Photo Equipment Advice

 

Type of camera

We recommend that you bring a single-lens reflex (SLR) type of camera. This can be for film or digital, in 35mm or medium format. The camera can be of any make, but it must have a manual option for aperture and shutter-speed adjustment. ‘Compact’ cameras, instant or any other camera without adjustable f-stops, focus and shutter speeds are not appropriate for the type of photography we practice on Expeditions.

 

Lenses

Whilst a choice of different focal length lenses will allow you greater flexibility, you do not need more than one lens to take full advantage of the course. If you bring only one lens, it would be preferable for it to be a zoom lens with a range of 35-210mm. The optimum selection for this course is a 24mm or wider, wide-angle lens, a 50mm lens and a 200mm telephoto lens.

 

Light meter

A hand-held light meter is an invaluable piece of equipment for any photographer. Whilst most cameras come with an in-built light meter, a hand-held meter allows for more precise light measurement and is therefore essential for learning about exposure.

Your light meter can be of any make but should preferably have a digital display. For a choice of light meters please visit: http://www.robertwhite.co.uk/meters.htm

 

Flash

If your equipment includes a flash unit, you may find it useful to bring it along. A flash unit is not an essential piece of equipment, but may certainly prove useful in some circumstances.

 

Filters

The only filter we would recommend that you bring is a standard UV Filter. A Sky 1A or Sky 1B is also a useful alternative. Although the course covers the use (and misuse) of filters, these are not essential for Expeditions.

 

Film

You should budget a minimum of 6 rolls (36 exposures) per day on any Expedition, although you could comfortably shoot 10 to 15 rolls per day. Fuji Velvia 100 ASA and Fuji Provia 100 ASA will yield excellent results, but you may also want to bring a few rolls of Provia 400 ASA for low light conditions.

Please note that professional transparency film is not widely available in India, so you must bring a sufficient number of rolls with you when you join the Expedition.

 

Digital SLRs

To ensure that you have sufficient memory to shoot high-resolution images throughout each day on the Expedition, you should bring a minimum of two 1GB memory cards for your camera. However, 4GB of storage is recommended. Your laptop should have at least 60GB of free hard-drive space. Please ensure that you bring all the necessary ancillary equipment including connecting cables, memory card reader and software back-up disks.

The electric current in India is 230-240V AC, 50 cycles; please bring a plug adaptor as the sockets of a round-pin variety.

 

Tripod

Although a tripod can be useful for photographing landscapes and working in low light conditions, this is by no means an essential piece of equipment for 35mm camera users. However, a tripod is a must if you are planning to bring a medium format camera. You may want to bear in mind that a monopod can be a useful, more portable alternative to a tripod for both 35mm and medium format.

 

Cleaning Equipment

During our Expeditions, we put our camera equipment through its paces; a good cleaning kit is essential for daily maintenance.

 

You can email us with any query regarding photographic equipment through our Contact page.