People often ask what gear I use for my landscape, wildlife, and ski photography, so here’s the full list of the equipment I rely on.
Each item includes a short note on why I use it in real-world conditions here in Japan.
Some links are affiliate links — they cost you nothing extra, and they help support this blog.

Nikon Z8

My main camera and absolute workhorse. It’s built like a tank, handles brutal winter conditions in Hokkaido, and gives me excellent image quality for landscapes. The autofocus and burst speed make it perfect for ski action and wildlife. https://geni.us/fwl

DJI Osmo Pocket 3 Creator Combo

A tiny stabilised 4K camera I use for quick BTS shots, walk-and-talks, and travel clips. It’s super small, easy to carry, and perfect for skiing beside someone to get smooth action footage. The face/subject tracking is surprisingly good and makes it easy to keep the skier framed while moving. https://geni.us/v2CnbA

Nikon Z 24–120mm f/4 S

My most-used lens. I use it for everything — landscapes, skiing, and travel. Great versatility, excellent image quality, and the perfect range for most of my work. https://geni.us/VwqGK7S

Nikon Z 70–200mm f/2.8 S

My main workhorse for ski photography and portraits. Fast autofocus, amazing image quality, and great subject separation with the f/2.8 aperture. Reliable, versatile, and perfect for action. https://geni.us/JFt08IU

Nikon Z 180–600mm f/5.6–6.3

My main wildlife zoom. Huge range, reliable AF, and great image quality considering the size and cost. One of the best value lenses in the Z system. https://geni.us/SXDW8S1

Nikon Z 105mm f/2.8 Macro

Super sharp and versatile. Perfect for film scanning, macros, and portraits. https://geni.us/YrSpsi

Nikon Z 40mm f/2

My compact travel prime. Fits easily in my sling for city days or when I want to save space but still bring a real camera. https://geni.us/TTfiA

Nikon 300mm f/4E PF (F-mount)

A very sharp and underrated telephoto. It’s small, light, and I take it when I want something smaller than my big wildlife lens — either for long hikes or as a “just in case” option when there’s a chance I might see wildlife. I use it with the FTZ adapter on the Z8, and it still performs great. Often only available used. https://geni.us/RltC

iFootage Gazelle TC7 Tripod

A stable, lightweight tripod that reaches good height without a centre column. I prefer this design because centre columns add wobble. The lever locks make setup fast and easy, and the tripod gives a solid balance of stability and portability. https://geni.us/oZ2P5Z

Shimoda Action X40 V2

My main camera bag for hiking and travel. It’s a good size—big enough to carry a full kit but still fits carry-on limits in Japan and across Asia. Handles bad conditions well and has kept my gear safe from rain, snow, and rough weather. https://geni.us/PQiyt

Db Journey Ramverk Pro Sling Bag 20L

My everyday camera sling for walking around the city or when I just want to take a camera “just in case.” It’s comfortable, easy to carry, and big enough for a small kit. I use a small camera insert inside to keep the camera protected and secure.

Peak Design Slide Strap

A super handy strap I can take on and off quickly thanks to the Peak Design anchor system. It’s easy to adjust, comfortable, and great when I don’t always want a strap. I also attach it directly to my big wildlife lens — the lens is too heavy to hang off the camera alone, so having the strap on the lens makes it safer and easier to handle. https://geni.us/dT5z

Peak Design Capture Clip

A solid, quick-release clip I mount on my backpack strap. It holds the camera securely while hiking or moving between shots, letting me keep my hands free without the camera swinging around on a strap. https://geni.us/vSMS7

Lexar CFexpress Type B (Gold)

My main CFexpress card for the Z8. Fast, reliable, and great for long bursts when shooting skiing or wildlife. https://geni.us/UxhpAE

Lexar Professional 2000x SD UHS-II

My main SD card for the Z8. Fast, reliable, and great as a backup card for stills or video. Never had an issue with it, and the UHS-II speed is more than enough for anything I use SD cards for. https://geni.us/eSU6pxf

EIZO ColorEdge CS2740

My main editing monitor. It’s 27-inch 4K with wide-gamut Adobe RGB coverage and hardware calibration, which makes it excellent for accurate colour work and printing. I use the non-Z version, but both models have the same panel and image quality. https://geni.us/4JHhVM9

Canon imagePROGRAF Pro-G1 / Pro-300

My main photo printer. In Japan it’s called the Pro-G1, and overseas it’s the Pro-300 — they’re the same printer. Great colour, excellent blacks, and reliable for fine-art matte and glossy prints. There’s a newer Pro-G2 / Pro-310 now, but my G1 still performs extremely well for the kind of prints I make. https://geni.us/NyRe

Pentax 67

A huge medium-format camera with incredible image quality. It’s heavy and slow, but very fun to shoot, and the big shutter thunk is one of the most satisfying sounds in photography.

Nikon FM2

A great fully mechanical 35mm camera — small but chunky in a good way. It’s an iconic Nikon body and one of my favourites to throw in my bag when I want to shoot film. Simple, reliable, and built like a tank.

SMC Pentax 67 55mm f/4

My main lens on the Pentax 67. Super sharp, great contrast, and a perfect focal length for landscapes and everyday shooting on medium format. One of the lenses that really shows what the 67 system is capable of.

Super-Takumar 6×7 200mm f/4

The other lens I use on the Pentax 67. I found it in perfect condition for around 2,000 yen at a second-hand shop, and the image quality is surprisingly good. Lovely rendering for portraits and a great telephoto option for the 67 system.

Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 AI

My main lens for the Nikon FM2. A bit soft at f/1.4, but from f/2 onward it’s sharp and performs great. Compact, reliable, and perfect for everyday film shooting. I also adapt it to the Z8 sometimes for a vintage, classic look.

Nikkor 105mm f/1.8 AI-S

A classic fast portrait lens. I love the 105mm focal length for both casual shooting and portrait work, and at f/1.8 it produces gorgeous bokeh and a distinctive vintage look.

---