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Me and my favorite chair resting after a photo shoot in the Italian countryside. Honor PGT-N19 | 7.6mm (24mm equiv) | F1.4 | 1/4000 sec | ISO 50 |
DPReview community member Ciaccio (Mario Ciaccia) has a fascinating photography career based in Milan, Italy. He has been a professional photographer since 1998, working for Tutto Mountain Bike and other companies, including the motorcycle magazine Motociclismo. He now runs his own site while balancing commissioned work with a personal need to capture everyday moments through his camera.
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Meet Ciaccio (Mario Ciaccia)
Home base: Milan, Italy
Favorite camera and lens: Fujifilm X100V with its 35mm equivalent lens, or Sony a7C with the 14mm F1.8 or 135mm F1.8.
Typical photo scenes: Motorcycle travel and events, vast landscapes from Patagonia to the Himalaya, the quiet moods of the River Po, and spontaneous family life.
Although inspired by classic Leica photojournalists and the black-and-white work of Don McCullin, Ciaccio admits he sees only in color. He also says he forced himself to use the Fujifilm X100V to train his eye for 35mm, despite his natural pull toward extremes.
"I see beautiful black and white photos taken with 35mm, but then, when it's my turn to take them, I'm more inspired to use a 14mm and color."
Ciaccio edits in Lightroom and Photoshop, keeps accessories minimal, and carries only what helps him get that great shot.
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Sunrise on Monte Jafferau, in the Western Alps, Italy, September 2014. We climbed a hill and were greeted by a pair of formidable French mountains, Barre des Écrins and Pelvoux. Sony NEX-6 | 210mm (315mm equiv) | F6.3 |
What's in Ciaccio's bag(s)
- Primary cameras: Two Sony a7C bodies
- Main lenses: Sony 14mm F1.8 and Sony 135mm F1.8
- Fujifilm X100V (excellent as a compact storytelling camera)
- Sony DSC-RX100 VII (for my even smaller travel pocket needs)
- Honor Magic5 Pro smartphone
- Small Manfrotto tripod
- RucPac photographer's gloves
- Back scratcher: it's telescopic, so why not bring it, right?
- Fishing hat, wet wipes and similar knick-knacks for maximum comfort
- ThinkTank Mindshift Rotation 34 and Rotation 22 backpacks for it all
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Ciaccio's camera bag. Photo: Ciaccio |
What other gear makes a difference?
"I carry very few pieces of gear, precisely because I have to seize the moment. I always carry a tiny Manfrotto tripod and, when I am working alone, a normal tripod. The a7C batteries last so long that I no longer need to carry many extras."
"In my bag there are also practical things: wet wipes, rain gear, a sweatshirt, thin gloves in winter, a headlamp for night photos and even a small screwdriver because sometimes the memory card door on my cameras gets stuck. If I have to wait hours at an event, I bring a folding chair so my back survives.”
“For years I have been obsessed with finding a light, fast system that lets me react immediately,” says Ciaccio. His Rotation 34 backpack uses a rotating waist pack that gives instant access to three cameras, even while seated on a motorcycle. The pairing of ultra-wide 14mm and 135mm telephoto reflects his visual instincts: dramatic perspectives or tight subject isolation with strong bokeh.
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Rothang La, Himalayan pass 3,980 meters above sea level. I wanted to convey the vertigo I felt every time I encountered a truck or bus, and they didn't even slow down, despite the high risk of hitting me and sending me over the edge. After all, Rothang means ‘pile of corpses’. Sony NEX-6 | 10mm (15mm equiv) | F4 |
What stands out with the Fujifilm X100V and Sony a7C?
"If someone told me I could only keep one camera for the rest of my life, I would choose the Fujifilm X100V. With a 35mm lens, you can tell any story."
"For my Sony a7C, the high quality of the full-frame sensor allows me to have narrower focal lengths with little cropping. The 135mm seems like a weak telephoto lens, but the bokeh effect is such that I don't miss a 200mm or 300mm."
"I tried to do the same with the Sony a7 III, but it's too big: I'm one of the rare cases where the a7c is indispensable. If I wanted the same things but in an even smaller size, I could switch to APS-C: Sony a6700 with Sony 11 mm F1.8 (tiny!) and an 85 mm F1.8, which could be Sony or Viltrox."
“If someone told me I could only keep one camera for the rest of my life, I would choose the Fujifilm X100V.” |
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In October 2025, we challenged the steam train that runs from Novara to Varallo Sesia, in Piedmont, Italy. The challenge was to photograph it with the motorcycles at 13 different points. Sony a7C w/ FE14mm F1.8 GM | F1.8 | 1/4000 sec | ISO 250 |
How do you adapt your setup to different situations?
“It depends on the season and on what I am doing. If I travel alone like an explorer, I reduce everything to the minimum. If I have to photograph an organized event and stay in one place for three or four hours, I bring what makes the wait comfortable."
"My strength is that I always have the right focal length ready. The cameras are set in manual mode, usually with the aperture wide open. If necessary, I close it, but I like to isolate the subject and react quickly.”
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Murzuq Desert in Libya, November 2008. I wanted to convey the feeling of being in the presence of immense chocolate flows. Canon EOS 40D | 70mm (113mm equiv) | F8 | 1/640 sec | ISO 100 |
Ciaccio's advice for other photographers
“Since I started in digital in 2004, technology has improved enormously. Today, we have more than enough performance. Ten frames per second is already a lot. Twenty-four megapixels are already excellent. At a certain point, it is not the equipment that changes your photography."
"Travel, look around you, and shoot. I have photographed Patagonia, the Himalayas and the Libyan desert, but I have also learned that beauty is behind my house. The important thing is to be ready when the moment arrives.”
If you’d like to share your photography setup, tell us about your main camera, lens choices, key settings and photography strategies. You could be featured next!
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.
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