I am wondering what sort of equipment we are all using to capture our images. There is a huge choice of equipment out there some of it very expensive, some more affordable.


I have used a variety of point and shoot 35 mm film cameras over the years, my first digital was a compact Canon powershot A40 which produced great images. I am now using a Canon Eos 10D with a variety of lenes from 24mm upwards.

The lens I use most is the Canon 28 -135 Image Stabilised, which gives me excelent results in most situations and in particular in a studio.

I am looking to purchase the Canon 70 - 200 f2.8L IS lens, I am still waiting for the lotter numbers to come up. That lens with a 2X extender will cover most of the motorsport and aviation stuff that I love doing.

The next thing then will be another Camera body. The Canon 5D or whatever the equivelant is when I get around to saving up for it.

Whats in your camera bag?

Hi Tom,
My current camera is a Nikon D50, never thought I'd own a Nikon. It was their entry level SLR and apparently the best value DSLRt but still a lot of money.
My family treated me to it for Chridtmas, although I got it in October - in time for our holiday.

The standard lens is 28 - 55mm and I also got a 55 = 200mm zoom. It covers most of what I like to do and I've been very pleased with the results so far.
I'm still trying to come to terms with all the functions and menues but I'll get there eventually.

My previous D. cameras have all been Fujis, Ialways found them easy and straightforward to use. This is a different animal altogether.

Jim

Hi All

My first camera was a 35mm cheapo, I then invested in a Digital FujiFilm S7000 which I got on with relatively easy. I now have a Digital SLR Canon EOS350d, nice piece of kit, still finding things out about it.

At present I have the EFS 18-55mm lense, which provides nice results, although I would like a lense with a better zoom, was looking at the 75-300mm zoom lense (little pricey), any thoughts anybody.

Cheers
Gareth

I now use an Olynpus E1 and E300 for digital capture and Olympus om's for 35mm.
The reason for sticking to Olympus is that I can still shoot manually and use my OM lenses on the digitals.Makes achallenge to digital photography , if an extra one was needed.
I also use two mediam format cameras when I need superb negatives and for fun.

David

hi i am currently using a sigma sd9 with 3 lenses covering 17 to 300 am waiting for release of sd14 although that would require my numbers to come up.sd9 is a lovely camera to use especially with my visual imparment

I did see the prototype SD14 at the RPS digital imaging group day at Rugby in November. Sigma allowed John Henshall to bring it along with him and show it to us and it looked and sounded like an interesting bit of kit.

I recently read that it was supposed to be on sale just before Christmas but Sigma found a problem that they initially thought could be fixed with a software update. Subsquent investigation however showed that they needed to redesign part of the hardware, so the launch has now been put back to the end of February or early march, to allow for the retro fitting of the update.

I hope your number come up nick18 ;)

My first compact digital camera was a Kodak DC240 1.3MP after which I moved up to the Kodak DC280 2MP; the first camera I gave to my son and the second I gave to a friend. Looking back they were as big and heavy as some on today's DSLR's. (I dropped the first one the first day I took it out, good job I had taken out insurance!)

Just over two years ago, I purchased a Canon IXUS 400 from Jessops in Llandudno who did a price match for me against Currys internet site price which meant I got the camera for a steal; I still have it.

Last year I went down the DSLR road (expensive hobby isn’t it?) I have a Nikon D200 and a D80 which as you know I want to sell. (I have used the D80 more than the D200, as I felt the D200 was complicated, heavy and bigger than the D80; but upon reflection and as my hands are not as nimble as they used to be; I think the D200 will be the best one to keep)

Also have the following lenses:

•Tokina AT-X 12-24mm F4 PRO DX (yet to use) landscapes
•Tamron AF18-200mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di-II LD Aspherical (IF) MACRO; all rounder
•Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO DG MACRO (again, yet to use) thinking nature, sports and perhaps portraits

Brian

Hi All,
My interest started at school with a Brownie Box, a developing tank and a contact printing frame.
In the 60’s I went into SLR Canon something I don’t remember and in the early 80’s I broke the bank with Canon A1.
The mid 90’s brought a T90 in fact 2-second hand, useful at air shows.
Last year I broke the bank again and went digital with a 5D and EF24-105mmf4L IS USM & 200mm f2.8L USM.
I’ve found staying with Canon over the years each camera feels familiar when I start to use it.
I am now thinking of exchanging the 200 for EF70-300mmDO IS USM to give me a bit more flexibility.
One last point and I know it’s not ‘Camera Bag’ but exchanging the ‘Dark room’ for Daylight room, Photoshop, Computer and a comfortable chair is fantastic and along with the 5D gives me many a sharp learning curve.
Simon

Hi

I'm an ex Professional Advertising Photographer and currently Course Leader in Photography and Digital Imaging at an FE College in the North East of England. I lost a leg due to a broken toe and Septicaemia during April 07. Thank God I'm no longer self employed and my College have been really supportive so far about things.

In the days when I earned my living from Photography, I used a Mamiya RB67/WL/CDS Prism + 50/90/180/360 lenses, Minolta Autometer III, Toyo 45G + 65/150 lenses, 2 x Pentax LXs + lenses from 20mm - 400mm. Lighting was Multiblitz and Elinchrom studio flash outfits and a Minolta Flashmeter V. Oh and a couple of Metz CT45s.

Now I'm totally digital and use a Nikon D2x/D100 with MB100 grip + 12-24DX, 17-55 F2.8, 24-120VR, 60 Micro, 105VR Micro, 70-200VR F2.8 lenses, + an SB800 flash. I also have a Sony CP200, which tends to go most places with me.

Actually, the 60 Micro Nikkor and Nikon 24-120VR are up for sale if anyone's interested!

I've been very lucky to have spent most of my life involved in Photography. I'm also very determined not to end my working life just because I've had a leg amputated! thumbup

1st camera was a Praktica MTL4b, oh the joys of manual metering. Then a Minolta, cant remember which model now SLR A ricoh XRX an Olympus XA2, for cycletouring. Then didnt do much photography for around 10yrs, last autum got a Fujifinepix f6500fd, and early this year upgraded to a Pentax K10d.

I started a few years ago with a Nikon D50 with a 70-300mm lens. I now use 2 Nikon D200's one with a battery grip. A sigma 10-20mm f/4, nikon 18-70mm f/3.5, nikon 70-200 f/2.8 nikon 300mm f/4, nikon 1.4 tc.

An expensive hobby but when you go through what we all have to go through you think to yourself blow it i'm going to treat myself and enjoy it and i do.

Regards

Tony

I started with Zenit. Not the lightest of cameras! I got back into photography about 5 years ago strangely when my health was becoming more of a worry. I bought a Nikon F55 but soon discovered it wasn't stretching me enough and got an F80. A real gem to use. I've recently got a D80 and mainly use the 18-200mm vibration reduction lens but also use a Sigma 50mm macro which I bought with money for my 50th birthday. It's a good little lens although I would like something a bit longer for macro work. I would really like to get the Nikon 70-300mm vr which would be great for using at the wildfowl trust. :)

Hi Tom, started out a long time ago with a Kodak 120 roll film camera with built in flash for 5/6d when dad filled up at an Esso garage. My last film camera was a Pentax LX, then I gave up photography due to health issues. thumbsdown Now I am back and the "bug" is still as strong as it ever was. :o Hence EOS 5D and 4 L lenses. thumbup Incidentally have you thought about the Canon 100/400 LIS 4/5.6? It is a super lens and will give you the same focal length/ f stop as the 70/200 + extender. I find its only limitation is me! All the best Charles.