Camera Must-Haves - The Gear I Can't Live Without

Hey everyone! Welcome to Photog with a Blog, where I talk about all things photography! Today, I am going to share my ultimate camera essentials list that I use for all my digital photoshoots (stay tuned for a future blog post where I'll discuss my favorite film products!)

Finding the gear that works for you and your needs can be a struggle, especially if you're a student like me. My goal for this post is to help make that search a little easier. What I want you to remember, though, is that the gear and equipment I use that works for me may not be suitable for your needs, and it's important to experiment and try new things to know exactly what you want!

Nikon Z6iii - My Workhorse

Ahhh, the Nikon Z6iii, I use this camera for EVERYTHING. I swear! I take it with me wherever I go, and I hold it with pride. This camera is equipped with everything I need for the many different types of photos I take. Since I photograph various subjects, I need a camera that can keep up with me and my ideas, and the Z6iii does just that. The proof is in the pudding, just check out these images below!

Since this is the camera I want to advertise the most on this list, I'm going to be honest about the pros and cons of it.

Starting strong with the pros is this camera's price. I'll get into more specifics soon, but off the bat, the body for this camera is around $2,200, which, in my opinion, is good for a camera with such advanced specs. This camera has amazing 6k quality with its 24 MP full-frame sensor, which compares to Nikon's more expensive flagship Z9. As I also practice videography from time to time, I need a camera that can excel at both photo and video, and this camera can record 6k/60p N-Raw video and 6k/30p ProRes Raw, which is insane. I like to pair my Z6iii with Nikon's 24-70 mm f 2.8 mirrorless lens for incredible sharpness and the ability to zoom in and out at a constant 2.8 aperture (the lens is almost the same price as the body itself, but I swear to you its worth it; they work so well together). The Z6iii currently has the brightest electronic viewfinder on the market compared to every other mirrorless camera and can continuously shoot photos at 120 fps. It also has some of the best autofocus compared to most of the Nikon cameras. I could go on and on about the specs of this camera, and if you would like more information on it (or are confused by what some of these specs mean), I recommend watching the video below by Jared Polin, who is an expert in cameras.

Now, back to that autofocus I mentioned earlier, it's not the best. Although the Z6iii's autofocus is phenomenal when you compare it to Nikon's older Z6 and Z7 models, it's not as great when you put it up against Canon and Sony. An issue I notice frequently with my autofocus, particularly with sports, is that the camera can lose track of its subject rather quickly if someone walks in front of the camera. Canon and Sony have both perfected this scenario in their cameras, and I'm still waiting for Nikon to do the same. Do I think the Z6iii's autofocus is terrible? No. I make it work, and you can too. One way to fix this is by turning your camera's focus speed down so that if someone walks in front of you (and how dare they, it's a pet peeve of mine), it doesn't lose that focus immediately. Mastering focus in photography all comes with practice and patience with the camera, and eventually, you'll get it! For more information on autofocus with the Z6iii for sports, you can read my sports photography blog post here. I recommend watching the following video about how to perfect the Nikon Z6iii's autofocus by Kyle Meshna, as he provides amazing tips and ways to get your focus on point every time.

To summarize why I love the Nikon Z6iii and why I use it as my workhorse is its long list of specifications at such an affordable price (it's affordable when compared to most mirrorless cameras). I'm sure I missed a couple of points on why I'm obsessed with this camera, but that's because I could write for hours about all the adventures I've taken it on and how it never fails me when I need it most.

Nikon D7500 - The Tank

The camera I use as a backup for all of my photoshoots in case something goes horribly wrong is my Nikon D7500. This camera was made at the end of the DSLR era for Nikon, and it still proves to take incredible photos. The reason it's referred to as a "tank" on Reddit is because it is heavy and bulky, but durable. I don't have as much to gush over for this camera, but before I bought my Z6iii, the D7500 was my go-to for every photoshoot. As it is a DSLR, it's not as advanced for photo or video capabilities, but let me tell you, it gets the job done. I still use this camera when I need to bust out my F mount lenses since it's not recommended to use them with my Z6iii's Z-mount. Even with the adapter (that you can purchase to use F-mount lenses on a Z-mount camera), you're cropping down and sacrificing quality. This is because you're using a lens designed for a smaller sensor on a bigger one. My favorite lenses to use with this camera are my Nikon 50 mm f 1.4 and Sigma 70-200mm f 2.8. Since both of my cameras are Nikon and use the same battery, I like to pair them together and imagine them as besties in my backpack when I go on shoots.

What Else Do I Use?

I use so many different products for my photoshoots that I've made a list of all the essentials that I rely on. These include extra batteries, a speedlight, a neck strap, an external hard drive, and a camera backpack (from a brand that I absolutely love). Feel free to check out the products below!

• Nikon Z6iii
• Nikon 24-70mm f 2.8 Lens for Z-mount
• 7 Artisans 18mm f 5.6 Lens for Z-mount
• Nikon D7500
• Nikon 50mm f 1.4 Lens for F-mount
• Sigma 70-200mm f 2.8 Lens for F-mount (I bought this lens off of Facebook Marketplace, but here's the actual one)
• Nikon F to Z Mount Adapter (good to have if you own a bunch of F mount lenses and now have a Z mount camera)
• Godox Flash for Nikon (I'm not a speedlight expert at all, but this is the one that I have)
• 128 GB SD Card
• 512 GB SD Card
• 32 GB SD Card
• SD Card Holder (this one is waterproof!)
• WD Passport External Hard Drive (please back up your photos)
• Nikon Z6iii and D7500 Compatible EN-EL 15c Battery (it's crucial to have extras)
• Peak Design Neck Strap (for a less strained neck)
• Peak Design Camera Clip for Backpacks (super handy!)
• Brevite Camera Backpack (looks like a regular backpack and doesn't tell people there are thousands of dollars of equipment in there)

If you purchase from any of the above links, I will receive a commission as part of the Amazon Affiliate program.

Conclusion

What's YOUR go-to camera gear? I'm curious as to what equipment other photographers are using. Let me know!

I'm Sadie Lynn, and thank you for reading this edition of Photog with a Blog. Until next time, bye guys!