I'm really impressed by a lot of the photography displayed by the forum members - not only of guns, but almost everything else imaginable. I was wondering what camera or cameras are being used? I suspect there will be a lot of diversity. This isn't a question of what is best, but simply what do you use?

Over the years I've used a lot of cameras. I recall back in the 4th grade I had a "Donald Duck" camera that used roll film. In early high school, I had graduated to an Ansco 120 roll film box camera - as close to "point and shoot" as you could get. When I was a high school senior, my dad passed down his old Bolsey 35mm to me when he purchased a Leica IIIF, and I used that for many years, coupled with a cheap light meter. In my college years I used an Ansco 120 twin-lens reflex camera, which was a step up for serious photography. Then I purchased a Pentax K-1000 35mm SLR in the 1980s. That was a giant leap forward. It offered full manual control with "match the needle" light metering in the camera.

Then in 2006, I bought my first digital camera, a "point and shoot" Kodak. It got me used to the convenience of digital photography, but I longed for a good single lens reflex. I took the leap and got a Pentax K100D, a six-megapixel number that could use all the previous lenses I had acquired for the K-1000. In 2008 I stepped up to the 10-megapixel Pentax K200D, and started to learn to use Photoshop as a digital darkroom. In late 2010, I took the plunge to get Pentax's flagship model, the 16.2 megapixel K-5. It will use any of my previous Pentax lenses, so it has great versatility for me. Its ability to shoot pictures at very high ISOs allows me to take natural-light photos of exceptional quality - great for graduation ceremonies, etc. With it mounted on a tripod, I can take exceptionally sharp photos to illustrate my gun articles; many of these can be seen in Dillon's Blue Press magazine/catalog. In my opinion, there is nothing the K-5 can't do, and its dynamic range gives me the ability to bring up pictures in Photoshop that I never found possible before. Also, the large size of the pictures allows creative cropping in post-processing. When I don't find it convenient to lug around a full-size SLR, I use a Canon PowerShot A1000 IS 10-megapixel point and shoot, which I can just stick in a pocket - great for informal get-togethers with friends. I gave the old Pentax K100D to a granddaughter to learn photography, and I kept the 200D as a backup. At any rate, here's a shot of the Pentax K-5 which is my main camera now. What's yours?

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

I have a Nikon D80 but I seldom use it. My old 6mp Canon point and shoot does most of what I need.

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Regards, Ron
USASA 1965/69

I use a Canon G12 -- pretty much the biggest and heaviest compact camera you can get, but still small enough that you can stuff it in a coat pocket if you're on the run. It has extraordinarily powerful automatic features, but lets me go totally manual if I am in a complicated lighting situation where think I can outguess the sensors. I like the flip and fold viewing screen, which lets me preview interesting angles on the guns I am photographing without having to stick my upper body into the illumination. I previously had a G9 with comparable imaging abilities, but whose viewer was a fixed pane on the back of the box.

Sometimes I wonder if I ought to buy a big new digital body with extra glass to get back into the flowers and bugs thing I had going 15 to 20 years ago, but so far I have not succumbed to the temptation.

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David Wilson

I use a Canon 20d. Generally I have a sigma 18-50 2.8-4.5 and a canon 430 EX on it. For portraiture, I have a 50mm 1.8 II and for telephoto, I have a 100-400 L.



Trying to get some super moon shots:

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686-4 442-1

I use my I-phone 3. ****** pictures-not as good as a dedicated camera ??- maybe, but great phone. It has my music on it and I can surf porn while in Court. Put that in your F stop and smoke it

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Forum consigliere

I have been using a Canon PowerShot A560 for the last 5 years, with nearly 10k pictures taken.

It may be a 5 year old entry level camera but it has a veiwfinder, full manual control mode and a 3cm macro. The camera is getting long in the tooth and I'll be lucky if I get another year of service from it. Unfortunately Canon is no longer making the entry level A series Powershots with a a viewfinder, or full manual mode, and it's replacement will cost $200 more than it cost. At that point I might as well get the Canon Powershot G12 .

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Regards,
Guy-Harold Smith II

Funny you should mention..Got this last month just before my trip...came with an 18-55 and 55-300....did a Lot of research and felt Pentax gave me more for the money then the others...and I like the fact it says Pentax on it...it feels more old school to me..like revolvers I guess...

Pentax K-r Review: 1. Introduction: Digital Photography Review

Btw, I like that 18-135 on your k5....very versatile....I'm not much into switching out lenses...ive been using the 18-55 for indoors...for outdoor stuff with the kids, my 55-300 has been living on it....best way to get good shots of kids is from a distance....especially if they aren't your kids.

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Thirty characters. Exactly...

All Canon .....
D60, EOS3, BG-ED3, 50/2.5 Macro, 75-300 /4.5-5.7 IS, 17-35 2.8L, 28-80/2.8-4.0L, 70-200/4.0L, TS-E 45/2.8, Angle Finder C, 550EX, 420EX, MR-14EX, ST-E2, TC80-N3 ,CG560, CA-P5400
My faithful old 28-80/2.8L just broke beyond repair. (The AF/MF switch fell apart and they're no longer available) I can't currently afford to replace it with a new L series lens, so I'm looking at the Tamron 28-75/2.8 or a Sigma 28-70/2.8

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Dean
SWCA #680 SWHF #446

Sip,

I think you made a good choice. I bought that 18-135mm specifically as an "all purpose" single lens to take to Hawaii this summer for our 50th wedding celebration. It was great for about 90% of the shots I wanted to take. I do have an 18-250mm, but it's bulky, heavy and the lens extends by itself when pointed down. The 18-135mm is weather resistant, just like the K-5 body, so the constant rain in Hawaii was not a problem. I don't think you can go wrong with Pentax; I've been using one since the '80s and they are built like tanks.

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

I have several cameras, but the one I love most is an Olympus Om1-n that I bought almost new some years back. The meter doesn't work any longer, alas. But the build quality is impressive.

It usually wears a 1: 1.8 50mm Olympus Zuiko lens, but I have other lenses, the most powerful being an 80-150mm that I got from our member Bob Bettis. He very kindly offered a second OM-1 with several lenses as a karma. Probably the finest karma yet!

I have a fixed 135mm lens that I got a pretty good photo of a squirrel in a tree with, and I framed that and have it on a bookcase. But I want to see if I can do better with that 150mm zoom unit.

My compact is a Yashica T-4 Super with a retracting Zeiss 35mm lens. Small, but takes excellent photos.

I've been looking at digital cameras, and like what I saw when playing with a Nikon S8200. It has generally good reviews, but one man said that his has trouble locking on the exact focus he wants.

I've avoided digital largely because they're electronic, and usually fail within five years. My film cameras have served well for many years.

The late gun writer Don Zutz told me how well he liked his OM-2n and Zuiko Olympus lenses, and I agree. I have a Nikon FG that is a fine camera, but I think its 50mm lens falls just slightly short of the Olympus equivalent. Close, though...and its meter still works!

For digital, I used a Pentax K10 with a K100D Super for backup. I keep the AF lenses for the K10 and keep a Pentax-A f1.7 50mm prime on the K100D. For 35mm film I generally use either a Pentax ME with a -M f1.4 50mm on it or I sometimes use a 1962 Pentax S1a and either a hand held light meter or just the "Sunny f16" rule. For medium format 120 and 220 film, I use a Pentax 645 with both the 75mm and 150mm lenses.

Oh yeah, I forgot. A LOT of classic Takumar prime glass ranging from 28mm through 300mm including some preset lenses that will all work on my digital cameras with the M42 adapter.

CW

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μολὼν λαβέ

Nikon D90

AF-5 Micro NIKKOR 60mm 1:2.8G ED

AF-5 NIKKOR 18-105mm 1:3.5-5.6G ED

NIKON SPEEDLIGHT SB-750

Now if I can only figure out how to REALLY use it!!

Light box.. 2, 100watt eq. DAYLIGHT Bulbs.. makes me better than what I am..

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SWCA #2306
DAV in honor of POP

Nikon? They make cameras?

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Thirty characters. Exactly...

Still have my trusty Nikon D200. I also have Nikon F100, which I would consider selling or trading. All offers considered. It's like new with extras, just plain don't use it anymore.

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Endeavor to persevere. <><

No they make watches..

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SWCA #2306
DAV in honor of POP

Canon Digital Rebel Xt. 18-55mm kit lens and 70-300mm Promaster. I like to do macro photography, so I just bought a set of Promaster extension tubes with electronics, to replace the cheap set I bought last year. I've also got a reverse ring.

I've got a Sigma flash.

I've got a Promaster tripod that's supplanted the cheap Sunpak that I have. The Promaster has a reversible center column so that I can shoot straight down for macro photography.

I made myself a cable release from plans I found on the internet. It took three sets of plans to get one working wiring diagram, but it does make tripod work much easier. It probably cost 1/3 of the Promaster unit they sell at Dodd Camera.

iPhone 4..

We have 4 digital cameras:

1. Nikon D90
2. Nikon D70s
3. Canon G11 - compact
4. Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-HX100V
5. Canon SD1000 - pocket camera

The Nikon D90 is my main camera while the D70s serves as the backup. The Canon G11 is lives on the handle of the gun safe or on the console of my truck as the ready camera. The Sony is the wife hyper zoom and the tiny Canon SD1000 is her pocket camera.


The Nikon D90 lives with a stabilized 18-200 'vacation' lens, while the D70s makes do with the D90's original [budget] VR 18-55. I do some wildlife photography, so I've got a couple of telephotos for that: Nikkor 80-200 f2.8 pro lens and a Sigma 150-500 stabilized.










A young Grizzly on the Dalton Hwy must south of Atigun Pass; taken at 290mm using the 150-500mm Sigma

I have a Canon T1i that came with a 18-55mm lens. I also have a Canon 70-300, a Canon 50mm F1.8, and a Tamron 10-24mm.

The newer cameras do so much for you that they make inexperienced people look like pros.

Below is a cropped image from a photo that my wife took in the back yard. I just put the camera on macro and handed it to her.

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Corripe Cervisiam

Mostly, I use an Olympus E500 DSLR. For a backup, I have a Fuji S602Z DSLR. Somewhere around her in a camera bag, is my old Canon AE-1 35mm. Back when I shot on film, besides the Canon, I used a Yashica twin lens 120 film camera.
Some of my pics are here.

Photo Images pictures by LAKOTA169 - Photobucket

I also use a pentax. I started with a ME super 35mm then went digital with a pentax k200d. I have a promaster 70-300 for wildlife pics. but mostly use the 55-200 pentax lense that came with it for pictures of the high school marching band. I somehow became the go to guy for her schools band program when it came to pics.
Now she is in her second year with drum corp international, marching for Santa Clara Vangaurd, so I'm not done with the band pics just yet.

vic3620

Nikon D60 with an 18-55 for most stuff, a 55-200 for wildlife. The camera is smarter than I am, so I get some good shots occasionally...

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Even older, even crankier....

Glad to see all the Pentax users. This is my wife's K-x, well, I bought it for her. I'm the primary user. Have also used a K-r that is even sweeter, although larger. That's a DA* 300mm, which takes unbelievable pictures.

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I had been using a Canon F-1 for years then a few years ago I went digital with an Olympus C3000 when it as cutting edge.

Recently I bought a Panasonic SD600 HD movie camera and can select the frame I want as a still picture.