My Camera Equipement & Gear

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Written By Nikki Bigger
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Hi Guys! Thanks so much for stopping by and checking out my gear page. In this blog post, you will expect to find all the gear I have for creating content/commercial photography/videography, the gear I used to have when I first started and why I upgraded. From being a Canon girl to switching to having 3 Sony’s I’m definitely a Sony Gal! Check out the blog post below to see why I love Sony, what my favorite lenses are and what gear I plan to upgrade this year!

 
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Previous Gear & Why I Upgraded

Cameras

I previously have had the Sony A6000 & Sony A7rii. When I first purchased the Sony A6000 I absolutely loved it and it was a great upgrade from the basic Canon 80D that I had previously. I honestly think the Sony A6000 is a great starter camera because the cost is low, it produces great photos, and it’s small and lightweight but also has the ability to have interchangeable lenses. The last thing you want when purchasing a new camera is to outgrow it quickly. So in the past, every time I purchased a camera I made sure that the capabilities of the camera were much more than I knew at that time so that I had to learn many things about how to use the camera.

Of course, after time I outgrew the Sony A6000 (it actually got stolen), and I purchased the Sony A7rii and absolutely loved it. The Sony A7rii was full-frame in comparison, had way more megapixels, 4k video, and much more - it was basically the big daddy camera at the time when I purchased it and had so many great features and lots for me to learn. I used this camera from learning the basics in 2014 to just this year when I purchased the Sony A7riv. That camera got so much use it was crazy and it was definitely time for an upgrade as my business was really kicking off and I needed upgraded technology.

So far, I’ve been using the Sony A7riv for 3 months and it has been a game-changer. I’ve noticed that the colors are WAY better on the Riv. Something about Sony that I really started to hate about the Rii, was that the colors were off, and always seemingly pink or orange-toned. This definitely made it difficult in post-production to edit the photos correctly. I always looked at Canon’s and loved their color technology, but now that I have the Sony A7riv, It’s actually quite good in comparison to the Canon colors which I’m stoked about! The file size is definitely huge, but there is SO MUCH detail in the images it’s crazy. Definitely worth the upgrade if you need it! Let’s see if this camera will last me 6 years like the last one did, haha!

Lenses

Regarding Lenses, I previously had a Sony 24-240 F3.5-6.3. This is a FANTASTIC lens when you’re starting out because the range is great, and traveling to locations like Thailand, Fiji, etc. all you need is one lens and you’re good to go. However, it is quite limiting with the variable F-stop and the sharpness of the lens isn’t amazing. After a couple of years of using this lens, I definitely outgrew it because the images weren’t as sharp as I would have liked. I then switched to a Sony 50mm 1.8 which is a great lens and super cheap! The quality of this lens is amazing, and the F-stop being 1.8 is fabulous for product shots. The only reason I sold this lens is that I found 50mm to be too close for what I was interested in, the 35 would have been perfect.

I switched to the Sony GMaster 16-35 F2.8. This lens is amazing, crisp, and creates amazing photos. The downfall is that it’s super expensive and I can basically purchase 3 Tamron lenses for the same price as the ONE Sony GMaster. I had the 16-35 GMaster for a few months and realized that the quality of the Tamron was comparable and I would much rather have many lenses than just the Sony 16-35 so I sold it. I currently have the Tamron 17-28 F2.8 & Tamron 28-75 F2.8 and absolutely LOVE them! I just recently purchased the Sony G Master 35 F1.4 and I am in love! It’s great for all the product photography I do, plus for portraits of myself, the bokeh is gorgeous. The crispness to the images and the quality of the G It’s definitely a staple lens when creating content for brands and I’m so glad I purchased it! My plan currently to switch all my gear to G Master as I can see a quality difference between the Sony G and the Tamron. The Tamron has definitely done me very well, but there is always room for improvements when it comes to expanding my photography game!

Laptop

Previously I had a few HP laptops and the Microsoft Surface, but they quickly outgrew what I needed in a laptop. In 2014 I switched to a Macbook Pro and have never looked back! I had my previous Macbook Pro for 6 years until it was time to upgrade. I have recently just got the new Macbook Pro 16 inch Touch Bar and honestly love this laptop so much! With a few extra’s purchased for graphics and speed, this laptop is one that I will have for a long time. Highly suggest Macbook’s if you are debating on which laptop is good for photo and video work! Also, this year I thought that having an iPad would be a great addition and great to bring along on trips instead of the laptop and It has been a great addition to the workflow! I got the new iPad Air and am loving it!

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

When To Upgrade Your Gear?

I’m not someone who wants the newest and best gear every year, that’s not good for my bank account or my workflow! I had my Sony A7rii for 6 years while learning and transitioning into photography being my full-time job. That camera had been with me so long I knew the ins and outs and loved it. I always suggest purchasing a camera that is capable of more than your knowledge of cameras. This way you get to learn how to use the camera, and you’re not limited by its capabilities. Purchase a new camera if you have outgrown yours or if it’s getting too old and can’t keep up with your work.

Does Gear Even Matter?

This is definitely a question that is relative to the person being asked! I definitely know from experience that you can create some amazing photos using very simple/entry-level gear because it’s all about lighting and settings. However, I do find that having really good gear not only inspires me to learn more about it but also gives me the opportunity to do things I couldn’t do with an entry-level camera/lens. The megapixels are higher, the lenses are sharper and the camera has more capabilities, but of course, amazing content can also be created on cheaper cameras. Even the iPhone has been crazy awesome. Don’t let your lack of professional gear deter you from wanting to get into photography!!! Beautiful imagery can be created on any camera/lens combo!

Can I edit a badly taken photo enough to make it look good?

You probably know the answer to this, but I’ve definitely figured it out personally the past few years especially. When we were in the States last winter, we just wanted to see as many locations as we could and we got to many of them in the worst light. But when you’re at the Grand Canyon, and this is the only time you’ll be there, you will want to take photos. Looking back at most of our photos, we aren’t stoked about them at all because they were taken in a horrible light and you can’t out-edit a bad photo. The key is to take the best possible photo you can and wait for the perfect light and then the editing process will be so minimal because you won’t have to FIX anything because the photo was taken at the perfect time and settings.

My Favorite Lens and Why?

My favorite lens would probably be the 28-75 F2.8 Tamron, however, I feel like I will love the Sony 35 F1.8 once I get it. Although I love wide-angle shots, there is something special about really zooming in and seeing something up close and sharp with great depth. Since product photography is my favorite type of photography, the Tamron 28-75 is definitely my go-to lens to get those crisp shots that convey a story about the product.

Lens Filters - Do You Need Them?

You definitely don’t NEED them, but personally, I would highly recommend them! To have the ability to take amazing photos mid-day using a 2-5 Stop Filter is so great, without needing to change any settings on your camera. I also love the Circular Polarizer so much because it really enhances the colors and feel of the image naturally and can drastically change the image for the better! The UV filter is also great because I personally don’t like having a naked lens. If anything happens, it falls, or anything, the lens is saved by the filter. I ALWAYS have a lens filter on my camera at all times. I typically always go for the Circular Polarizer, but if it’s super bright out I’ll put on the 2-5 Stop Filter. I use Polar Pro Filters :)

Gimbles/Stabilization - Why I Love & Use Them

It’s crazy how much more mesmerizing a video can be when the footage is smooth. Regarding the Osmo Mobile 4, I absolutely LOVE this gimble. It’s so easy to use, and although iPhone stabilization is on-point, the Osmo allows me to run and still create smooth footage. It’s been a great addition for reels and smooth phone video.

Regarding the Zhiyun Weebill S, this is a GREAT gimble for your camera. With an easy to switch handle (we purchased the quick-release tabs), it’s easy to set up and use. We have created a few videos with this gimble and are super excited to continue to create more this year! Previously I had the Zhiyun Crane 1, and this gimble was literally the first one they came out with. Definitely not the best gimble but so glad they upgraded their technology and created the Weebill S! Definitely worth the money, and it’s really not that expensive at all!

Is the Mavic Mini 2 Worth It?

Although we only used it a couple of times, we LOVE the Mavic Mini 2! We mostly love that we don’t need a license to fly the drone and can basically use it anywhere that doesn’t say we can’t. The video and image quality is comparable to the iPhone which is great. It’s definitely not the highest quality photo and video, however with its ease of use and ability to use anywhere, we are definitely happy with this purchase and can’t wait to use it more this year!

Thanks so much for stopping by! If you have any other questions, please pop them in the comments below! I hope I answered all your questions and gave you some great insights on my Camera setup and experience with all this gear :) Have a lovely day!

Nikki Bigger
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