Travel kit
I have been taking pictures seriously since my high school years in the 1970's on the coast of Maine, using at that time my mother’s Zeiss Ikon Contina II, which she bought in Germany with her cousin in the 1950's. In college in the 1980's, my sister gave me an all-manual and indestructible Nikon FM that accompanied me through Central America, and later Southeast Asia. I have been shooting with Nikon gear since. As for many, my travel/nature kit has evolved as a compromise between image quality and weight.
For many years, I traveled with D500 and Z7 cameras and travel-appropriate lenses, 500mm f/5.6E PF or 300mm f/4E PF, TC-14E, 24-70mm S f/4 or 16-80mm f/2.8-4 DX, 10-20mm f/4.5-5.6G DX, and if space allowed, an old 28mm f/2.8 and 70-200 (f/2.8 or f/4). My camera bag also includes Nikon circular polarizer, 10-stop, and step-up, filters, as well as a 85mm f/3.5 DX, or 105 micro, and SB-500 flash for insects and spiders. And, when space allows I pack a Gitzo Traveler Reporter or RRS pocket tripod. Closer to home for small critters, I use a 105mm f/2.8 or 60mm f/2.8 micros and sometimes additional flashes.
July 2024. Like everyone else, I have now moved to full-frame mirror-less cameras, particularly for their fast focusing for birds and other wildlife and focus peaking for macro photos. But, this has pushed the limits of what is easily carried for hiking and field work. I am now using Nikon's Z8 full frame cameras, with Nikon's 400mm f/4.5 S, 105mm S macro, and 20mm f/1.8 S. I am not sure the 400 is as sharp as the 500 PF, but it lets in more light. The 400mm f/2.8 is just too heavy to haul around and hike with. The 105mm S macro is amazing.
