Rob Phillips (@rob.phillips.photography) is a landscape, travel and adventure photographer based in the mountains of Colorado. "The bulk of my portfolio comes from the high alpine and high deserts of Colorado, Wyoming and Utah. However, I am fascinated by all forms of nature photography that seeks to capture the beauty of our world. Outside of my passion for epic landscape scenes I am also driven to dabble in genres like big game wildlife, underwater macro and even deep sky imaging. None of this exploration would be possible without his robust Sony Alpha kit of cameras and lenses. Let’s walk though what’s in my bag that ranges from my most used equipment to specialized gear.” Keep reading as Phillips dives into the gear in his kit.
See how this landscape, travel & adventure photographer captures epic scenics and more in ultra-high resolution with a pair of bodies and a handful of key lenses.
Cameras
Sony Alpha 7R V: The most recent addition to my bag is the Sony Alpha 7R V and it has been an absolute powerhouse! From the 61.0-megapixel sensor to the fully articulating LCD screen, this camera has been a fantastic upgrade. Even the redesigned menu system has been a great change to my workflow in the field. The Sony Alpha 7R V allows me to seamlessly move between landscapes, portraits, wildlife, 8k video, and everything in between.
"Outside of its powerful tech specs the Sony Alpha 7R V shines on low angle portrait orientation shots by offering a fully articulating read LCD." Photo by Rob Phillips. Sony Alpha 7R V. Sony 12-24mm f/4 G. 1/10-sec., f/16, ISO 50
Sony Alpha 7R III: The vast majority of my portfolio has originated from this incredibly versatile and powerful camera. It has been around the world many times and performed flawlessly in the mountains, desert, jungle, and even underwater! My love of Sony imaging equipment started with this body and although recently relegated to second shooter status, still performs as well as the day it arrived. It is hard to imagine my photographic journey without the Sony Alpha 7R III.
"One of my most memorable mornings in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming resulted in this capture all thanks for the Sony Alpha 7R III." Photo by Rob Phillips. Sony Alpha 7R III. Sony 24-105mm f/4 G. 1/25-sec., f/11, ISO 50
Lenses
Sony 12-24mm f/4 G: The ultra-wide range of my lens collection is filled by the Sony 12-24mm f/4 G. One of my favorite compositions involves getting low and close to a small foreground element that will fill the bottom ⅔ of the frame. The top ⅓ of the frame is reserved for elements that we already know are massive and spectacular like mountains or desert formations. I love the way that juxtaposition leads you through the image without making the most obvious subject the focus of the image. Being able to work in that 12-18mm ultra-wide range tends to net the most interesting results for me.
"The Sony 12-24mm f/4 G allows me to fill the frame with elements that are mere inches away from the lens resulting in unique perspectives on old classics like Mormon Row in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming." Photo by Rob Phillips. Sony Alpha 7R III. Sony 12-24mm f/4 G. 1/6-sec., f/16, ISO 50
Sony 24-105mm f/4 G: The Sony 24-105mm f/4 G will go down in history as my most used lens of all time. I would estimate that 85%+ of my portfolio came from this versatile, sturdy, and affordable piece of glass. The zoom range fits nearly all my landscape needs and has the rock-solid construction, weather sealing, and sharp image quality to suit any environment you throw at it. I consistently recommend this lens to beginners and pros alike without hesitation. This is my “desert island” lens!
"One of my favorite panoramas of a cold winter morning in Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah captured with the versatile and sharp Sony 24-105mm f/4 G." Photo by Rob Phillips. Sony Alpha 7R III. Sony 24-105mm f/4 G. 1/20-sec., f/16, ISO 50
Sony 70-200mm f/4 G: The Sony 70-200mm f/4 G is relatively new to my collection and serves to fill that 105-200mm gap when I find a telephoto composition that I have to have. Lately this lens has been great as a time lapse shooter on my Sony Alpha 7R III while I move around with my Sony Alpha 7R V experimenting with different still compositions during a golden hour session.
"The Sony 70-200mm f/4 G creates a visual compression that really brings images to life." Photo by Rob Phillips. Sony Alpha 7R III. Sony 70-200mm f/4 G. 1/40-sec., f/11, ISO 50
Sony 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G: The Sony 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G is by far the most physically impressive lens in my bag and deserves all that credit! When I began spending time in the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem there was more than enough landscape action to keep me busy, but the draw of the wildlife photography scene quickly became a way to occupy my time outside of golden hours. This lens has proven to be an incredible value for someone that isn’t a full-time wildlife shooter and needs the versatility of a large zoom range. I have even used it with a star tracker to shoot deep sky astrophotography with amazing results.
"The Sony 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G allows me to get up close and personal with wildlife and the wonders of our universe." Photo by Rob Phillips. Sony Alpha 7R III. Sony 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G. 1/2000-sec., f/6.3, ISO 640
Sony 90mm f/2.8 Macro G: Scuba diving has quickly become one of my favorite travel hobbies and it wasn’t long before I was scheming on how to start capturing the beauty of these amazing sea creatures to share with the world. Once I invested in a dive housing it became immediately obvious that underwater macro photography was one of the most interesting ways to display the beauty of the ocean. In comes the Sony 90mm f/2.8 Macro G lens with its ability to take a small creature that is difficult to observe in person and turn it in to a magnified, detailed work of wonder!
"Going underwater with the Sony 90mm f/2.8 Macro G produces images of marine life that blew me away!" Photo by Rob Phillips. Sony Alpha 7R III. Sony 90mm f/2.8 Macro G. 1/200-sec., f/7.1, ISO 400
Sony 50mm f/1.8: The Sony 50mm f/1.8 or “Nifty Fifty“ is known to be a sharp, affordable, entry point into the high aperture prime lens world. The f/1.8 aperture makes this a great lens for portrait, travel and street photography but, for me, that large aperture is also great for landscape astrophotography!
"The Sony 50mm f/1.8 is a fun alternative to the typical wide angle astrophotography lenses." Photo by Rob Phillips. Sony Alpha 7R III. Sony 50mm f/1.8. 6-sec., f/1.8, ISO 3200
Accessories
F-Stop Gear Anja Backpack: A great adventure photo pack is a must for hiking my Sony gear in and out of locations safely. Really Right Stuff Tripod, Ballhead, Leveling Base and L Brackets: After years of working with various tripod brands, I took the plunge and invested in the best in the business. I have not looked back since!
Seafrogs Underwater Housing and Inon Strobes: Being able to confidently take my Sony gear underwater for amazing images can’t happen without a watertight dive housing and a little artificial lighting.
2019 Toyota Tundra: Having a rugged vehicle to reach wild destinations while also serving as a comfortable camper helps keep me on the move and free from being tied to a traditional base camp while on photo trips. See more of Rob Phillips' work on Instagram @rob.phillips.photography.