Bill Holsten Photography

Nature and travel images

In the bag

Canon 7D (acquired October 2009) - Is my primary body.  As of January 2010, I am quite pleased with the images I have made with this body.  I have had some minor problems, which I am monitoring, and will send it in for repairs if they continue to be annoying.  

Canon 40D - This is my backup body, used for situations where I want to have two complete rigs ready to shoot.  By default, it has my 24-105mm F4 L IS lens mounted for pictures of my grandkids.

Canon 300mm F2.8 L IS - I use this lens for almost all bird photography and other nature photography where a long reach is required.  I love this lens.

Canon 2X & 1.4X teleconverters - One or the other of these is usually on the 300mm when I am photographing birds.

Canon 70-200mm F2.8 L IS - I use this lens for nature photography when a shorter reach is indicated.  Since I acquired the 300mm, this lens has not gotten much use, but it is very sharp.

Canon 24-105mm F4 L IS (acquired October 2009) - This is my primary lens for travel and family photography. 

Canon 10-22mm F3.5-4.5 - I use this lens when a wider field of vision, than my 17-85mm provides, is required.  This lens is not suitable for full-frame DSLRs.

Canon 100mm F2.8 L IS Macro (acquired October 2009) - This is my first macro lens, and so far the image stabilization feature is impressive.  I'm looking forward to photographing frogs, vipers, insects, flowers, etc with this lens in Costa Rica in April 2010.

Canon 580EX II Speedlite - I use this mostly for bird photography in low or flat light situations, such as Costa Rica.

MT-24EX Macro Twin Lite Ringlite (acquired October 2009) - I plan to use this for macro photography in low or flat light situations, such as Costa Rica.

Canon 12mm & 25mm extension tubes - I used to use these with the 300mm & 70-200mm lenses for macro work, but now that I have a macro lens, I don't expect to use them much.

Hakuba HG-504MX carbon fiber tripod

Really Right Stuff BH-55 ballhead 

"Cheapie" monopod with tilt-head