Paolo Pellegrin's Gear List

Paolo Pellegrin

Photographer

Italian·b. 1964·Website ↗

Known for:

high-contrast black-and-white conflict photojournalism; ten World Press Photo awards

Education:

Università La Sapienza, Rome (architecture, incomplete); Istituto Italiano di Fotografia, Rome, 1986–1987

Paolo Pellegrin (born 1964, Rome) came from a family of architects and initially studied architecture before switching to photography at Rome's Istituto Italiano di Fotografia. He became a Magnum Photos nominee in 2001 and full member in 2005, and was a contract photographer for Newsweek for ten years. He has covered major conflicts and humanitarian crises across the Balkans, Middle East, Africa, and Latin America, winning ten World Press Photo awards. His predominant high-contrast black-and-white approach is influenced by Josef Koudelka and Eugene Richards.

Paolo Pellegrin's Gear List(6)

Canon EOS 5DS R

Canon

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Canon EuropeInterview

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"It's like an EOS 5D Mark III on steroids"

Product description

Canon's resolution king, the 5DS R packs a 50.6-megapixel full-frame sensor with low-pass filter cancellation for maximum sharpness. Purpose-built for studio, landscape, and fine-art photographers who demand extreme detail and large-format print capability from a DSLR.

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Susan Meiselas

Photographer

Last updated June 9, 2026

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Favorite kit body alongside the Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L II

Product description

Canon's workhorse full-frame DSLR, the 5D Mark IV delivers 30.4 megapixels, 4K video, and Dual Pixel CMOS AF in a weather-sealed magnesium-alloy body. It became the go-to camera for wedding, portrait, and editorial photographers who needed reliability and image quality in equal measure.

Canon EOS R5

Canon

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Canon EuropeInterview

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"The first time in a long time that I find files that really satisfy me"

Product description

Canon's flagship hybrid mirrorless camera pairs a 45-megapixel full-frame sensor with 8K video, in-body image stabilization, and blazing 20fps electronic shutter bursts. It marked Canon's full commitment to the RF mount system and remains a top choice for photographers and filmmakers who refuse to compromise.

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Canon RF 28-70mm f/2L USM

Canon

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Canon EuropeInterview

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"By far the best lens I've ever worked with"; used for ~90% of work

Product description

A groundbreaking constant f/2 standard zoom that was a flagship launch lens for Canon's RF mount system. Massive and heavy but optically uncompromising, it delivers a full stop more light than any competing f/2.8 zoom.

Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

Canon

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Canon EuropeInterview

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Second lens in his minimalist kit alongside the RF 28-70mm

Product description

Canon's remarkably compact RF-mount 70-200 f/2.8, which broke records as the shortest and lightest lens in its class at launch thanks to an extending barrel design. A workhorse telephoto zoom for portraits, events, and sports.

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Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L II USM

Canon

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Canon MeInterview

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Prime lens used with the 5D bodies

Product description

Canon's premier EF-mount 35mm prime, and the first lens to feature their Blue Spectrum Refractive Optics (BR) element for exceptional chromatic aberration control. A benchmark wide-angle for EF shooters that delivers outstanding sharpness and beautiful rendering wide open.