommend it for it’s image quality and price point but more on that in the coming review.

• Fujifilm 18-55 f2.8 (Kit Lens) - I don’t have much to say about this lens considering it’s the only one I have for the Fuji currently. The video it produces so far have been great and I haven’t had any issues with it.

• Canon 24-105L f4.0 IS [OLD]- This is a great starter lens for both photography and video. This is mostly used to film documentaries thus I don’t bring this with me on any YouTube related trips however I do use it around the house for video or photos.

• Canon C100 [OLD]- This is strictly the camera I use to film myself in my office. I use this to shoot documentaries and I’ve had it for over 6 years. The image quality is still great even when upscaled. Note the link is to version 2 as they don’t make mine anymore.

• Freewell Magnetic Filter System - I did a full review on this system that you can find here. This is a fantastic system for video and photography. Although I reviewed these for video applications, the polarizer I was sent has essentially replaced the B+W Circular Polarizer I have listed below simply because of how convenient it is to use.

• B+W Circular Polarizer - I’ve had this filter for almost a decade and still use it to this day. This is the filter I use the most when all I want is a polarizer. There isn’t much else to say about this specific filter other than you should absolutely have a circular polarizer in your bag.

• B+W 10 Stop Filter - I don’t use this very often but it’s small and light enough to have in the bag in case an opportunity arises.