NickTrop
Mentor
Do you have a "camera timeline" or "eras" in your photographic hobby pursuits?
early-mid 80's Ricoh AF 45
Gift from a girlfriend in college. She knew I wanted a camera, didn't want her to spend the money. She insisted. I requested a used Pentax K1000 but not to get it if it cost too much. She got me this, talked into it by the sales guy at the camera store. Not what I wanted but used it for a few years anyway. Not a bad little 80's AF camera. Sitting next to me right now (believe it or not), now disintegrated. But I really wanted an SLR and it nagged at me, so...
Circa late-80's/1990-2004 Cosina-made Vivitar V3800. All manual Pentax K-mount. Birthday gift from my father, a $100 blue-light special at K-Mart. Came with 50/1.8 Vivitar lens that wasn't terrible. Love this camera, still have it, still use it. It's still available new for around $155, one of the last of the Mohican film cameras still being produced and marketed as a "student camera". My only camera from 1990-ish until 2004 when it jammed. Took tons of pics with it, learned everything about photography from this camera - had to, due to all manual operation. However, it didn't think it was worth fixing and, 'sides, film is "dead" - time to "go digital".
2004-2006 Panasonic Lumix FZ-1v2.
Researched "what camera" obsessively (as always...) Intrigued by the "superzoom with IS" capabilities, I bought the Panny. It was strictly a P&S but there was a hack out on the Net that gave it A-priority and S-priority hence the "v2", which was only available in Japan. Had a ball with this camera, snapping and zooming all over, hand-held. Still gives remarkable results for paultry 2 megapixels imo. Started looking at old albums and realized that my old Vivitar did people shots much better. Missed selective focus, missed film. Wanted to get more "into" photography. Learn to develop my own, use larger formats. Still use this camera, mostly on the beach to get shots of kids in the ocean, etc. or whenever I need a big zoom. Also use it with a deep red filter for ir. Got back into film when I read online that sometimes a jammed camera can be fixed with a good "thwack" on its back with your hand. Worked a charm it did with the Vivitar. Gotta love the Internets.
2005-2009 The "GAS" Era
Started lurking on RFF, got "gas". Bought a bunch of fixed lens RFs along with various MF folders and other cameras. Shot mostly RFs in the pattern of "GAS", purchase, use a while, get "GAS" again, purchase... etc. Started rolling my own 35mm cartridges and developing my own black and white in 35 and 120 and printing in a make shift darkroom... Learned tons, had a blast...
2009-present Return to Digital
Decided "GAS" was silly. Decided that the vices of DSLRS that kept me from purchasing one were largely negated and price drops, size reductions and IQ improvements and battery life improvements over the years had made digital practical. Wanted to shoot more pics of "near-35mm" quality without the constraint imposed by film: the cost contraints of film as a consumable, the backlog of film to develop of have developed, etc. Felt digital had "arrived". Also intreagued by motion capture capabilities. Now I can walk around "wherever" like HCB and snap away at will. Still loyal to film I kept my favorite RF, always loaded, which is a Fujica Compact Deluxe - a gift from a RF member, the Vivitar my dad gave me as a gift (I'll never part with...), the Panny (essentially my digital "beater" and "zoom lens"), and the DSLR kit I recently decided on - the Nikon D5000 with a 35mm/1.8 prime lens that I shoot aperture priority, mostly, like the Yashica Electros I had a fondness for.
early-mid 80's Ricoh AF 45
Gift from a girlfriend in college. She knew I wanted a camera, didn't want her to spend the money. She insisted. I requested a used Pentax K1000 but not to get it if it cost too much. She got me this, talked into it by the sales guy at the camera store. Not what I wanted but used it for a few years anyway. Not a bad little 80's AF camera. Sitting next to me right now (believe it or not), now disintegrated. But I really wanted an SLR and it nagged at me, so...
Circa late-80's/1990-2004 Cosina-made Vivitar V3800. All manual Pentax K-mount. Birthday gift from my father, a $100 blue-light special at K-Mart. Came with 50/1.8 Vivitar lens that wasn't terrible. Love this camera, still have it, still use it. It's still available new for around $155, one of the last of the Mohican film cameras still being produced and marketed as a "student camera". My only camera from 1990-ish until 2004 when it jammed. Took tons of pics with it, learned everything about photography from this camera - had to, due to all manual operation. However, it didn't think it was worth fixing and, 'sides, film is "dead" - time to "go digital".
2004-2006 Panasonic Lumix FZ-1v2.
Researched "what camera" obsessively (as always...) Intrigued by the "superzoom with IS" capabilities, I bought the Panny. It was strictly a P&S but there was a hack out on the Net that gave it A-priority and S-priority hence the "v2", which was only available in Japan. Had a ball with this camera, snapping and zooming all over, hand-held. Still gives remarkable results for paultry 2 megapixels imo. Started looking at old albums and realized that my old Vivitar did people shots much better. Missed selective focus, missed film. Wanted to get more "into" photography. Learn to develop my own, use larger formats. Still use this camera, mostly on the beach to get shots of kids in the ocean, etc. or whenever I need a big zoom. Also use it with a deep red filter for ir. Got back into film when I read online that sometimes a jammed camera can be fixed with a good "thwack" on its back with your hand. Worked a charm it did with the Vivitar. Gotta love the Internets.
2005-2009 The "GAS" Era
Started lurking on RFF, got "gas". Bought a bunch of fixed lens RFs along with various MF folders and other cameras. Shot mostly RFs in the pattern of "GAS", purchase, use a while, get "GAS" again, purchase... etc. Started rolling my own 35mm cartridges and developing my own black and white in 35 and 120 and printing in a make shift darkroom... Learned tons, had a blast...
2009-present Return to Digital
Decided "GAS" was silly. Decided that the vices of DSLRS that kept me from purchasing one were largely negated and price drops, size reductions and IQ improvements and battery life improvements over the years had made digital practical. Wanted to shoot more pics of "near-35mm" quality without the constraint imposed by film: the cost contraints of film as a consumable, the backlog of film to develop of have developed, etc. Felt digital had "arrived". Also intreagued by motion capture capabilities. Now I can walk around "wherever" like HCB and snap away at will. Still loyal to film I kept my favorite RF, always loaded, which is a Fujica Compact Deluxe - a gift from a RF member, the Vivitar my dad gave me as a gift (I'll never part with...), the Panny (essentially my digital "beater" and "zoom lens"), and the DSLR kit I recently decided on - the Nikon D5000 with a 35mm/1.8 prime lens that I shoot aperture priority, mostly, like the Yashica Electros I had a fondness for.
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amateriat
We're all light!
Interesting evolution, Nick. I haven't felt the "restriction" of film as you have, but there are two digital cameras among my film burners for those times when I deem digital the way to go. I did get over the GAS thing some time ago, however. 
Edit: I'll make my timeline brutally simple:
1972-1974: Fixed-lens RFs (used Yashica 5000e Lynx; used Yashica Electro 35 GTN kit)
1974-2001: Almost nothing but new SLRs (Canon F-1/EF/A-1; Pentax LX/MX; Nikon F/F2 Titan/F3/FM2; Olympus OM (all of 'em); Minolta 9000AF; Rollei 2000F; Olympus (again, briefly); Minolta 9xi system (nearly ten years). Plus a Leica CL and Canon GIII for good measure.
2002-present: Konica Hexar RF system; Leica M2; Contax Tvs; Olympus OM-2n (plus two lenses); Konica Auto S3; Ricoh GR-1 (still needs fixing); Konica POP; Holga 135; (digital) Olympus C-8080; Casio EX-850.
- Barrett
Edit: I'll make my timeline brutally simple:
1972-1974: Fixed-lens RFs (used Yashica 5000e Lynx; used Yashica Electro 35 GTN kit)
1974-2001: Almost nothing but new SLRs (Canon F-1/EF/A-1; Pentax LX/MX; Nikon F/F2 Titan/F3/FM2; Olympus OM (all of 'em); Minolta 9000AF; Rollei 2000F; Olympus (again, briefly); Minolta 9xi system (nearly ten years). Plus a Leica CL and Canon GIII for good measure.
2002-present: Konica Hexar RF system; Leica M2; Contax Tvs; Olympus OM-2n (plus two lenses); Konica Auto S3; Ricoh GR-1 (still needs fixing); Konica POP; Holga 135; (digital) Olympus C-8080; Casio EX-850.
- Barrett
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jan normandale
Film is the other way
Nick, I started "a similar progression" but different beginning in 2003. Prior to that I had just used an XA for record shots.
My path was not types of cameras but quality levels. Started out with one of your fave's a Yashica GSN, bought a couple of other Yashica products a Lynx 14e and a GX. I still have those and a love affair with their glass which is totally unique in colour rendition in my opinion. I just gave the Lynx away after a tune up by Mark Hama. Someone got a nice one.
I bought a Leica M4-P and a Summicron, sold it and then decided it was a mistake and bought another this time with the black Voigtlander 50/2 collapsible Heliar for it. I still have it. I should sell it.
Bought a Hasselblad Xpan. I'm keeping that.
Moved to MF.. bought a Yashica mat 124G (remember I love Yashica glass)
gave the 124 G to a friend and bought a Rolleiflex. I still have it I should sell it
bought a Minolta Autocord III (shoots 220)
bought a Fuji BL G690 - 6x9 120 format - keeping that one
bought a Hasselblad 500CM it was a beater / user. One tough camera it's a keeper
bought a Crown Graphic 4x5 - should sell it
bought a Toyo 4x5 field camera - keeper
bought a Burke & James 5x7 field camera - gotta find a better 5x7!
The timeline is something like 2003 - Yashica to MF around 2007 to LF around 2007 to present.
My piles of undeveloped film are legendary as is my backlog of scanning. I'm still a believer in film including 135 since I like the Xpan
now you know!
My path was not types of cameras but quality levels. Started out with one of your fave's a Yashica GSN, bought a couple of other Yashica products a Lynx 14e and a GX. I still have those and a love affair with their glass which is totally unique in colour rendition in my opinion. I just gave the Lynx away after a tune up by Mark Hama. Someone got a nice one.
I bought a Leica M4-P and a Summicron, sold it and then decided it was a mistake and bought another this time with the black Voigtlander 50/2 collapsible Heliar for it. I still have it. I should sell it.
Bought a Hasselblad Xpan. I'm keeping that.
Moved to MF.. bought a Yashica mat 124G (remember I love Yashica glass)
gave the 124 G to a friend and bought a Rolleiflex. I still have it I should sell it
bought a Minolta Autocord III (shoots 220)
bought a Fuji BL G690 - 6x9 120 format - keeping that one
bought a Hasselblad 500CM it was a beater / user. One tough camera it's a keeper
bought a Crown Graphic 4x5 - should sell it
bought a Toyo 4x5 field camera - keeper
bought a Burke & James 5x7 field camera - gotta find a better 5x7!
The timeline is something like 2003 - Yashica to MF around 2007 to LF around 2007 to present.
My piles of undeveloped film are legendary as is my backlog of scanning. I'm still a believer in film including 135 since I like the Xpan
now you know!
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Steve M.
Mentor
Two actually. When I switched from my Nikon SLR's to Leicas, probably back in 2006. And last year when I sold all of my 35mm gear AND my inkjet printers and film scanner because I switched to 6x6 and enlarger printing. Both moves made a big difference in image quality. But did it result in better photos? Nope. That's largely related to having a great subject matter and being in the right place at the right time.
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Chris101
summicronia
Yes, very interesting!
I began photographing with my own camera at 12, in 1964. We moved to Tucson from Michigan, I documented the trip out west and continued shooting iconic Western pictures, bright colors, cacti, mountains and above all, sky. All on Kodachrome, with an Instamatic 104. I rarely included people in my pictures. This phase lasted until I moved to California in 1968,.
I went photographically dormant, until 1976, when I began experimenting with a friend's SX70. I shot mind expanding stuff, all very mystical and centered around people I knew. I never did landscape photography in this phase. I discovered the thrill of opening the shutter in the dark, and illuminating my subjects with a variety of sources ranging from penlights, photo flashes and lasers.
In 1977 I bought a Mamiya 645, and shot Kodachrome and Ektachrome, mostly using lasers and other esoteric light sources. I was a member of a group of artists called Illasions, and we did laser and photographic art. We displayed around town and built light show equipment until demand for that sort of thing waned.
I left the group at the end of 1979, bought a Canon 35mm slr (my first 35mm camera) and went back to my photographic roots, shooting the water distribution system in central Arizona. This time I included more "people pictures" in the mix. I built a darkroom, developed my own E6 and printed onto Cibachrome. I also continued the laser art photography using my Mamiya, but restricted this work to studio stiff. I did a few illustrations for magazines, but no public exhibitions. I had all my walls covered with framed prints, and made several books that were never published. Due to the longevity of the Ciba materials, these books look as good today as they did then, although they sit, dusty, on the shelf.
In 1982 I began shooting more Black and White, especially infrared, to compliment my water series. I bought more darkroom equipment and began toning the black and white prints, mostly blue and sepia. I made many duo-toned prints by moving the prints from one toner to another. I also have a couple books with these prints, which also have held up well.
In 1983, along with a friend, I formed a company, Commercial Imaging. We did technical and scientific illustration, photographic graphics and made slide shows for business use. For a couple years, this venture was wildly successful. I expanded my Canon system, using it to continue my water project in my spare time. I built an automated copy camera around the Mamiya system (which now included bellows, copy lenses, and an in-house designed and built, registering copy system using tri-color lasers for pure colors.)
In 1985 a break-in at the studio resulted in theft of all of the cameras, and the computer I had built that ran the copy camera. (It used a proprietary operating system that I wrote, so it was never useful to whoever ended up with it.) Also that year, Canon changed their lens mount, so I did not replace any of the Canons (I did replace nearly all of the Mamiyas.) I bought a Macintosh and an OM-1n with three lenses. Microsoft came out with Power Point, and my partner saw the writing on the wall and quit. Commercial Imaging came to a close, but I still shoot with the Olympus. I took a real job.
In 1986, I began taking on photography assignment jobs on a freelance basis. I did a couple brochures and some album covers. On an album cover for an electronic artist, I decided that he needed something different than a regular photograph, so I bought a device that turned my Imagewriter dot-matrix printer into a scanner. Using MacPaint, I created my first manipulated image, where I replaced the musician's face with a robot face, as he sat by a river, fishing. Instead of fish, he caught musical notes. This was a compilation of six photographs, and ... well life wasn't the same after that.
In 1988 I bought my first digital camera, a VGA format Logitech, and then another one later that year that had 1.3 megapixels. I continued doing scientific imaging, shooting through telescopes, spectroscopes, microscopes, and refined my laser printing techniques. Cibachrome however was being phased out. Eventually I stopped film work altogether and shot digital only.
In 1995, I decided that I needed a real digital camera and bought a better Logitech. I also began developing the Mr. Science/Pictorial Periodic Table websites, and explored the interactive web. I began creating a collection of pictures of the elements, and used my copy camera to make web viewable images of a lot of flat art work, particularly modern paintings.
In 1999 I bought my first Nikon, the CoolPix 950. Like all digital converts, I got into shooting a lot, and mixed up my work. I began shooting weddings. I live in the 'poor' part of town, and so I did a lot of discount work, in the $500-$1000 range, and briefly considered starting a company with my friend Heather, called "Ghetto Weddings". But I didn't, opting to get married instead.
I put photography on hold until 2003, when I got divorced. To celebrate I bought a DSLR, a Nikon D100, and went back into shooting weddings (better, now that I had experience! ) and other events. I continued shooting a variety of subjects - and painting - especially women and the California coast.
In 2004, I returned to Arizona, and to film. I had noticed that none of my digital photographs did much for me. I continued shooting digital commercial assignments, but my film work was taking over. I went back into black and white with a vengeance, taking classes for the darkroom and critique. I shot a lot of people, in the studio, on the street, ... really, anywhere.
In 2006, I met and studied with Ralph Gibson. His style and voice seemed to resonate with my own. I began to collect books by photographers I liked: Sherman, Gibson, Ray, Clarke, Mapplethorpe, Mann, ... I traded in my D100 for an infrared converted D70, quit doing commercial assignments and bought a Leica. I began printing with an Epson 7800, as well as darkroom printing on fiber paper. In the last few years, I have been successfully entering juried competitions and exhibiting my work as art.
In 2010, I began experimenting with new ways to tone photographs, using a variety of metals such as uranium, vanadium, and iron, getting rich reds, greens, yellows and blues that I have never seen in toned prints before. I obtained a Nikon D2x to replace my Mamiya copy system, and I am now at work rephotographing the toned prints so that I can make multiple copies of them.
Where this goes from here is unknown to me. Thanks Nick, for giving me this opportunity to look at my photographic 'career' in retrospect. I had never considered it like this before.
I began photographing with my own camera at 12, in 1964. We moved to Tucson from Michigan, I documented the trip out west and continued shooting iconic Western pictures, bright colors, cacti, mountains and above all, sky. All on Kodachrome, with an Instamatic 104. I rarely included people in my pictures. This phase lasted until I moved to California in 1968,.
I went photographically dormant, until 1976, when I began experimenting with a friend's SX70. I shot mind expanding stuff, all very mystical and centered around people I knew. I never did landscape photography in this phase. I discovered the thrill of opening the shutter in the dark, and illuminating my subjects with a variety of sources ranging from penlights, photo flashes and lasers.
In 1977 I bought a Mamiya 645, and shot Kodachrome and Ektachrome, mostly using lasers and other esoteric light sources. I was a member of a group of artists called Illasions, and we did laser and photographic art. We displayed around town and built light show equipment until demand for that sort of thing waned.
I left the group at the end of 1979, bought a Canon 35mm slr (my first 35mm camera) and went back to my photographic roots, shooting the water distribution system in central Arizona. This time I included more "people pictures" in the mix. I built a darkroom, developed my own E6 and printed onto Cibachrome. I also continued the laser art photography using my Mamiya, but restricted this work to studio stiff. I did a few illustrations for magazines, but no public exhibitions. I had all my walls covered with framed prints, and made several books that were never published. Due to the longevity of the Ciba materials, these books look as good today as they did then, although they sit, dusty, on the shelf.
In 1982 I began shooting more Black and White, especially infrared, to compliment my water series. I bought more darkroom equipment and began toning the black and white prints, mostly blue and sepia. I made many duo-toned prints by moving the prints from one toner to another. I also have a couple books with these prints, which also have held up well.
In 1983, along with a friend, I formed a company, Commercial Imaging. We did technical and scientific illustration, photographic graphics and made slide shows for business use. For a couple years, this venture was wildly successful. I expanded my Canon system, using it to continue my water project in my spare time. I built an automated copy camera around the Mamiya system (which now included bellows, copy lenses, and an in-house designed and built, registering copy system using tri-color lasers for pure colors.)
In 1985 a break-in at the studio resulted in theft of all of the cameras, and the computer I had built that ran the copy camera. (It used a proprietary operating system that I wrote, so it was never useful to whoever ended up with it.) Also that year, Canon changed their lens mount, so I did not replace any of the Canons (I did replace nearly all of the Mamiyas.) I bought a Macintosh and an OM-1n with three lenses. Microsoft came out with Power Point, and my partner saw the writing on the wall and quit. Commercial Imaging came to a close, but I still shoot with the Olympus. I took a real job.
In 1986, I began taking on photography assignment jobs on a freelance basis. I did a couple brochures and some album covers. On an album cover for an electronic artist, I decided that he needed something different than a regular photograph, so I bought a device that turned my Imagewriter dot-matrix printer into a scanner. Using MacPaint, I created my first manipulated image, where I replaced the musician's face with a robot face, as he sat by a river, fishing. Instead of fish, he caught musical notes. This was a compilation of six photographs, and ... well life wasn't the same after that.
In 1988 I bought my first digital camera, a VGA format Logitech, and then another one later that year that had 1.3 megapixels. I continued doing scientific imaging, shooting through telescopes, spectroscopes, microscopes, and refined my laser printing techniques. Cibachrome however was being phased out. Eventually I stopped film work altogether and shot digital only.
In 1995, I decided that I needed a real digital camera and bought a better Logitech. I also began developing the Mr. Science/Pictorial Periodic Table websites, and explored the interactive web. I began creating a collection of pictures of the elements, and used my copy camera to make web viewable images of a lot of flat art work, particularly modern paintings.
In 1999 I bought my first Nikon, the CoolPix 950. Like all digital converts, I got into shooting a lot, and mixed up my work. I began shooting weddings. I live in the 'poor' part of town, and so I did a lot of discount work, in the $500-$1000 range, and briefly considered starting a company with my friend Heather, called "Ghetto Weddings". But I didn't, opting to get married instead.
I put photography on hold until 2003, when I got divorced. To celebrate I bought a DSLR, a Nikon D100, and went back into shooting weddings (better, now that I had experience!
) and other events. I continued shooting a variety of subjects - and painting - especially women and the California coast.In 2004, I returned to Arizona, and to film. I had noticed that none of my digital photographs did much for me. I continued shooting digital commercial assignments, but my film work was taking over. I went back into black and white with a vengeance, taking classes for the darkroom and critique. I shot a lot of people, in the studio, on the street, ... really, anywhere.
In 2006, I met and studied with Ralph Gibson. His style and voice seemed to resonate with my own. I began to collect books by photographers I liked: Sherman, Gibson, Ray, Clarke, Mapplethorpe, Mann, ... I traded in my D100 for an infrared converted D70, quit doing commercial assignments and bought a Leica. I began printing with an Epson 7800, as well as darkroom printing on fiber paper. In the last few years, I have been successfully entering juried competitions and exhibiting my work as art.
In 2010, I began experimenting with new ways to tone photographs, using a variety of metals such as uranium, vanadium, and iron, getting rich reds, greens, yellows and blues that I have never seen in toned prints before. I obtained a Nikon D2x to replace my Mamiya copy system, and I am now at work rephotographing the toned prints so that I can make multiple copies of them.
Where this goes from here is unknown to me. Thanks Nick, for giving me this opportunity to look at my photographic 'career' in retrospect. I had never considered it like this before.
Frontman
Well-known
I started in 1989 with a Nikon FE. In time I upgraded to the F3. I then picked up other F models (F, F2, and F4). I used Nikon film equipment for many years, up until 2005 when I bought my first DSLR, a D70s. I shot the D70 until I wore it out, and then got a D300 to replace it with.
My return to film came in 2008 when I moved to Japan. In Japan photography has always been one of the most popular of hobbies, and as a result, there are millions of used film cameras around. While roaming around a junk shop, I came across an old large format camera, as well as an old Canon F1, both with several lenses. My interest with film was reawakened by these cameras.
I don't consider myself a professional photographer. Though digital may be easier or more convenient than film, I spend so much time behind a computer at work that I detest spending more time behind computers doing digital PP. I find working with film relaxing, and I enjoy my film images more than my digital ones (increased effort = increased appreciation).
I picked up a Leica film camera out of curiosity, and I enjoyed using it. I picked up a few more which I found for good prices, and they all get used quite a bit now.
My D300 is sitting next to my PC, where it has been sitting since Friday. My film cameras are in my bag, as I never leave home without them. As I write, I am washing film in the sink, I have 3 more rolls to develop before I return to work.
My return to film came in 2008 when I moved to Japan. In Japan photography has always been one of the most popular of hobbies, and as a result, there are millions of used film cameras around. While roaming around a junk shop, I came across an old large format camera, as well as an old Canon F1, both with several lenses. My interest with film was reawakened by these cameras.
I don't consider myself a professional photographer. Though digital may be easier or more convenient than film, I spend so much time behind a computer at work that I detest spending more time behind computers doing digital PP. I find working with film relaxing, and I enjoy my film images more than my digital ones (increased effort = increased appreciation).
I picked up a Leica film camera out of curiosity, and I enjoyed using it. I picked up a few more which I found for good prices, and they all get used quite a bit now.
My D300 is sitting next to my PC, where it has been sitting since Friday. My film cameras are in my bag, as I never leave home without them. As I write, I am washing film in the sink, I have 3 more rolls to develop before I return to work.
semilog
curmudgeonly optimist
Started with dad's M3 and 50 rigid (vanished when our house was ripped off in the mid-'80s). Then borrowed his Pentax ME Super. Then my first real camera: a Ricoh KR-5 Super with 50/2. Not a bad camera at all, and I still use it (with a Pentax 50/2) for old times' sake. Then a pile of Nikons - some FE2's, an FM, an FA (hated that camera), and a pile of Nikkors. In '98 dumped almost all the Nikon kit for an M6, 50 Summicron-M, a 35 'lux ASPH, and a Ricoh GR-1, and have hardly looked back.
Currently: M6, 50 Summicron-M, 35 Biogon-C; GR-1; Nikkormat FT-2 and 3 Nikkors from mom; a Nikonos IV (actually, that's my wife's camera). Also: Fuji F30, Canon G-9 (dead from E18 disease), Olympus E-620 and 12-60 SWD.
Next: M2 or M4; 21 or 25 Biogon; Olympus 150/2 and 1.4x TC.
Currently: M6, 50 Summicron-M, 35 Biogon-C; GR-1; Nikkormat FT-2 and 3 Nikkors from mom; a Nikonos IV (actually, that's my wife's camera). Also: Fuji F30, Canon G-9 (dead from E18 disease), Olympus E-620 and 12-60 SWD.
Next: M2 or M4; 21 or 25 Biogon; Olympus 150/2 and 1.4x TC.
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dmr
Registered Abuser
Mine is much simpler:
Early ages: Played with Dad's cameras. Actually learned to push the shutter and wind the film until the next number appeared in the red window.
ca. 1960: Brownie Starflash, first camera of my own, b'day gift.
Late 1969: Mamiya SD. First "real" camera. Used, from friend of my brother. Most likely overseas origin.
Early 1970s: Pentax Spotmatic, first SLR. Mamiya SD sat unused, eventually sold it.
Late 1970s: Began kicking myself for selling the SD!
Early 1980s: "Upgraded" to a K1000. Two issues with the Spotmatic, stop-down metering and a pain to change lenses. (Had normal, 135mm tele, 28mm wide.) Bought a 28-135 zoom soon after - yeah, go figure!
Mid 1990s: Olympus Stylus Zoom as a carry-everywhere camera.
Early 2000s: *REALLY* kicked myself for selling the SD during a low-light subway shoot!
Early 2005: Began quest to re-acquire a Mamiya SD. Was referred to RFF in the process.
2005: Used Canon GIII, baptism by fire in camera repair!
2005: Full circle! Working Mamiya SD made from two, one working well with some blemishes, another cosmetically close to perfect but with internal damage.
2006: Hand-me-down Yashica D. Don't really use it much.
Late 2006: Grabbed a black GIII from ThatAuctionSite on a whim. (Blow on fingernails, wipe on blouse.)
2008: Bought a close-out Olympus Stylus Zoom to replace the one that was becoming well-worn.
2010: Hand-me-down Kodak Easyshare model {mumble} and "went digital" {gasp}! LOL, don't really use it much!
Early ages: Played with Dad's cameras. Actually learned to push the shutter and wind the film until the next number appeared in the red window.
ca. 1960: Brownie Starflash, first camera of my own, b'day gift.
Late 1969: Mamiya SD. First "real" camera. Used, from friend of my brother. Most likely overseas origin.
Early 1970s: Pentax Spotmatic, first SLR. Mamiya SD sat unused, eventually sold it.
Late 1970s: Began kicking myself for selling the SD!
Early 1980s: "Upgraded" to a K1000. Two issues with the Spotmatic, stop-down metering and a pain to change lenses. (Had normal, 135mm tele, 28mm wide.) Bought a 28-135 zoom soon after - yeah, go figure!
Mid 1990s: Olympus Stylus Zoom as a carry-everywhere camera.
Early 2000s: *REALLY* kicked myself for selling the SD during a low-light subway shoot!
Early 2005: Began quest to re-acquire a Mamiya SD. Was referred to RFF in the process.
2005: Used Canon GIII, baptism by fire in camera repair!
2005: Full circle! Working Mamiya SD made from two, one working well with some blemishes, another cosmetically close to perfect but with internal damage.
2006: Hand-me-down Yashica D. Don't really use it much.
Late 2006: Grabbed a black GIII from ThatAuctionSite on a whim. (Blow on fingernails, wipe on blouse.)
2008: Bought a close-out Olympus Stylus Zoom to replace the one that was becoming well-worn.
2010: Hand-me-down Kodak Easyshare model {mumble} and "went digital" {gasp}! LOL, don't really use it much!
Roger Hicks
Mentor
60s: Pentax SV, supplemented with Leica IIIa. SV written off in motorcycle accident (no other real damage); still have IIIa. Mostly street photography.
70s: Nikon Fs + M-series, 'baby' Linhof. Still using the same systems (often, same cameras). Hasselblad: got rid of it in the 80s. Never trust an art drector to crop square images! Street, travel, general illustration, AV self-instructional material. Advertising with 4x5 at the studio where I was an assistant.
80s: Added serious 4x5 + 5x7 inch. Still got these too. RB67: got rid of it in the 90s. Street. travel, food, pack shots, step by step, general illustration. Probably the widest range of professional shooting (different kinds of paying photography) that I've ever done.
90s: 8x10 inch (portraiture) and Alpa MF, Nikon D70 (might have been early 00s). Yup, still got these too...
00s: added M-digi to the line-up
That's not counting the funnies, the cameras bought just to play with, and the special-application stuff: 11x14 inch, 12x15 inch, Graflex XL, Polaroids, another SV for nostalgia's sake, Nikonos...
Cheers,
R.
70s: Nikon Fs + M-series, 'baby' Linhof. Still using the same systems (often, same cameras). Hasselblad: got rid of it in the 80s. Never trust an art drector to crop square images! Street, travel, general illustration, AV self-instructional material. Advertising with 4x5 at the studio where I was an assistant.
80s: Added serious 4x5 + 5x7 inch. Still got these too. RB67: got rid of it in the 90s. Street. travel, food, pack shots, step by step, general illustration. Probably the widest range of professional shooting (different kinds of paying photography) that I've ever done.
90s: 8x10 inch (portraiture) and Alpa MF, Nikon D70 (might have been early 00s). Yup, still got these too...
00s: added M-digi to the line-up
That's not counting the funnies, the cameras bought just to play with, and the special-application stuff: 11x14 inch, 12x15 inch, Graflex XL, Polaroids, another SV for nostalgia's sake, Nikonos...
Cheers,
R.
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kossi008
Photon Counter
Oh yeah, I can relate to this idea:
1980-1990: Canon AT-1 with FD 50/1.8. My first camera, and still mine today. Eventually bought a Vivitar Zoom 70-210, an FD 28/2.8, later re-sold the Zoom to get the FD 100/2.8 and FD 200/4. Those for lenses were my kit for almost 10 years , and I never lacked anything (my wife -then grilfriend- still has fond memories of that GAS-free era). After building a darkroom with two classmates, I went from slides to b/w.
1990 - 1998: Dormant. My studies took their toll, I still took occasional pictures, but nothing like that first era. Now I hate myself for having stayed in California for 1.5 of those years and have "no" pictures worth mentioning to show for it...
1998 - 2006: First GAS phase: Discovered eBay and bought lots of FD bodies and lenses for almost nothing, because the EOS system made the old stuff dirt cheap. Went back to slides.
2006 - 2009: Second (digital) GAS phase. Finally convinced myself that I "had to" go digital and bought an EOS 350D w/ EF 35/2, later complemented by up to 5 more EF lenses, always buying and re-selling. Moved up to a 5D eventually (more selling and buying). Also got back into film (b/w) using an EOS 300 and then 30... My wife started complaining how I was always just buying and selling stuff and inquiring as to why it was that I couldn't go back to the old days of 4 lenses and be happy.
2008 - 2010: Advent of the RF. Bougth a Bessa R with 21-35-75 on eBay. Digital started fading out (and coming back in the dark German winters)... Now I had three systems, and I still kept buying stuff...
2010: Bliss. Call it midlife-crisis or what you will, but suddenly the idea manifested in my head that I had too much gear. At the same time I wasn't quite happy with the results from the Bessa anymore. So I took the big step: I sold almost all of my EF gear, lots of FD lenses I wasn't using anymore, the Bessa with some of its lenses and thus financed the Zeiss Ikon and two ZM lenses, while keeping most of my CVs. I still have the AT-1 (recently CLA'd) and - yes: 4 lenses with it. And you know what? I feel so much better now. Almost instantly, my focus went back from equipment to pictures. I feel I'm there at last.
1980-1990: Canon AT-1 with FD 50/1.8. My first camera, and still mine today. Eventually bought a Vivitar Zoom 70-210, an FD 28/2.8, later re-sold the Zoom to get the FD 100/2.8 and FD 200/4. Those for lenses were my kit for almost 10 years , and I never lacked anything (my wife -then grilfriend- still has fond memories of that GAS-free era). After building a darkroom with two classmates, I went from slides to b/w.
1990 - 1998: Dormant. My studies took their toll, I still took occasional pictures, but nothing like that first era. Now I hate myself for having stayed in California for 1.5 of those years and have "no" pictures worth mentioning to show for it...
1998 - 2006: First GAS phase: Discovered eBay and bought lots of FD bodies and lenses for almost nothing, because the EOS system made the old stuff dirt cheap. Went back to slides.
2006 - 2009: Second (digital) GAS phase. Finally convinced myself that I "had to" go digital and bought an EOS 350D w/ EF 35/2, later complemented by up to 5 more EF lenses, always buying and re-selling. Moved up to a 5D eventually (more selling and buying). Also got back into film (b/w) using an EOS 300 and then 30... My wife started complaining how I was always just buying and selling stuff and inquiring as to why it was that I couldn't go back to the old days of 4 lenses and be happy.
2008 - 2010: Advent of the RF. Bougth a Bessa R with 21-35-75 on eBay. Digital started fading out (and coming back in the dark German winters)... Now I had three systems, and I still kept buying stuff...
2010: Bliss. Call it midlife-crisis or what you will, but suddenly the idea manifested in my head that I had too much gear. At the same time I wasn't quite happy with the results from the Bessa anymore. So I took the big step: I sold almost all of my EF gear, lots of FD lenses I wasn't using anymore, the Bessa with some of its lenses and thus financed the Zeiss Ikon and two ZM lenses, while keeping most of my CVs. I still have the AT-1 (recently CLA'd) and - yes: 4 lenses with it. And you know what? I feel so much better now. Almost instantly, my focus went back from equipment to pictures. I feel I'm there at last.
kzphoto
Well-known
Years are kinda fuzzy but I think it goes like this:
1980's - late 1990's - I'm growing up and getting my hands onto my dad's old cameras. I think he had an Olympus Trip RC, and a Canon AE-1 (everyone had one.)
2000 - I get serious about photo, borrow a friends Pentax K1000 and shoot away
2001 or 2002 - Minolta Dimage A5, Rolleiflex SL 35E (50/1.8, 28/2.8, 35/2.8?), Voigtlander Bessa R2 (50/2.5)
2003 - Trade in the minolta and the Bessa for a Rolleiflex 3.5F. Shoot medium format, wow my fellow students with "big negatives."
2006 - Sold the SL35E and get a sweet deal on an M6TTL for $650!!!
2007 - Finally buy a lens for the M6TTL. Zeiss Biogon 35/2.It just sat on my shelf for a year. Also buy a DSLR - Nikon d200, with the crappy 18-70 kit zoom.
2008 - 3rd Gen Summicron 50/2. Great lens.
2009 - Sold the Summicron, the biogon and buy and sell a 90/2.8 Hexanon M
2010 - Buy a 50/1.4 Pre ASPH E46 Lux, 90/2 E55 Summicron and a 21/3.4 SA. Sell the 21/3.4 SA, the Summicron, and a 4x5 kit I acquired last summer. Traded the M6TTL for an M7 .85.
Future plans: 24/2.8 elmarit, 35/1.4 Pre-ASPH. I like lenses 50mm and wider but I like high magnification finders.
1980's - late 1990's - I'm growing up and getting my hands onto my dad's old cameras. I think he had an Olympus Trip RC, and a Canon AE-1 (everyone had one.)
2000 - I get serious about photo, borrow a friends Pentax K1000 and shoot away
2001 or 2002 - Minolta Dimage A5, Rolleiflex SL 35E (50/1.8, 28/2.8, 35/2.8?), Voigtlander Bessa R2 (50/2.5)
2003 - Trade in the minolta and the Bessa for a Rolleiflex 3.5F. Shoot medium format, wow my fellow students with "big negatives."
2006 - Sold the SL35E and get a sweet deal on an M6TTL for $650!!!
2007 - Finally buy a lens for the M6TTL. Zeiss Biogon 35/2.It just sat on my shelf for a year. Also buy a DSLR - Nikon d200, with the crappy 18-70 kit zoom.
2008 - 3rd Gen Summicron 50/2. Great lens.
2009 - Sold the Summicron, the biogon and buy and sell a 90/2.8 Hexanon M
2010 - Buy a 50/1.4 Pre ASPH E46 Lux, 90/2 E55 Summicron and a 21/3.4 SA. Sell the 21/3.4 SA, the Summicron, and a 4x5 kit I acquired last summer. Traded the M6TTL for an M7 .85.
Future plans: 24/2.8 elmarit, 35/1.4 Pre-ASPH. I like lenses 50mm and wider but I like high magnification finders.
Roger Hicks
Mentor
Unless you say what sort of pictures you take (thanks, Chris), how much use is information about the cameras you use? I mean, Fred's cameras wouldn't be a lot of use for most kinds of advertising...
Cheers,
R.
Cheers,
R.
kossi008
Photon Counter
@ Roger: You are right, of course, but my subjects never varied: landscape, cityscapes, details, still life, and some street. Astonishingly few people in my pictures, I'm sure a psychologist would have something to say to that...
My point (independent of subject) was rather: I went from very little gear to an overwhelming amount and now back to little. And it feels liberating. I think I'm finally over my GAS...
My point (independent of subject) was rather: I went from very little gear to an overwhelming amount and now back to little. And it feels liberating. I think I'm finally over my GAS...
oftheherd
Mentor
Interesting thread. My story is pretty uninteresting.
I started in the late 40s and early 50s, interested because my father was an avid amature photographer. Just dumb kid stuff with a box camera. I sort of quit when he got less active with a heart condition, that soon enough took him.
In my first year of college, 59-60, I used some of his gear, including his Welta Welti, a couple of folders, and his 9x12. Mostly friends and some museum photos as we were friends with the local museum director. I was just having fun and perhaps trying to connect with my father.
Just took occasional snapshots, even after getting my first "real" camera, a yashica TL Super, while in Vietnam the second time. I needed a camera for crime scene photography and my Minolta 16 and the Welti (which started scratching film), weren't what I thought I should have. I still have the TL Super, but haven't used it it years. I did use some fair amount of polaroid in Vietnam as a good way of introduction to the locals during my 4 years there. They mostly let me know they didn't want their picture taken, but never failed to receive the prints with a smile.
Korea, 1974: I had to use an office Instamatic as my camera hadn't arrived in hold baggage (shows how much I was interested in photography). For tool marks at a breakin? Give me a break! I told everyone as soon as my camera arrived, I would show them what photographs were all about. I did. And spent a lot of time reading every photo magazine and book I could get my hands on. I spent hours at the craft shop learning how to develope b/w and E-4 (thanks Mr. YI and the others there for instruction and patience). I purchased my beloved Fujica ST 901 while there, and some extra lenses, but Fujinon, Vivitar, and others as I could afford them. Got and had stolen, a Yashica 124 MAT G, then acquired my Super Press 23. Great MF system. My personal photography was family, and the great people and scenery of Korea. Especially the historical places such as older dynasty royal sites and landscapes.
Continued photographing crime scenes, autopsies, and such, gaining a small reputation in all the offices I was assigned to, as the go to guy for photographs and photographic instruction. Even taught Evidence Photography, Forensics, and Criminal Investigation for Austin Peay State University. Enjoyable times. Purchased a few more cameras and lenses to aid what I was doing. As I progressed out of local offices to headquarters assignments, my photography was mostly just for myself.
1991 - Catastrophe! A house fire destroyed my enlarger I had from my father, several of my old cameras, damaged about 8,000 slides, and many b/w negatives. At least my Fuji ST 901, the Yashica TL Super, the Mamiya Super Press 23, and most of my lenses survived. Between that, work, and putting 2 daughters through school to college, my photography has mostly just been snapshots and GAS. And even my GAS isn't as satisfying as it could be since there is really no one to share it with. Nobody else in my family has the bug for photography I once had.
When digital first came out I wanted in. But the early resolution was so bad, I left it alone for many years. About 5 years ago, I got a 4 mp P&S camera without a view screen, then about 3 Christmas times ago, my daughters got me a 6 mp Sony with view screen, but thankfully also a viewfinder. I like it for P&S and photographing some things, and for sure as a good snapshot camera. I might go digital except for the cost of getting in, and my monetary and emotional commitment to film.
I am getting interested in film shooting again. Having gotten some nice folders, including the 9x12, and just as importantly, an Omega enlarger, I am about to jump back in. I have and am getting started with Rodinal and Pyro. Fun stuff.
I probably need to retire and just shoot and develop. Except how would I support my GAS?
Well, as I said, not too interesting nor exciting.
I started in the late 40s and early 50s, interested because my father was an avid amature photographer. Just dumb kid stuff with a box camera. I sort of quit when he got less active with a heart condition, that soon enough took him.
In my first year of college, 59-60, I used some of his gear, including his Welta Welti, a couple of folders, and his 9x12. Mostly friends and some museum photos as we were friends with the local museum director. I was just having fun and perhaps trying to connect with my father.
Just took occasional snapshots, even after getting my first "real" camera, a yashica TL Super, while in Vietnam the second time. I needed a camera for crime scene photography and my Minolta 16 and the Welti (which started scratching film), weren't what I thought I should have. I still have the TL Super, but haven't used it it years. I did use some fair amount of polaroid in Vietnam as a good way of introduction to the locals during my 4 years there. They mostly let me know they didn't want their picture taken, but never failed to receive the prints with a smile.
Korea, 1974: I had to use an office Instamatic as my camera hadn't arrived in hold baggage (shows how much I was interested in photography). For tool marks at a breakin? Give me a break! I told everyone as soon as my camera arrived, I would show them what photographs were all about. I did. And spent a lot of time reading every photo magazine and book I could get my hands on. I spent hours at the craft shop learning how to develope b/w and E-4 (thanks Mr. YI and the others there for instruction and patience). I purchased my beloved Fujica ST 901 while there, and some extra lenses, but Fujinon, Vivitar, and others as I could afford them. Got and had stolen, a Yashica 124 MAT G, then acquired my Super Press 23. Great MF system. My personal photography was family, and the great people and scenery of Korea. Especially the historical places such as older dynasty royal sites and landscapes.
Continued photographing crime scenes, autopsies, and such, gaining a small reputation in all the offices I was assigned to, as the go to guy for photographs and photographic instruction. Even taught Evidence Photography, Forensics, and Criminal Investigation for Austin Peay State University. Enjoyable times. Purchased a few more cameras and lenses to aid what I was doing. As I progressed out of local offices to headquarters assignments, my photography was mostly just for myself.
1991 - Catastrophe! A house fire destroyed my enlarger I had from my father, several of my old cameras, damaged about 8,000 slides, and many b/w negatives. At least my Fuji ST 901, the Yashica TL Super, the Mamiya Super Press 23, and most of my lenses survived. Between that, work, and putting 2 daughters through school to college, my photography has mostly just been snapshots and GAS. And even my GAS isn't as satisfying as it could be since there is really no one to share it with. Nobody else in my family has the bug for photography I once had.
When digital first came out I wanted in. But the early resolution was so bad, I left it alone for many years. About 5 years ago, I got a 4 mp P&S camera without a view screen, then about 3 Christmas times ago, my daughters got me a 6 mp Sony with view screen, but thankfully also a viewfinder. I like it for P&S and photographing some things, and for sure as a good snapshot camera. I might go digital except for the cost of getting in, and my monetary and emotional commitment to film.
I am getting interested in film shooting again. Having gotten some nice folders, including the 9x12, and just as importantly, an Omega enlarger, I am about to jump back in. I have and am getting started with Rodinal and Pyro. Fun stuff.
I probably need to retire and just shoot and develop. Except how would I support my GAS?
Well, as I said, not too interesting nor exciting.
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flip
良かったね！
What a great idea for a thread!!!
Childhood - borrowed cameras and eventually some forgotten P&S
High school - Santa gave me a Pentax P3. Worked until I got poor and film got pricey post college.
2005 - after much waiting, entered the digital age with a Canon 20D + Tamron 28-75 + Sigma 70-200.
2007 - Got the itch for film and an understanding of the process. Bought a Canon P which came with a cloudy 50/1.8. promptly flipped the 1.8, found a deal on another P with a 50/1.4 and got hooked.
2008 - The deluge begins with cycling through Leotaxes and Niccas witha swarm of lenses, eventually setting on the Niccas (3), keeping the Canons, and getting a Hexar RF. Lens binge, particular in search of JP stuff.
2009 - Got a Pen FV to cover those SLR needs. Another great lens binge. Also a Epson R-D1.
2010 - Got an M3. Looking to Sell R-D1 and 20D now that I found a Nikon 5000ED. I have come to believe that digital thinks it is more advanced than it really is.
Now - mostly cured of GAS. I would like an M2, but with the Hexar on hand, it's hard to justify. Got the lenses covered. Pretty much, I'm modern glass (hexanon) for RF M mount, olympus zuiko for 'old' look, and a a mix of lenses to fill the holes.
Equipment is currently less a concern than photographic opportunities and understanding combinations of films and developers. I keep different films loaded in each body so that I am forced to cycle through them and keep familiar.
Childhood - borrowed cameras and eventually some forgotten P&S
High school - Santa gave me a Pentax P3. Worked until I got poor and film got pricey post college.
2005 - after much waiting, entered the digital age with a Canon 20D + Tamron 28-75 + Sigma 70-200.
2007 - Got the itch for film and an understanding of the process. Bought a Canon P which came with a cloudy 50/1.8. promptly flipped the 1.8, found a deal on another P with a 50/1.4 and got hooked.
2008 - The deluge begins with cycling through Leotaxes and Niccas witha swarm of lenses, eventually setting on the Niccas (3), keeping the Canons, and getting a Hexar RF. Lens binge, particular in search of JP stuff.
2009 - Got a Pen FV to cover those SLR needs. Another great lens binge. Also a Epson R-D1.
2010 - Got an M3. Looking to Sell R-D1 and 20D now that I found a Nikon 5000ED. I have come to believe that digital thinks it is more advanced than it really is.
Now - mostly cured of GAS. I would like an M2, but with the Hexar on hand, it's hard to justify. Got the lenses covered. Pretty much, I'm modern glass (hexanon) for RF M mount, olympus zuiko for 'old' look, and a a mix of lenses to fill the holes.
Equipment is currently less a concern than photographic opportunities and understanding combinations of films and developers. I keep different films loaded in each body so that I am forced to cycle through them and keep familiar.
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rbsinto
Well-known
1977-present
After the birth of our first child, I bought a Nikon FE /50 1.8 lens to document her growth with snapshots. Became interested in learning photography, and began to acquire more equipment as I learned more.
FE-2, F2, FA, F, N65, FM, plus a number of prime, and zoom lenses by Nikon Tamron, Tokina and Vivitar
2006-present.
Happened to read about Nikon rangefinder cameras at Nikon Historic Society site while researching Nikon f , and have now got a separate rangefinder system that I shoot with concurrent with my film SLRs.
S3, S3, SP plus lenses by Nikon and Cosina Voigtlander
I am deliberately not going into great detail here so that you'll all buy the book and see the movie.
After the birth of our first child, I bought a Nikon FE /50 1.8 lens to document her growth with snapshots. Became interested in learning photography, and began to acquire more equipment as I learned more.
FE-2, F2, FA, F, N65, FM, plus a number of prime, and zoom lenses by Nikon Tamron, Tokina and Vivitar
2006-present.
Happened to read about Nikon rangefinder cameras at Nikon Historic Society site while researching Nikon f , and have now got a separate rangefinder system that I shoot with concurrent with my film SLRs.
S3, S3, SP plus lenses by Nikon and Cosina Voigtlander
I am deliberately not going into great detail here so that you'll all buy the book and see the movie.
Roger Hicks
Mentor
Sorry: wasn't aimed at you. Your point is clear and well taken. I was just hoping that subsequent posters might say a bit more about what they photographed.
I was last shooting on Sunday (vide grenier in St. Jean de Sauves, street and found still life) and as soon as the chickpea and chorizo stew is simmering nicely I'll be shooting pics of cameras for the website. Then probably some food photography (still trying to decide what kit to use) with a view to breaking into a particular magazine market, and after Sunday, Arles, street/travel/reportage.
Cheers,
R.
ferider
Mentor
"2009-present Return to Digital
Decided GAS was silly .... bought a the Nikon D5000 with a 35mm/1.8 prime"
LOL
Decided GAS was silly .... bought a the Nikon D5000 with a 35mm/1.8 prime"
LOL
hipsterdufus
Photographer?
Timeline for me:
Childhood (80's and 90's): Got a cheap 110 film camera at a garage sale and started taking pictures with that. Mostly just anything a kid would find interesting, like my dog, vacations, etc. I loved taking pictures, but my allowance barely every covered film/development costs. So, my interest faded away.
Years 2000 - 2002: Bought a Minolta SRT-101 for my college photography class. Used the heck out of it until it went kaputz. Bought a Canon AE-1 with a nice 28-50-90 combination of beautiful prime lenses. as I started taking more classes and getting more serious about my photography. Also got a medium format Yashica TLR. Throughout this time, I was shooting mostly urban decay, sometimes with people, sometimes without. Most of the time, the model was my girlfriend (now my wife). Printed mostly in black and white, though I did process my own color at school. I shot two weddings and satisfied both clients. I hated every minute of it.
I experimented with a couple of rangefinders during this time, like the Argus C3, Yashica GSN, and Canon GL17. All of the cameras needed repairs and had problems, so I never got pleasing results out of any of them. Gave up on rangefinders because Leicas were too expensive.
2002-2008 - My period of photographic decline. Stopped shooting urban decay because I was bored with it. Decided that I "had" to go digital, since everyone else was doing it. Stopped shooting pictures that I really loved (with the exception of some of my travel photography) got a job, and finished college (yes, in that order). Went through several digital point and shoots at this time that had manual controls. A Olympus C-2020, a Kodak Z740, and a Canon SD-1000. Finally, I picked up a Canon EOS-300D and started playing around again.
2008-now - Period of renewed photographic interest. Got back into shooting portraits with models. Fell in with the LOMO crowd, who introduced me to some lo-fi photography and informed me that film was not yet dead (much to my surprise). I went back into film photography with a passion.
I've started shooting conceptual shots with models (I have even branched out beyond my wife, though I still shoot most of my portraits with her). I try to go into each shoot with a specific idea or theme in mind. This has made my photographing life infinitely better with far more pleasing results. I also am only shooting for myself; not having any intentions behind my photography (like getting an "A" in class or getting into an art gallery) has made me a lot more relaxed and the whole process more enjoyable.
I am now shooting with a properly adjusted (repaired by me) Argus C3 with 35/50/100 lenses, and a Bessa R2 with 50mm Nikkor f2 and 90mm Elmar f4. The Bessa kit is a far better camera than I am a photographer and I feel honored to have such a wonderful kit.
I finally started developing my own black and white film again and currently have a hybrid workflow. This way, I get to use the cameras I love but still have modern processing capabilities. I am very pleased with where my photography is going.
Childhood (80's and 90's): Got a cheap 110 film camera at a garage sale and started taking pictures with that. Mostly just anything a kid would find interesting, like my dog, vacations, etc. I loved taking pictures, but my allowance barely every covered film/development costs. So, my interest faded away.
Years 2000 - 2002: Bought a Minolta SRT-101 for my college photography class. Used the heck out of it until it went kaputz. Bought a Canon AE-1 with a nice 28-50-90 combination of beautiful prime lenses. as I started taking more classes and getting more serious about my photography. Also got a medium format Yashica TLR. Throughout this time, I was shooting mostly urban decay, sometimes with people, sometimes without. Most of the time, the model was my girlfriend (now my wife). Printed mostly in black and white, though I did process my own color at school. I shot two weddings and satisfied both clients. I hated every minute of it.
I experimented with a couple of rangefinders during this time, like the Argus C3, Yashica GSN, and Canon GL17. All of the cameras needed repairs and had problems, so I never got pleasing results out of any of them. Gave up on rangefinders because Leicas were too expensive.
2002-2008 - My period of photographic decline. Stopped shooting urban decay because I was bored with it. Decided that I "had" to go digital, since everyone else was doing it. Stopped shooting pictures that I really loved (with the exception of some of my travel photography) got a job, and finished college (yes, in that order). Went through several digital point and shoots at this time that had manual controls. A Olympus C-2020, a Kodak Z740, and a Canon SD-1000. Finally, I picked up a Canon EOS-300D and started playing around again.
2008-now - Period of renewed photographic interest. Got back into shooting portraits with models. Fell in with the LOMO crowd, who introduced me to some lo-fi photography and informed me that film was not yet dead (much to my surprise). I went back into film photography with a passion.
I've started shooting conceptual shots with models (I have even branched out beyond my wife, though I still shoot most of my portraits with her). I try to go into each shoot with a specific idea or theme in mind. This has made my photographing life infinitely better with far more pleasing results. I also am only shooting for myself; not having any intentions behind my photography (like getting an "A" in class or getting into an art gallery) has made me a lot more relaxed and the whole process more enjoyable.
I am now shooting with a properly adjusted (repaired by me) Argus C3 with 35/50/100 lenses, and a Bessa R2 with 50mm Nikkor f2 and 90mm Elmar f4. The Bessa kit is a far better camera than I am a photographer and I feel honored to have such a wonderful kit.
I finally started developing my own black and white film again and currently have a hybrid workflow. This way, I get to use the cameras I love but still have modern processing capabilities. I am very pleased with where my photography is going.
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Stephen G
Well-known
2002 - fuji f602z "prosumer"-ish (as they used to call em) non-dslr digital
2003 - Nikon FM2n
2004 - Leica IIIc .. 6 months later added Voigtlander Bessa R
2005 - Leica M2
2006 - Leica M6
In the 2004-2006 time period there was also a stream of 120 folders, 120 TLRs, etc.
Tried a ton of LTM Leitz/Canon/etc vintage glass as well.
2007 - Epson RD1
2009 - Olympus EP1
2010 - Leica M8
Glad to be back on Leica M.
2003 - Nikon FM2n
2004 - Leica IIIc .. 6 months later added Voigtlander Bessa R
2005 - Leica M2
2006 - Leica M6
In the 2004-2006 time period there was also a stream of 120 folders, 120 TLRs, etc.
Tried a ton of LTM Leitz/Canon/etc vintage glass as well.
2007 - Epson RD1
2009 - Olympus EP1
2010 - Leica M8
Glad to be back on Leica M.