Equipment
2016-2022
Travel wildlife photography calls for space and weight optimization. I often combine work and photography trips and the laptop I travel with is dual use. That means that APS-C sensor cameras were initially my preferred choice for two crucial reasons:
1) The files they produce are much smaller and manageable;
2) The smaller sensor offers higher magnification per unit of lens price and/or weight.
Below is the content of my travel photo bags, depending on circumstances.
UltraLight Travel or Hike Pack
Cameras |
Lenses |
Flashgun |
Nikon D7500 DX |
Nikkor 300mm F4 PF ED VR telephoto lens |
None |
iPhone |
NikonTeleconverter TC 14E III |
This is a great combo covering macro, birding and wildlife photography very effectively for an unbeatable low weight.
Light Travel Pack
Cameras |
Lenses |
Flashgun |
Nikon D500 DX |
Nikkor 500mm F5.6 PF ED VR telephoto |
Nikon SB500 |
Nikon D7500 DX or Z50 DX |
Nikkor 16-80mm F2.8-4 DX VR Zoom |
|
iPhone |
NikonTeleconverter TC 14E III |
|
Nikon FTZ adapter |
Full Travel Pack
Cameras |
Lenses |
Flashgun |
Nikon D500 DX |
Nikkor 300mm F4 PF ED VR telephoto |
Nikon SB5000 |
Nikon D7500 DX |
Nikkor 500mm F5.6 PF ED VR telephoto |
|
Nikon Z50 DX |
Nikkor 70-200mm F2.8E FL ED VR Zoom |
|
iPhone |
Nikkor 16-80mm F2.8-4 DX VR Zoom |
|
Nikkor Tokina 100mm F2.8 Macro |
||
Nikon Teleconverter TC 14E III |
||
Nikon FTZ adapter |
Other Equipment (not for international travel)
– NIKKOR 180-400mm f/4E TC1.4 FL ED VR zoom
2022-Ongoing
The lack of an Nikon APS-C hybrid camera with good autofocus left me with no option but to buy the Z9. Of note is that the move to a full-frame sensor was made easier by the arrival of the new Mac M2 Processor which means my Macbook Air can handle larger tasks much faster.
Lighter Travel or Hike Pack
There is no such thing as ultralight with the Z9…
Cameras |
Lenses |
Flashgun |
Nikon Z9 FX |
Nikkor 300mm F4 PF ED VR telephoto lens |
None |
iPhone |
Nikon Teleconverter TC 14E III |
This is still a great combo covering macro, birding and wildlife photography very effectively for an unbeatable low weight and price.
Medium Light Travel Bag
Cameras |
Lenses |
Flashgun |
Nikon Z9 FX |
Nikkor AFS 500mm F5.6 PF ED VR telephoto |
Nikon SB500 |
No back-up… |
Nikkor Z 24-120mm F4 zoom |
|
iPhone |
Nikon Teleconverter TC 14E III |
|
Nikon FTZ adapter |
Full Safari Bag
Cameras |
Lenses |
Flashgun |
Nikon Z9 FX |
Nikkor AFS 300mm F4 PF ED VR telephoto |
Nikon SB5000 |
No back-up… |
Nikkor Z 800mm F6.3 PF telephoto |
|
Nikkor Z 24-120mm F4 Zoom |
||
iPhone |
Nikkor Z 105mm F2.8 Macro |
|
Nikon Teleconverter TC 14E III |
||
Nikon FTZ adapter |
Other Equipment (not for international travel)
– Nikkor AFS 180-400mm f/4E TC1.4 FL ED VR zoom
2016-2022
Travel wildlife photography calls for space and weight optimization. I often combine work and photography trips and the laptop I travel with is dual use. That means that APS-C sensor cameras were initially my preferred choice for two crucial reasons:
1) The files they produce are much smaller and manageable;
2) The smaller sensor offers higher magnification per unit of lens price and/or weight.
Below is the content of my travel photo bags, depending on circumstances.
UltraLight Travel or Hike Pack
Cameras |
Lenses |
Flashgun |
Nikon D7500 DX |
Nikkor 300mm F4 PF ED VR telephoto lens |
None |
iPhone |
NikonTeleconverter TC 14E III |
This is a great combo covering macro, birding and wildlife photography very effectively for an unbeatable low weight.
Light Travel Pack
Cameras |
Lenses |
Flashgun |
Nikon D500 DX |
Nikkor 500mm F5.6 PF ED VR telephoto |
Nikon SB500 |
Nikon D7500 DX or Z50 DX |
Nikkor 16-80mm F2.8-4 DX VR Zoom |
|
iPhone |
NikonTeleconverter TC 14E III |
|
Nikon FTZ adapter |
Full Travel Pack
Cameras |
Lenses |
Flashgun |
Nikon D500 DX |
Nikkor 300mm F4 PF ED VR telephoto |
Nikon SB5000 |
Nikon D7500 DX |
Nikkor 500mm F5.6 PF ED VR telephoto |
|
Nikon Z50 DX |
Nikkor 70-200mm F2.8E FL ED VR Zoom |
|
iPhone |
Nikkor 16-80mm F2.8-4 DX VR Zoom |
|
Nikkor Tokina 100mm F2.8 Macro |
||
Nikon Teleconverter TC 14E III |
||
Nikon FTZ adapter |
Other Equipment (not for international travel)
– NIKKOR 180-400mm f/4E TC1.4 FL ED VR zoom
2022-Ongoing
The lack of an Nikon APS-C hybrid camera with good autofocus left me with no option but to buy the Z9. Of note is that the move to a full-frame sensor was made easier by the arrival of the new Mac M2 Processor which means my Macbook Air can handle larger tasks much faster.
Lighter Travel or Hike Pack
There is no such thing as ultralight with the Z9…
Cameras |
Lenses |
Flashgun |
Nikon Z9 FX |
Nikkor 300mm F4 PF ED VR telephoto lens |
None |
iPhone |
Nikon Teleconverter TC 14E III |
This is still a great combo covering macro, birding and wildlife photography very effectively for an unbeatable low weight and price.
Medium Light Travel Bag
Cameras |
Lenses |
Flashgun |
Nikon Z9 FX |
Nikkor AFS 500mm F5.6 PF ED VR telephoto |
Nikon SB500 |
No back-up… |
Nikkor Z 24-120mm F4 zoom |
|
iPhone |
Nikon Teleconverter TC 14E III |
|
Nikon FTZ adapter |
Full Safari Bag
Cameras |
Lenses |
Flashgun |
Nikon Z9 FX |
Nikkor AFS 300mm F4 PF ED VR telephoto |
Nikon SB5000 |
No back-up… |
Nikkor Z 800mm F6.3 PF telephoto |
|
Nikkor Z 24-120mm F4 Zoom |
||
iPhone |
Nikkor Z 105mm F2.8 Macro |
|
Nikon Teleconverter TC 14E III |
||
Nikon FTZ adapter |