Click here to return to www.digitalwildlife.co.uk - Homepage All images on this site are Copyright © Richard Ford. Please ask permission before using them. For prints and image use enquires please click here.	My Equipment DSLR Which Camera DSLR Which Lens Photographing Swifts Digiscoping Cameras (Digiscoping) Digiscoping advise
Order prints now from Digitalwildlife-Photobox pro-gallery Click here
www.Digitalwildlife.co.uk - Articles

What equipment do you use?

Prices and other details mentioned below will of course change, the article was written in March 2010

Another question I am often asked is What equipment do you use?

My Equipment

Canon Camera Bodies

Since first getting into DSLR photography I have spent rather more than I care to remember on various Cameras and lenses. I have owned Canon 300D 450D 20D 40D and the camera I currently use the majority of the time the Canon EOS-1D MK III, unsurprisingly given the price (not cheap) and specification the MK III is the best I have used and I was stunned the first time I looked at images taken with it. It's been a long learning curve but there is no doubt that to me the extra money is worth it. Despite what some say there is a big difference between these pro bodies (1D) and the **D series Cameras. That said, I dearly loved my Canon EOS 40D and was always please with the results from it, with the right lens and circumstances the results are great the camera of choice in this area and price range would currently be the Canon EOS 7D. I have had to sell my 40d but ultimately would get a Canon EOS 7D to replace it in the future as a second body.

Lenses

Again after a long learning curve I have proved to myself what many had said to me, that if it's quality you want it has to be a prime lens in the region of 400mm and above for wildlife photography. I have owned Sigma and Canon zoom lenses with good result, but now use a Canon EF 400mm f5.6 L USM as a walk around birding lens, and believe better value for money is hard to come by.

If I am out on a specific photography mission (As with the Bittern) I take my Sigma 500mm f4.5 EX HSM , its heavy and not stabilised so I use it on a tripod. This lens is often compared to the Canon EF 500mm f4 L IS USM Lens, which is stabilised and normally approaching twice the price, which is why I don't have one!

It is often necessary to shot in low light when a higher ISO is necessary, on the Canon Eos 1D MKIII ISO 320-400 is near noise free, One of the things I love about this camera. The levels of noise remain low at high ISO speeds compared to the 40D, this is becoming less of a issue the newer the camera. Having said that most noise issues can be dealt with in computer. Also I shoot RAW rather than JPG, processing images is more time consuming and the benefits sometimes subtle, but I often speak to people who say, "I tried shooting RAW and couldn't see any difference" I would imagine all the modern DSLR's are capable of producing professions quality results. If you want the best images your camera can produce and you have the time to learn to use the relevant software, shoot RAW. There is a big difference.

Richard Ford
March 2010