What’s in MY Case
I’ve been lecturing and teaching quite often lately (click on “workshops” at the bottom of this page for a constantly updated list of the upcoming events). And, although I usually speak about lighting (actually, I’m more a fan of lighting than camera stuff) at the end of each workshop or demo a few of the attendees always ask me which camera I use, which lenses I carry, and what’s my favorite f-stop. Since I don’t really have a favorite f-stop because I’m a non-discriminatory f-stop user, I sidestep that question and instead focus (poor pun – sorry) on what I pack in my assignment case and why I include it. I find the questions interesting because I usually don’t even have a camera or my camera case with me when I teach! But, regardless of my feelings about my specific camera equipment choices, I can understand everyone’s fascination with the camera(s) we all use. They feel great in our hands and are sleek, sexy, and just the coolness. With these thoughts in my mind, here’s a tour of what’s inside the (airline carry-on legal) Pelican 1510 roller case I carry for assignments and, for good measure, what I carry in my small Domke F-803 satchel when I want to travel light.
Pelican 1510 Roller Case
This is how my case is laid out. Starting from 12:00 there is the Sigma 50-150, the yellow blob directly below it is a ditty bag filled with my tools. Moving clockwise, there is one Nikon D300 with the 17-50, the 24-70 zoom, the 16-85 zoom, next (at 6:00) the blue ditty bag holds my empty CF cards, my two light meters, and, finally the second D300 with the 24-85 mounted on it. In front of the case (left to right) there is Hoodman Loupe, the two PocketWizard transmitters, the 2 SB 800′s, the two spare D300 batteries, the small roll of white gaffer tape and one of the Quantum HV cables for the SB800. All the items in front of the case tuck in on top of the meters or are sprinkled around the two D300′s.
The List
1. Two Nikon D300 DSLRs (formerly two Nikon D200’s, and at the rate camera technology advances, soon it will be the next latest and greatest model.) Note the rubber bands around one of the bodies – they’re there to hook over a PC cord tip to make sure the cord doesn’t come loose in the middle of a shoot.
2. 1 Nikon 17mm – 55 f /2.8 zoom lens with hood
3. 1 Nikon 24mm – 85 f/ 2.8-4 zoom lens with hood
4. 1 Sigma 50mm – 150 f /2.8 zoom lens with hood (see the photo below that compares the Sigma to an older 80-200 f 2.8 Nikon. Note that the Sigma weighs 20 (!) ounces less and costs 1/3 as much. Also note that the Sigma is the equivalent of a 75 – 225 on a small chip D300)
5. 1 Nikon 50mm f/ 1.4 lens with hood from an old Nikon 105 f 2.5 (see the comparison photo below – note that the D300’s smaller than full frame chip means the longer hood doesn’t vignette)
6. 1 Nikon 85mm f /1.8 lens with hood
RE: #’s 5 & 6: if it’s a totally indoor assignment I substitute #’s 7 & 8 below for #’s 5 & 6 above
7. 1 Nikon 24-70 f 2.8 zoom lens with hood
8. 1 Nikon 16-85 f 3.5-5.6 zoom lens with hood
9. 2 extra numbered Nikon D300 camera batteries (see photo)
10. 2 Pocket Wizard Radio slaves (one transceiver and one transmitter)
11. 1 Sekonic L-358 meter with Pocket Wizard module
12. 1 Minolta FlashMeter IVF (pronounced “4F”)
13. 1 ditty bag of tools (see photo: note that the small box wrench fits the leg bolts on my Gitzo tripod)
14. 1 ditty bag for spare meter and Pocket Wizard batteries (all dated and I use the oldest first – see photo)
15. A small roll of gaffer tape
16. 8 4GB Sandisk Extreme IV CF cards and 5 2GB Sandisk Extreme IV CF cards in a ditty bag.
17. 2 Nikon SB-800 (one with diffuser cap and a Lee 5600K to 3200K filter – cut from a Lee gel sheet #204, Full C.T.Orange )
18. 1 HV cable for the SB-800 (Quantum)
19. 3 different sized custom fill flaps (for the SB-800’s – see photo below)
20. 1 Hoodman Loupe (this little item is a life saver when I work outdoors!)
21. 3 sharpie CD safe pens (dual point)
22. Business cards
23. Model releases
24. A copy of the day’s assignment contract
25. A few 1 quart Zipper Lock Freezer bags (to put full CF cards into)
26. Some white topped hatpins for a boutonniere if needed
Domke Satchel
Oddly, the contents of my Domke Satchel is much more difficult to describe because it is constantly changing depending on what I’m trying to do. Also note that my Domke F-803 satchel is tiny (see photo below that compares a standard sized Domke F2 to the F 803 Satchel) so, whatever I carry in it is a tight fit! Let’s start with the constant things that are in it first.
There is always the following in it:
1. 1 Nikon D300 body
2. I spare D300 battery
3. 2-3 4 GB Sandisk Extreme IV CF cards
4. I Nikon SB-800 with diffuser cap and a Lee Full C.T.Orange filter taped over the flash tube (inside the cap, over the actual flash reflector)
5. 1 set of 4 lithium AA batteries
6. My three custom fill flaps
7. A Leatherman Wave
8. A couple pens/markers
The constantly changing lens choices I carry are as follows:
The Minimum:
1. 1 Nikon 16-85 f 3.5-5.6 zoom lens with hood
One step up – if I want to get a little more serious:
1. 1 Nikon 16-85 f 3.5-5.6 zoom lens with hood
2. 1 AF-S Nikkor 55-200 f4-5.6G ED VR lens with hood
Or, if I want to get really serious:
1. 17mm – 55 f /2.8 zoom lens with hood
2. 1 Sigma 50mm – 150 f /2.8 zoom lens with hood
Or, if I feel the need…the need for speed (thanks Tom)
1. 1 Nikon 24 mm f 2.8 D lens with a 35 mm lens hood on it (some days I switch out the 24 for a Nikon 35 mm f 2 D lens with a 50 mm lens hood on it)
2. 1 Nikon 50 mm f 1.4 lens with a 105 f 2.5 lens hood on it
3. 1 Nikon 85 mm f 1.8 lens with the standard (for that focal length) hood on it
OK, that’s it! The next time someone asks me what I carry I’m sending him or her to this page! Questions and comments are always welcome: Steve at SteveSint.com
In: My Favorite Things, Tools & Organization · Tagged with: 50 mm 1.4, batteries, D300, Domke F803 Satchel, lee filters, lens hoods, Nikon 16-85, Nikon 17-55, Nikon 24-70, packing a camera case, Pelican 1510 roller case, Pocket Wizard, Sigma 50-150, tools, What to pack
Shutterbug – excerpt from Digital Portrait Photography
Shutterbug posted a book review and an excerpt from Digital Portrait Photography.
“Steve Sint has photographed over a million portraits and his wealth of knowledge on everything from the basics of good composition to the fine details of advanced lighting techniques are all shared in this handsome book. Sint discusses setups and backdrops; the most flattering ways to pose both individuals and groups; tips on making the sessions fun and comfortable for everyone; and insider info on using electronic flash, both indoors and out. ”
-Shutterbug
http://shutterbug.com/book_reviews/0309bexcerpt/
The Beauty Light & Classical Portrait Lighting
In: Steve Sint on the Web · Tagged with: Composition, Flash, Light, Portraits, Posing, Shutterbug
On Location and Metering for Wedding Photography
In: Steve Sint on the Web, Working with Flash · Tagged with: Light, Lightmeter, Metering, Sekonic, Video, Weddings
My Philosophy as a Professional Wedding Photographer
In: Steve Sint on the Web · Tagged with: Light, Lightmeter, Metering, Philosophy, Sekonic, Video, Weddings
Digital Portrait Photography: Art, Business & Style
“Steve Sint, Popular Photography Magazines’ esteemed studio photography columnist for many years, has just published another of his encyclopedic hands-on guides to better picture taking.
Echoing with his distinctively knowledgeable, engaging, and humorous speaking style. It’s a voice that lets him connect with students, readers, and portrait subjects on a direct and personal level, and makes his writing (and teaching) easy and enjoyable to digest.
Art is covered in in-depth chapters on lighting, composing, and equipment. Sint then shares secrets of the Business of portrait photography with sections on operating a photo studio, building a portfolio, writing contracts, and more. Finally, he plunges into Style, with nuts-and-bolts coverage of makeup, wardrobe, and an extensive treatment of posing styles.
Whether you’re an accomplished portraitist, or a newbie who wants to get more serious about people pictures, “Digital Portrait Photography” promises an informative, entertaining read.”
—Peter Kolonia, PopPhoto Senior Editor
