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A Playfight with two Asian Elephants
Canon EOS 400D w/ EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM @ 200mm | F2.8 | 1/400 sec | ISO 400 |
DPReview community member Jagdeep Rajput, known as J Rajput in the wider community, is our latest spotlight in this series about what’s in your camera bag. This series explores the gear our community members bring along on their photography journeys and shares the stories behind how that equipment helps them capture memorable moments.
Culminating from more than three decades of wildlife photography, below is Jagdeep’s amazing story and photos, along with the gear used to capture them.
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Meet Jagdeep Rajput (J Rajput)
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Fujifilm X-T4 w/ XF100-400mmF4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR @ 100mm | F8 | 1/340 sec | ISO 320 |
Home base: Delhi, India
Favorite camera and lens: Canon EOS R5 II paired with the EF 500mm F4 IS II – a powerful combination Jagdeep relies on for capturing distant wildlife and dramatic animal behavior in the field.
Typical photo scenes: Wildlife photography, especially large mammals and wetland birds in national parks and open natural habitats.
“I started photographing in the early 1980s, and over the years it has grown into a lifelong passion for observing and documenting wildlife.”
Jagdeep is a wildlife photographer who enjoys working with small groups of like-minded friends. Most of his photography takes place in India’s national parks, where he spends a lot of time sitting still, patiently watching and waiting for the right behavior or interaction with animals to unfold.
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| Fight during courtship season
Canon EOS R5 w/ EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4x III | 700mm | F5.6 | 1/1250 sec | ISO 1250 |
What’s in Jagdeep’s bag
- Primary cameras: Two Canon EOS R5 II bodies
- Lenses: RF 24–105mm F4 for versatility, RF 70–200mm F2.8 VCM for action and medium telephoto work, and a 100–400mm F5.6 for additional reach. For distant wildlife, Jagdeep relies on the EF 500mm F4 IS II, often paired with 1.4x and 2x teleconverters.
- Support and accessories: A beanbag is an essential part of his kit, especially when shooting from vehicles in wildlife reserves. He also carries a close-focusing tube to allow tighter framing when subjects approach closer than expected.
- Camera bags: Jagdeep prefers backpack-style camera bags, typically from Lowepro, Tamrac or Think Tank. For bird sanctuaries and longer walks, he uses a larger Tamrac backpack along with a tripod and gimbal head to support long lenses. When photographing from a vehicle, he relies on a beanbag for stability.
- Other Essentials: A sun hat is always packed for field protection, and gloves come along during the cooler winter months.
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| Photo: Jagdeep Rajput |
What other gear makes a difference?
“I like to keep my setup fairly simple in the field, but a few accessories are always important. A beanbag is something I rely on often, especially when photographing wildlife from a vehicle, as it provides quick and stable support for long lenses. I also carry a close-focusing tube, which allows me to get tighter shots when an animal or bird comes closer than expected.
Other than that, I usually pack a sun hat to deal with the intense sunlight during long hours, and gloves during the winter months when mornings in the field can be quite cold.”
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| Mock Charge of an Asian Elephant
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV w/EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM @ 117mm | F5 | 1/400 sec | ISO 500 |
What has been one of your most amazing moments out in the field?
While India remains his primary shooting ground, Jagdeep also travels to Africa, photographing wildlife in places like the Masai Mara, Amboseli and Tsavo. One of his most memorable moments occurred at Keoladeo National Park in Bharatpur.
“Once, I went to Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur, India, to photograph a nesting Sarus Crane. A Bluebull happened to venture close to Sarus’s nest, the crane opened its huge wings and attacked the bull from behind. Since I liked to shoot animal behaviour, I pressed my continuous shutter, and the image I captured was unbelievable; it was ‘Pegasus’.”
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| A Territorial Call of Indian Sarus Crane
Canon EOS 5D Mark III w/ EF500mm f/4L IS USM| 500mm | F5.6 | 1/640 sec | ISO 160 |
Jagdeep’s advice for other photographers
“Good subjects are hard to find. If you come across one, don’t give up easily. Go for a couple of exceptional frames rather than hundreds of good frames.”
Discuss with Jagdeep his photography and gear in the forums.
If you’d like to share your photography setup, tell us about your main camera, lens choices, key settings and strategies. Your photos and story could be featured in the next article!
Editor’s note: This article continues a series, ‘What’s in your bag?’, highlighting DPReview community members, their photography and the gear they depend on. Would you like to be featured in a future installment? Tell us a bit about yourself and your photography by filling out this form. If you’re selected for a feature, we’ll be in touch with next steps.
Submit your photos and story to be featured in ‘What’s in your bag?’