Following on from our interview with Jonathan Doyle – former Wilki employee and adventure film-maker – we caught up with Jonathan to find out how he decided to spend his Wilkinson sponsorship, which products he chose to take with him and why!

Having just completed the first leg of The Great Australian Triathlon (running across Tasmania!) Jonathan has already put the kit through its paces!

 

"We are so grateful for the support we have received so far in the preparation of The Great Australian Triathlon. It is been mind blowing to have 8 companies, both big and small, believing in our expedition and lending us their support.

Wilkinson Cameras in particular has been especially kind to me, keeping me in the Wilki family even after I had to leave my job in the Kendal store in order to head out on the TGAT2020 expedition. The company has provided some fantastic pieces of equipment allowing me to up my game for this trip.

I thought for those interested in camera nerdery, I’d spend a little time discussing how I chose the kit supplied by Wilkinson Cameras and why these items are important in the filming process."

Sigma 16mm f/1.4 Lens

"First of all, I chose a Sigma 16mm f1.4 lens for my Sony A6400 camera body. This system was originally destined to be my backup in case my Sony A7iii stopped working. However, it has since become the primary film camera for the kayaking team during their Bass Strait crossing to be used in conjunction with their selection of GoPro action cameras and also a Sony RX100 V. The lens is equivalent to 24mm in full-frame terms, giving me a nice wide cinematic feel to my shots. It is also fast, stopping down to f1.4, meaning it can handle reasonably low light situations without succumbing to excessive noise. Overall, while it is a prime, and thus has no zoom capabilities, it’s the perfect lens for the task in hand."

GoPro Hero 8

"Secondly, I chose a GoPro Hero 8, the latest and most advanced action camera on the market. I wanted this for quick closeup ‘in the action’ shots, as well as it’s capability to shoot 4k at 60 frames per second, allowing me to shoot some tasty high-resolution slow motion footage.

The GoPro’s inbuilt image stabilisation has consistently impressed me and I have found it to be an invaluable item in my arsenal, with me using it far more than I originally expected. In addition, I also got the twin battery charger and spare battery for the Hero 8."

Cokin Nuance Variable ND Filter

"The third item provided by Wilkinson Cameras was perhaps the most important of the lot: a Cokin Nuance variable ND filter. This is the number one item for any filmmaker as it allows you to reduce the amount of light entering the system while still being able to keep the aperture wide open, and as such achieve a nice shallow depth of field. A must for a bright sunny climate such as Australia!"

And finally, a Dead Cat!

"Not an actual dead cat, obviously! The final item on the list was a wind-stopper, known as a ‘dead cat’ for my Rode video pro shotgun microphone. Since I will be almost entirely filming outside, this has helped to reduce wind-noise interference, helping to improve the audio quality throughout."

 

"I am incredibly grateful to Wilkinson Cameras for their generous contribution and I feel so very lucky to be the first person they have sponsored in this capacity, thank you!

Keep an eye out on my social media for more updates about the trip and my set up over the coming months."

The Great Australian Triathlon website

Facebook

Jonathan's Instagram

Ben's Instagram

 

We’ll be keeping in touch with Jonathan on each leg of this epic adventure, including the next stage, kayaking across one of the most treacherous stretches of open water, the Bass Straight.