My Photography Gear

I used to shoot with the Canon 7Dii  (WexPhoto | Amazon) using the 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 (WexPhoto | Amazon) as my main lens for wildlife photography.  I still recommend this setup for anyone getting started and I’ve taken some of my favourite images to date with my Canon gear.

My main reason for making the switch to Olympus was weight and cost.  My next Canon lens would probably have been a 500mm fast prime which would probably set me back £3500 (used) and the extra weight would be substantial.

I use my gear for wildlife photography whilst vlogging and I often go on long hikes in the mountains. So, therefore, the lightweight Olympus system with a friendlier price tag for a fast telephoto prime lens made me switch to Olympus Micro 4/3.

My Vlogging Gear

For my vlogs I use the Canon M50 which is lightweight, has a flip-out screen, microphone input and it can also film in 4K if I want, an ideal vlogging camera.  When I first started out I just used my iPhone which is perfectly adequate, just make sure you get a microphone for good audio!

The Røde VideoMicro is my go-to mic, but I have a lavier backup in case it’s really windy and I have a handy RØDE Microphones NT-USB Mini for my desktop that I regularly use for videos on my Patreon site and some of the post-processing videos on my YouTube Channel.

I’ve broken a few small wrap-around tripods, and now I’ve finally settled on the SMALLRIG Mini Tripod which is much sturdier.

Post-processing software 

Mainly I use Lightroom and Photoshop to process my images, but recently I’ve come across Topaz and I’ve started to use more of their programs with some incredible results.

I use Final Cut Pro to edit my vlogs for YouTube Channel and videos on my Patreon site.

Other handy accessories

An absolute must for bird photographers is a decent pair of binoculars, my Viking 8×42 has lasted me over 6 years now and still going. A trail camera can be really useful to gather more information on animal activity. E.g. staking out a badger sett or a well-used mammal path to inform my photography.

Camera backpacks

It’s difficult to find one camera bag that’s suitable for all occasions.  My Backlight 18L is my day to day bag, it’s small and lightweight, but I can get all my camera gear, vlogging gear, the Mavic drone, and some snacks for a day out. 

For longer sessions and when I want to bring a hide, the slider, or other bulky items, I go with the Ajna F-Stop or the Tetras 500 (discontinued).  If I’m going camping and need lots of gear I take the Ajna insert and use my large Osprey Kestrel 68 backpack.

Clothes for wildlife photography

Clothing for wildlife photography should ideally be clothes that will keep you comfortable and be of earthy colours so as not to stand out in the environment. Brands I wear regularly and recommend are Fjallraven, Arcteryx, and Paramo.

During winter I wear 5 mm thick neoprene Muckboots to keep my feet warm.

Hides/Blinds for wildlife photography

All my hides and camo gear are from Tragopan who specialise in gear for wildlife photographers.