Gear & Resource Guide


With decades of experience photographing wildlife and the outdoors, the Jividens have used their fair share of outdoor gear. Some of their most frequently asked questions have been regarding their preferences for camera equipment and support gear—including what clothing they use to stay comfortable and mobile in extreme conditions while photographing, traveling, and hiking. This guide is to outline products they either currently own and use or those with which they have first-hand knowledge from previous experiences. We simply suggest that you refer to this list when doing your own pre-purchase research.

Links may help to support the work and research of the Jividens. If you don’t see a link you are looking for, please contact us.

We are continuing to add items to this growing list, so, check back often.

Camera Bodies & Lenses


DSLR - Camera Bodies

  • Nikon D6 FX-Format Digital SLR Camera Body (Amazon)
  • Nikon D5 FX-Format Digital SLR Camera Body, Dual XQD Slots (Amazon)

DSLR – Camera Lenses

MIRRORLESS - Camera Bodies

    MIRRORLESS – Camera Lenses

    MIRRORLESS – Teleconverters & Adaptors

    • NIKON Mount Adapter FTZ for Adapting F-Mount Lenses to Nikon Z Mirrorless (Hunts Photo) (Amazon)
    • NIKON Z TELECONVERTER TC-1.4X for 1.4X Magnification of Compatible Nikon Z Mirrorless Lenses and Nikon Z Cameras (Hunts Photo) (Amazon)
    • NIKON Z TELECONVERTER TC-2.0X for 2.0X Magnification of Compatible Nikon Z Mirrorless Lenses and Nikon Z Cameras (Hunts Photo) (Amazon)

    Camera Supports (tripods, monopods, & heads)

    TRIPODS

    • Gitzo GT3543XLSUS Lightweight Systematic Tripod (Amazon)
    • Benro Adventure 2 Series Carbon Fiber Tripod (Amazon)
    • Benro Mach3 Long Carbon Fiber 3 Series Tripod (for taller individuals) (Amazon)
    • Benro Adventure 3 Series Carbon Fiber Monopod (Amazon)

    MONOPODS

    • Gitzo GM2542 Traveler Carbon Fibre Monopod (Amazon)
    • Benro Adventure 3 Series Carbon Fiber Monopod (Amazon)
    • ProMaster Air Support Monopod (Amazon)

    BALLHEADS, FLUID HEADS, GIMBAL HEADS, & GROUND PODS

    • Arca Swiss Monoball Z1+ Single Pan Tripod Head with Quick Set (Amazon)
    • Benro Triple Action B2 Ballhead with PU60 Plate (Amazon)
    • Wimberley WH-200 Gimbal Head (Amazon)
    • Wimberley MH-100 Wimberley MonoGimbal Head (Amazon)
    • Wimberley SK-100 Sidekick (Amazon)
    • Manfrotto MVH500AH, Lightweight Fluid Video Head (Amazon)
    • Leofoto LB-75 75mm Leveling Base for Tripod w Butterfly Lock Collar (Amazon)
    • Skimmer Ground Pod (Amazon)

    ARCA-SWISS PLATES

    • Wimberley P-5 Camera Body Plate-Arca Swiss Style (Amazon)
    • Wimberley P-30 Lens Plate - Arca-Swiss Style (Amazon)

    CAMERA STRAPS

    • Peak Design SL-BK-3 Slide Camera Strap (Amazon)
    • BlackRapid Sport Breathe Camera Strap/Sling (Amazon)

    Camera Bags, Sling Bags, & Cases

    Pelican Air 1535 Case with Trekpack Dividers (Amazon)

    Think Tank Photo Airport Security V3.0 Carry On (Amazon)

    Think Tank Messenger Bag (Amazon)

    Think Tank MindShift Gear PhotoCross 13 Sling Bag (Amazon)

    Think Tank MindShift Gear PhotoCross 10 Sling Bag (Amazon)

    Think Tank Photo Glass Limo Backpack (Amazon)

    Lowepro Passport Sling II Camera Bag for DSLR or Mirrorless (Amazon)

    Necessities

    MEMORY CARDS

    • SanDisk 256GB Extreme PRO CFexpress Card Type B (Amazon)
    • Sony Professional XQD G series 120GB Memory Card (Amazon)
    • Delkin Devices 325GB Black CFEXPRESS Type B Memory Card (Amazon)
    • SanDisk 128GB Extreme PRO SDXC UHS-I Memory Card (Amazon)

    MEMORY CARD READERS

    • CFexpress Card Reader, Rocketek USB 3.1 Gen 2 Thunderbolt 3 (Amazon)
    • XQD Card Reader, USB 3.0 XQD SD Card Reader (Amazon)

    PORTABLE HARD DRIVES

    • SanDisk 1TB Extreme PRO Portable SSD (Amazon)
    • SanDisk 2TB Extreme PRO Portable SSD (Amazon)
    • Seagate Portable 5TB External Hard Drive HDD – USB 3.0 (Amazon)

    DIGITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT

    Other Essentials

    PROTECTION FROM THE ELEMENTS

    • Sea to Summit Tek Towel (Amazon)
      (Great towels for our photo gear bag! We like them because they are lightweight and thin, yet very absorbent. They perfectly come to the rescue when we need to absorb light rain or snow from our cameras and lens exteriors. While we prefer using actual lens cloths on our lens elements when necessary, we use these towels to help keep our gear dry--and we even use them for packing around gear if extra cushioning is needed.)
    • Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Nano 20L Dry Sack, Featherlight Dry Bag (Amazon)
      (This dry sack is true to its name, Featherlight. So light in fact that we nearly underestimated its value! While this isn't a true "dry bag," meaning 100% waterproof, it has saved us from downpours when we've been out photographing and away from our vehicle and at times when it was just too rainy to access our camera bags. We carry these in our pockets, making sure that we have a liter size that can cover both the camera body and lens with hood attached. Then when a pop-up shower catches us out, we immediately cover our cameras and lenses with these until we can get out of the rain.)
    • Sea to Summit 65L Roll Top Dry Bag (Amazon)
      (This is our preferred dry bag when we are boating with our camera gear. While we've never experienced a full immersion of water, we have taken in our share of splashes and standing water. We typically insert our entire camera bag inside one of these easy-to-use, roll-top dry bags. It's comforting to feel assured that our gear will stay dry.)
    • Ruggard RC-P18 Rain Cover for DSLR with Lens up to 18 (Pack of 2) (Amazon)
      (These emergency rain covers have been great for us! We are frequently in the elements, where at any time we can experience rain or snow squalls. This is our go-to cover for continuing to photograph wildlife under unexpected wet conditions. We can see still our controls and hands, and can continue shooting--unlike using a trash bag. The price is reasonable, too; and if we need to dispose and replace for our next outing, we do.)
    • LensCoat Raincoat 2 Standard (Realtree Max 4) Camouflage Cover Sleeve Protection for Camera and Lens (Amazon)
      (We use this model as a waterproof raincoat for our longer lenses, such as 500mm and 600mm. There are other versions to accommodate a variety of body and lens combinations.)

    ORGANIZATIONAL / STORAGE OPTIONS

    • Think Tank Photo SD Pixel Pocket Rocket Memory Card Case (Amazon)
    • Think Tank Photo DSLR Battery Case (Amazon)
    • Think Tank Photo Cable Management 10 V2.0 (Amazon)
    • Think Tank Photo Cable Management 20 V2.0 Camera Bag and Case Pouch (Amazon)
    • Think Tank Cable Management 30 V2.0 (Amazon)

    TRAVEL ITEMS

    OPTICS

    • Vortex Viper 10x42 binoculars (Amazon)
    • Vortex Viper 10x32 binoculars (more compact) (Amazon)
    • Vortex Optics Ranger Laser Rangefinder (Amazon)
    • Vortex Optics Impact Laser Rangefinder (Amazon)

    CAMERA BODY ACCESSORIES

    • Camera Body Eyecup Viewfinder for Nikon Z9 (Amazon)

    RECHARGABLE BATTERIES & CHARGER

    • Eneloop AA 2100 Cycle Ni-MH Pre-Charged Rechargeable Batteries, 8-Battery Pack (Amazon)
    • Powerowl 8 Bay AA AAA Battery Charger (Amazon)

    PHOTOGRAPHY BLINDS

    • Ameristep Hunting Lightweight Portable Ultra-Compact Easy-Setup 1-Person Tent Chair Ground Blind (Amazon)
    • Ghillie Suits-The Woodsman Jacket & Pants Set (Amazon)

    LIGHTNING TRIGGER

    • MIOPS Smart+ Smartphone Controllable Camera and Flash Trigger for High Speed Photography & Timelapse - Nikon (Amazon)
    • MIOPS Smart+ Smartphone Controllable Camera and Flash Trigger for High Speed Photography & Timelapse - Canon (Amazon)

    MACRO & SET-UPS

    Wimberley - The Plamp II (Amazon)

    Personal Items

    TECHNICAL CLEANING / WATERPROOFING SOLUTIONS FOR JACKETS, OUTERWARE, SLEEPING BAGS, ETC

    INSECT REPELLENT

    • Sawyer Products SP5442 Picaridin Insect Repellent, 4 Fl Oz (Pack of 2) (Amazon)
    • BlueMoonElise Ain't Buggin Me Citronella Soap (Amazon)

    HYDRATION

    • Brita Stainless Steel Double Insulated Water Bottle with Filter-20 Ounce (Amazon)

    COLD WEATHER ITEMS

    • Rechargeable Portable Electric Hand Warmers for Men and Women (Amazon)
    • Yaktrax Pro Spikes (Amazon)

    OUR PARTNERS

    We appreciate using reliable products and services. That's one of the main reasons we thoughtfully incorporate equipment, gear, accessories, and software into our daily work. We share these with you primarily for educational reasons, helping you to make informed decisions when doing your own research and making purchases. As a result of our recommendations, however, we may also a small commission for a referral...but our years (and in some cases, decades) of patronage speak louder than words.


    Think Tank

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    Hunt's Photo