Matt Payne's Photography Gear

One of the number one questions I receive from people is regarding the photography gear that I use to create my images (some of my personal favorites are above). While gear is clearly only part of the equation, gear choice and proper use can greatly improve a photographer's success. I learned this quickly in 2011 when I realized there were images I had a vision for that my gear would not let me achieve. This is particularly true in night photography, where lens choice and camera sensor play a large role in image quality. Quick disclaimer - the links to products here are affiliate links and do help support my ability to produce more (and better) images. Thanks for your support!

CAMERA GEAR

1. Sony a7RIV - I switched from Nikon to Sony in late 2016 in the hopes of significantly reducing the weight of my camera equipment. While weight is not a factor for most landscape photographers, it is incredibly important to me due to the fact that the majority of my images are produced while on long backpacking trips into the wilderness or on mountain climbs. Additionally, I have found the image quality to be superior to any other camera I have used. The 61 megapixels allows me to print at staggering sizes and allows for creative cropping to refine my compositions. The camera is also a joy to use. I no longer worry about blowing out highlights - the "zebras" on the digital viewfinder help me out with getting the correct exposure. There is no guessing needed! I love this camera. My only concern with it is the lack of really solid weather sealing, so I have to be careful while in the field if it is raining. If you want to use an awesome tool for determining the weight of your gear, check out the tool I built.

Matt Payne Photography Gear

LENSES

1. Wide angle lens: For ultra wide angle shots, including astro-photography, I depend on the Sony 14mm 1.8 GM. This lens produces incredibly sharp wide-angle photographs in a small and lightweight package. It focuses ultra-fast and has a very short minimum focus distance coupled with f/1.8 speed which makes it a very fun and creative lens for astro-photography and close-up wide-angle work.

Sony Lenses for Landscape Photographers
Matt Payne Photography Gear

2. Mid-range prime: Sony 55mm FE f/1.8. This lens really has it all. It weighs almost nothing. It is sharper than any lens I have ever used. It is very small and compact. Paired with the Sony a7RIV, this thing can produce stunning Milky Way images at 10s and ISO 10,000.

Lightweight Sony Lenses for Landscape Photography
Sony 55mm Lens for Astrophotography

3. Mid-range zoom: Sony FE 24-105. This lens is shockingly good. I was skeptical at first when I got this lens; however, I have never had any problems using this lens for landscape work. Its quite sharp and the 24-105 focal range makes it a very versatile weapon in my arsenal of lenses. I really enjoy this lens.

Matt Payne Photography Gear
The Castles in Autumn (2019)

4. Telephoto zoom: Sony FE 100-400. I love this lens. It is a great combo when used with the Sony 24-105. With these two lenses, I can cover 90% of my photography needs with just two lenses.

Matt Payne Photography Gear
Evening Trees in a Winter Yosemite (2020)

BACKPACK

For my photography backpack system I have come to fall in love with the Shimoda Action X50 backpack. I provided an extensive review of this backpack earlier in 2019 and really do think its the best system you can get if you are a nature or landscape photographer that spends any time hiking or doing long adventures. Your shoulders will thank you for getting this set-up! You can also save 10% of any Shimoda gear using this link and the code "Payne10" at checkout.

Shimoda Designs Action X Review

TRIPOD & BALLHEAD

For my style of landscape photography I needed a tripod and ballhead that finds the sweet spot between weight and stability. I prefer not to use a center column and instead want a tripod that can get quite high for those awkward spots on mountainsides where height is still needed. As such, after a ton of research and testing, I decided to go with the FLM CP30-L4 II Tripod paired with the Leofoto LH-40GR, which is a geared ballhead that can rotate on two different points of the head, making it much easier to dial in telephoto panoramas and telephoto compositions.

Have any questions about my gear? Let me know!