ESSENTIAL TECH: FOR TAKING THE PERFECT PICTURE

Having the right kit can make all the difference when taking the perfect picture. From choosing the right lens to picking the right accessories, we have you covered with all of the best products currently on the market. Whether you’re a food photographer, a documentary photographer or if you just like to dabble on your smartphone, there will be products to match your style of photography (but put them all together and they become any photographers’ ideal camera bag).

Food Photography

Sony A7 Mark III: Taking appetising foodie pics can be very tricky for beginners but a good camera is an excellent starting point. Sony A7 Mark III is a mirrorless full-frame camera featuring a touch screen and 24-megapixel sensor. It boasts a 93% autofocus coverage with 693 phase detection points, perfect for shooting stationary objects like food.

Sony FE 90mm f/2.8 Mirrorless Macro Lens: A 90 mm high-aperture mirrorless macro lens is the perfect match for full-frame outfits. This lens combines an optical stabilisation system with an aperture rating of f/2.8, necessary to make the most of the available light without recurring to flashguns. A magnification factor of 1:1 makes it an ideal macro lens for food shooting.

Essential equipment list:

• A good tripod
• Reflectors
• A colour checker

Astrophotography

Manfrotto 055 Carbon Fibre 4 Section Tripod: A good tripod is a must-have for every astrophotographer. The Manfrotto MT055CXPRO4 has a strong carbon-fibre 90° centre column mechanism offering the perfect stability for the most impeccable pictures of the Milky Way. It weighs just 2.1kg with a load capacity of 9kg and features an easy link connector for additional accessories.

iOptron SkyTracker Pro: As stars move fast, an astrophotographer is often confined to short shutter speeds to capture as much light as possible. However, an equatorial mount such as the iOptron SkyTracker Pro allows you to take sharp long-exposure images. This ultra-lightweight star tracker has an in-built battery that lasts for 24 hours and four tracking rates.

Essential equipment list:

• Wireless camera remote
• Lens hood
• Light pollution filters

Nature Photography

Think Tank Hydrophobia V3.0 Rain Cover: With the weather being often unpredictable when out in the wild, a camera rain cover should always be included in a nature photographer’s equipment. The three-layer material of this seam-sealed rain cover offers maximum protection against rain and dusty conditions, with cinchable sleeves allowing full access to the camera.

Really Right Stuff PG-02 Gimbal Tripod Head: A tripod head is essential to balance the weight of the camera so that it can be moved easily both horizontally and vertically and capture the perfect wildlife shot. The PG-02 is designed and built to support heavy photo gear up to 23kg. The two-part modular design of this gimbal head is made of solid machined aluminium and stainless steel.

Essential equipment list:

• Camera trap
• Binoculars
• Camouflage gear

Sports Photography

Peak Design Slide Camera Strap: As a sports photographer, you may need to be on the move in order to capture the most dramatic photo. A camera strap is an essential item to prevent your camera from dropping in the process. Peak Design Slide is an extremely versatile camera strap, popular among amateurs and professionals. Its Anchor Link system can support up to 90kg.

SanDisk Extreme PRO SDXC UHS-I card: With sports photography, your camera needs to be able to handle rapid-fire continuous shooting. This SD card has a write speed of up to 90MB/s and allows shooting in both JPEG and RAW. It also boasts a 170MB/s read speed with a capacity of up to 1TB and an impressive UHS Speed Class 3 rating, making it the best solution for rapid sports shooting.

Essential equipment list:

• Extra batteries
• Teleconverter
• Monopod

Documentary Photography

Lowepro ProTactic 450 AW II Camera Bag: A documentary photographer needs to be able to move from one place to another comfortably whilst protecting their bulky equipment. Lowepro ProTactic 450 AW II is designed to fit two DSLR bodies, up to five lenses, a 17″ laptop, and other accessories, offering multiple access points. The Activzone back panel ensures maximum comfort.

Canon Speedlite 600EX II-RT Flash: A good flashgun is an essential item in that it greatly increases the creative possibilities for documentary photographers. Canon’s flagship flashgun has a built-in radio transmission wireless functionality as well as a 30m RF range and a 20-200 mm zoom range. With an excellent TTL accuracy, this flashgun offers spectacular performances.

Essential equipment list:

• Rubber eyecup
• Film camera alternative
• High-speed memory card

Phone Photography

Anker PowerCore 20100 power bank: Smartphones tend to run quickly out of battery when shooting photos continuously and this is why a power bank is always a good idea. Anker PowerCore has a capacity of 20.100 mAh, allowing your device to be charged multiple times during the day. It is designed to be perfectly portable, weighs less than a can of soup and has universal compatibility.

FocusFoto Smartphone Video Rig:  With smartphone cameras becoming more and more professional, a smartphone rig is a must-have for stability and adaptability. FocusFoto Smartphone Video Rig includes a directional microphone and LED light. The latter has a maximum brightness of 800 lm, which helps optimising daylight photo quality by adding ‘realistic’ warm light.

Essential Equipment List:

• Lenses
• Remote shutter control
• Small tripod