Keith’s photography gear and equipment page

Cameras, lenses bags, tripods, software and printing

When a client hires us they expect our creative expertise – but when I go on an assignment, I know that choosing the right tools for the job is also vital.

I’ve been asked over the years just what equipment I regularly use and why.

This page will include links to reviews and articles related to the equipment I use.

It certainly isn’t saying that the equipment is what makes the image – that’s all down to me and the way I use the gear I have – but what I hope it will do is give a few ideas to those of you who want to make more of your own photography.

2024 Photography gear update

So what’s changed? I got fed up waiting for Canon to bring out a high MP replacement for the 5DS. I now use a GFX100S.

100MP small [33x44mm] medium format.

Lenses The Fuji 30mm tilt shift is superb – Finally got one, and the Fujifilm 45-100mm F4 as well

We have a Newsletter (2-4 per month) with all my latest articles/reviews if you’d like to stay up to date with what’s new.

So, what photography gear is in my camera bag…

What I use for my work. This page was written in 2020, but updated in 2024 with my current thinking.

Apart from gear, my main change is that now I have a YouTube channel with over 40k subs and 600+ videos.

Cameras

The Fujifilm GFX100S is my work camera. Seen above with my TS-E24 on it [via a Fotodiox adapter]

Use it in 35mm ‘crop’ mode and I’ve got a 24mm T/S lens with ~60MP and appreciably better dynamic range than the 5DS

Then again I’d get much of that from an R5…

What makes a difference is using that full sensor – the TS-E lenses I’ve got [17mm, 24mm mk2, 50mm and 90mm mk1] all have coverage for the sensor but are ‘1 stop wider’.

The TS-E50mm is a recent addition, with the ~40mm ‘equivalent’ FOV making it a useful focal length.

Add in the 4:3 format and it does affect my photography through the viewfinder

I’m currently waiting for a 30mm TS lens from Fujifilm – it’s without doubt, the best quality T/S lens I’ve tested and gives an FOV about the same as my favourite [on the 5DS]  TS-E24

Fujifilm GF 30mm TS f/5.6 review

Photography gear: What about video?

After someone from Canon convinced me to start making videos in mid 2020 I’ve settled on using my EOS RP with an Olympus Zuiko 24/2.8 lens  [via an OM>EF adapter]

My main studio light is the Sirui one I tested a while ago – but with a Bowens mount softbox

I also use this Feelworld FW568 monitor with the RP

Keith’s older photography gear – still includes the 5Ds

In 2020 – when I first wrote this page, my main camera was the 50MP Canon EOS 5Ds. [general 5Ds info page – firmware etc.]

Some people have asked why I choose the 5Ds instead of the 5Ds R – which doesn’t have anti-aliasing (AA) filter (and so,could be said to be slightly sharper). Well, I photograph stuff that often has a lot of fine detail and don’t want to deal with Moire.

However since the two cameras have been available I’ve looked at images and realised that much of the supposed finer detail of the ‘R’ version is illusory. Maybe when I update the 5Ds, there won’t be an AA and I’ll have plenty more MP to play with…

2024 – I still use the 5DS for macro and close work – tethering is still a lot easier than the GFX100S

In March 2019 I’ve added the EOS RP {full EOS RP review] to my kit. A 26MP full frame mirrorless, the RP is my first foray into mirrorless and has proved to be a great camera for my general use, and especially the ease with which I can use my old manual focus lenses.

My previous (and now backup backup ) camera was the 21MP Canon EOS 1Ds mark 3

I do miss the size and build of the 1 series cameras, but the 5Ds sensor trumps the 1D X and 1D X mark 2 by quite a margin for my work.

When I got the 5Ds I did a print based comparison of the 5Ds with the 1Ds mk3 and 1Ds that shows why, for many a job, I could still get great results with my backup 1Ds mk3 (and even the 1Ds for some).

My even older photography gear…

I still have my 1Ds (11MP) and 1Ds3 (21MP) – as they both still work well, fit all my lenses and never let me down in all the years I used them as my main cameras.

Phone camera

Up until March 2020 I still carried the iPhone 3gs that I won a few years ago (2009). I simply don’t use a mobile phone very much other than as an occasional telephone.

Well, it broke and I got an iPhone SE – I now use the phone for the odd few photos when testing for reviews, and for short insert video clips, where the 4k video is good. It’s downsampled to HD when editing my stuff in the excellent [free] DaVinci Resolve for my short YouTube videos.

The videos [my YT Channel] are a new feature, after several years of people asking me to do them ;-)

2024: yes I’m thinking of a newer phone…

Photography gear: Lenses

My standard set of lenses (links to reviews)

• EF 8-15 F4L fisheye
• EF 11-24 F4L [Sold – I just didn’t use it enough ]
• TS-E17mm F4L
• TS-E24mm F3.5L II
• EF24-70 F2.8L
• TS-E50mm F2.8L Macro [2024 acquired for use with GFX100S]
• TS-E90mm F2.8
• EF 70-200 F2.8L
• MP-E65 Macro

These work just fine on the GFX100S

2024 – I’m in the process of getting some Fujifilm G mount lenses

I’ve a collection of assorted old lenses that I sometimes use, such as Mamiya 35mm and 55mm lenses I use with a shift adapter

The Mamiya 55mm is sometimes useful for stitching shifted images. [article about this]

Nice, but not unfortunately useful enough for me to justify getting the TS-E50mm F2.8L Macro I recently reviewed.

Photography gear: Macro

My go-to lens for macro work is the Canon MP-E65mm 1x-5x macro lens

I often use lenses such as the TS-E90mm with extension tubes

For focus stacking, I have a StackShot motorised rail, driven using Helicon Focus software, such as in this example of a promotional image for a trade show. [article about the processes]

Photography gear: Close-up lighting

I’ve several flash units, starting with the Canon MT-24EX twin flash (used off camera here)

The Laowa KX800 [review] is something I often use on-location for product work – typically in places where there isn’t space to set up lighting.

The two little soft boxes simply clip on the flash heads.

More recently I’ve also used the KF-150 ring flash where I need flat lighting [KF-150 review]

Photography gear: Tripods

My standard work tripod is the Rogeti T32Max

I use this with the RG-1 head and Rogeti L brackets with both my 5DS and GFX100S

For some supplementary use [videos as well]  I’ll pick a tripod like the KF TC2534 – here with its ball head.

For product photography on location, and some video [YT] work I often use the K&F SA254T1 tripod with it’s crossbar top, giving a more flexible camera placing.

There is also the smaller lighter MPB Harrier , shown here with the PHQ head in it

Heads/supports

The PHQ4 tripod head [review] is my general purpose tripod head.

It’s a multi axis support that I find quick and easy to use with any of my cameras.

For my commercial work I like the precision of the Benro GD3WH geared head

Shown here with TSE Frame and TS-E17mm F4L lens.

Rogeti, who make the TSE frame also make an excellent geared tripod head that I now use for most of my interior and architectural photography where I require extremely precise levelling.

Like most photographers I’ve collected assorted bits of kit over time, that have all had times when they are useful.

One very useful tripod mount is the TSE Frame I use with the TS-E17mm and TS-E24mm tilt/shift lenses.

This lets me keep the lens still and shift the camera, when taking sets of photos to be stitched.

I tend to use my 5Ds with the Rogeti L bracket

For more specialised use, such as with the Gigapan, I use a hefty survey tripod [article about this]

The GigaPan is for high resolution panoramic and survey photography.

More about using the GigaPan.

Working at height

I’ve a relatively lightweight Megamast which goes up over 8 metres.

It’s carbon fibre based and easily portable.

There’s a camranger WiFi controlled pan and tilt head

Here’s a photo of me taken with the camera at the top of the mast .

Camera bags

My standard bag for camera and 2-3 lenses is still the Lowepro Slingshot 202 AW

This is perhaps a bit more than I’d normally carry, but gives a feel for capacity. Just note, this is an older photo and shows the 1Ds I used previously not the 5Ds I use now.

Gear transport

The Peli 1535 Air Case [review] takes a bit more gear than the bag above, and lets me take all kinds of bits and pieces that may be needed on a particular job – it’s also got wheels…

Gadgets

My ColorChecker Passport card is a vital tool for ensuring accurate colour in the mixed lighting I’m likely to find in many industrial environments.

You can use it for simple white balance or to create DNG profiles for processing camera RAW files.

You might notice a green laser pointer in the kit in my bag. A great aid for pointing to things when with a client…

It’s also useful as a ‘laser star’ for testing lens performance.

Clothing

Nothing special whatsoever.

A stout set of safety boots, high vis gear and hard hat is needed for some sites, but I’m afraid all that branded ‘photographer clothing’ you see advertised largely passes me by.

Printing

At the moment I’m printing with an Epson P5000 A2/17″ printer [P5000 review]  [2024 – still going strong]

Colour management

For software, I use X-Rite i1Profiler

For monitor calibration I use an X-Rite i1Display Pro colorimeter.

For general patch reading I use an i1Pro 2 spectrophotmeter

For automated patch reading I use the i1iO ‘robot arm’

For patch reading for printer profiling I use the i1iSis

Monitors

My main editing choice is the BenQ SW320

Shown here, connected to my MacBook Pro (from the review)

2024 – Now supplemented with an SW321

Commercial photography

If you’d like to know more about the work we do for clients, have a look at our Commercial Photography pages.

There is a Gallery of some of Keith’s landscape photos on the site as well – many available as large prints