Camera Bodies:
Canon EOS 7D. This is my primary body for sports and event photography. I choosed the 7d because of it's high frame rate, quick autofocus, great image quality and best of all it's durability, it is weather sealed and I don't have to worry about shooting in harsh weather condition. The Canon EOS 7D is still Canon's King of the Crop (APS-C). With the release of the current firmware update Version 2.0.X it keeps the EOS 7D on the cutting edge of technological innovation by adding user-requested innovations developed for Canon’s high-end EOS cameras: A higher maximum burst rate for continuous shooting, definable maximum limit for ISO Auto, compatibility with the Canon GPS Receiver GP-E2, and manual audio level adjustment. Additional enhanced features include faster scrolling of magnified images, quick control during playback, in-camera RAW image processing, JPEG image resizing and ratings, plus customization of file names and time zone settings.
Amazon
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The EOS 60D DSLR. This is my second camera, with it's 5.5 frame rate, it's a perfect backup for sports and event photography, not too fast, not too slow and best of all, it's not too expensive, just perfect for budget concerned photographer like me.The Canon EOS 60D also is also partially weather sealed with dust and water resistance which is important when shooting outdoors. With it's APS-C sized 18.0 Megapixel and improved ISO capabilities from 100 – 6400 (expandable to 12800) like the EOS 7D I can shoot in sports even in the dimmest situations. It's Multi-control Dial enables users to conveniently operate menus and enter settings with a simple touch. The EOS 60D also features an EOS first: A Vari-angle 3.0-inch Clear View LCD (1,040,000 dots) monitor for easy low- or high-angle viewing, perfect for macro photography.
Amazon
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MY LENSES
Canon EF-S 10-22mm F/3.5-4.5. My ultra wide angle lens. This exciting zoom lens provides ultra wide-angle coverage to my EOS 7d and 60D. Equivalent to a 16-35mm zoom, it offers excellent performance and optics designed from the ground-up for digital SLR use. Three Aspherical lens elements, plus a Super-UD element, assure image quality. Its ring-type USM means fast and silent AF along with full-time manual focus. It focuses as close as 9.5 inches. I use it for sports photography, people, landscape wide angle macro, it can handle anything you can think about.
Amazon
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Tamron SP 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di. This is my favorite portraiture and event lens. It features a F/2.8 wide aperture that is really useful in low light.I Like it because, it's small, light, and being a zoom lens, it gives me the flexibility I need. I can zoom in anytime if I want to get close and I can zoom out for a wider perspective. I also use this frequently on video work on the 60d. This ground-breaking high-speed mid-range zoom is prized by pros and serious shooters for its fast F/2.8 constant aperture, evenness of illumination, and its outstanding imaging performance, and by all photographers for its compact size and reasonable weight that make it feel like an ordinary standard zoom.Amazon
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Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USMMy Primary Lens for sports photography. With the fast F/2.8 aperture, I can shoot at night with a fast enough shutter speed to capture heart pounding sports action. I used this for High School Football, Basketball, Soccer, Wrestling, Wildlife, it just works I have not had a problem with it even with the luck of IS, sure IS is good but for the price this is a bargain. When I started shooting sports, I sold my Canon EF 70-200mm F/4L IS USM and bought this instead, the F/2.8L really made a huge difference.
Amazon
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ROKINON 8mm Ultra Wide Angle Fisheye Lens is the most affordable 8mm Fisheye Lens in the market. It features the widest field of view over any other 8mm fisheye lens, and its build quality and optical construction are superb. The ROKINON 8mm lens is designed for digital SLR cameras with APS-C image sensors. For these types of cameras, it provides full-frame coverage – which means that pictures will cover the entire frame. It is also compatible with cameras that have a full-frame sensor. I mostly use this for basketball, to take dramatic action shots under the ring.
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Canon EF 50mm F/1.4 USM . The EF 50mm F/1.4 USM is such a great lens, I just love it. The F/1.4 really makes a difference in low light situation. This is lens has an excellent build compare to the nifty fifty or the EF 50mm F/1.8 II, it has better image quality and faster, the larger focus ring is a joy to use especially when doing video with this lens.
Amazon
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Canon EF 85mm F/1.8 USM. This lens one of the fastest lens I have, being an F/1.8 lens, it gives a really sweet background bokeh. The 85mm F/1.8 is also sharp and clear at all apertures. I also use it for Macro/Closeup in tandem with my pro optic auto extension. The 85mm F/1.8 is just a fantastic lens lens to use from portraiture, events,macro and low light photography. This is my favorite second lens when shooting basketball and wrestling matches. It gives me a stunning portraits of players and with the fast F/1.8 apreture, I can still capture action even in extreme low light.
Amazon
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Canon EF 400mm F/5.6L USM Super Telephoto Lens. This high-performance lens was designed with portability and handling ease in mind. One super UD-glass element, whose characteristics are similar to fluorite, and one UD-glass element result in sharp pictures. The lens also has a built-in hood and a detachable tripod mount. I bought this years ago for some wildlife and bird photography, now it's a part of my sports photogaphy kit. I used it for football and soccer mostly in early afternoon when there's enough light.
Amazon
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Speedlite / Flash
The Canon Speedlite 580EX Older but still a crowd favorite. Some of it's notable features includes, E-TTL (and E-TTL II), has a guide number of 58/191 (meters/feet) at ISO 100 and 105mm focal length. This speedlite works flawlessly and is reliable in any situation.
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The Canon Speedlite 430EX II features a powerful flash (guide number of 141 ft./43m at ISO 100) with a fast recycling time in a compact, durable body. A one-touch quick-lock mechanism makes it easy to attach or detach the 430EX II from the camera and a metal foot has been added for strength and durability.
Flash controls can now be set through the camera's LCD screen on compatible EOS Digital SLR cameras. The Speedlite 430EX II is also quieter, recycle time is 20% faster (as compared to the 430EX) and since it is compatible with Canon's wireless E-TTL, it can be used as an affordable "slave unit".
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Yongnuo YN-560. A cheap reliable manual flash that can surely deliver. This flash has a power comparable to 580 ex II, it's got a great build quality that will last a longtime. I'm really happy with this flash. I will post a review when I get a chance. I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a powerful, tough, manual flash. Great for strobist setup without breaking the bank.
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Sunpak RD2000C Camera FlashCompact, yet powerful flash for Canon or Nikon cameras. The hot shoe base rotates into the flash body so it can fit in your pocket. Also comes with built-in diffuser. This is my favorite flash for Macro Photography, it's ETTL capable, best of all it is light, small and easy to carry.
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Light Modifiers / Diffusers
Rogue FlashBender Kit A very versatile and portable light modifier, this is my new favorite. You can bend a FlashBender into almost any position, and it will assume that shape, staying in position until you reform it. FlashBenders are made from the highest quality materials, including genuine Cordura nylon and genuine Velcro fasteners. FlashBenders' white reflective surfaces are made from a durable, wipeable, synthetic fabric which has been tested for neutrality so that it won't alter the color temperature of the reflected light from a strobe. Rogue FlashBenders fit a wide range of shoe mount flash brands, including: Canon, Konica, Metz, Minolta, Nikon, Nissin, Olympus, Panasonic, Pentax, Quantum, Sigma, Sony and Vivitar. Bendable Bounce Card / Flag The versatile Rogue FlashBender Bounce Card can be used either as a reflector to bounce light onto a subject, or as a flag (using either the built-in white surface, or included black fabric attachment) to shield light away from it.
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The Demb Flash Diffuser Pro consists of 2 separate parts: a Big Flip-it!, which attaches to your flash, plus a front diffusion panel that goes on the strap of the Flip-it! with Velcro. This is like one of the best flash diffuser I've out there, way way better, than Gary Fongs Soup Bowl, the Lightsphere I and II, better than Lumiquest Pro Max. The best light modifier for all around on the go jobs, great for events, indoor & outdoor, fill, bounce you name it.
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Bags/Belt/Lens Pouches/Changers
Lowepro Flipside 400 AW Backpack This is where I store my sports gear for transport to locations. Inside I have a Canon EOS 7D with EF 70-200mm F/2.8 attached, a Canon EOS 60D with a EF-S 10-22mm Ultra Wide Angle Lens, a Canon EF 400mm F/5.6L, a Tamron 28-75mm F/2.8. I also have a Canon 580EX, Rogue Flash Bender and a lot of other small stuff. It features a adjustable dividers allow custom organization inside the roomy main compartment, a mesh-covered, padded waistbelt, back pad and contoured straps for added comfort and wicking away moisture; a hideaway tripod holder to secure a tripod or monopod to backpack; built-in memory card pockets on inside panel; front storage panels and mesh pockets for storing additional gear; Hypalon SlipLock attachment loops for SlipLock compatible products; a built-in All Weather Cover; and silent zipper pulls.
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Lowepro Fastpack 350 Camera/Laptop Backpack. This is what I used at times a needed to bring a notebook with me. I can easily fit a 15" laptop, a body with a 70-200mm F/2.8, a flash and additional 2 to 3 lenses.
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Think Tank Skin 50 V2.0 Belt Pouch for Various Wide Angle Lenses with Hood A must have for every event photographer, fits a medium telephoto, a ultrawide angle lens. I use it mainly to store, memory cards, extra batteries and external flash, mobile phones and other small accessories.
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Think Tank Lens Drop The Think Tank Lens drop belt pouch allows you to drop-in your lens or teleconverter without the need for using caps. Unique pull closure keeps your lens securely in place with lens hood in shooting position, even when it sticks above the rim of bag.
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Think Tank Pro Speed Belt V2.0, Padded Small-Medium Size Protect your back! Designed for comfort, this fully padded waist belt allows you to Rotate or Lock Modular, Skin, and Multimedia components for even weight distribution.
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Camera Straps
Classic (RS-4) Camera Strap. This is my favorite strap if I needed to carry one camera body. It really works for me and I can carry my dslr with whatever lens is attached, it just makes it really easy and comfortable.
The BlackRapid Classic (RS-4) Camera Strap is a lightweight and low profile strap with the length adjuster on the front of the shoulder pad for quick adjustments on the go. The shoulder pad of the strap has a small zipper pocket suitable for a couple of memory cards or similar small items. The bottom of the shoulder pad has light airy foam covered by mesh for comfort and breathability.
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The CowboyStudio Double Camera Harness/Strap for Digital SLR and Video. At times that I need to use two camera bodies, such as on events and sports venues, this is the one I use. Not as comfortable to wear like my black rapid, but it works. It makes it easy to move around carrying two camera bodies on each sides. It is the ideal strap for action photographers. It is a revolutionary new camera strap. The fully adjustable strap allows you camera to glide easily along the strap. When not in use, your camera will hang comfortable at your side or behind you depending on how you position the strap. When you need to shoot, just grab the camera and pull it up into shooting position. The strap will stay in comfortably in place on your shoulder as the camera slides along the strap on its unique sliding carabineer. The strap is also equipped with an amazingly tough steel wire which is designed to prevent theft by cutting the strap while attached to your body. This is the perfect strap for photojournalists, sports photographers, nature photographers hiking or climbing, urban warriors who need to keep the cameras out of the way while working through the crowds, and wedding photographers.
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Tripod / Monopod
Manfrotto 680B Monopod. Four section Monopod featuring sure rubber grip, wrist carrying strap, quick action lever leg lock system with 45° run, large 60 mm camera/head platform with plastic cover and dual 1/4” – 3/8” camera fixing screw. This replaces the Bogen Manfrotto 680. Build quality is excellent.
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Dolica AX620B100 62-Inch Proline Tripod Dolica's 62" Aluminum Proline Tripod is ideal for both indoor and outdoor photography. It is perfect for events, sports activity, capturing that one amazing shot. Designed for use with Point-N-Shoot cameras and / or Digital SLR cameras Tripod Features: Professional Aluminum alloy construction and able to support up to 13.2 lbs. Base thread: 3/8". Includes ballhead, quick release plate and bubble level. 90 degree vertical platform. Standard-wide angle, semi-wide angle, full-wide angle. Quick release leg locks and non-slip rubber feet. I replace the ballhead with a much better one. I bought a Vanguard SBH-300 Ball Head which is perfect for what I need.
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Fotopro 51-G Arca Compatible Tripod Ball Head. Precision made Fotopro® brand ball head. New Arca-Swiss compatible Ball head. All metal construction. Graduated panoramic scale on base. Independent ball lock. Includes 40mm clamp & one 40mm (1.56") QR plate with 1/4" screw & D ring. 3/8" tripod socket w 1/4" adapter. Ball diameter: 30mm (1.2"). Height: 9cm (3.5"). Diameter of base: 43mm (1.7"). Max load: 7kg (15.4 lbs). Weight: 315g (12oz). Height 90mm (3.5").
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Vanguard SBH-300 Large-Format Magnesium Alloy Ballhead. Manufactured by Vanguard, this ballhead is made of solid magnesium alloy, and I can tell that the build quality is excellent without the heavy price tag. The SBH-300 can support up to 70lbs./32 kg, which is an overkill for me. It can handle my eos 20d with EF 70-200mm F/4 IS USM like a toy. I had this ballhead since February of 2010 and up to now it’s still in A+ condition. One feature that I like is the plate locking mechanism, to release the plate I have to un-tighten a knob, but this won’t release the plate, there is a second lock that I have to press to fully release the plate, that second lock is the red button on the opposite side. This is an excellent feature which is a must on all plates to protect the camera from accidental drop.
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Audio
Zoom H2 Handy Portable Stereo Recorder.
The H2 is the only portable recorder with 4 mic capsules on-board for 360° recording. With 4 mic capsules in a W-X/Y configuration, the audio is decoded instantly, bringing these four signals together for unparalleled stereo imaging.
But the H2 doesn't stop there. For maximum flexibility, you can record from the front of the H2 in a 90° pickup pattern or the rear of the H2 in a 120° pickup pattern at up to 96 kHz/24-bit resolution as a WAV file, or as an MP3 file at bitrates up to 320 kbps. Additionally, you can record in a 360° pickup pattern at up to 48kHz/24-bit resolution which will allow you to convert your recordings to 5.1 Surround. Simple to use and reliable and is cheaper than the Zoom H4 which has more features that I don't need.
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Audio-Technica ATR-6550 Video Camera Condenser Shotgun Microphone. Crisp & intelligible pickup—far away or up close. In its “Tele” range setting, this cardioid condenser is engineered to pick up dialogue and sound effects at a distance, while bypassing ambient noise such as traffic, air-handling systems, room reverberation and mechanically coupled vibrations. Designed especially for use with video cameras. Read related post here.
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Other Gear / Accessories
Fotodiox 8"x12" Softbox. This is NOT Plastic, or Paper. It is real fabric softbox for Professional use. It has a Professional appearance, NOT a toy like light modifier. The quality of construction and the diffusion it gives me really top notch. It comes with a zippered bag to keep the diffuser screen clean and the velcro strap is sewn to prevent misplacement. Better than opteka. I also use this when I'm photographing insects, bugs, bees and the likes, I set the flash on a stand and put this on the flash and fire it remotely, it gives me awesome clarity and a great quality of light. I use this mostly for macro.
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Cowboy Studio Light Kit. Light stands : Versatile, Hardworking & Lightweight; Black anodized aluminum; Max height is 6.1 Ft; Stable & Quick Setup.
White Soft Umbrella: This translucent umbrella is a great addition to your studio setup. This umbrella works well to diffuse the light from any flash creating a soft even light for your subject. The lack of a black backing give this umbrella the ability to flash through the umbrella if needed and simulate the effects of a soft-box. Portability is a plus for location shots. This size is good for head shots and small to medium sized products.
Amazon
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This is a portable and versatile softbox designed for speedlites and flashes with a hotshoe. The softbox comes standard with an adjustable L-Shaped mounting bracket which can fit practically any flash unit. By diffusing the flash lighting, the softbox creates a perfect and even lighting that allows you to capture picture-perfect shots. It will also reduce blemishes and improve skin tone contrast while delivering super rich coloring, it's everything you need to produce studio like photography on a more professional level. It also comes includes a carrying bag so you can take this convenient and effective combination to create the desired results you want anywhere you go!
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