My current photography equipment

To preface

Keeping things simple, I've decided to share my current photography gear, that has completely changed recently (2024 November). I've upgraded to Full-frame, and with that comes the fact that all APS-C lenses get replaced to cover the bigger sensor. As to why I upgraded you can read about it in my other blog post.

The camera body

For body I chose the Sony a7C II in the silver variant with beautiful black & silver design. Coming from Sony a6400, I didn't want to give up the compactness and weight of it, hence why the Sony C (compact) series. The a7C II is extremely powerful given the size of it, and felt like a perfect match for me (did I also mention it looks fabulous ?!). I feel like it's the best choice for travelers like me, where weight and size are top concerns. You wouldn't want to be carrying bulky, heavy camera when you're out on the go (but sometimes there's no helping it). Plus when a camera is nice looking it definitely makes you want to take it out more often !

The classic discussion of a7C II vs a7CR (61MP) for me has resulted in the a7C II. As to why, I didn't really find much difference in the 33MP vs 61MP. That made me feel like the extra 1000€ for the a7CR is just not worth it. I've also delved more into the video aspect which the a7C II is a bit better at so that's a good plus of it. Also, even though storage is cheap nowadays, having bigger file sizes that a7CR produces would fill up the storage and SD Cards much faster.

My lens selection

Arguably the most important piece of gear of any photographer are the lenses. Lenses define the final look of your photos, from sharpness and bokeh to field of view and compression - everything. I found myself to be a prime lens shooter, because my situations often involve low-light environments. And who doesn’t love the signature creamy out-of-focus backgrounds these primes can produce ?

For now, I don't have any zoom lenses, but I feel like this might change in future. They are getting really good these days. They would be a great addition to my travels since they are versatile because you don't need to carry a bunch of (possibly heavy) lenses with you.

The list (as of today) is as follows:

1. Sony 35mm f/1.8

My very first full frame lens, and I must say, it's a fine piece of lens. When it comes to flexibility, this lens has it all. Landscapes, portraits, close-ups, cinematics, product photography. Anything. It can (nearly) do anything. And that's the main reason why I chose this as my first lens. It's compact and light enough for comfortable travels and long shooting sessions.

One little drawback of this lens is that unless you stop down from f/1.8, you can notice fringing/chromatic aberration on contrasting edges (for example tree branches in sunlight). But nowadays, it's just a few clicks to make them disappear in any and all photos.

2. Viltrox 85mm f/1.8 II

Another prime that doesn't miss anyone's radar - 85mm f/1.8 that is. Often regarded as the most popular choice for portrait photographers. Considering the deal I got, this lens is an incredible value. For just 240€ shipped, this was hard to miss. The performance is identical, and sometimes better than the classic Sony 85mm f/1.8, while almost at half the price. Despite being a 3rd party lens, the autofocus is no joke. It tracks nicely and accurately, with zero hesitation. It's heavier than the Sony counterpart, but still manageable, though noticeably larger. One downside of it is that the focus ring is extremely stiff and requires quite a bit of force to turn.

3. Viltrox 28mm f/4.5

Although you might've not heard of Viltrox, they have stepped up their lens game substantially in the past year or so. With their 16mm f/1.8, 20mm f/2.8, 40mm f/2.5, and their recent flagship 135mm f/1.8 LAB, they've been rolling out one amazing lens after another. All of these offer sharp photos with competitive autofocus capabilities at a fraction of a price. And the Viltrox 28mm f/4.5 is no different.

It's a bit of a unique piece. It's a pancake lens, almost the size of the camera body cap, meaning its footprint is tiny, making the whole camera with lens pocketable. The aperture on it is locked, it doesn't go any higher or lower, it stays at f/4.5 forever. It also does not have any manual controls (other than the front closing mechanism to replace lens cap, which is really nice !). It's purely relying on the autofocus, which seems to get the job done nicely. It's incredible how much performance and functionality they crammed into this small lens.

However, there has to be a catch somewhere, right ? There are some compromises, as you'd expect to making lens this small. Its vignetting is quite heavy compared to some other lenses. The sharpness of the picture also falls off in the corners.

So why this lens ? The answer is simple: For travelers, it’s an incredibly appealing option. You can keep it on your camera all day and just shoot freely — it’s what this lens is made for. No other lens is this light while being so functional. All of this at just 109€ makes this lens feel too good to be true.

The accessories

There's not much accessories but they play a big role in my photography experience.

1. Camera bag

My camera bag is nothing to brag about, but it's there, helping me carry all thing when going on longer travels instead of some quick outings. It's the Lowepro Adventura SH 110 II. It's small enough to be comfortable to carry, but also fits every piece of gear mentioned in this post and more !

2. Thumb grip

Arguably the most helpful accessory of them all. I refuse to take a single step with my camera without thumb grip equipped. Once you get used to it, there's no escape. For me, I can't properly hold the camera without it, and I wouldn't want to increase the footprint of what’s meant to be a compact camera by adding a bottom grip. Overall, an irreplaceable piece of metal that I’m truly grateful for.

My thumb grip was originally in black finish, to match the fully blacked-out style of Sony a6400. Instead of buying another thumb grip, I just sanded it down to match the new silver top of a7C II, and it has worked out pretty good !

3. The strap/leash

My newest addition, the Peak Design Leash, was a solid buy for my setup. It's slim, gray design, as opposed to other straps/leashes make it very stylish and easy to carry my camera around. I use it almost like a sling, wearing it over my left shoulder so the camera rests on my right hip. It wraps over my back and around my hand, making it secure and easy to grab the camera when needed for quick action. It's easily adjustable and compatible with other Peak Design products because of the anchors. Which brings us to my another accessory:

4. Peak Design Hand Strap/Cuff

What used to be my main way of carrying camera with, has almost been forgotten. Used all the time with my former Sony a6400, it hasn't seen much of light lately (thanks to the Peak Design Leash). But it does have it's use and holds a special place in heart for me. It's been used since the beginning of my photography journey up until recently. By using it, the camera is glued to your arm, and it's not leaving it anytime soon. There isn't a single scenario where the camera could fall off or be stolen. When using it, you are as ready as you can be, since the camera is in your hands all the time.

Plans for future

Since this is my newly rebuilt photography setup, there is a good chunk of useful things missing. Things I am definitely planning to get in future are as follow:

1. Hot shoe microphone - Since I am getting more into videos lately.
2. Good quality filters (VND, CPL and Black Mist)
3. More SD Cards/Travel SSD - When it comes to storage, more is always better. Having backups is crucial for photographers/videographers. Transferring all photos and videos from the camera to a second storage device adds an extra layer of security for your data.
4. Extra batteries & charger - Self explanatory. You don't want you camera to die in the middle of important shoot, never.
5. Travel Tripod - I'd like to experiment with tripods, since I never used them much. A nice tripod that's light and compact so it fits in your baggage when flying would be nice. Also having a quick release system would be a game changer for sure.
6. Lights - Light is important. It's what makes half the picture/video. But more on this topic in some later post.

Some closing words

As many people say, gear isn't everything. You may not need full frame and you may not need the newest and latest most expensive lenses to take nice photos. It's best to always make use of what you have on hand - and that would most likely be your phone. Experiment with what you have, and once you feel like you've hit a road block, it may be a good time to upgrade. But sometimes, when a camera is too nice you just can't overlook it ;).

This post was just about what I use and why. It's not about having the best gear and it never was. Keep exploring, learning, and enjoying the process ! See you in my next post !