I often get asked what gear and equipment I use for my photography, and for riding motorcycles. To keep it simple I decided to make a list of all of the main components that I use and then I broke the list down in to two parts: Moto and Photo. As mentioned these are just the main components, many other different bits and pieces exist to complete my setup, for a more detailed look at my gear be sure to check out the Fifth North YouTube channel.
Sony Alpha A7RIV
The Sony Alpha A7RIV full frame mirrorless camera is my primary camera body for shooting photos and is the camera responsible for my switch to mirrorless and Sony. This camera is capable of producing amazing 61 mega pixel photos and is capable of taking full advantage of Sony’s G Master glass. Though it is capable of shooting 4K video and was my go to photo and video camera at the start of my YouTube channel it has since become a backup video camera as I paired it up with the Sony FX3. The A7RIV continues to be my primary photo camera and though its successor the A7RV has come out, it still continues to be a phenomenal photo camera that will serve me well for years to come.
Sony 12-24 F2.8 G Master
When I first set out to create my Sony Mirrorless kit I wanted to start with a F2.8 Trinity of lenses. Typically a 16-35mm lens is the wide lens in a trinity (that normally also includes a 24-70mm and a 70-200mm) but I was not happy with the 24-35mm overlap that it shared with my 24-70mm lens. Once I discovered that Sony had a 12-24mm that had no overlap and gave me even more on the wide end vs the 16-35mm I was sold. This lens has been a top performer for me for landscapes and tight spaces like car interiors. The Sony 12-24mm G Master lens was definitely an investment but it was worth every penny.
Sony 24-70 F2.8 G Master
The Sony 24-70mm G Master Lens is the workhorse of my camera bag! If you don’t have a 24-70mm in your kit I don’t know how you do it. I find this lens on my A7RIV a good 80% of the time. The 24-70mm range has the ability to cover the majority of my photography needs, architecture, landscapes, street, portraits and automotive. This lens has superb image quality and color and at F2.8 performs incredibly well in low light situations. If I was told that I could only keep one lens this lens and this focal range would be my choice.
Sony 70-200 F2.8 G Master
To complete my Sony G Master F2.8 trinity I have the 70-200mm F2.8. Paired with my Sony A7RIV this lens is excellent for wildlife, sports, and portrait photography. With excellent image quality, color and auto focus this is my go to lens for anything further away that is out of reach of my 24-70. Matching the image quality is the build quality, this thing is built like a tank. Also, the addition of Sony’s Optical SteadyShot combined with the A7RIV’s IBIS allows for minimal shake at 200mm. For now this is my longest lens though I do see myself looking at something longer in the future.
Sony FX3 Cinema Camera
My Sony A7RIV is an amazing photo camera, but outside of being used to shoot as a secondary camera at 4k 24 it doesn’t get much video use. I needed something more video centric and capable of 4k 120. I was initially all set on getting the A7SIII, an amazing camera, but right before I pulled the trigger the FX3 came out, essentially an A7SIII but with some upgrades. The additions of the internal fan, XLR support and a cage free design make the FX3 a perfect video solution. The Sony FX3 has been an absolute video work horse for me and has performed exceptionally in absolutely every situation that I have put it in over the past two years.
Sony 24 F1.4 G Master
I only own one lens outside of my F2.8 trinity and that is the Sony G Master 24mm F1.4 prime. This lens is great for low light situations, street photography and portraits, but most of all this lens has one primary use for me, video! The Sony G Master 24mm F1.4 lens does an amazing job with auto focus, image quality and silent operation while shooting video, it is the lens that the majority of my video projects are shot with. This lens spends the majority of its time attached to the Sony FX3 Cinema Camera, a perfect pair for everything that I need to film. Aside from its ability to produce amazing quality photos and videos I also appreciate that this lens is extremely light weight, making run and gun shooting much easier.
Peter McKinnon VND
I am not a huge fan of filters, especially low quality ones that take away from the truly amazing glass in my kit. One of the few filters that I actually find useful is a variable neutral density filer. With the Peter McKinnon x Polar Pro Variable Neutral Density Signature II and Mist II Editions I get the usefulness of a VND and superior quality that will not degrade my images. Also the Peter McKinnon X Polar Pro Variable Neutral Density Filters come with an awesome storage/protection system called the Defender 360 that can protect both your filter and your lens a the same time, really a great design. This setup is a bit price for “just filters” but you do get what you pay for, the last thing that I want is to have a lower quality filter take way from the quality of my Sony G Master Glass. The Mist II Edition filters also provide a cool look/feel when I am going for a more artistic look and am trying to gently blur light sources. Overall great quality filters.
Peak Design 45L Travel Backpack
I needed a way to carry all of this amazing gear. I needed a bag that would protect that gear, keep it dry, keep it organized and most importantly have room for all of my camera gear and my personal gear as well. The Peak Design 45L Travel backpack checked all of the boxes and then some. The beauty of Peak Design’s Travel Backpacks is that they are a part of a full ecosystem that features packing cubes, tech pouches, wash pouches camera cubes and other innovative items that allow you to fully customize your travel experience. After years of searching I have finally found the perfect bag for those weekend photography trips. With all of the available accessories it is really easy to convert this backpack for a number of different uses and with the ability to simply remove a photography cube I don’t have to remove and reinstall all of the velcro dividers that hold my camera gear in place. Additionally with it being a Peak Design product I know that it will last for years to come and that it features minimal, clean and functional design that will meet all of my travel and photography needs.
Peak Design 30L Travel Backpack
The Peak Design 45L Travel Backpack is amazing and my go to backpack for travel. And with its ability to change sizes from 30L to 35L all the way up to an impressive 45L it usually checks the box of going on the trip, but sometimes there are trips where I need to pack much lighter or trips where maybe I don’t need photo gear or just need minimal gear. In those situations rather than dealing with a large bag I bring out the Peak Design 30L Travel Backpack which is capable of resizing from 27L to 30L to 33L making it still versatile but a good amount smaller and lighter than its bigger 45L sibling. With the 30L Travel Backpack I get the same level of quality, attention to detail and functionality as I have come to expect from Peak Design products but just in a more manageable size. Simply put when it comes to travel, gear storage, organization and day to day functionality Peak Design has become my go to brand. Additionally I love that the 30L version of the Travel Backpack comes in the Midnight Blue color as it has become my favorite of the Peak Design colors and helps break up the sea of all black backpacks.
Haukland Parka Pro Jacket
Haukland photographers clothing such as their 7 in 1 Photographers Jacket, their hoodies, sweaters, fleeces and so on are my absolute favorite things to wear when I am out shooting. Each article of clothing that they sell was created by a professional photographer with photographers in mind with amazing features that make getting out and capturing photos that much easier. Features like microfiber cloths in the sleeves, camera gear storage and pockets inside and specifically shaped pockets on the outside make Haukland Photographers Clothing my go to for staying warm. I in multiple video reviews stated that Haukland’s 7 in 1 Photographers Jacket is amazing and would be really hard to improve upon and beat and yet some how Haukland did just that with the new Parka Pro version. I mean simply everything about this new setup seems like it’s one step up from the previous iteration. Items that I didn’t even think about were improved making getting out and getting the best photos that much easier. I can’t recommend enough the gear over at Haukland.
DJI RSC2 Gimbal
Gimbals can be complicated and more trouble to set up than they end up being worth! This is especially the case if you are doing work more in line with YouTube rather than something more cinematic such as a feature or short film, and with the invention of quick smart phone stabilizers, a Gimbal needs to be quick and easy to set up. Difficulty is definitely not the case with the DJI RSC2. I went with the RSC2 since I am a mirrorless shooter and did’t need the extra payload of its bigger brother, the RS2. This is my first professional gimbal and I am extremely happy with it. DJI has a way of making things just work, and work the way that you want them to, simply and reliably. I have been able to get some great shots with the RSC2, I know it is no longer the latest and greatest gimbal out there but quite frankly it has everything that I need and then some for my videos. One of my favorite features is how it folds down in half and packs away quite easily making it much better for travel than most full-size gimbals that I have used in the past. Once folded it can fit in some of my hoody pockets.
DJI Mini 2 Drone
The DJI Mini 2 is the perfect drone for my flying skill level, video needs and drone budget. There are much bigger and more expensive drones out there that might be considered “better” and in fact a version 3 and 4 of the Mini, but that is all relative to the needs of the job. For me this is the one, the Mini 2 records in 4K, has a range of over 6 miles, can fly over 35 miles per hour, has a flight time of over 30 minutes but most importantly has a takeoff weight of under 249g meaning that it doesn’t require a special license in my area to operate. For me it has been fantastic.
Peak Design CF Tripod
I spent my early years utilizing multiple cheap tripods that never quite met all of my requirements, it wasn't until later in my career that I realized that a good tripod is a long term investment (one that will span multiple camera bodies) and necessary! The truth is as I have learned in multiple areas of my photo and video journey, sometimes you just have to pay to play, you have to pay for quality. The Peak Design Carbon Fiber Tripod is by no means cheap, but the weight and size savings that it provides along with a super sturdy base for my camera as well as some innovative features, has paid for itself over and over again. When I find myself on longer photo journeys, ones where I carry a ton of gear, every ounce of weight makes a difference, plus in carbon fiber it just looks darn good. Additionally when I reference my two Peak Design Travel Backpacks above (30L and 45L) they both fit the Peak Design Carbon Fiber Peak Design Travel Tripod perfectly in either of their side pockets making travel that much easier. If you want to save a few bucks but still have a great tripod, check out the aluminum version.
14” M2 Macbook Pro
I have been a Mac user for about fifteen years now and have been a fan but have always struggled with some of the limitations around GPU performance as well as some of the limiting factors of the Intel and Apple relationship that seemed to always hold Apple machines from hitting their full potential. Once Apple decided to go their own way with their M chips things changed rather quickly. Now on the M2 variant, the 14” MacBook Pro with M2 Max that I am using absolutely screams and makes my editing workflow seamless! The ability to fully edit on a laptop on the go has been amazing!
Audio-Technica AT875R
Poor video can sometimes be forgiven as can many other mistakes in video production, but poor audio can not! These are words to live by! There is nothing more important than getting good clear audio when recording in the studio and the Audio-Technica AT875R gives me just that at a great price. Yes there are bigger and better shotgun microphones out there but when it comes to value for the money Audio-Technica and the AT875R are really hard to beat. I have been using Audio-Technica for over a decade now and they have never let me down. The AT875R is a good size for my space and is able to isolate my voice against computer fans and HVAC systems without issues. Outside of the AT875R I utilize Audio-Technica for all of my XLR cables as well as my voice over microphone with the AT2040 mic.
DJI Wireless Microphone
As mentioned above poor audio just isn’t acceptable, but sometimes boom/shotgun microphones just are not an option. Many times I am in loud environments and need to do more of a moving setup but my on camera mic just can’t handle the background nonie. I have seen a number of wireless mics out there but many have poor reviews, while others are a bit difficult and take time to make work correctly. Wireless mics to me are like gimbals, great tools but only when they can setup and work quickly. Once again I turned to DJI, a company that makes things work quickly and easily (such as my choice in drone and gimbal). The DJI wireless mic just turns on and works, quickly providing excellent results.
ProGrade Digital SD Cards
All of the gear on this list is all fine and great but none of it matters if you have nothing to record your footage to. For a long time I was choosing between the over priced name brand, you know, the one that everyone seems to know and use for memory cards. And between risking the safety of my data just to save a few bucks with a brand I had never heard of. Then I discovered ProGrade Digital, the best of both worlds. Top quality, top reliability and top performance cards at a price that is more than fair and much cheaper than the other reliable cards out there. I currently use eight examples of the 128GB, V90, ProGrade SD cards and have had nothing but a great experience with them. I have recently added ProGrade Digital’s card readers (SD, CF Type B and MicroSD) and Micro SD cards to my line up and like the V90 cards they have been exceptional.
Insta360 One X3
My first forte in to 360 filming didn’t go as planned as I had a ton of issues with my Insta360 One X2. Between randomly shutting off or corrupting files I just wasn’t convinced that 360 was going to be a thing for me. With so many of my rides being one time things (such as reviewing bikes that I only have for a short period of time) I couldn’t afford to have my camera not be reliable. Since then Insta360 came out with the One X3 and I decided to bite the bullet and give them another shot. I’m glad I did as it seems that the One X3 fixed all of the issues I was having and I have been able to add another dimension to my videos. Having a 360 camera completely changed the game for me with its ability to pick multiple angles from one shot, especially with motorcycle related content. Being able to shoot one take but then being able to cut between multiple angles really changed the game for me in terms of reducing production time, and cost. Aside from just angles a 360 camera allows me to also change aspect rations allowing me to expand my social media presence with short form videos.
GoPro Hero8
When it comes to linear action shooting the GoPro Hero8 is my go to camera, it is also my camera of choice for motovlogging. The reality is that the GoPro Hero 9 and Hero10 got larger and heavier and when it comes to attaching a camera to the front of your helmet, the smaller and lighter the better. Also, I learned from multiple sources that the 9 and 10 have serious issues while not offering drastic advantages over the Hero8. With the ability to get exactly the quality of footage that I need while saving a couple hundred bucks I had no reason to look past the 8.
GoPro Hero 5 Session
The GoPro Hero 5 Session is the smallest, cheapest and fourth action camera in my setup (After the Insta360 One X3 and two GoPro Hero 8s). This is the camera that I just don’t have any feelings for. Some shots I feel are too dangerous or dirty for my Hero 8 or One X3, this is exactly when the Hero 5 Session comes in to play. Nothing is too sketchy, too dangerous or too crazy for this camera to be used for. The Hero 5 Session offers 4k picture quality while being tiny and rugged. It is super easy to attach this camera just about anywhere. I feel that every set up needs that “beat up” camera and this is it for me.
Final Cut Pro
I have been a video editor for many years, so long in fact that I used the original Final Cut, Premiere Pro 1.5 and consumer grade products such as Sony Vegas Video and Windows Movie Maker. Since then I have used the Adobe CC based Premiere, DaVinci Resolve and the current Final Cut Pro and after trying out most of the major players I have chosen Final Cut Pro as my go to video editing platform. I know some will argue that it doesn’t do everything that they need, but for me it checks all of the boxes and has the least amount of glitches, errors or others problems, plus with a M2 Mac, it runs and exports extremely quickly. Utilizing Apples native app with their own hardware insures that I get the latest tools, updates and bug fixes as quickly as possible allowing me to focus on editing rather than fixing and adjusting my computer and its software.