This is the page for those that requested what is in my Equipment Bag.
Please note, this is updated starting February 11, 2009.
Allan Jay's Equipment
Camera Bodies
Nikon D700 (Main Portrait Camera) with MB-D10 Vertical Grip
Nikon D90 (General Purpose Camera)
Lenses
Nikon 24 2.8 D AF Prime Wide
Nikon 80-200mm 2.8 AF Telephoto Zoom
Nikon 17-55mm 2.8 AF-S DX Standard Zoom (Used with the D90)
Nikon 10.5 mm 2.8 AF DX Fish Eye Lens (Used with the D90)
Nikon 60mm 2.8 AF D Micro Lens
Nikon 85mm 1.8 AF D Portrait Prime Lens
Strobes & Accessories
3 SB 800 Strobes
3 Pocket Wizard Transmitters
2 Light Stands
1 Bogen Tripod with Grip
1 Step Stool
1 Tamrac Roller Bag
My Associates Equipment in no Particular order.
Nikon D300 (Joits)
Nikon D80 (Matt)
2 SB 600 Flashes (Joits & Matt)
Nikon 17-55mm 2.8 AF-S G DX Normal Telephoto (Joits)
Nikon 18-105mm 3.5-5.6 AF-S G Normal Telephoto (Matt)
2 Nikon 50mm 1.8 AF D Normal (Joits & Matt)
Nikon 80-200mm 2.8 AF D Telephoto (Joits)
Nikon 70-300mm 4.5-5.6 AF-S VR Telephoto (Matt)
Tokina 12-24mm f4 AF Ultra Wide Angle (Joits)
Nikon 35-80mm f4-5.6 Normal Zoom lens (Matt)
Frequent Questions Regarding Our Equipment
1) Why does more photographers use Canon? How come you don't use Canon?
This seems to be the most popular question to me since 1999. I remember taking pictures at a 50th wedding (2005), a gentleman possibly in his mid 30s showed up with a fully loaded Canon EOS 20D with prime lenses galore etc. I was the paid official photographer, shooting with a Nikon D70. He shot the wedding as if he was the official photographer even including the wedding portraits, group pictures etc. This never bothered me at all since I was being paid. During the whole event including the reception he kept staring at me and eventually had the courage to speak to me at the end of the event. Then he asked me the question of the day/night, why am I using Nikon and not Canon? Don't I know that Canon is a better system overall, especially for weddings?
I don't know how most Nikon wedding photographers would answer this question but this is how I responded. "I use Nikon because it works for me. I take great pictures with it and that is what counts." Right after I said this, he laughed and left. I will never forget this moment.
Three weeks later, I submitted the prints to the wedding couple. They were happy and proud of the job I did. I respectfully asked how did the photographs of the other photographer turned out. According to the couple, that photographer was their nephew. He has been taking pictures only for a few months prior to their wedding. None of the pictures turned out.
I was shocked when I heard this. How did that happened? Their nephew on the way back to the car after the reception that night had lost all the cards somewhere. No one knows where he left it. I found this strange yet unfortunate for the couple and for that photographer.
Several years later, this nephew of theirs I met having coffee at Starbucks (somewhere in Rowland Heights, CA). He was by himself and he remembered me. We sat down and got reacquainted. He told me that he was sorry for how he treated me during his uncle/aunt's wedding anniversary. Apology was accepted and he told me one other thing. He told me that all the pictures he took at the anniversary where terrible. He just bought his equipment just a month before and never really has taken professional wedding pictures. He was in manual settings the whole time, but had no specific understanding of how to set his camera for the proper exposure and forgetting to adjust shutter speeds (he was better off leaving his camera in Program or something). I told him about the cards being lost. He said, "Yes, I did loose 12 compact cards too. Pretty much the whole wedding. I just didn't bother showing the other ones I had. They were very disappointing."
I was sad for this person but I respected him for his honesty. The lesson learned here is that the equipment is the least concern of many photographers. Many untrained and inexperienced photographers are doomed today, believing just because they have the best equipment they can take great pictures right away. This may not be true to some but it does happen. Like what Ansel Adam said, "The single most important component of a camera is the twelve inches behind it."
Nikon or Canon, Canon or Nikon it does matter to some. One thing is for sure , it still depends on who is using the camera.
2. What was your first Camera?
Funny this is the 2nd most asked question to me regarding equipment. My first camera was a Canon. Yes a Canon! Ha! It was a Canon A1 and a 35-105mm Macro. This was an amazing camera. I loved it the moment I first used it. I may say, I took some of my best pictures with this camera. Portraits was my love when I was in high school and college. This system of mine kick butt. I used this camera starting from 1992 till 1996.
3. What other equipment did you use before?
In the summer of 1996, I bought the Nikon F5. During this time, the Nikon F5 was the best 35mm camera in the market. I weighed the pros and cons compared to the Canon systems and the winner was the Nikon F5. I didn't hesistate and bought the F5, Nikkor 85mm 1.8 (couldn't afford the 1.4) and a Tamron 28-300mm 3.5-5.6 D (which was highly rated at this time). The Nikon F5 never disappointed me. Even when I messed up film placement, the pictures not only came out, but they were still terrific. I also had 2 Nikon N60s for back ups.
In the winter of 2004, I bought the Nikon D70. This is when I started shooting Digital. I was amazed with the quality and speed of the camera. I tried using the Canon Rebel but felt uneasy because I were already used to Nikon systems. The D70 paved the way to my digital ways.
In the fall of 2005, I bought the Nikon D2X. The speed and beauty of 12 megapixels brought my photography to a higher level. The camera response and reliability is the best I have ever seen since I retired my F5. In fact, it was just like my F5, except it was digital. The 2.5 inch screen was to die for and so much of the people loved seeing their pictures right after I have taken the shot. Believe it or not, I have taken 100,000 pictures with mines from 2005 to 2008. The DX system such as the Nikon D70 and the amazing D2X has indeed made my photography business to a success.
Today I use two great cameras. These are the Nikon D700 for portraits and the Nikon D90 for general photography. I use both at the same time so I don't have to change lenses too often. Both are among the best cameras today. The lenses I use with them works perfectly with them and makes my job easier throughout the day.
