Lars’s Photography Gear
Below is a list of my current gear. If you have any specific questions, submit them via the form at the bottom of this page and I will answer you.
My Philosophy on Camera Gear
I believe that whatever gear will help you get out and take a photo is essential. It is that initial getting out and photographing something that is the hard part. We’re all busy — too busy. We need what gets us going and what gets us taking those shots. That’s why I have what I have.
Terminology
- EFL = Equivalent Focal Length on a 35mm camera.
- AOV = Angle of View.
APS-C Cameras – Bayer Sensors
Canon 80D – This is the DSLR camera I use for my photography that calls for different lenses. It has a wide range of features and captures 14 EV of dynamic range.
Canon 80d DSLR Body
Olympus Tough TG Series | 4.4-17.8mm F2 – 4.9 | EFL: 25-100mm
These are the cameras that I use wherever I wouldn’t feel comfortable taking my other cameras. They are waterproof, shockproof, fit in my pocket, and give me great RAW and JPEG images.
Olympus Tough TG Camera
APS-C Cameras – Foveon Sensors
Sigma DP2 Merrill | 30mm F2.8 | EFL: 45mm | AOV: 42.5°
This is a camera with a fixed focal length (prime) lens of 30mm f/2.8 giving it a 35mm equivalent of 45mm.
Sigma DP2 Merrill Camera
Sigma DP0 Quattro | 14mm F4 | EFL: 21mm | AOV: 91°
This is a camera with a fixed focal length (prime) lens of 14mm f/4 giving it a 35mm equivalent of 21mm. The moderately wide angle coupled with the Foveon sensor create highly-detailed landscape and nature photos.
Sigma dp0 Quattro Camera
Lenses
Sigma Lenses
8-16mm F4.5-5.6 DC HSM | EFL: 12-24mm | AOV: 114.5° – 75.7°
The world’s only rectilinear super wide lens for APS-C cameras. A veritable “secret weapon” for stunning landscape photography. While most other lenses are fisheye-type, this one is the only rectilinear one. As a result, you do not get a warped perspective like a fisheye lens produces. The images from this lens require only volume anamorphosis corrections and not distortion corrections.
Sigma 8-16 Super Wide Angle Lens for APS-C Cameras
10-20mm F4-5.6 EX DC (HSM) | EFL: 15-30mm | AOV: 102.4º-63.8º
A wide angle lens for landscape photography. My secondary go-to lens for landscape photos when I want zero distortion in the corners and edges of the image.
The Sigma 10-20 Lens
18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM | A | EFL: 27-52.5 | AOV: 76.5º-44.2º | Cinemorph Mod
The only lens out there for APS-C cameras that is both a zoom lens and has a constant f/1.8 aperture. It is, in effect, equivalent to having a set of prime lenses in the 18-35 range.
Sigma 18-35 Constant Aperture Zoom Lens
I modified this lens with a Vid-Atlantic Cinemorph Mod filter applied inside of the lens housing. This gives the lens the potential to create cinematic bokeh that gives my photos a unique cinematic look and feel that cannot be obtained with standard lenses. This lens is also my preferred lens for shooting videos.
Vid-Atlantic Filters – The Cinemorph Mod Filter is on the far right and is installed in my Sigma 18-35 lens.
18-300mm F3.5-6.3 DC MACRO OS HSM | C | EFL: 12-450mm | AOV: 76.5º-5.4º
An all-around lens for shooting anything from wide to telephoto. I take this lens out first wherever I go because it has the ability to capture a wide range of images.
The Sigma 18-300 Lens
Lensbaby Lenses
Velvet 56 | 56mm F1.6 | EFL: 84mm
This is a special lens for portrait or street photography that gives every photo a velvety distorted look.
The Lensbaby Velvet 56 Prime Lens
Rokinon Lenses
14mm F2.8 F ED UMC | EFL: 21mm | AOV: 115°
I use this lens exclusively for night photography. It does not produce the coma that other lenses do and the wide aperture brings in lots of light needed for star and milky way photography.
The Rokinon 14 Prime Lens
16mm F2 ED AS UMC CS | EFL: 24mm | AOV: 79.5°
I use this lens exclusively for night photography. It does not produce the coma that other lenses do and the wide aperture brings in lots of light needed for star and milky way photography.
Angles of View (AOV) comparison chart for select cameras and lenses:
Filters
Hoya Circular Polarizer HRT CIR-PL
This polarizer is on almost every one of my lenses. It has a high transmission rate and gives superior polarization without taking away the needed light. I can shoot more polarized images without a tripod thanks to this filter. It is a “secret weapon” as far as filters go because it allows a lot of light into the camera – more than any other filters of this kind out there.
The Hoya CIR-PL UV HRT Filter
Hoya Variable Neutral Density
For long exposures in daylight, I use the Hoya variable neutral density (ND) filter for 1.5 to 9 stops of light reduction.
Hoya FLW
This magenta-hued filter was traditionally used to reduce the effects of fluorescent light. I use it in a different way. I use this in a creative way for my night cityscapes and morning shots.
THe Hoya FLW Filter
Tripods
MePhoto – My MePhoto travel tripod is my go-to tripod whenever I need high stability for long exposure shots. It is right up there with the best tripods available but costs far less. The quality and portability have been indispensable to me.
Bags
Ruggard – After trying several bags over the years, I’ve finally found a bag that works for me. It is the Ruggard bag. I have several in different sizes depending on the equipment I want to take with me.
Straps
Black Rapid – The Black Rapid RS-7 Curve strap allows me to shoot faster and walk hands-free with my full-size dSLR camera. No other strap I have tried has given me the ability to get the shot better than the Black Rapid strap.
Other Equipment
I have many accessories that I use for my photography and if you have a specific question, ask me and I will answer it. I try to tell you all about what I do and what I use on my blog posts, but sometimes I will leave some detail out. So just ask and I will tell you! My goal is to be open and sharing of my photography expertise.
I also have a whole other set of equipment for my video and time-lapse photography. I try to detail this in my posts, but if you have any question, just ask and I will get back to you with an answer.
Negative Moments 