My Cameras

2024 Sony A7CR

I finally gave up my beloved Leica Q2 and replaced it with a Sony A7CR as my primary camera. The A7CR is a medium compact mirrorless digital camera with a 60-megapixel full-frame sensor that captures richly detailed still pictures. It has the best auto-focus and subject tracking in the business. I typically use a 40mm f/2.5 lens, but I occasionally switch to a 24mm f/2.5 or 50mm f/1.2 G-Master for low-light situations.

Note: I have blackened out all brand and logos. I typically wear dark clothing and removing all the high visible branding helps keep the camera unnoticed.

1972 Nikon F2A Photomic

This is my all time favorite 35mm film camera. The various versions of the Nikon F2 were the world's top professional 35mm film SLRs from 1971 through 1980, and, according to some people, the top 35mm SLR of all time. Nikon F2 was the king of newspaper and magazine photography of the 1970s. Its development was partly fueled by cameras developed for NASA's Apollo and SkyLab missions.  The Nikon F2 is an extraordinarily well-made all-mechanical SLR. It's a tank compared to modern mirrorless cameras' lightweight designs.

Shooting film is a serious challege, unlike digital photography. Every time you push the shutter button it costs money in film processing, and scanning. Film is far less forgiveness technically, which requires you to be exact on your exposures, compositions and film type selection. I find occasionally shooting film, makes me a better digital photographer.

1971 Pentax Spotmatic II

The Spotmatic is one of the iconic 35mm SLR of all time. I used one as my first camera, learning about photography and how to develop and process film in a wet darkroom. It is simple to use and very robust. It was the first 35mm SLR with through-the-lens (TTL) metering. I also think it is one of the nicest looking cameras ever made. In 1970s advertisements, Pentax invited photographers to “Just Hold a Pentax.” This version uses the primitive M42 screw mount for its’ native Takumar lens. Takumar produced excellent vintage film lens. I occasionally will use my Takumar 50mm 1.4 Super Multi-Coated lens with an adapter on my modern digital Sony A7CR with excellent results.