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Photo Equipment
I've been playing with photography since about 1975, when my parents gave me an Argus C4 35mm camera, and a pile of darkroom equipment. The original C4 was stolen from a friend's car, but was replaced a couple of years ago from eBay. It sits on a cabinet above me, as a silent, precious reminder of being a teenager. The darkroom equipment still sits in the attic, with an occasional trip downstairs for a reminder of how difficult it was to find a place to set it all up. Just last year, Ben and I did shoot some medium format film in Austin, and developed the negatives in his bathroom. After a couple of rolls, I sold the camera, and put the darkroom stuff back upstairs, perhaps to be brought down some later day. I do like the digital darkroom so much better!
Anyway, I've progressed some since the days of a rangefinder camera with no light meter. I can't say that I've gotten better, but the toys have. This page is an inventory of all the stuff I've drug home in the last three years, since photography became fun again.
Yesterday's cameras and lenses
Argus C4 (Rangefinder)
GAF L-CM (SLR)
Nikon F
Nikon F Photomic FTN
Nikkormat FT
Nikkormat FS
Nikkormat FTN
Nikkormat FT2
Nikkormat FT3
Nikon EM
Nikon FG
Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8 lens
Nikon 80-400mm VR lens
Today's cameras and lenses
Nikon N70 (film)
Nikon D100 (digital - 2)
Nikon D2H (digital)
Casio Ex-Z850 (digital)
Nikon 12-24mm lens
Nikon 18-70mm lens
Nikon 24-85mm lens
Nikon 24-120mm VR lens
Nikon 50mm f/1.8 lens
Nikon 105mm f/2.8 lens
Nikon 70-200mm VR f/2.8 lens
Nikon 300mm f/4
Nikon 400mm f/2.8 lens
Nikon TC-14B Teleconverter
Kenko TC-300 AF Teleconverter
Most of this stuff has come and gone by way of eBay. About ten years ago, I realized I had a very nice collection of camera bodies sitting on a shelf in my office at work. Each went quickly at auctions, with one (the Nikon F Photomic) going back to Japan. The only current lens I bought new is the 70-200 VR, which, at the time I got it, could not be had used anywhere. My most recent addition is the Nikon 400mm f/2.8. This is a manual focusing classic, built between 1985 and 1994. The one I got is a beauty, but is HUGE! I actually had no idea what I was getting into when I ordered it. The beast (which I affectionately call Mongosso), is nearly fifteen inches long, and weighs an incredible eleven pounds. Yikes!!! I have ordered a Gimbal mount bracket to manage it, which I hope will arrive next week. After that, I'll post some test shots with the lens.