filters

My most essential Landscape Gear in Trondheim

Here is the list of the photo gear I tend to carry with me when I’m out taking landscape photos, and the reasons why.

  • Kamera: So my choice of camera to do both video and landscape photos is the Sony a7rIV. It has a 61 MP sensor and can deliver 4k video and slow motion full HD. It also has great dynamic range which makes it alot easier in the post process work when it comes to editing highlights and shadows. I expose to the Highlights, and push them as far as I can without burning the highlights out.

  • Lens: Lenses can vary depending on where and what I’m shooting. But my most used ones for landscape is the 16-35mm f/2.8 GM and the 70-200mm f/2.8 GM. The one I use the most would be the 16-35mm f/2.8 GM. This is a very sharp lens and it is the right focal lengt range for taking landscapes of Trondheim ,the way I want to. The focal lengts in between 35-70 is not something I have found to need that much, and not having the extra weight is worth not adding more lenses.

  • Filters: I use the filters from Nisi Filters. But any kind of filter-system is what I would prefere. Mine has a integrated polarisation filter and possibilities to add graduated filters GND or just plain neutral density filters ND. This way you have more control in situations were you either need a lower shutter speed with adding a ND filter, pull down the exposure in the highlights with the GND, bring forth the colours with the polarisation filter or remove the reflection in reflecting surfaces as the surface of the water. This system brings me alot of creative control without having to take multiple exposures and blend it all together in photoshop. I find myself using the polarisation, a soft graduated filter and a ND filter all together most of the time.

  • Tripod: I have a Gitzo tripod with a Benro 3 way head. This is a light weight tripod, but very sturdy. The tripod head is geared which gives me more precise control on adjusting angles when I level up. I also have this mounted on a adjustment plate from manfrotto if I need to take panoramas. This way I don’t need to level up the tripod legs. I can just put up the tripod in a sturdy position and then adjust the level plate to get the paning with the 3 way head straight. If you don’t level up the tripod with either the legs or the level plate, you will get a incline on your panning with the tripod head.

  • Camera plate: I use a L-Plate from 3 legged thing. This way I can easily change from landscape orientation to portrait orientation without having to change my composition. Highly recommended. Especially if you all of a sudden want to change between these modes during a sunset.

  • Remote Trigger: This is very nice to have, so you don’t touch the camera while taking photos. It also let you stand at a distance from the tripod. Many times you can create shake by moving around too close to the camera while you are taking photos.

  • Extra Battery and Memory Cards: I try to always keep an extra pair of memory cards and batteries with me. You don’t want to run out of either one of them!

  • Also it is nice to bring some snack, cloth to wipe of water drops, rain cover (peak design shell cover) and something to drink.