David Saylors

 This is where I will put what I use to capture my images with. I am not really brand loyal having used many different brands of cameras over the years to include: Yashica, Fujifilm, Nikon, Minolta, & Leica.

Of these brands, only the Fujifilm is no longer represented in the stable (I might still own a Fujinon lens though, I will have to look and see…), I still have at least one of each of the others…

So what I will do as I get time is fill out this page with info about what I use and why and if I do this right, I will keep it up to date for your entertainment and maybe to answer a question about what I use.

I wont bother you with the past kit as I no longer have a lot of it, so we will just skip right over that part with photos… I will add photos as I get time to grab them.

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Main camera: Leica SL2 - This thing is amazing, I really enjoy using this camera for my photography, it goes with me most of the time when I am out in the local area. It is also my landscape camera of choice as well

Main Lens: Leica Summicon L 50mm (f2) Prime - It has been on the SL2 most of the time lately and for good reason, it is a stunningly good lens. Once you use one, you get it, it is just that nice. I have also figured out that I prefer the 50mm focal length as well. It is the one I seem to be using the most in all my photos.

My “backup” camera is a Leica CL with the 35mm f1.4 Nokton Voigtlander adapted with the M Adapter L. This makes for a really compact camera with a very similar field of view to the full frame 50mm on the SL2.

My main bird rig is the Nikon Z50 and the 500mm PF (Phase Fresnel) telephoto lens coupled with the FTZ adapter. This rig while not being the best thing Nikon makes for birds and other wildlife, performs really well for me and also fits into my kit the way I want. I can travel really easily with this kit and not have to worry about check baggage damage to my camera gear nor do I have to utilize huge pelican cases to protect the gear either. The compact nature of the kit lends itself to travel for me.

The above photo shows my current “general travel” photography kit…

• Leica CL camera

• 17mm f1.4 TTArtisan L mount lens

• 35mm f0.95 TTArtisan L mount lens

• DJI Osmo Action (Video Camera)

• Lume Cube Light Panel

• CL battery charger that runs on USB power

• 3 CL batteries (one is in camera)

• USB A to USB C charge cable

• Two spare memory cards for the CL

• Small lens pouch for spare lens

• Thinktank photo lens dump pouch

• Not shown- USB wall charger (cube)

  The dump pouch has become my camera bag for these kinds of trips as the CL fits in it with a lens attached. I can also fit in the spare lens in the small pouch to keep them from banging around inside the dump pouch. The dump pouch is also belt mountable so I can literally take the whole kit and still be hands free if needed. For most vacation style trips this is a perfect kit for me.

  The light panel is for lowlight video work where I need some additional light for vlogging or what have you. It is charged with USB C as is the Osmo Action so the cord for the Leica CL charger will also charge both of these items. This way I can use one cable for the whole kit. This is the most efficient system I have come up with so far. It is slower to charge as I can only charge one device at a time, but the system is VERY compact like this.

  Also, you will notice there is no spare battery for the Osmo Action? This is because I normally dont go through more than one battery so it is easy to just charge in the evenings.

  As an aside, the extra items simply go into a ziplock back and then stored in my backpack when not needed.