I realise that this site has been up for a year now, and I haven’t posted, at all, about the camera’s I use. So I think it’s about time I corrected that.

Nikon F55;

Not a particularly sophisticated camera by any means. I bought it, maybe, 20 years ago because I wanted a camera but not digital. Back then I had no idea how to shoot film. I was used to digital camera doing all the work, I had no idea what Exposure was. I just figured I put film in the camera and the camera does all the heavy lifting. Needless to say that most of my photos are under or over exposed. I was determined to continue, then the auto-focus broke and I lost interest. I bought a small digital camera and moved on

Many Others I can’t remember all digit, all lost to time. And once I had an smart phone I didn’t see the point is buying another one.

Fujifilm X-T3

January 2020, I got to handle a friends X-T3 and knew that It was a camera I wanted. I’d been looking for a good digital camera for some time by then and had no idea what I wanted, so I felt lucky to come across the X-T3. I couldn’t wait until May to get the X-T4, so I got a loan from the bank and bought the 3, with a 35mm lens. Honestly I wish now that I’d bought the 24mm. Back then I was unaware of the focal length change with APS-C cameras, 35mm is more like 52mm. In the last few years I have shoot thousands of photos, learnt to shoot all types of photos, perfected exposure. It’s a wonderful thing, being able to shoot thousands of photos to perfect your skills. If it’s exposed wrong, do it again. You get instant feed back. I carry 3 batteries, and 2 128GB SD cards.

Canon EF

My black beauty, bought early in October 2020. My first “real” 35mm film camera. Made in March 1975, it’s older than I am. having leant to shoot with the above digital camera and watch many YouTube videos using an old school camera. I different type of light meter. The simplicity of it is great. You decide what you want, you check the meter, adjust, shoot. Done. But of course with digital I can shoot 20 photo of the same thing, checking them as I go until I get the one I want. Film on the other hand, you take your time, pick your shot more carefully. Sure I can make 20 (or 36) photos but I won’t know if any of them worked for days. it’s because of this you have to take your time. Slow down, be more careful. I think that’s why I prefer film of digital.

Mamiya RB67 Pro S

The BEAST. Big, Heavy. That’s pretty much the only why to describe the Mamiya RB. Made some point between 1974 and 1990. Mamiya apparently done use things like serial numbers so you can figure out when it was made. This camera and be torn down into 7 parts. Which mean that if something breaks, you replace the part not the whole camera. And as there are no electrical components I don’t have to worry about those breaking down. But that does mean that everything is manual. All the above cameras have at least some automatic things, Aperture, shutter speed etc. I mean this thing doesn’t even have a light meter and advancing the film is a two stage process. First, you rack the back of the camera to advise the film, then you rack another lever on the side to cock the mirror and the aperture. The shutter is located inside the lens. Which can’t be removed unless the second lever is cocked.

Canon New F-1

Before the EF this is want I wanted. But as none would function properly I left with the EF. So to walk in there and find a Canon New F-1 (made in 1983 I think) in such good condition I couldn’t not buy it. All I had to do was buy a battery for the light meter and slower shutter speeds. I haven’t yet had an opportunity to go out and make photos. Work.

Rolleicord IV TLR

This right here is the poor mans Rolleiflex. And though I want a Rolleiflex I was more than happy to buy this, Maybe the Rolleiflex will appear later on, who know. For right now I have this 6X6 medium format camera. Produced between 1953 and 1954, this camera is nearly 70 years old. After an initial play, I’ve realised that putting film in (120) is a bit of a faff. However, taking film out is a fucking headache I wasn’t expecting. But lets put some time into this thing and we’ll see how it goes.

Fujifilm X-H2

So this was a drunken impulse buy… The next day I tried to see if I could cancel it, but ended up just wanting the camera. I originally wanted on of the Fujifilm medium format cameras, but as this is 40mp (160mp with pixel shift) I figure that’s enough. Also it shoots 4k-6.2k and 8k, which I admit, is a bit much but would be great for nature video, horizons and such.

Fujifilm X-E4

So, as the new year rings in i’m sitting here typing this shit up. It’s now 8 minutes past 2023. Today this arrived, and in this image it’s sporting a TT Artisans 23mm f1.4 fully manual lens… It ain’t the sharpest, but with Fuji’s film simulations the photos like great. I need to get out and shoot some more and so I bought this little thing in the hopes it becomes a daily carry. I want to take more, do more photography.

My Cameras