I often get asked what gear I use or what gear I recommend for photography. In this post I will take you on a tour of the current gear I use to take my photos. Last year, I switched from DSLRs to mirrorless. Click here to take a tour through my previous DSLR gear.
Here is a portrait of my Canon mirrorless gear, along with my Samsung gear. I’ve been using Canon cameras and lenses for well over a decade now. I am overall pretty pleased with their camera and lens offerings. I use my Canon gear for about 98% of my photography. You can refer back to this image throughout the post as I describe how I use each item.
Canon EOS R5 (16)
I purchased the R5 last year to use as my main camera, replacing my 5D Mark IV. The R5 has an excellent autofocusing system which can detect and track moving subjects, but it also boasts a 45 megapixel resolution, both of which are especially useful when photographing horses and horse racing. To get this shot of Jackie’s Warrior winning the Grade I Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap at Saratoga, I wasn’t using a very long lens (more on my lens choices below). I was able to crop pretty significantly and still retain image quality with this photo. I also used Photoshop’s superzoom feature to help me zoom in a little further. I was able to nail the focus, even as the horses whizzed by at 40 miles per hour, because the R5 did such a great job tracking. This shot would not have been possible with a less capable camera.
Canon EOS R6 (3)
I purchased the R6 along with the R5 to serve as a backup camera. Most of the time, wherever I go, I’m bringing two camera bodies. It’s just a lot easier than switching lenses and sometimes it’s impractical to switch lenses when you’re in a dusty or rainy environment, or when you’re shooting fast action. I took the below photo at Mahoney Eden Manor in my hometown of Saratoga Springs, NY. I was using a longer lens on my R5 to photograph the mares but I had a 50mm lens on my R6 which allowed me to take in the whole scene.
Canon RF 14-35mm f/4L IS Lens (9)
The 14-35 fills the wide angle niche in my bag. Previously I was using the Canon 16-35 f/2.8, but this lens goes even wider and has image stabilization. I don’t even miss the f/2.8, this lens is so great, and sharp throughout, even when used wide open. I used this lens at 14mm to get the below photo of Saratoga Race Course in winter.
Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM (19)
I opted to keep my old 24-105mm lens rather than purchase the RF version (I actually bought it and immediately sent it back, having buyer’s remorse), because I wanted to save some money to invest in two top of the line bodies (R5 and the R6). While the RF version is said to be optically better, the old EF version is just fine and works perfectly with an adapter. It does add a little more bulk than just using the native lens, but I was also able to still use this on my old 5D Mark IV before I sold it (see below), making it more versatile, since there’s no way to use RF lenses on old EF bodies. A lot of photographers swear by the 24-70mm f/2.8, and while a fast f/2.8 can be handy, I far prefer the range of the 24-105. This is my go-to landscape lens. Below, you can get a feel for the range. I took the below photos of Old Friends at Cabin Creek where I volunteer from a helicopter at 24mm and 105mm, respectively. In a situation like this, a lens with a long range comes in very handy.
As mentioned above, in the summer of 2022 when I was shooting for Saratoga Living Magazine at Saratoga Race Course, I used my 24-105 on my 5D Mark IV for remote shots under the rail. Because there is some risk involved in setting a camera under the rail, it’s more prudent to place a less valuable, older camera there rather than a brand new one. Because I still had my old 24-105mm lens, I was able to use it with the 5D Mark IV to get shots such as this one of Nest winning the Grade I Alabama Stakes. I have since sold off my 5D, but I might decide to rent or buy another one in the future to get these types of shots.
Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens (4)
I originally bought the RF 50mm lens thinking it would replace my old EF 50mm f/1.4 lens. Unfortunately, while it is optically a nice lens, it focuses too loudly and slowly and suffers from horrible lens flare which renders it essentially unusable in certain situations (I lucked out on the photo below). I still have the lens and I pop it on my camera when I want to travel light, but I have hung on to my 50mm f/1.4.
Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM Lens (12)
This is one of my favorite horse lenses. It’s great for close up portraits. I don’t use it much at the track, but I use it frequently at Old Friends at Cabin Creek (see the below photo of Handy Stan) and at the other Thoroughbred farms I frequent. The fast f/1.4 maximum aperture means it comes in very handy in low light and easily blurs out the background.
Canon RF 135mm f/1.8L IS USM (13)
This lens is the newest addition to my collection. It replaces my old EF 135mm f/2L USM. This is my go-to equine (or human) portrait lens. The large maximum aperture lets me focus on the subject and blur away everything else. It’s also tack sharp, even when used wide open.
Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM (18)
This is my go-to horse racing lens. The range allows me to capture the horses from far away and then zoom out as they get closer. It doesn’t have a very fast maximum aperture, but the image quality is superb, and I find that a very shallow depth of field can be problematic for racing photos, as it’s hard to keep everything you want in focus. I used this lens at 100mm to capture the 2023 Travers Stakes field round the Clubhouse turn, and at 500mm (plus a little cropping) to capture winning horse Arcangelo galloping down under a very happy Javier Castellano.
As much as I rely on this lens for horse racing, it also makes a great landscape and wildlife lens. Below is a photo I took in Alberta’s Jasper National Park.
Zenitar MC 16mm f/2.8 Fisheye Lens (17)
This fisheye is great because it was super cheap (under $200 used) and it’s super lightweight. The only drawback is that it’s manual focus, but that’s really not a big deal. The fisheye is useful if you want a unique perspective or you need a really wide lens. It has an EF mount, so I use it with an adapter on my camera, but I use it so infrequently, that I haven’t taken any particularly good photos with it with my mirrorless cameras yet. I used the fisheye to capture the Gothic Room at Marble House in Newport, Rhode Island.
Canon EF to EOS R Adapter (20)
Currently I have three lenses (the 50mm f/1.4, the 24-105mm f/4, and the fisheye) that require an adapter to be used with my mirrorless cameras. The adapter adds a little bulk, but the lenses still work perfectly. I used an adapter with my 50mm f/1.4 lens on my R6 to take this photo of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah at Coolmore at Ashford Stud in Kentucky.
Canon Speedlite 270EX (15)
This flash has been by my side for the last 13 years. It’s a cheap little thing, and the recycle time’s not fast, so you wouldn’t want to use it at an event or a professional gig, but I love it for traveling. My cameras do not have built-in flashes so it’s essential for fill-flash and it also bounces. It’s small and easily fits in my bag to boot. I used the 270EX to capture the below photo of Mickey Mouse at Walt Disney World.
Canon Speedlite 600EX-RT (2)
I mainly bought the 600EX because my 580EX wasn’t always functioning properly and I needed a more reliable flash. This flash has a lot of features, but the truth is, I don’t use flashes that often anymore. I used the 600EX for the below senior portrait I took in Congress Park in Saratoga Springs, NY.
Canon Speedlite 580EX
The 580EX is a good choice when you a need a full-featured flash, although it doesn’t have as many features as the 600EX-RT. I used the 580EX to capture this portrait.
Yongnuo 560 III Speedlight (5)
The Yongnuo is a really great, inexpensive flash, but it is manual only, and it can’t be used as a master, so it’s good as a second flash in situations where you have time to experiment. I used the Yongnuo to light the background in this portrait of my cat.
Samsung NX 1100 (6)
Unfortunately, Samsung no longer makes cameras, and that’s a shame because they had some really nice mirrorless offerings. I have a very small Samsung mirrorless camera that I throw in my purse (along with two pancake lenses) so that I can be ready at any time to take a photo. Before this, I used to use the NX 100 model, but the NX 1100 is significantly lighter and it has built in wifi, for those times when I want to send my photos to a friend or post them online right from my phone (although, sadly, the wifi function no longer works on my copy). I used this camera to capture a photo of Rudy, the barn cat at Old Friends at Cabin Creek.
Samsung NX 16mm f.2.5 Pancake Lens (8)
This low-profile lens is perfect for when I need a wide shot. It’s nice and small so it fits right in my purse. It came in very handy when I discovered this rainbow over the school where I teach one morning.
Samsung NX 20-50mm f/3.5-5.6 ED
This basic kit lens comes in handy on trail rides where I can’t bring a big heavy camera. The zoom range is convenient and the size is perfect. I captured the below photo on a trail ride in Alberta’s Jasper National Park.
Samsung NX 30mm f/2 Pancake Lens (mounted on 6)
This lens is perfect for portraits and mid-range landscapes. I use it a lot in my classroom and at Old Friends at Cabin Creek. I used the 30mm lens to capture this portrait of Red Down South and Bold Illusion at the farm
Accessories
Manfrotto 190XDB Tripod (1)
This tripod has been with me through thick and thin. It’s not light, but it’s very sturdy. I’ve thought about getting a smaller, lighter tripod but I haven’t found one that’s as sturdy as this one. This is the tripod I’ve used to get almost all of my long exposure shots over the years, such as this photo below that I took in Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park at night. The 30 second exposure required a sturdy tripod.
Fotodiox 6″x8″ softbox
This small softbox helps me soften the light when I’m using a flash such as in the portrait of my cat or the senior portraits.
Manfrotto 804RC2 Pan-Tilt Head
This is the head that came with my tripod. It’s very precise, but it’s too bulky for traveling.
Manfrotto 496RC2 Ball Head (1)
This head is better for traveling, as it is more compact.
Lowepro Flipside 200 Backpack
This is the bag I use most of the time. It fits most of my gear, but my camera itself does not fit. That’s usually not a problem, since I usually have my camera around my neck when I’m traveling. It does have a spot for your tripod, but with a tripod as heavy as mine, it’s not too fun to tote along.
Lowepro Flipside 300 Backpack
This is the bag I use when I need to be able to fit my camera inside. I don’t use it unless I really have to, because it’s a lot bigger.
B+W 82mm Circular Polarizer Slim Filter
The polarizing filter helps cut down on reflections but it also enhances colors in nature. I used a polarizing filter to enhance the colors in the sky in this photo I took at Saratoga Performing Arts Center:
B+W 82mm 3.0 ND 110 Filter
This neutral density filter blocks 10 stops of light from entering your camera. That means you can take really long exposures in broad daylight, such as this photo I took at Oxbow Bend in Grand Teton National Park:
Formatt 82mm .9 ND Filter
The 4 stop ND filter is for when you want to slow down your shutter speed, but you don’t need 10 whole stops. Sometimes it’s already a little dark out but you’d like to drag the shutter a bit more. This filter helped me take this long exposure at Disney’s Hollywood Studios:
Opteka 82mm R72 Infrared Filter
Infrared filters are fun for experimentation, but it’s not something I do every day. Here’s a photo I captured at Epcot with the filter:
Off-Camera E-TTL Flash Cord
The flash cord helps me take the flash off the camera without the hassle of having to trigger it remotely.
Sensei Pro 77mm-82mm Step Up Ring
This contraption allows me to use my 82mm filters on some of my lenses which have a 77mm filter thread.
Sensei 58-82mm Step Up Ring
This contraption allows me to use my 82mm filters on my 50mm lens, which has a 58mm filter thread.
Rogue Colored Flash Gels
Colored flash gels help you correct for color temperature or create a unique look, such as the one I used for the background in the portrait of my cat above.
SpiderPro Camera Holster
The camera holster comes in handy when I’m using two bodies. I have one around my neck, and the other, usually with my telephoto lens mounted, on my holster. I can swap them out whenever I need to. You can see me with my old telephoto lens on my holster in the below photo taken in the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest:
ApeCase Purse Insert
I use this insert whenever I’m headed out with only a couple of lenses. It goes right in my purse and turns it into a camera bag.
ApeCase Telephoto Lens Case
This case is perfect for my telephoto lens. I fits it exactly with one body attached as well.
Kelly Moore Crossbody Bag
I don’t remember the exact name of this bag, but a quick look at their website tells me they don’t still make it. The bag was quite pricey, and it’s a very well made bag, but the thing is it is NOT comfortable to lug around 10-15 lbs. of camera gear over one shoulder. I once took this on a trip to Paris and I was very uncomfortable. It does look more stylish than a backpack, but I now only use it when I’m going to formal events.
iPhone 13 Pro (11)
I always have my iPhone with me, so, on the rare occasion when I don’t have any other camera with me, it comes in handy and has decent image quality. I used it to take the photo below at Old Friends at Cabin Creek.
So, those are the tools I use to make the vast majority of my photography. I occasionally rent or borrow other gear as well, though! You might be wondering if I am happy I switched to mirrorless. The short answer is yes. I mainly switched so I could sell some of my old DSLR gear while it still had value. I was perfectly happy with DSLRs. The one thing I hate most about mirrorless is that the cameras do not have built-in GPS. You have to use bluetooth connectivity on your phone to sync GPS data, and it is not anywhere near as reliable. Other than that, I’m very pleased. My new lenses are a definite upgrade over the ones they replaced, and I love that I can now record 120fps slow motion video on both bodies. This new feature got me back into videography and working on lots of video projects. On the other hand, if you’re just getting into photography, used DSLRs offer a lot of bang for your buck, so they are something to consider if you’re on a budget.
To see more of my photography be sure to follow me on Instagram and Facebook. All photos in this post © Samantha Decker and may not be reused without permission.
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Impressive!