The Full Kit

Resources & Gear.

Every piece of gear below is something we actually use on paid client shoots. No fluff. No paid placements that override our judgment. These are the tools that produce the quality you see in our portfolio.

Disclosure: Some links may be affiliate links. We earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Photography & Videography

The best camera gear for automotive photography — what we trust on every shoot.

Sony
Alpha a7S III
"Our primary video workhorse. The a7S III's dual-base ISO and 4K 120p capture clean, cinematic motion even in mixed garage and golden-hour light."
  • 12.1MP full-frame BSI sensor tuned for video
  • 4K 120fps with 10-bit 4:2:2 internal recording
  • Dual Base ISO (640/12800) for clean low-light paint
  • S-Cinetone + S-Log3 for premium color grading
View on B&H Photo →
Sony
Alpha A7R III
"42.4 megapixels means we can crop deep into a vehicle's detail and still deliver print-quality images for listing galleries."
  • 42.4MP BSI full-frame sensor
  • 399-point phase-detect AF with eye tracking
  • 5-axis in-body stabilization up to 5.5 stops
  • Ideal for large-format listing galleries on BaT
View on B&H Photo →
Sony
FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II
"A single lens that covers environmental shots to tight interior details. The f/2.8 delivers the creamy subject separation that makes listings pop."
  • Constant f/2.8 aperture across full zoom range
  • XD linear motors for near-silent autofocus
  • Nano AR Coating II reduces interior glass flare
  • Dust & moisture sealed for outdoor track days
View on B&H Photo →
Sony
FE 90mm f/2.8 G Macro
"The macro workhorse for flawless paint, badge, and stitch detail. Clients always zoom in, so we shoot the close-ups that survive it."
  • 1:1 life-size magnification for true macro detail
  • Direct Drive SSM for quiet, precise focus
  • Nano AR coating kills glare on glossy paint
  • Dust/moisture sealed for outdoor detail work
View on B&H Photo →
Sony
FE 100mm f/2.8 STF GM OSS
"Our secret weapon for dreamy, smooth bokeh portraits of a car's cabin and curves. The STF element renders backgrounds like no other lens."
  • Apodization element for creamy, natural bokeh
  • G Master optical performance, f/2.8 aperture
  • Optical SteadyShot for handheld interior shots
  • Built for rendering smooth, premium separation
View on B&H Photo →
Sony
FE 50mm f/1.2 GM
"The 'normal' that flatters every body line. Wide open at f/1.2 it isolates a single fender or wheel with gorgeous subject separation."
  • Bright f/1.2 for low-light garage shoots
  • Three XA elements for edge-to-edge sharpness
  • Linear response MF for precise manual focus
  • Compact G Master build, weather sealed
View on B&H Photo →
Sony
FE 135mm f/1.8 GM
"Reach without compromise. Perfect for tight hero crops of a grille or headlight from a distance without distortion."
  • f/1.8 telephoto with G Master resolution
  • Four XD linear motors for fast, silent AF
  • Two XA elements minimize aberrations
  • Ideal for compression-free hero details
View on B&H Photo →
Sony
FE 35mm f/1.4 GM
"Our environmental storyteller. At 35mm it captures the car in context — showroom, street, or canyon — with natural perspective."
  • Classic 35mm for environmental automotive frames
  • Two XA elements for ultra-high resolution
  • f/1.4 for shallow depth in tight spaces
  • Lightweight for walk-around BTS work
View on B&H Photo →
Sony
FE 20mm f/2.0 G
"The wide that fits the whole machine. Great for dramatic front-three-quarter hero frames and tight interior panoramas."
  • Ultra-wide 20mm for full-car hero shots
  • Compact, lightweight G-series pancake design
  • Close 0.19m focus for dramatic foregrounds
  • Minimal distortion across the frame
View on B&H Photo →
Sony
FE 14mm f/1.8 GM
"Extreme wide for the cinematic, in-your-face angle. Renders a low-slung supercar with real drama and scale."
  • 14mm f/1.8 G Master ultra-wide
  • Two XA + one Super ED element
  • Near-circular bokeh even at the edges
  • Aspherical design tames wide-open distortion
View on B&H Photo →
Sony
FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM
"The tele zoom we reach for on track days. Compression flattens the scene and makes a moving car look explosive."
  • Constant f/2.8 across the zoom range
  • Four XD motors for fast sports AF
  • 1.4x/2x teleconverter compatible
  • Weather-sealed for race-weekend abuse
View on B&H Photo →
Sony
FE 28-135mm f/4 PZ G Cinema
"Our cinema zoom for controlled video. The power-zoom is silent and smooth — exactly what a walk-around film needs."
  • Powered zoom for jolt-free video moves
  • Parfocal design holds focus while zooming
  • f/4 constant aperture across 28-135mm
  • Cinema-grade color and minimal breathing
View on B&H Photo →
DJI
RS 3 Pro Gimbal
"Essential for the smooth, cinematic walk-arounds that clients always comment on. Makes even handheld run-and-gun footage look professional."
  • 4.5 kg payload supports heavy cinema rigs
  • Native vertical shooting for Reels & TikTok
  • OLED touchscreen for quick parameter changes
  • LiDAR focus motor integration via RS port
View on Amazon →
Profoto
B10 Plus Off-Camera Flash
"Fills harsh shadows on paint at outdoor shoots. The portable, battery-powered design means we can light a car in an empty parking structure."
  • 500Ws power output, battery powered
  • 2-stop HSS for shooting in bright California sun
  • Built-in AirTTL for automatic exposure
  • 20-stop power range for creative control
View on B&H Photo →
DJI
Mic 2 Wireless Audio
"Clean dialogue audio is non-negotiable for YouTube retention. The Mic 2 clips on in seconds and sounds better than most other setups."
  • 32-bit float recording eliminates clipping
  • Up to 250m range for wide outdoor shoots
  • Built-in noise cancellation for track environments
  • Magnetic clip attaches to any shirt instantly
View on Amazon →

Quick Camera Comparison

Choosing between the a7S III and A7R III for your automotive shoot? Here's our breakdown.

Feature Sony a7S III Sony A7R III
Primary Use Video / Cinema High-Res Stills
Resolution 12.1 MP 42.4 MP
4K 120fps ✓ Yes ✗ No
Best for Listings? Walk-around video ✓ Gallery photos
Best for Social? ✓ Reels, TikTok, Shorts Supplementary BTS

Computers & Workflow

Hardware built for processing 4K video and 42.4MP RAW files without bottlenecks.

Apple
MacBook Pro M4 Max
"The M4 Max handles 8K ProRes timelines in DaVinci Resolve without dropping a frame. It's the only laptop that keeps up with our output demands."
  • M4 Max chip: 16-core CPU, 40-core GPU
  • 128GB unified memory eliminates render bottlenecks
  • Liquid Retina XDR display for accurate color grading
  • Up to 22 hours of battery for on-location editing
View on Apple →
Samsung
T9 Portable SSD (4TB)
"We always shoot to two cards and back up to this immediately on set. Losing a 200-image listing shoot is not an option."
  • 2,000 MB/s transfer speed — empties a card in minutes
  • Hardware AES 256-bit encryption
  • IP65 rated: dust and water resistant on location
  • Bus-powered via USB-C — no wall adapter needed
View on Amazon →
Monogram
Creative Console
"Modular dials and sliders map directly to Lightroom and Resolve parameters. Color grading is 3x faster and more tactile than mouse-only workflows."
  • Works with Lightroom, Resolve, Premiere, After Effects
  • Modular — build the layout that matches your workflow
  • Infinite encoders with haptic detents
  • One-click profile switching between apps
View on Monogram →

AI & Editing Tools

The AI tools for content creators that actually save hours — not just hype.

Adobe
Lightroom Classic + Generative AI
"Adobe's Generative Remove lets us erase distracting backgrounds behind vehicles in seconds — a task that used to take 20 minutes in Photoshop."
  • Non-destructive RAW workflow with local adjustments
  • AI-powered Denoise preserves paint texture at high ISO
  • Generative Remove cleans up backgrounds and reflections
  • Batch export with custom file naming for listing galleries
View on Adobe →
DaVinci Resolve
DaVinci Resolve Studio
"The industry standard for professional color grading. The Magic Mask feature uses AI to isolate a moving vehicle from the background, enabling targeted color work."
  • Neural Engine: AI scene cut detection and object masks
  • Full Fairlight audio suite built-in
  • One-time purchase — no subscription required
  • Hollywood-grade color science with node workflow
View on Blackmagic →
CapCut
CapCut Pro (Desktop)
"Our fastest path from raw footage to published Reel. Auto-captions and AI-generated script templates cut short-form edit time by 70%."
  • AI auto-captions with custom styling
  • Trending sound and transition library
  • Direct publish to TikTok and Instagram
  • AI script generator based on video content
View on CapCut →
ElevenLabs
ElevenLabs Voice AI
"When we need a polished studio voiceover for a brand campaign on a tight deadline, ElevenLabs produces broadcast-quality results in minutes."
  • Hyper-realistic AI voiceovers in 30+ languages
  • Voice cloning — create a consistent brand voice
  • Integrates directly with video editing pipelines
  • Ideal for explainer content and ad creatives
View on ElevenLabs →

Travel Essentials

The best travel gear for on-location shoots — from track days to dealership hops.

Peak Design
Travel Backpack 45L
"Fits one a7S III body, two lenses, a laptop, and a DJI Mic kit. Carry-on compliant for flights to events like SEMA and Monterey Car Week."
  • Internal camera cube organizes gear without a pelican
  • Clamshell zip for easy TSA security screening
  • Weatherproof ripstop outer shell
  • MagLatch strap system: access in 2 seconds
View on Peak Design →
Anker
SOLIX C200 Power Station
"Powers our Profoto B10+ charger, laptop, and monitor simultaneously at remote location shoots where outlets don't exist."
  • 2,048Wh capacity — full day of charging
  • 2,400W AC output for dynamic flash chargers
  • Solar input compatible for multi-day events
  • OLED display showing real-time power draw
View on Amazon →
Gitzo
GT2545T Series 2 Traveler Tripod
"A lightweight travel tripod that weighs just 1.2kg but handles an A7R III + heavy G-Master lens setup without a hint of wobble at golden hour."
  • 1.2 kg / 2.6 lbs carbon fiber construction
  • 21kg load capacity — handles heavy cinema setups
  • Folds to 40cm — fits inside the Peak Design bag
  • Twist-lock leg sections for one-handed setup
View on B&H Photo →

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