Too Much Gear

It’s been quite a long time since my last entry, and I wish I had a better excuse than laziness. But that’s all I got. So, to celebrate the return of my blog, let’s take a minute to reflect on all the gear that I have acquired in the almost two and a half years of dabbling in this craft known as photography.

“It’s not about the gear!” is what they always say. And they would be right. It’s definitely possible to take great pictures with just about any DSLR these days, from the entry level D40 to the pro-camera D3. But the gear head in me always tend to speak the loudest in my head. So why fight it? I tell myself I’m helping the economy, supporting people’s livelihoods, saving the world. Whatever works. Without further ado, here is latest list of yummy gear for you to enjoy:

Cameras

  • Nikon D90
  • Nikon D40

Lenses

  • 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor (D40 kit lens)
  • 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED IF AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor
  • 24mm f/2.8 Nikkor-N (Factory AI’d)
  • 28mm f/2.8 Series E
  • 35mm f/2 Nikkor-O.C
  • 35mm f/2.5 Series E
  • 36-72mm f/3.5 Series E
  • 50mm f/1.4 Nikkor-S
  • 50mm f/1.8 Series E
  • 50mm f/2 Nikkor-H
  • 50mm f/2 AI
  • 55mm f/3.5 Micro-Nikkor-P.C
  • 55mm f/3.5 Micro-Nikkor-P.C (Factory AI’d)
  • 70-210mm f/4 Series E
  • 75-150mm f/3.5 Series E
  • 80-200mm f/4.5 Zoom-Nikkor AI
  • 85mm f/1.8 Nikkor-H (Factory AI’d)
  • 100mm f/2.8 Series E
  • 100-300mm f/5.6 AI-S
  • 105mm f/2.5 Nikkor-P (Sonnar Type)
  • 105mm f/2.5 AI
  • 135mm f/2.8 Series E
  • 180mm f/2.8 Nikkor-P (Factory AI’d)
  • 200mm f/4 Nikkor-Q
  • 300mm f/4.5 Nikkor-H (Factory AI’d)
  • TC-200 2x teleconverter
  • TC-16A 1.6x teleconverter

Everything else

  • Lowepro Fastpack 250 (Artic Blue)
  • Lowepro Slingshot 200AW
  • Lowepro EX-140 (Gray)
  • Lowepro Topload Zoom Mini
  • Lowepro Transporter Strap
  • Manfrotto 190XPROB Aluminum Tripod
  • Manfrotto 488RC2 Midi Ball Head w/RC2 quick release
  • Manfrotto 681B Monopod
  • Manfrotto 234RC2 Swivel/Tilt Head w/quick release
  • Giottos tripod carrying strap
  • Nikon SB-24 Speedlight
  • Nikon SB-25 Speedlight
  • Sunpak 433AF flash (Nikon dedicated)
  • Vivitar 5200 flash
  • Stofen Omnibounce knock-off diffuser
  • Cactus V2s 4-Channel Wireless Flash Trigger Set (2x )
  • 2 male-male PC Sync cords
  • Rosco swatchbook (flash gels)
  • 7 ft light stand (2x)
  • Swivel flash mount umbrella holder w/cold shoe (2x)
  • 33″ white umbrella (2x)
  • Cokin CBP40052 P-Series Holder w/52mm Adapter Ring
  • Cokin Graduated Neutral Density Filter Kit for P-Series (121L, 121S, 121M)
  • Vivitar Close-up filters (No. 1, No. 2, No. 4)
  • Tiffen UV filter, Hoya UV filter, various Sky 1A warming filters (52mm for most)
  • Tiffen Circular Polarizer (52mm)
  • Sandisk Extreme III 4GB SDHC w/Micromate USB 2.0 Reader (2x)
  • PQI 4GB SDHC Class 6
  • Targus TG-BGD40 Battery Grip for D40
  • EN-EL9 generic battery for D40 (2x)
  • PK-3 extension tube
  • Mennon camera grip wrist strap
  • Jianisi Nikon remote (ML-L3 knock-off)
  • Giottos large rocket blower
  • Lenspen
  • Nikon microfiber cleaning cloth
  • Rosco Lens Tissue
  • Mr. Bear

To be honest, there’s just no way I actually use all this stuff very often. There are some lenses that I haven’t even had a chance to try out yet, since I tend to gravitate towards the ones I have tried and liked. But I’ll get around to it eventually. Trust me. Moving forward, you’d think there’s no more gear left to buy, right? Looking back on my last gear post, I have pretty much purchased all that I set out to get. So I should be content now, and look into improving my photography skills and worry less about gear. Yeah… I’ll get back to you on that one. Meanwhile, here’s the new wishlist:

  • Lambency flash diffuser (Gary Fong knock-off)
  • 42″ 5-in-1 reflector
  • Split prism focusing screen (Katz-eye or other brands)
  • Background stand and various muslins
  • MB-D80 battery grip for D90
  • PC sync hotshoe adapter (2x)
  • Colorimeter & monitor calibration software (Spyder3)
  • Yet another camera bag (shoulder or waist pack)
  • ND2, ND4, ND8 cokin filters (not graduated)
  • TBD

That’s all I can come up with for now. I’m sure I’m missing something. The TBD is a placeholder, to allow that wishlist to grow. My wallet’s not going to be happy with me. Yikes.