All I want for Christmas…
Every photographer ponders on what they might add to Santa’s list but, in reality, every bit of kit has to be worth the investment
In the very first column that I wrote for N-photo (issue 98) I talked about the equipment I used and how a lucky theft (if there ever could be such a thing) led me to Nikon more than 20 years ago. Since then, much has changed, and the Nikon brand is still very much at the heart of things. So for this column, I thought I’d revisit my always-in-the-bag kit list, wedged into its Thinktank Airport Security V3 bag, so that I can instantly see if anything is missing.
Before turning pro, anything and everything was fair game for my Christmas list – big or small – but the minute it became a business? Well, that had to change: pragmatism and ROI (return on investment) are the Scroogy watchwords of the pro photographer.
Sometimes life forces your hand, and this year has been one of those years. With my trusted – but ageing
– D5 needing replacing, I had to face the fact that the move to mirrorless was coming and buying a D6 SLR would only delay the inevitable.
It was time to bite the mirrorless bullet.
So, even though I wanted to wait for the Z 9 (like everyone else, I am still waiting), I forked out on a Z 7II with a battery grip and a clutch of new lenses, including: Nikon Z 70-200mm f/2.8 S, Nikon Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S, Nikon Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S and a Nikon FTZ Adapter, so that I can keep using my older lenses and won’t have to retire them just yet!
Why zoom lenses? Well, like most photographers, I adore primes whenever possible. However, the reality of shooting pro is these zoom lenses are more practical for almost everything, providing coverage from super-wide, to telephoto. Besides, it’s not like I’m slumming it with these incredible
‘Z’ zooms: fast optics with gorgeous colours and pin-sharp clarity.
As an aside, my all-time favourite lens is the Nikon 105mm F/2D-AF DC – an esoteric antique lens with the most incredible bokeh. I didn’t think it would work on the Z 7II (there is no way of driving its old-school mechanical focus), but it turns out that manual focusing is an absolute breeze, with focus peaking display in the EVF!
The Z 7II is a fantastic unit, but I still miss the more robust and accurate D5, which I have demoted to my backup camera. The image quality is stunning, but the focusing is nowhere near the speed or accuracy of the D-series SLRS.
It’s in the bag!
Next on the list we have Speedlights. I have a set of Godox V1-N Speedlights (having retired my battered Nikon SB900S) along with a Godox Xpro controller. I love the versatility of this combination, as I can control any flash from any other or trigger the two of them directly from the controller. The battery life seems almost infinite on these things, but I still carry spares, just in case!
Moving on to batteries, blimey, do I now carry a lot of camera batteries! The Z 7II chews them up and spits them out. I have five in the bag (plus two in the grip on the camera), and I keep a very close eye on them! The D5 barely drew current; the Z 7II consumes power like a small town watching The Superbowl! The difference is startling.
Having all this gear is all well and good, but I need to keep it clean…
I have various cleaning kits in the bag – the Visibledust Magic Butterfly brush system, plus packs of sterile cloths and lens wipes. Of course, not everyone likes cleaning the sensor themselves, but I have had to do this in all sorts of locations when some crud has crept in.
Rifling through the rest of the bag, we come across a few final bits and bobs. A range of memory cards: these things fail periodically, so it’s always a good idea to have spares with me.
Finally, some cold-shoe brackets for off-camera-flash wizardry; Datacolor Color Checker; a pack of chewing gum and sanitizer for those moments when you realize we’re still amid a pandemic.
Now, let’s talk about what’s actually on the Christmas list. I have just one item on my Christmas list: the Nikon Z 9.
I am already on the waiting list as I type this, but, with no launch date yet confirmed, it might be a while. I know it’s expensive, but given my camera is the backbone of the business, there is no substitute for the speed, robustness, and handling of a proper pro unit.
It is the one luxury I can happily justify on every measure and I am as excited as a small child waiting for a new bike! Santa (and Nikon) I promise, I have been a very, very good boy!
Given my camera is the backbone of the business, there is no substitute for the speed, robustness, and handling of a proper pro unit