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Sam Abell

Sam Abell, renowned for his poetic storytelling in National Geographic, embraces a minimalist yet potent approach to photography gear:

Minimalist Philosophy

  • Abell prefers “less gear,” typically carrying just one or two camera bodies with different prime lenses to stay fully “in the moment”

Classic Minimalism: Leica & Olympus (Film Years)

  • He carried two Leica rangefinder bodies (M-series primarily, with some use of R-series SLRs).

  • His go‑to “walk-around” lenses were a 28 mm wide-angle and a 90 mm for more focused shots.

  • Occasionally used Olympus bodies (notably models with spot-metering, like the OM‑4T) with the same lens pair .

  • Abell avoided flash and heavy gear, preferring available light and micro composition to create “short‑story” images

Sam Abell with Leica R4

Transition to Digital: Canon Setup

Currently, when he collaborates with Canon, his gear includes:

  • A Canon EOS 5D Mark III body with battery pack and charger youtube.comusa.canon.com.

  • Lenses like the Canon EF 24–70 mm f/2.8L II USM and occasionally the EF 24–105 mm f/4L IS USM

Canon Eos 5D Mark III
see it on Amazon

Film Format & Style

  • He shot extensively on Kodachrome—valued for its rich, transparent color and archival quality.

Essence Over Extras

  • For Abell, the act of photography is not about gear. He emphasizes finishing a photograph in-camera, akin to Kodachrome slides—minimal post-processing.

  • His method: compose carefully (often with a wide 28 mm), wait for life to enter the frame, then press the shutter.

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