PhotoWalkPro

I received an excellent question from one of my readers who asked what type of camera I use for shooting landscapes and flowers and the like.  I think it’s an excellent question because most folks associate great images with the camera used. The reality is that there are two factors that have more impact on your final image than which camera you shot it with.  The camera really is only going to help you out with one factor in landscapes and that is with your resolution.  Ok, that’s really a simplification of things, but in general, fast frames per second and low noise at high ISO really aren’t factors (all of you camera-holics out there may now begin bashing me in the comment section).  If you are shooting in RAW, then it doesn’t really even matter how good the camera white balance settings are since you will adjust that in software after the shot.

No, the biggest factors for shooting landscapes and flowers or any still-life type subject are the same as they have been for decades and they are; use a high quality lens, and use a solid tripod.  Truth be told, some of the best landscapes I have ever seen have come from 6 megapixel cameras.

Lenses -

First of all I always like to use fast glass because it just gives you more exposure options.  Something in the area of f/2.8 or larger would be nice.  The other advantage to a large aperture is the ability to get more selective depth of field to really isolate a subject.  If, for instance, you are going to shoot some flowers out in the wild, you may not want to include the background (unless it plays a part in your composition).  The best way to really isolate your subject is to use a wide open aperture to get that nice narrow depth of field and render your background blurry.

If you go the route of a zoom lens, you should still try and get that highest quality you can.  You also want a lens that will maintain the aperture throughout the entire zoom range.  This will also add to the expense of the lens but it is very much worth it.  As an example, a Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 lens will set you back around $1700 where as the 24-85mm f/2.8-4.0 lens is only $565.  There are other factors that increase the cost of the lens including the type of glass, the coatings on the glass, the number of elements, etc.  The general rule of thumb is that the quality of a lens is directly proportional to its cost.  This isn’t always the case but it’s not far from the truth.

While we are talking about lenses, consideration should also be given to what range of lenses you will need for the shooting that you will do.  Here are my choices of lens to cover a pretty wide shooting range:

• A very wide lens, possibly a zoom like the 12-24mm – This is almost a necessity when shooting landscapes.
• A wide to intermediate zoom like the 24-70mm f/2.8 – Of course we also need to pay our mortgages so something like the 24-120mm f/3.5-5.6 would also work well.
• A macro lens is indispensable when shooting close-up subjects like flowers – I prefer prime macro lenses such as the 60mm or the 105mm.  They are easier to use than a tele-zoom with macro but the zoom macro will still get the job done.  Less expensive options include close-up filters and or extension tubes.  Either of these will convert your regular lens into a macro/close-up lens.
• A telephoto or tele-zoom like the 70-200 f/2.8 – Sometimes you just need to reach out and get those far away subjects and nothing does the job like a good tele-zoom.  Once again, having that wide f/2.8 aperture can really help to isolate your subjects by blurring the foreground and background in your image.  Remember that good glass is expensive for a reason.  To maximize your options, consider buying a tele-extender like a 2X.  You will lose a stop or more but double the reach of your lens.
• Super Telephoto lenses are the last item on the list but only to be considered if you are a doctor, lawyer, or Bill Gates.  Seriously though, super tele lenses are the only way to go if you want to shoot wildlife like Moose Peterson or Laurie Excell but they don’t come cheap.  A 400mm f/2.8 lens will set you back around $9000 and it just goes up from there.

Tripods -

The other piece of equipment that is essential to creating beautiful landscapes is a good tripod.  Make sure that it is large enough to handle the weight of your camera and lens.  There are numerous manufacturers and it would be silly for me to even try and recommend one but I can tell you what I look for when considering a tripod.

• Light weight – to carry, not in its load capacity.  Try some of the really great new carbon fiber models.
• Good height – I am pretty tall so I want a tripod that doesn’t make me crouch all the time to use it.  But try and get one that is tall enough without extending the center column up.  You should always try and shoot with the camera as close the the tripod legs as possible.
• Legs that lock securely but don’t require a pipe wrench to loosen.
• Versatility – I like a tall tripod but sometimes you need to shoot low to the ground.  There are several that will let you extend the legs out at very wide angles to get your camera close to the ground.  If you want to shoot flowers, you have to be down on their level.
• A removable tripod head, or better yet, none at all.  You should choose the head for your tripod separately from the legs.  Most pan heads that come on tripods aren’t that great and should be replaced.  I prefer ball heads for their versatility but you should choose something that feels secure and comfortable.  Also, consider something with a quick-release so that you can go from hand-holding to tripod quickly.

So there are my recommendations for equipment for landscape and flora photography.  Whether you choose to use a Canon 30D or 40D or 1Ds Mark II, or a Nikon D3, or D100, or D40, it all comes back to the same thing.  Buy yourself a couple of nice lenses because it doesn’t matter which camera your image ends up in if the lens isn’t worth a damn.

Also, you might be the strongest guy in the world and have great IS or VR lenses but if you want the ultimate in sharp images, get yourself a sturdy tripod.  Nothing beats the stability of having a solid tripod under that really nice glass you just bought.

*As a little side-note, go out to your local professional camera store and try out the latest and greatest lenses.  You really need to see them and feel them in your hands to appreciate them.  Then buy them from your local guy.  A lot of times they will match the major online vendor prices and you will be supporting a resource that you can return to time and time again.

Related posts:

1. Macro on the Cheap
2. Shooting Flowers Without a Studio
3. Being a Frugal Photographer
4. Shooting Digital Infrared
5. Do you know what Hyperfocal Distance is?

This entry was posted on Wednesday, April 30th, 2008 at 12:01 am and is filed under Camera Gear. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.