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Approaching The Scene links

 

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2024 Total Eclipse Recommended Gear

2023 Holiday Gift Guide

PHOTO BOOKS are literally the best way to find inspiration and improve your own photography

STOCKING STUFFERS

BIGGER GIFT IDEAS

 

New & Exciting Photo Gear

New Sony’s A9iii (The worlds new 24MP speed king)

New Nikon 600 6.3 VR S PF lens: Here’s the F-mount 500 PF shooters update. Sharp, small, fast focusing and light.

New Nikon ZF: A beautiful, affordable, retro design showcasing some of Nikon’s latest technology. Old meets new!

NEW Leica Q3 (My Review Video & my Complete Setup Video)

My Favorite Drone Yet

  • DJI's Air 3 (get the fly more bundle with the RC2): Amazon B&H

My Current Camera Bodies and Accessories

Nikon

Nikon’s Flagship Z9 B&H Amazon (My Complete Setup Videos)

New Nikon ZF: A beautiful, affordable, retro design showcasing some of Nikon’s latest technology. Old meets new!

Nikon Z50: (consider the 16-250 2 lens kit): Amazon B&H

Nikon Z30 (good option for vlogging): B&H Amazon

Leica

All new 60MP Leica Q3 with tilt screen, USB-C, HDMI, 8K and more (My Review Video & my Complete Setup Video)

Recommended Camera Bodies I’ve Tested & Trust

Nikon Z8 (Like a mini Z9 with the same speed and power)

Leica Q2 (I love this little beast. It’s a gorgeous 28mm attached to a 48MP sensor)

Nikon Z6ii : Amazon  B&H

Nikon Z7ii: Amazon B&H

Nikon Z6ii / Z7ii Kirk L-bracket with QD mount:

Nikon Z5/Z6/Z7 & ii aftermarket eye-cup. I love this cheap upgrade:

Nikon Z fc: (consider the 16-50 or 28 2.8 kits): B&H Amazon

Nikon FTZ ii (adapter for F mount) B&H

CF Express Cards & Readers:

External USB power for mirrorless: See Necessities below

Bluetooth Smart Phone Camera Triggers:

  • Foolography Unleashed (choose appropriate camera connection):

  • Pluto Trigger (a great wireless trigger for extra long exposures, lightning and other applications): B&H 

Canon’s R5 (highly recommended for Canon shooters)

Sony’s A1 (an amazing all around mirrorless camera)

Sony’s A7RV Sony’s image quality dedicated machine

Video & Audio Capture Accessories

GoPro Hero 12 (crazy little camera):

Atomos Ninja V Pro Res Raw monitor/recorder: B&H Amazon

Short, coiled mini-full HDMI cable

Rhode Wireless Pro 2-person kit (My go to audio solution): B&H

Rhode NTG shotgun mic

Small Rig cage for Z5, Z6/7, Z6ii/7ii, Z30, ZF, Z8 & Z9

Small Rig top handle grip

Small Rig side handle

Small Rig articulating monitor mount

My Current Lenses

NIKON Z-MOUNT

NIKON F-MOUNT (use with the FTZ adapter)

Recommended Lenses I’ve Used Tested & Trust

  • Viltrox 13 F1.4 DX for Z50 and other DX Z cameras: Amazon B&H

RECOMMENDED NIKON F-MOUNT COMPATIBLE LENSES (These work seamlessly on Nikon’s Mirrorless Z cameras with the FTZ adaptor)

  • Nikon 500 F5.6 PF (Wow, do I still love this lens): B&H (Kirk’s Arca Swiss foot with QD is nicer than the Nikon foot).

  • Nikon 20 F1.8 (it throws such a nice sunstar at F16): Amazon   B&H

OTHER BRAND RECCOMENDED LENSES:

Universal lens cap in case I lose one in the field.
Reikan FoCal AF calibration and lens testing software:

CAMERA SUPPORT

Tripod legs, fluid heads, monopods, and alternatives

Here's everything you need to get your camera on either a fluid head or an ultralight pan & tilt head without fluid (Use an L-bracket to get vertical). I’ll break it down into several different types of system and show you everything you need to buy in each. The first is my favorite that uses a tall set of systematic legs with a leveling base to mount a smooth stable fluid head. The second is my ultralight, four-pound pan and tilt system that reaches eye level with a leveling adapter and rotating Arca style clamp. Third is a way to easily adapt your existing center column or flat-topped tripod to level and use either a fluid head or the ultralight head. Finally I list a couple of specialty systems and essential tripod accessories. Check out this video to learn more about fluid heads and how to assemble each of these systems.

1) Tall, Sturdy Fluid Head system with leveling base (my favorite)

  • Big Tripod legs: Leofoto LM-324CL Summit Systematic 79.5” legs (including plate, 75mm bowl, spikes and tool kit). This is by far my favorite set of legs on the market.

  • Leveling Base: Leofoto LB-75S Systematic (includes simple set screws for locking the head in place and plugs into the Leofoto legs above with a locking pin).

  • Manfrotto 500AH fluid head: Amazon B&H (Don't buy a larger model, this is the sweet spot for DSLR and mirrorless)

  • Arca Swiss style clamp conversion method to connect to your camera’s L-bracket:

  • An L-bracket for your particular camera body is essential to get vertical. Here are Kirk’s for the Z9, D850, Z7/Z6, D500, A7iii, A9 & A7Riii, A7Riv, A1

  • Epic and innovative new Leofoto TFS long tripod spikes with threaded covers: (This adds a few more inches of height and is so versatile)

  • TFC Rock Claw Feet (my favorite all around feet)

  • Tripod stone bag (like the folding shelf on my tripod) THIS NEVER LEAVES MY TRIPODS. It’s essential in high wind

2) NEW! four-pound, eye-level pan & tilt, panoramic head complete system

When you need to go lighter, but don’t want to sacrifice ease of use or stability. Finally I’ve found a lightweight system that works for me.

  • Leofoto Ranger LS-284CEX carbon legs with built in 15 degree leveling adapter and set screws (58 inches and less than 3 pounds)

  • Acratech Panoramic head including Arca style rotating clamp (1 lb with 25lb capacity): In stock late late June 2020.

  • Tripod stone bag (like the folding shelf on my tripod) THIS NEVER LEAVES MY TRIPODS. It’s essential in high wind

  • Epic and innovative new Leofoto TFS long tripod spikes with threaded covers: (This adds a few more inches of height and is so versatile)

  • TFC Rock Claw Feet (my favorite all around feet)

3) ADAPT YOUR OWN FLAT TOP OR CENTER COLUMN TRIPOD LEGS

To level either of the heads listed above using  your current non-bowl-tripod with a flat top plate or center column:

  • Leveling Adaptor:

    • Leofoto LB-75 The threaded version of my favorite leveling adapter (for any tripod)

  • Head to put atop the leveling adapter

    • For the Manfrotto 500AH fluid head See section 1 above for both the head and Arca Swiss style clamp conversion method.

    • Acratech Panoramic head including Arca style rotating clamp (1 lb with 25lb capacity): In stock late late June 2020.

  • An L-bracket for your particular camera body is essential to get vertical. Here are Kirk’s for the Z9, D850, Z7/Z6, D500, A7iii, A9 & A7Riii, A7Riv, A1

  • Tripod stone bag (like the folding shelf on my tripod) THIS NEVER LEAVES MY TRIPODS. It’s essential in high wind

  • Epic and innovative new Leofoto TFS long tripod spikes with threaded covers: (This adds a few more inches of height and is so versatile)

  • TFC Rock Claw Feet (my favorite all around feet)

My Featherweight Travel Tripod Build:

Sometimes you need to go beyond ultralight. Here’s the tripod I built for that purpose.

Individual parts to build your own:

  • Leofoto 255CEX 5 section carbon legs with built in leveling adapter.

  • Acratech GXP-SS an insane little .8 lb head that hold 35 lbs and acts like a gimbal to boot. This little dude is a work of art for featherweight setups. Acratech is making the best ball heads period.

The best ball heads on the planet

Sometimes I need the versatility of a ball head and Acratech’s GXP is the finest ever made. Here’s why I think so.

For star trackers nothing beats Acratech’s original Ultimate head. Here’s why.

My Monopod

Leofoto MP-364C monopod

Leofoto VH-10 tilt monopod head

A better clamp for the VH-10

Accessories & maintenance for tripods

Advanced Panorama Equipment

Finally a fabulous lightweight reasonably priced advanced multi-row panorama system for today’s cameras. It works for Fluid heads, pan & tilt heads, even ball heads. Bravo RRS. I LOVE this little 1 pound setup.

Kirk Nodal Sliders (worth every penny to me):  

Cheaper Nodal Slider:  Amazon  B&H

Other Essentials

Filtration

I’m a proud Kase filter ambassador for several reasons. Here’s a link to a short video all about why.

Filters for Nikon’s exciting 112mm multi-lens HB-97 Z mount hood (so simple and forget vignetting)

Kase Revolution magnetic 112mm filters & accessories: to fit the HB-97 112mm hood above

Kase Revolution 82mm magnetic filters & accessories: I don’t suggest smaller than 82mm to avoid vignetting and to accommodate future lenses

Kase Revoluiton 95mm magnetic filters & accessories: great to avoid vignetting on ultra-wide lenses with 82mm filter threads & with long lenses with 95mm threads

Kase 82, 95 and 112mm magnetic step up adapter rings

KASE THREADED MC-UV FILTERS (sized below)

Kase K100/K9 Pro ND, CPL & Night Filter Kit

Digital Darkroom

Hard Drives that I use and trust (reveiw video)

  • Samsung T7 Shield SSD Drives: (FAST, small & durable)  Amazon B&H

  • Samsung T9 (Faster with cutting edge USB 3.2 2+2): Amazon B&H

Network Attached Storage (NAS) & 10Gbe Storage and Networking: Fast NAS systems rock!!

Five & Eight Bay Drive NAS Enclosures From Synology (see setup video )

Speed up either NAS with SSD Cache Drives

IronWolf NAS capable Hard Drives (my favorite)

10Gbe Ethernet Switch Required to move data fast between the NAS and your computer(s)

10Gbe Ethernet Adapter to feed 10Gbe speed into your computers

Cat 6 Ethernet cable is good to 100 meters. Beyond that use Cat7 Ethernet Cables

Uninterupted Power Supply (UPS) this is critical for NAS data integrity

Backup Software & Backblaze Ulimited Cloud Backup

Printers I recommend:

Computers & Peripherals

Mac Studio Ultra (The ultimate desktop powerhouse)

Asus ProArt StudioBook 16 Laptop (choose i9, 64GB RAM, 2TB SSD and OLED touch): B&H Amazon

OWC Pro Thunderbolt dock: my favorite Thunderbolt dock has 10Gbe & a fast CF-Express B reader

Logitech MX Master 3S (my favorite mouse for PC or Mac): Amazon

My favorite keyboard (PC or Mac): Full size, or mini version without number pad

Wacom Intuous Pro Medium: (PC or Mac): Amazon B&H

Monitors:

Uninterupted Power Supply (UPS)

BenQ Screenbar Plus Monitor mounted desk light (I LOVE this light): Amazon B&H

X-rite i1 Display Pro Plus colorimeter: Amazon   B&H

X-rite ColorChecker Passport Photo 2: Amazon B&H

Datacolor Color Checker SpyderChecker: Amazon B&H

My sit stand desk

Monitor arm options

Cables

Thunderbolt 3 (40Gbps) Cable

USB 3.1 Gen2 (10Gbps) (C-type) Cable

USB 3.1 Gen2 (10Gbps) (A to C-type) Cable

Magtame Magnetic Charging Cables (60 & 240W):

Minus Travel Chargers:

Adobe Lightroom & Photoshop

Film Digitizing Kit Use either Nikon or the Kaiser Light Board:

Lighting & Night Photography

NIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY GEAR

STROBE LIGHTING

CONSTANT LIGHTING / LIGHTPAINTING

LIGHTWEIGHT LIGHT-STANDS: B&H Amazon (Amazon one is nicer and lighter, B&H is cheaper)

Cleaning Supplies

Rocket Blower Brush: Amazon   B&H

VSGO blower (25% off: "25VSGO20" should auto apply) (my video review)

Residual Oil Remover (ROR): Amazon B&H

Zeiss Lens Wipes: Amazon   B&H

Microfiber Cloths: Amazon 

Small Travel Sensor Light: Amazon   B&H

Sensor Gel Stick (approved for Sony): Amazon

Sensor Swabs & Fluid (Full Frame): Amazon B&H

Sensor Swabs & Fluid (APS-C): Amazon B&H

My sensor cleaning & gear maintenance course

Packs and Straps

My NYA-EVO Fjord 60-C pack and NYA-EVO Fjord 36 Action Pack (The best photo backpacks I’ve used yet): European Buyers

Pelican Air 1535 with Trekpac dividers (How I roll the gear safely): Amazon B&H

Thinktank Airport International 3.0 (great for long lenses): Amazon B&H

Sea to Summit’s strong light 65L Big River drybags (great insurance against water damage)

Protective Camera Rain Sleeves (for using your camera in wet conditions while protected)

My little Gregory Rhune backpack for carryon

Travel Digital Scale (I don’t fly without it)

Lumalabs QD Loop 3.5 strap. This requires a QD plate on your lens or camera. (Please use discount code “HUDSON10”)

Osprey Transporter 120L rolling duffel (badass bag to check tripod camera bag and other essentials on flights)

TSA Combination Locks

L.L. Bean X-tra large rolling duffle bag (a more affordable, but durable rolling duffle)

F-stop Navin expandable camera holster: Amazon

F-stop Gatekeeper straps (to connect Navin or other accessories to pack): Amazon

Think Tank clear window organizer for cords or tripod feet, etc.

Timbuk2 messenger computer bag (I love mine): Amazon

Travel Digital Scale (I don’t fly without it): Amazon

TSA approved combination locks: Amazon

 

NECESSITIES

External USB PD power compatible cameras like Nikon’s ZFc, Z6/7ii & Z9:

PD Battery Bank to recharge or run your PD capable camera via USB-C

100 Watt USB/USB-C multiport travel charger: Amazon

Anker 6-foot, PD 100W USB-C cable: Amazon

CF Express Cards & Readers:

Protective Camera Rain Sleeves (for using your camera in wet conditions while protected)

Samsung T7 Shield SSD Drives: (FAST, small & durable)  Amazon B&H

Luma Labs ultralight Arca plate (Please use discount code “HUDSON10”)

Luma Labs silly light titanium Arca plate (Please use discount code “HUDSON10”)

Think Tank battery wallets: Amazon   B&H

Headlamp Princeton Tec Vizz 420 lumens: Amazon

Pocket flashlight O-light 1750 lumens!: it’s long lasting, rechargeable, metal, tiny and has a dim little reading mode on a separate button. It’s like a pocket sun.

Cold & Wet Weather Glove Modular System

  • Outdoor Research Sensor Gloves: Amazon

  • Outdoor Research Transcendent Down Mittens (put Sensor Gloves inside to stay warm): Amazon

  • Outdoor Research Revel Shell Mittens (put Sensor Gloves in to stay dry): Amazon

Tripod velcro hammock (like the folding shelf on my tripod):  Amazon  B&H (cheaper at B&H)

Platapod Ultra (like a tiny ultra light 2nd tripod that’s great when working on edges): Amazon, B&H

Foolography Unleashed (choose connection):

Pluto Trigger (a great wireless trigger for extra long exposures, lightning and other applications): B&H 

My favorite tabletop tripod and ball head

Awesome multi-use Arca phone mount and stand

 

For full disclosure know that I'm an ambassador for Kase Filters, F-Stop, Move Shoot Move, Acratech, Foolography  and Kirk Enterprise Solutions. The reason I work with those brands is that I like the people who run them, believe in their products and trust them myself in the field.