My Photography Gear - Life in Focus

My Photography Gear

I'm not a specs-chaser. I try to keep my gear simple, use it for a long time, and only change something when it solves a real limitation. This page is a snapshot of what I'm using now, plus older gear I still respect—and that are still excellent options if you're shooting on a budget.

Some links on this page may be affiliate links. If you use them, it helps support my work at no extra cost to you. I only link to gear I actually use or genuinely believe in.

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Sony A7CR Sony a6700 Fujifilm X-T5 Ricoh GR IIIx Accessories Computers & Editing Software Older Gear

Sony A7CR — My Primary Camera

This is the camera I use the most, by far. I love the compact size paired with the massive resolution. It's small enough that it doesn't draw much attention in places like museums or coffee shops, but it still packs an incredible punch. It's become my go-to for everyday photography, travel, and personal projects.

Sony's autofocus gives me complete confidence. Whatever this camera locks onto, I know I'm going to get a clean, sharp image.

Why I use it

  • Compact full-frame body that doesn't feel intimidating
  • High resolution without needing a larger system
  • Autofocus I trust without thinking about it
Sony A7CR — Check current price Watch My Review

Lenses I use with the A7CR

Tamron 17–50mm f/4

My everyday lens. Practical, lightweight, and covers most of what I shoot day to day.

View Tamron 17–50mm

Tamron 28–200mm

The perfect travel lens and an ideal pairing with the 17–50mm. When I want flexibility without carrying multiple lenses, this is the one.

View Tamron 28–200mm

Sigma 90mm

A lens I enjoy for slower, more intentional shooting and details.

View Sigma 90mm

Samyang 35mm and 24mm

Easy, familiar focal lengths that work well for documenting everyday life and travel.

View Samyang 35mm View Samyang 24mm

Sony a6700 — Wildlife, Birds, and Hybrid Use

The Sony a6700 is probably the best hybrid camera I've ever used. I rely on it heavily for wildlife and bird photography, and I'll occasionally use it for video as well. It's incredibly capable.

Like the A7CR, the autofocus is outstanding. With either Sony body, I trust that whatever I focus on will be sharp.

Sony a6700 — View details Watch My Review

Lens I use with the a6700

Sony 70–350mm (APS-C)

My go-to wildlife and bird lens. Great reach without becoming unmanageable.

View Sony 70–350mm

Fujifilm — A Digital Film Experience

For me, Fujifilm cameras feel like shooting digital film cameras. When I use Fuji, I'm usually shooting JPEG and not worrying about processing RAW files. Fuji's color science is beautiful, and the film simulations—combined with the very active community sharing film recipes—make photography feel simple and fun.

Fujifilm X-T5

This is the camera I reach for when I want a slower, more intentional shooting experience and a different feel to the images.

View Fujifilm X-T5 Watch My Review

Fujifilm lenses I use

Fujifilm 23mm f/2

An amazing walk-around and daily carry lens. I love the field of view—it feels completely natural to me.

View Fujifilm 23mm f/2

TTArtisan 27mm f/2.8

A fantastic little pancake lens. When I want to stay low-profile and not draw attention to myself, this is the lens I reach for.

View TTArtisan 27mm

Fujifilm 16–80mm

An underrated kit lens and a really solid all-around travel option.

View Fujifilm 16–80mm Watch My Review

Tamron 18–300mm (X-mount)

The ultimate one-lens travel setup. I used this exclusively on a trip to Alaska, and the images I got from it were genuinely impressive.

View Tamron 18–300mm (Fuji)

Ricoh GR IIIx — Always With Me

This camera literally goes with me almost everywhere. It's the only truly packable camera I own. Most of the time, it lives in my car, ready to grab at a moment's notice.

I'm still amazed that Ricoh managed to put an APS-C sensor into such a small body. I wish more manufacturers made cameras like this. It's discreet, powerful, and incredibly easy to live with—and because of that, it gets used constantly.

Ricoh GR IIIx — View details Watch My Review

Extra Accessories I Use

These are the small things that quietly make everything easier.

Extra batteries — K&F Concept

I use K&F Concept batteries because they have a built-in USB-C port. I love being able to charge a battery directly without carrying an extra charger. It's one less thing to think about when traveling.

View K&F Concept batteries (Sony) View K&F Concept batteries (Fujifilm)

Memory cards

I mainly use Lexar Professional cards. They're fast and have been completely reliable for me. I also use SanDisk Extreme Pro cards, which have never let me down.

View Lexar Professional cards View SanDisk Extreme Pro cards

External hard drives

I use two SanDisk 4TB Extreme Portable SSDs and two Samsung T5 EVO 8TB Portable SSDs. The 8TB drives are definitely overkill, but I got a good deal and figured you can never really have too much storage.

View SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD View Samsung T5 EVO SSD

Camera straps — Peak Design

I use the Peak Design Cuff, Leash, and Slide Lite straps. What I love most is the anchor system—I keep anchors on all my cameras and can quickly swap straps depending on what I'm shooting. I've been using Peak Design straps for years without a single issue.

View Peak Design Cuff View Peak Design Leash View Peak Design Slide Lite

Sirui AM-223-CM tripod

A small carbon-fiber tabletop tripod that's easy to carry and surprisingly sturdy.

View Sirui AM-223-CM

Computers & Editing Devices

MacBook Air (M1)

I've owned my current MacBook Air for about five years and don't plan on upgrading anytime soon. It's a great laptop for photographers. I've edited 8K video on it—while it's not the fastest, it's never slowed me down to the point where I couldn't work.

If you're buying one today, I'd recommend getting the latest model so you get the longest support window.

View MacBook Air

iPad Pro (M2, 11-inch, 512GB)

The best photo-editing machine I've ever used. I use the Logitech Crayon to edit photos, and it feels like drawing directly onto the image. It's the most immersive editing experience I've had.

I import everything into Lightroom, store it on an external hard drive, and sync through Creative Cloud to the iPad. It keeps everything in one central location. I would love to use only the iPad someday, but we're not quite there yet.

If I were buying again, I'd get the 1TB model. The Thunderbolt USB-C port makes backing up to an external drive fast.

View iPad Pro View Logitech Crayon

Software I Use

Adobe Lightroom

I've been using Lightroom since day one. All my photos live there, and at this point it's pure muscle memory. There are other great options out there, but this works for me—period.

View Adobe Lightroom

Final Cut Pro (Mac & iPad)

My primary video editing software. I use it for YouTube videos and personal projects like travel films for friends and family.

View Final Cut Pro (Mac) View Final Cut Pro (iPad)

LumaFusion (iPad)

The first professional-level video editor on the iPad. I don't use it as much now that I'm on Final Cut Pro, but it's an excellent one-time-purchase alternative and allows editing directly from external drives.

View LumaFusion

Older Gear I Still Like

I just don't use it much anymore.

Sony A7II

View Sony A7II Watch My Review

Sony a6100

View Sony a6100 Watch My Review

Fujifilm XF10

View Fujifilm XF10

Samsung ECX1 (film camera)

This is my dad's older film camera. I remember when he bought it, and I remember using it as a kid. I don't shoot with it often, but it's a meaningful keepsake. There's still a roll of film in it that I'll finish and develop one day.

A quick note on phones

I'm still a believer in smartphone photography. Phones are powerful tools, and sometimes the best camera is simply the one you'll actually carry.