#technerds

If you ever wonder why our bags are so heavy and what we carry for the job. This is my kit I carry with me. If you stumbled along my blog, my name is Jake Simkin and I work as a photojournalist mainly in war zones and hard to get places. I just recently helped a friend shoot a video of her kit so it got me thinking of dragging out my kit and showing you what I shoot on.

So my main camera is a Leica MP240, it my favourite stills camera and I love using it. When I was 16 and I wanted to be a photographer and my folks said you could if you worked the money to buy your own camera. They merely though of it as a passing hobby.

Anyway I “borrowed” my schools Pentax K1000 and was doing photos for bands and whatever could pay for taking a few modelling shots. I also did many other jobs and bought a Leica R4 when I was 18 and a Leica M6 when I hit 22. When Digital came along, Canon seemed like the best digital and then digital and video camera. I have owned over 6 Canon 5D but I never liked the audio setup, having a audio unit or carrying around a zoom camera and having to synch everything in post was a nightmare and so thus I went back to have a dedicated video camera that could fit in my bag.

The Sony PMW-X70 gives a really clear image and it was upgradable to 4K video plus it audio setup is real easy to use. I grew up mainly using Sony Mini DV camera from film school, Digital Betacam when I shot the news to large FS7 setup for large scale documentaries. The X70 small enough and high enough quality to shot decent pictures in the field especially if you are down in a ditch getting shot at by the enemy. I have fairly okay robust wireless mics from Electrosonics and here I have the usual Sony camera mic with windsock and “deadcat for the wind.

I actually have around 20 Sony batteries for the video camera. I used to do long military embeds or patrols with rebel fighters and I could be without electricity or access to charging batteries in the car so I would have extra pockets in my body armor filled with them. But on a normal day, 5 is good. I have one spare for the Leica.

I carry a first aid kit. It is important in these a times to think about First Aid. If not for yourself but other comrades in the field and civilians. Inside the kit is stuff for gunshot and shrapnel wounds and also have a few energy bars in case you feel down. I also have medicines, tablets for purifying water and burn cream.

I have a GPS Suunto watch and a GPS Satellite messenger for knowing where I am or sending a message especially if I am in a place with no reception. A lvl 4 night vision monocle saved me a few times in the dark, also fun to attach to the camera to shoot out of and a LED lamp and the stand in parts to mount it. I also have a few go pro sessions and other things.