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Equipment There are plenty of webpages that talk about photo gear. Photography is not about the gear. It's about transcribing your "vision" either to film or to a digital medium. It is a cerebral process. I view my cameras and lenses strictly as tools, just as a carpenter views a hammer and saw as tools. You should spend your time taking photos rather than discussing gear on forums. I currently use a Canon EOS 35mm and digital system, which has been great so far. I retired my Pentax 35mm auto focus system in December 2005, which served me well over the years: most pictures on this website were taken with Pentax 35mm gear. Canon just offers more lenses (Image stabilizer lenses are fantastic), and body choices [film and digital (both cropped and full-frame)]. Just a different hammer and saw. Equipment is a personal choice, and you should base your decision on what you can afford, lens choice, and what you feel comfortable with. Again these are just tools. At the moment I primarily shoot digital. In 2006, I added a digital body, a Rebel XT, and now I have a 5D. As most know, both have low noise, though the 5D is in a whole different league. One thing I like about digital is the ability to switch ISO speed on the fly. At ISO 400 for example, I get great results (very, very low noise), and allows me to get photos when ISO 100 speed film will not suffice (e.g., low light wildlife photography), and cannot push the film. As for film, I shoot slide film, primarily Fujichrome Provia 100F, Velvia 100, and black and white occasionally. In the past I have used Fujichrome Sensia 100, Velvia (original), Velvia 100F, Kodak Ektachrome 100VS, and E200, and have gotten good results and photos with all of them. I still like the "look" of film (contrary to what some say, grain isn't a bad thing), and the fact that film will never get outdated. For working in remote locations, film has never failed me, and serves as a critical backup when one's digital camera has died or having a computer is not practical. Remember it is the PHOTOGRAPHER that takes great photos, not the camera. To paraphrase John Shaw: an inexperienced, careless photographer with the best equipment will take bad or mediocre photos, while a great photographer with middle-of-the-road equipment will take brilliant ones. Equipment is no substitute for talent, experience, or photographic vision. Here's what I use:
Digital Bodies:
Film Bodies:
Lenses:
Flash:
Filters:
Tiffen, Tamron, Hoya, Cokin
Tripods and Heads:
Camera Cases:
Lowe Pro Nature Trekker II AW, Mini Trekker, Nova 3 AW
Film:
Fujichrome Provia 100F, Velvia 100 and 50, and Fuji Neopan Acros 100
Retired Equipment:
Bodies:
Lenses:
Flash:
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