Matte Hanna
Landscape | Last Updated: January 28, 2021










Hello again! My name is Matte Hanna and I am a landscape photographer living on the Oregon coast. I’m happy to be back at Shotkit, talking about my gear, this is an update from my last post. A lot can happen over the course of a year, especially in terms of camera technology.
Readers may have found different gear to update their kits or might have jumped ship to a different brand of camera entirely. I am here to share with you what I have changed (or not) over the course of that time and what works for me and why.
Once again in my kit, you are going to find a lot of Nikon gear. I use Nikon mainly because I love the control I have while using them. I let my hands do a lot of muscle memory work while shooting. This works mainly due to Nikon keeping a unified or very similar menu and manual control system across their model line.
Even the Nikon Z series keeps a similar path on their two new mirrorless models. It makes a difference in knowing your camera well and how to change things without too much thought. Often times lighting might be challenging, or if you are trying to quickly capture a moment, you might miss something important.
Having said this, I love all cameras and have shot with a majority of the brands… The best camera is the one you have on you, always!
On to the kit… This is my Landscape kit and what I bring on the majority of my shoots depending on how far I am walking or what subject I am looking to capture.
I juggle a lot of different jobs in photography to give me the ability to travel and shoot all year-round. This is my Landscape quiver.
From bottom left.
Nikon D850
This is one of my new additions to the kit. My main camera for shooting most landscapes. The 45mp image quality is amazing. It’s easy to get beautiful shots with this camera and it feels great in the hands with comfortable ergonomics. The battery life is long even when composing shots in Live view.
I love the new additions of Focus stacking, focus peaking and the pull out 3.2″ touch LCD. If you haven’t tried the D850, you should. I prefer it over the Z series for my own reasons – at this point.
The D850 is built extremely well, like most Nikon cameras. It’s rugged and weather sealed to keep out the elements.
Nikon D810
This camera is my backup to the D850. I specifically shoot with the D810
when I know I am going to be shooting in a situation where I might drop or submerge the D850
(I’m knocking on wood).
I still love this camera and shoot with it weekly. It’s easy to use and reliable, it’s an old welcome friend in my gear bag and has captured many memories and stories.
Nikon D750
This is my backup for the D850 and the D810
. Lightweight, sturdy and it takes tack sharp images paired with the right glass. Excellent at higher ISO’s with superb dynamic range.
The tilting display with Live view is great for composing your shots and the recent drop on the D750 price tag won’t break the bank.
Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II Lens
It’s versatile in low light and the image quality is amazing. This is my go-to landscape zoom. Fast focusing, with the ability to create both beautiful bokeh and sharp images.
Paired with solid construction, shooting with it is a pleasure. Great for shooting wildlife or landscapes, it’s a beautiful well-constructed lens.
AF-S NIKKOR 24–70mm f/2.8G ED
A great standard zoom lens, often referred to as the workhorse of the pros. The lens offers consistent performance with fast precise autofocus performance. It’s dependable and shoots like a charm.
Sigma 24mm f/1.4 DG HSM
A versatile wide-angle lens, it’s tack sharp when used correctly and also shoots amazing shallow depth of field situations. When I want to travel light for astrophotography, I use this lens paired with the D850.
Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG HSM
An ultra-wide zoom lens with a constant f/2.8. This is the lens I use the most in my kit. It offers me the most versatility for my style of landscape photography.
Whether shooting night skies or early morning fog banks, the image quality is superb. It’s a new addition and has quickly become a favourite in my kit.
DJI Mavic Pro Drone
This is also a new addition. I love the ease of use and the compact design that allows me to take it anywhere without taking up precious space when out shooting.
Allowing for a brand new perspective on shooting locations. The DJI is also just fun to fly and goof around. Part toy part tool, always fun.
Third Eye Headlamps
I bring headlamps wherever I go for safety and function. A new favourite addition to my kit is from Third Eye Headlamps. The designs are super stylish with an intuitive button structure that offers immediate access to red lighting, preserving my night vision. Also, waterproof and made from recyclable non-toxic plastic.
You will find this headlamp on my head or in my bag at all times. Perfect for shooting at night or hanging around the camp.
Breakthrough Photography – X4 Neutral Density 6 and 3 stop filters
What can I say, these are amazing filters and I bring them everywhere I shoot. I like to do as much in- camera work as possible. It offers me greater control over my photography, instead of relying on post production. Filters are part of my style for keeping it pure.
Charpoles – Ascent Hiking Pole
A new addition to the kit. Durable and lightweight, I absolutely love these poles. Offering instant balance hiking on the trails and support for the muscles carrying the gear. A brilliant monopod feature on the handle lets you mount anything from a GoPro to a DSLR.
Gitzo GT1555T Series 1 Traveler Carbon Fiber Tripod with Center Ball Head
I’m still enjoying this Gitzo. Made for hiking and travel, the carbon construction is light and sturdy, giving this tripod very little shake or movement whatever surface you are shooting on. Packs down to almost nothing and comes with me on every hike.
Field Notebook
I highly recommend taking a memo book for jotting down notes wherever you go. I use mine to write down my thoughts and different settings for the places and gear that I am using.
They are great for keeping your life’s bucket list handy, you never know when you might be crossing something off or adding to that list.
www.mstarfilms.com | @matte_hanna


Check out these 8 essential tools to help you succeed as a professional photographer.
Includes limited-time discounts.
Feel free to leave a comment or ask me anything about my gear!
Best,
Matte Hanna
Thanks for reading, feel free to ask me about anything I shoot with!
Hey Matte,
Love your photos! I used to live in WA and the beauty of the PNW is driving my desire to get into photography. Where would you start out in terms of equipment on a budget/for a beginner?
Hi Mark, thats so great! Sometimes I feel there is a misconception is out there for beginners, that you have to have the best and most expensive equipment to get great shots. Not so! It’s really not the case. The best camera is always the one you have with you, so just getting a camera in your hands is the goal.
I would start with the essentials, camera body, a lens or two to get going and when budget allows..a tripod. I wouldn’t worry to much about the camera megapixel wars, anything 16mp and above would be fine, maybe look at getting a refurbished or used body to start out. The nikon D750 and D810 body pricing have had really good deal’s lately with the release of the D850 driving older Nikon models down. I have seen D750’s for $900 used and I would defiantly recommend that model. It has some really great features for the sticker price. I also like Fuji Films systems, any of the X series are also really nicely priced, I travel a lot and always keep my Fuji X100f close by, it’s small and easy to use and didn’t break the bank. If you just need a good 35mm I would definitely check that out..
While I can’t argue nothing beats having some really nice glass, lenses can be overwhelmingly pricy. Buying a zoom that covers a few focal ranges might be a good way to start! Also refurbished and used lenses are a good way to save money. Some of my favorite photographers started out with only having a few lenses to shoot with and it really helped create and influenced their style. Nikkor G lenses, are quality lenses that are inexpensive, they make a great 35 and 50. I own and use both, they are a third of the price of some lenses out there with remarkable quality. Also for an inexpensive tripod recommendation check out Manfrotto BeFree tripods. They are sturdy, easy to use and don’t break the bank.
Stay vigilant and look for deals, there are so many other great cameras out there. Thanks for checking out my gear and I hope I helped!
Cheers,
Matte