My Gear
So, what’s in my bag and why?
Photographers are often asked what gear they use — and while I believe the most important thing is how you see, I also know how fun (and sometimes overwhelming!) it can be to talk about equipment. So in this post, I’ll walk you through the gear I use, why I chose it, and how it supports the kind of photography I love. Whether you’re just starting out or just curious about how I shoot, I hope this gives you an honest and helpful look inside my camera bag.
Short History
It all started with my first camera — a Canon EOS 450D, about 25 years ago. Back then, I shot almost entirely on auto mode. The other settings felt complicated and honestly a bit intimidating. I didn’t really know what all those buttons and numbers meant.
Around 2014, I came across a beautiful camera — the Fujifilm X100. The photos I saw from it were stunning, and I hoped mine would look just as good. But I wasn’t quite ready to experiment much, and after a while, I put it away.
Inspired by my best friend’s father, I gave another Canon a try — this time a smaller one with a zoom lens, something the Fujifilm didn’t have. The Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark II really helped me find my rhythm again. I started exploring the camera more deeply, and I liked it so much I even took it with me on a trip to Vietnam and Cambodia in 2018.
As I began using more functions on the Canon, I found it frustrating that many settings were buried in the menus. That’s when I rediscovered the Fujifilm X100 — and this time, it stuck. I loved that all the basic settings were right there on physical dials. Photography started to feel fun again.
Unfortunately, my Fujifilm X100 didn’t survive one particularly harsh winter, so I “had” to upgrade to the Fujifilm X100V. That camera became part of my everyday life — I carried it everywhere and slowly grew more comfortable with both the camera and the craft.
More recently, I added a Canon EOS 5DS R with a 24–105mm f/4L and a Tamron 150–600mm f/5–6.3 for wildlife. But honestly, it wasn’t fast enough for wildlife moments. So I upgraded again to the Canon R5, along with the RF 24–105mm f/4L and the RF 50mm f/1.8 — and that made all the difference.
What I Use Now
The Canon R5 with the RF lenses is a joy to use. It’s fast enough for wildlife and bird photography, performs beautifully even in low light, and produces clean images with very little grain — even at high ISO. The image stabilization is excellent, which means I can shoot handheld even in challenging conditions.
A fun side note: the RF 50mm f/1.8 STM costs just around $230 — yet it’s brilliant. It gives gorgeous bokeh for stills, details, and portraits. It’s tiny and light enough to fit in your pocket, and lately I’ve used it almost exclusively.
For travel, the RF 24–105mm f/4L has become my go-to lens. It’s versatile, sharp, and ideal for when you want to pack light but still use professional-quality gear. Honestly, I use it not just for travel but as my everyday lens.
I also bought a converter to keep using my Tamron 150–600mm, and thanks to the faster, more sensitive Canon R5, my wildlife shots have improved a lot.
As for a tripod, I use the Leofoto Urban LX-255CT. It’s small, lightweight, and sturdy — perfect for someone who doesn’t want to lug around a heavy tripod. I’ve found that having a tripod that’s easy to carry makes you much more likely to actually use it.
My Current Camera Bag
Canon R5
RF 24-105 f/4L IS USM
RF 50 f/1.8 STM
Tamron SP 150-600 f/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2
Leofoto Urban LX-255CT
I hope this gives you some inspiration if you’re thinking about your own camera gear. The most important thing is to think about what you want to shoot and what kind of photos you want to create — and choose your gear accordingly.
If you’re just starting out, that’s hard to know at first — and that’s okay. For beginners, I recommend Fujifilm cameras because they have all the essential dials and buttons on top, which makes it easier to learn how a camera actually works.
Happy shooting — and feel free to reach out if you have questions about gear!