The Camera Bag

Current Setup

CAMERAS

• Canon EoS 1DX  Mark II (primary camera)
• Canon 5D Mark IV (secondary camera)
• Canon 5D Mark III (our starter camera – still a great option!)

LENSES

• Canon EF 50mm f/1.2 L (everyday lens – most of our photos are taken with the 50mm)
• Canon 70-200 mm Telephoto Lens (best for parallel shots + when you want a close-in, detailed image or one with a subtle vignette effect)
• Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 (best for close-ups / really tight in shots)
• Canon EF 12 II Extension Tube (cheap + best for super close-ups when you don’t want to buy another lens – attaches to the 50mm)
  

PHOTOGRAPHY LIGHTING

• Paul C. Buff Einstein E640 + CyberSync Transceiver  (our go-to artificial light for food photography)
• PocketWizard FlexTT6 Transceiver for Canon Cameras & Flashes (attaches to top of camera and allows camera to “speak” to the light)
• Westcott 2348 50-Inch Recessed Mega JS Apollo (Black) (our go-to soft box, which we use with the Einstein E640 + PocketWizard)
• Westcott 2334 28-Inch Recessed Medium Apollo (Black) (smaller softbox)
• Canon Speedlite 580EX II Flash for Canon EOS Digital SLR Cameras (a good option for shooting flash at live events // something we rarely use, but would recommend for live events)

VIDEO LIGHTING

• Aputure Light Dome 35″ Soft Box with Bowen-S Speed Ring (our go-to softbox for video – can double up for photography)
• Aputure COB 300D LS C300D Daylight Balanced LED Video Light (our go-to light for video – can double up for photography as a non strobe option)

ACCESSORIES

• Neewer Heavy Duty Adjustable Light Stand (our go-to tripods. We have 3 – for holding our camera, lights, and reflectors / props. They’re sturdy, secure, and raise and lower easily with a very long arm, which is great if you’re using a fixed focal length lens and need to “zoom” in and out for photos / video.)
• Manfrotto 014- 14 Rapid Adapter (attaches to our Neewer C-Stand to safely attach our camera by converting 5/8-Inch Stud to 17mm Long 1/4-Inch- 20M Thread)
• Manfrotto 234RC Monopod Head Quick Release (works in conjunction with the Manfrotto 014-14 Rapid Adapter to safely attach our camera to the Neewer C-Stand)
• Neewar Studio Reflectors (softens harsh light from both artificial and natural light)
• Manfrotto Boom Stand with Sand Bag (a cheaper option than the Neewer Heavy Duty C-Stands for holding props / reflectors)
• Neewer Photo Studio Heavy Duty Metal Clamp Holder with 5/8″ Light Stand Attachment for Reflector (attaches to the Neewer C-Stand and holds fabrics, diffusers, and props)
• Lexar Professional 32GB Compact Flash Card
• 72mm UV Filter (protects your lenses from splashes / scratches)
• Manfrotto Pro Tripod Legs & Manfrotto 410 Junior Geared Head (still use this for photography and video, primarily for straight on/upright shots. These have largely been retired as the Neewer C-Stands better suit our daily needs.)
• AmazonBasics Camera and Accessories Backpack
• Rode Shotgun Microphone (rarely used, but good for capturing sound on video)

EQUIPMENT REVIEWS

• Canon 5D Mark iii vs Mark iv: My Favorite Camera For Food Photography!
• Telephoto Lens Review: My Surprising Favorite New Lens for Food Photography!

Updated: September 2020

Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links meaning we earn a commission if you use those links. We only recommend brands we use and trust.

Recommended Setup for under $500

We have a greater leaning toward starting and staying with Canon (see the review link above).

Therefore, these are the cameras we’d recommend: Canon EOS Rebel T5 (body only, or get the free kit lens and resell it) paired with the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens.

(If you can spring the extra $100 or find a deal in the used listings, jumping up to the Rebel T6 is probably worth it.)

If you wanted to go for Nikon, you might check out the Nikon D3400 or Nikon D5300.

Recommended Setup for under $1000

Canon: Canon EOS 70D and the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens. The updated version, the Canon EOS 80D is also a great option, particularly for video (but will put you over budget).

Nikon: Nikon D7200 (probably have to find a used one to make it under budget) with a Nikon 50mm f/1.8G.

Recommended Setup for under $2000

Canon: Canon EOS 6D (body only) and the Canon EF 50mm f/1.4.

Nikon: Nikon D610 (body only) with the Nikon 50mm f/1.8G.

Recommended Setup for under $3000

Canon: Canon EOS 5D Mark III (body only) and the Canon EF 50mm f/1.4.

Canon has produced a successor to the Mark III, the EOS 5D Mark IV, which is notably more expensive. Probably not worth the extra $1K price jump, but does offer some new features that could be helpful for high-res video.

Nikon: Nikon D810 (body only) and the Nikon 50mm f/1.8G.

Previous Setup

Nikon D600 DSLR
Nikon 50mm f/1.4g
Nikon AF-S 105mm f/2.8g
Ravelli Professional 70 Tripod
Nikon 58mm NC Filter
Nikon 62mm NC Filter
SanDisk Extreme Pro 16gb SDHC Memory Card

This was a great camera and a fantastic setup. We liked the 50mm lens, but needed the 105mm for any sort of close-in shot. Upgrading to Canon and using the extension tube eliminated the need for that second lens.

The D600 is a full-frame camera with a much more affordable price point than any other full frame camera. Nikon makes two basic types of cameras: fx (full-frame) and dx. These terms relate to the sensor size, which can make a substantial difference when considering ISO performance and the color depth. Since Dana takes photos in nautral light 99% of the time, this was an incredibly important feature we wanted to utilize if we could afford it. Lastly, we are dabbling in video more recently and this camera was a great way to start taking quality HD video.

First DSLR Setup

Nikon D90 DSLR
Tamron AF 18-270mm f/3.5-6.3

This was a great first DSLR and we were incredibly happy with it. Actually, for the price point, it offers an incredible amount of flexibility and professionalism.

We decided to get this lens instead of the Nikon lens kit per a salesman’s recommendation. It took almost every type of shot we wanted (those close-in tight shots as well as big picture shots). It is a really great all around lens that has a lot of flexibility. Its one weaknesses (which, is expected, as it couldn’t do everything for how affordable it is), is that it struggles in low light settings. This can usually be compensated in other ways and didn’t stop it from being a wonderful piece of equipment to really start learning.

However, in hindsight, we’d probably recommend just getting a great 50mm lens.

Basic Advice

• Camera prices vary greatly. We have been able to upgrade our equipment by purchasing the best camera we could afford at the time and then selling our previous setup.
• Camera bodies have two big components that make them valuable: 1) The processor (size, speed, etc.) and 2) the lenses that can attach to it.
• If you are purchasing a DSLR, spend about as much on your lens as your camera. It might seem crazy, but the real magic happens with the glass on the camera.
• For the beginner wanting a DSLR, we would recommend getting a camera body and then investing in one really great lens (50mm is a great place to start).
• Deciding which camera would be best (Canon vs. Nikon) is really hard. However, we’ve professionally used both and decided the commitment to Canon was the investment for food photography.
• A 50mm lens is by far our preferred lens for food photography. Any version will treat your work wonders.

FAQs

I’m just starting out, what would you recommend I buy?

First, be reasonable and realistic with what your budget is. What we really recommend is that you don’t get a bad case of buyer’s remorse.

Now, we have two more points of advice:

1) Fully utilize what equipment you have now and only invest when it is time. A top of the line DSLR really isn’t worth much if you can’t utilize its features. On the other hand, when your equipment is limiting you (and you have the resources), an upgrade is a worthwhile consideration.

2) Invest heavily in your lenses. This was advice we were given when we started out and now fully understand why. We actually just thought it was a salesman’s pitch to get us to spend more, but your lenses are going to have much more to do with what type of shot you get than anything else. It’s also possible to get a really great lens and continue to use it when you upgrade to a camera body that works with it in the future.

Should I buy a lens that zooms, or one with a fixed focal point?

There is value to both types of lenses. It really depends on what you are trying to do. If you need something to be versatile for every situation, a zoom lens can probably do the majority of what you need. However,  fixed focal point lenses are the ones that really highlight other features (bokeh, less distortion, greater aperture flexibility, etc.).

If you are using your camera mostly for food photography, a fixed focal point lens is probably much more reasonable (than say if you were investing in sports photography only). Since, as a food photographer, you have time to adjust your shot and physically move closer or further away from your object, the fixed focal point won’t hinder your ability to get a great shot nearly as much.

These seem costly, are they really worth it?

Yeah, we know.

We took a gamble with investing in our first camera, but have found the more we invest in what we love doing, our skills start paying dividends in ways we never imagined.

More importantly, we don’t think all this upgraded camera equipment is just marketing hype (which, we feared at first). They really are great tools. The more we start to fine-tune our craft, the more we recognize the differences in higher quality cameras.

On the other hand, we’ve been able to justify in some top of the line equipment because of our professional gigs. Since photos get compressed and changed online anyway, if you have the money that you’re considering an upper-end investment, getting the entry full frame camera and a great 50mm lens will probably give you everything you need in terms of equipment.

Do I need a filter? Even if it is only a clear one?

Bleck! Probably.

When we bought our first DSLR, we felt like we were talked into all of these extra up-sells. We thought filters (especially clear ones) were one of those things. (Note: We found that you can usually grab one a high quality version of these on Amazon for about $40 (or the cheap ones for about $7) rather than spending $100 at a camera shop.)

Even though we do almost all our photography indoors, we would much rather clean a protective piece of glass than the lens itself. The real benefit touted about these filters is that if something were to go flying toward your camera, you don’t break your $1,000 lens.

Fine. So, yes, we use them. Somewhat bitterly, perhaps. We buy the higher quality ones so we don’t have to take them off when we are shooting. You can buy the cheaper ones, but you might want to remove them before a shoot so it doesn’t alter your shot.

Final Notes

Lastly, we really do try to embrace simplicity, even when it comes to investing in expensive tools. Once we stop using a camera or equipment, we sell it or give it away. Clutter is clutter, regardless of the excuse.

Furthermore, we have sold all kinds of things (furniture, watches, books) to get money for buying our equipment. We really do believe we should constantly evaluate our situation and eliminate anything that doesn’t add value to our lives.

Also checkout our Artificial Lighting Equipment Page.