cameras

Too Much Gear.

cameras, Fujichrome, fujifilm, Lenses, opinons, thoughts, photography, Uncategorized

I definitely have too much gear but I can’t see myself getting rid of any any time soon. I am running three systems at the moment, Nikon, Fuji and Canon and I use them at different times and for different reasons as they all have their strong points. Most of my gear is not new, the last new lens I bought was a Vitrox 13mm f1.4 for Fuji.

Nikon D3s and a few lenses I bought recently for great prices used. I still enjoy using a DSLR, especially of this quality. Other Nikons I have and still use are the Nikon D2HS, and Nikon D1. I am definitely a hoarder.

The Canon 1D Mk IV has been my main work camera for the past 10 years and it has never put a foot wrong, always giving me the images I required, but like the Nikon D3s it heavy and you need to be fairly strong to hump it and its L lenses around for a days shoot.

Fujifilm have been building wonderful cameras for a while, cameras with a bit of class. My general everyday camera for work is now Fuji either the XT2 or 3, with the battery grip as they still cannot compete with DSLR’s, power wise. Picture wise they can in certain circumstances, better the comparable DSLR.

I also use the Fujifilm X Pro1,2 & 3 .

If you are looking for a camera that can capture the essence of street photography, you might want to consider the Fuji X Pro2. This camera is designed with street photographers in mind, offering a range of features that make it easy and enjoyable to shoot in any situation. Here are some of the reasons why I love using the Fuji X Pro2 for street photography.

First of all, the Fuji X Pro2 has a hybrid viewfinder that lets you switch between an optical and an electronic viewfinder. This gives you the best of both worlds: you can use the optical viewfinder for a more natural and immersive experience, or you can use the electronic viewfinder for more accuracy and information. The electronic viewfinder also has a magnification function that helps you focus manually, which is great for street photography.

Secondly, the Fuji X Pro2 has a compact and discreet body that blends in with the crowd. The camera is not too big or heavy, so you can carry it around comfortably and discreetly. The camera also has a retro and classic design that looks stylish and elegant. The camera does not attract too much attention, which is ideal for capturing candid moments on the street.

Thirdly, the Fuji X Pro2 has superb image quality that delivers stunning results. The camera has a 24-megapixel APS-C sensor that produces sharp and detailed images with rich colours and tones. The camera also has a wide range of lenses that suit different styles and situations. You can choose from prime lenses, zoom lenses, wide-angle lenses, telephoto lenses, and more. The lenses are also fast and bright, which means you can shoot in low-light conditions without compromising on quality.

Finally, the Fuji X Pro2 has a user-friendly interface that makes it easy to adjust settings and modes. The camera has dedicated dials for shutter speed, exposure compensation, ISO, and drive mode. You can also customize the buttons and menus to suit your preferences. The camera is intuitive and responsive, which means you can focus on your subject and not on your camera.

These are some of the reasons why I think the Fuji X Pro2 is a great camera for street photography. It offers a unique and enjoyable shooting experience that lets you capture the beauty and diversity of life on the street. If you are interested in street photography, I highly recommend you to try out the Fuji X Pro2.

Fujifilm X100 Original

cambodia, cameras, Fujichrome, fujifilm, opinons, thoughts, photography, pictures, street, Travel

A great little old camera, 12 years old to be exact. I have not used it for a while as the old batteries had died and finding new ones here in Phnom Penh proved difficult, but not impossible as I eventually found 2 but in two different shops. Glad I did as I had almost forgotten how good the JPEG images from this camera can be. The images seen here were taken yesterday on a short walk (10 km) around the city. The camera is so lite that this is easy to do, easy on the back but not on the feet.

Nikon D3s DSLR

cambodia, cameras, Lenses, opinons, thoughts, photography, pictures

A few months ago, on a whim, I picked up a well-used but still perfectly functioning Nikon D3s. This was a camera I had always desired but could never afford (at over $5000 when new). It’s a heavy old beast with a FF sensor of only 12MP. My current Fuji cameras have twice that, but does it matter to me.

Why would I choose to go backward I am sure a few people would ask. I had a few Nikkor lenses that I used with my Nikon D2HS and wanted to try these out just for fun. After getting the camera set up to use in the way I like I was really impressed with the results. Yes a little more care had to be taken with composition and framing due to the size of the sensor, but the results impressed me.

My first experiments with the old Nikkors that I had impressed me so much I started looking around at other lenses. I ended up buying, very reasonably from Japan, a Nikon 85mm f1.8D and locally a 50mm f1.8G both of which give satisfying results and great bokeh.

The thing I did notice was the AF ability which certainly was really fast and accurate, in some instances faster that my new fujis. The added weight I did not find to be a problem in shooting just in carrying it around for long periods. The weight seemed to stabilise it with in built stabilisation.

The lenses I picked up could only be described as Nikkor and were contrasty and sharp even wide open which was no less than I would have expected.

This is a 12-year-old camera and in some ways, its functions are definitely lagging behind the new breed of mirrorless as would be expected, but it is still more than capable of taking superb quality images. Do I regret purchasing it, as my son says NO WAY !!!!

Kids Dental Service is a Voluntary Effort.

cambodia, cameras, fujifilm, Lenses, opinons, thoughts, photography, pictures, Travel, voluntary

The new incarnation of KIDS International Dental Services was first brought to Cambodia by Dr Bob Renner and now trying to re-emerge from Covid restrictions, under new leadership, to bring Dental volunteers teams to Cambodia again.

The fundamental mission of Kids International Dental Services (KIDS) is to provide pro-bono dental care to impoverished children in developing countries. Other aspects of our mission include: (a) providing a platform for young dental professionals to perform community service world wide, (b) providing an opportunity for young adults to part take in social service and encourage them to innovate projects to serve disadvantaged youths in developing areas of the world. 

Fun with Nikon

cameras, Lenses, opinons, thoughts, photography, pictures, street, Travel, Uncategorized

Picked up an old but babied Nikon D3s. Could never afford one when it was new but this was going for a very reasonable price so I treated myself for Christmas. I had a few Nikon lenses that I used with my Nikon D2Hs so I thought I would give it a try.

Of course my first love are my Fujifilm cameras and lenses but this camera is still very capable. I have since buying it added a few prime Nikon lenses that again were very reasonable price, older, like the camera, but still excellent.

It took a little time to get it set up the way I wanted for my picture-taking style but now that is done it is very easy to use, if a little heavy, and is capable of some excellent images with a little, and I mean a little, work in post. The lenses I chose and used for the pictures seen here, where the Nikon 50mm f1.8G and the 85mm f1.8D. If I were not a dedicated Fuji user I could see me using this as my daily camera.

Stepping back in TIME – Nikon D3s, 12 MP

cameras, opinons, thoughts, photography, pictures, street, Travel

I have recently been using Fujifilm cameras and lenses and absolutely love the results I get.

I got the opportunity to pick up a Nikon D3s, one camera I had always wanted to use and own but it was always out of reach financially for me. I was interested to see how this old venerable camera could stack up against the newer technology of the Fujifilm cameras.

Firstly, let me say, I had forgotten how strong you need to be to use one of these for a full days shooting, camera plus lens, is heavy. It’s like a brick. It is only 12MP which by today’s standards is small but as can be seen in the images above, it works. I found I had to use a little more thought in cropping within the cameras as less space available to crop in post.

Would I choose to use this camera for my street work, on a daily basis, maybe and maybe not. The camera is a superb, if a little dated, machine that gives great results up to now.

Photography is not about gear.

cameras, Fujichrome, fujifilm, Lenses, opinons, thoughts, photography, pictures, street, Travel, Uncategorized

To me, photography is not about the gear you use to make an image but about the image you make. Yes, it is nice to use a beautiful camera and a superb lens but if you get stuck on that merry-go-round your pictures may suffer. The old saying ” the best camera is the one you have with you” holds true. I always have tried to use what I think is the best camera, that I can afford because it pleases me, but it does not have to be the most expensive on the market. These days ALL cameras can make good images.

Taking photographs is about the ability to see an image using the equipment you have at hand, be that an iPhone or a Leica or any one of a hundred cameras in between.

Learning to see and anticipate is much more important than the actual camera you may choose to use. Each of the images here was taken with a different camera, either Canon, Nikon or Fuji, can you tell which I know I could not if I did not already know.

Certain types of photography such as sports or wildlife demand the use of certain types of equipment, long prime or zoom lenses, for obvious reasons, it would be next to impossible to shoot these kinds of subjects with a traditional point and shoot camera. These professional genres demand the use of professional equipment but this does not outweigh the skill of the photographer, knowing the game or the animal enables he/she to anticipate shots.

Specialised equipment is not always needed, and is not always available as with the pictures of the surfer which were taken with a Fujifilm X Pro2 mounted with the only long lens I had with me the XF 50mm f2. Placing yourself in the best position (on the pier closest the action) and with a little good anticipation (and judicious cropping in post) you can still make some good images.

Its is not always about equipment or camera but more about the skill of the photographer to know how and when to make the image.

Nikon F – A Classic SLR, But Is It Worth Using Today? — Mostly Film Photography (GotFilm.org)

cameras, Lenses, opinons, thoughts, photography, pictures

In 1965 the Nikon F was the envy of photojournalists everywhere. I have to clarify things a bit. The 35mm film camera was not considered the camera to use if you were shooting studio models, portraits, advertising layouts, or landscapes. The 35mm negative is way too small to produce the quality needed for a full-page […]

Nikon F – A Classic SLR, But Is It Worth Using Today? — Mostly Film Photography (GotFilm.org)

Nikon F2 – A Legndary Film Camera, And Why I like It — Mostly Film Photography (GotFilm.org)

cameras, Lenses, opinons, thoughts, photography, pictures, Travel

I’ve been trying several Nikons lately (again) and wanted to talk about one of my favorites, the F2. The F2 was released in 1971 and manufactured in several variations until 1980. Like the F, the F2 was built as a system camera. Initially, the lenses made for the F worked the same way on the […]

Nikon F2 – A Legndary Film Camera, And Why I like It — Mostly Film Photography (GotFilm.org)