Cameras and Equipment

   Over the 2 years since I began studying photography, my passion for taking photos has grown, and, in turn my camera collection has grown too. In this post I thought I would share all the cameras, and equipment, that I have used for taking photos and videos on over the years.

Camera collection

Nikon D3100 and 55-200mm lens

I've started with my very first camera which was the Nikon D3100. I purchased this because it had all the qualities I was looking for - instructed by my teachers I needed a DSLR and this camera had 14.2 megapixels and HD 1080p video capacity. This ticked every box and the camera came at a discounted price with the extra lens which made the deal even better. The extra lens is something I doubt I would have been able to live without and I recommend that if you are looking for a camera, you should definitely look into buying two lenses; the standard 'everyday' 18-55mm lens and the 55-200mm. This lens is great for wildlife shots as I've been able to stand at a distance and still get a good quality close up shot of animals or plants. I've found the Nikon very easy to use get to learn how it works and I find it a very 'safe' camera to use as very rarely the pictures don't come out how you want them to. I've noticed that the D3000 does not have a film option to the camera which is quite disappointing for those who have bought it and are now incapable of shooting videos. I admit that I don't often use the filming option on my camera - purely because I have no reason to film - but recently for a project at school, I had to make a short 2 minute film filming someone but without showing a physical face. This is the first film I have made and it finally put the video option on my camera to good use. The way to film on the D3100 is to flick a switch down then press the red record button. I find this incredibly easy to use and ergonomically fits to the hand which makes it all the better. This camera has been incredibly useful for me and only recently have I been starting to explore the use of other cameras as I want to broaden my skills and learn how to use different cameras.

Canon EOS 5000 and 80-200mm lens

Part of experimenting with my photography led me to film cameras which I have had great fun using. This particular Canon used to be my Dad's and is probably not manufactured anymore - purely because digital cameras have made photography easier, quicker and better. However I have found a strange love for these old film cameras, I think there's something special about not being able to see the photo you've taken until its developed and printed. This could also be a disadvantage as you can't tell if the settings are right or how the photos have come out which makes taking good photos very hard - especially if you are a beginner like me. The cost of film and getting them developed is very dear as it is a specialty and not a very common practice. I hope that as I get to know how photos come out on different settings and learn more about the cameras, I can develop my own film - although this idea is very far in the future. The actual camera is in great condition and you can easily purchase film cameras on eBay or even at car boot sales. There are a great many options considering this is only a film camera and back in its day it would have been a very premium item. Out of the 38-76mm lens and the 80-200mm, I've found the later is the better because it has allowed me to zoom in at great distances and because it has a small f-number, it blurs out the background leaving the main feature in focus. I can't wait to continue using this camera (I just need to find a decent priced shop that can develop the film for me before I can continue using it again).

Kodak Brownie 127

Now this is a real vintage film camera. It has no electric mechanics, a very simple point and shoot structure and made of a cheap plastic. This is because it was produced in 1952 and discontinued in 1959 and in this short space millions were made and priced at $4.75. The lens is meniscus with f14 and 65mm and shutter speed of 1/50 sec. I purchased this on eBay for 99p and have to say I am very impressed. After reading many reviews I worked out how I would begin using it and it was rather difficult at first. Back in its time, it would have used the 127 film but this is no longer manufactured. However the 35mm film apparently works just as well which is what I am currently using. I haven't had the film developed yet, so I am unsure about successful I have been as it is a guessing game using this camera as you don't know how far to wind on the film, how much you have left or if the film is positioned right. The thing about using 35mm film means that you have to tape over a small pea sized hole over the back - I covered the inside and outside with black card and sellotaped over concealing the hole and hopefully stopping the light from getting through. Obviously the camera is very old so I'm not betting my hopes on the first set of film coming out perfect, which in my eyes makes it more fun as I'm going to keep having to experiment and trying this out until I finally find out how it works best. 

SD card, SD card reader, film, fisheye lens and lens hood

Here I've included a few of my staple items I need for my cameras. Firstly, I need my SD card and this one has a 4GB storage space which is honestly vital - especially if you are shooting fashion shoots (there are many outtakes). I can store over 1000 photos and videos on this SD card which makes it great for when I don't have time to take photos off and need my card the next day. Below is an SD card reader that plugs into the iPad (or iPhone however when trying to use it with my iPhone 4s, I had compatibility issues) and allows you to transfer your photos from the card onto your iPad. For me this is so useful because it means that when I'm away from my laptop and want to make some room on my SD card, this comes in great use. I've found it doesn't reduce the quality of the photos either and you can also download great editing software for the iPad too. Next is two rolls of 35mm 24 exp film which is vital when shooting in film: if you run out when on the go, thats all you have as each film only allows a certain amount of photos to be taken, unlike the 1000 I can take on the SD card. The lens is a super wide fisheye lens from Opteka that I bought for my Nikon after having it for a few months. It came in great use when I went to Venice and wanted long sweeping shots of the city from a high vantage point as I could get masses of land in one shot, but other than that I have rarely used it as I often forget I have it. It isn't a premium fisheye lens so if that's something you're looking for then this probably isn't the best option, but if you're just practising and wanting to try something new but aren't quite yet a camera whiz, then this lens is probably just right. It does the job for an affordable cost. The last item is a lens hood - a simple piece of plastic that fits onto the end of your lens to reduce the glare. It's ideal for when you are on the beach and having the sun coming directly towards the camera as it blocks out that glare reducing the lines of light you often get in the middle of a photo. It should often come with the camera when you buy it. 

Nikon batteries, remote shutter release and tripod

These items are handy for certain situations (apart from the batteries: you need them always). I purchased the remote shutter release  from Amazon - there are hundreds to choose from - when I wanted to take some star trail photos. This is because for a short christmas break, my family and I went to a very small village in Alton and there were very low levels of light pollution and I was able to see the stars very clearly. The shutter release is vital for star trail photos as it means you don't get any camera shake and it allows you to keep the shutter open for as long as you like, so I did hour long exposures at times which would create amazing affects. The tripod is from Joby and you can buy these at several stores such as John Lewis. It has many beneficial features but the main one being the fact that it can transform into any position (e.g. hugged around a tree) so that you can get that clear, unshaken photo you want.

I hope you have enjoyed this rather long post about the cameras and equipment I use and have collected over the years since I've taken up photography. It will continue to grow because I have recently purchased a Canon AE-1 SLR 35mm camera, a Yashika 200mm telephoto lens, a Vivitar MC Macro focusing lens and a Prinz jupiter 277C flash all of which I am incredibly excited to use and potentially blog about depending on much of a success (or failure) they have been.

Photography

   Casting my mind back to 2012 when I first began my Photography GCSE, I wouldn't have been able to anticipate how much of a passion it has become for me. I bought my first "real" camera (DSLR) in the summer of 2012 before the course had started so I could get a feel of the camera and how it began to work. Realising now, this was a huge leap for my parents as they invested £500+ into something I hadn't begun yet and had no idea how to use - looking back, what if I hadn't enjoyed the course and dropped it? Would the camera have been a waste? So in some sense, this camera is what tied me to the course as I would have had a lot to loose had I not stuck it out. However if I'm honest, the thought of abandoning the course very rarely crossed my mind - I loved it from day one - which in comparison to my peers must have been unusual as the 12 or so of us who started out together ended with only 6 of us finishing the exam.

   I then had the difficulty of finding a school that would provide me with the opportunity of taking Photography at A Level as the course was very new to my 'academically-driven' grammar school. I looked at other schools local to me and found that only 2 provided Photography at the level I wanted to pursue it to, so I visited their open days and applied immediately. After having interviews, I was accepted into both schools but neither really drew me in as I loved the students, the teachers and the lessons at my current school. It was a tough decision to make but I wanted to stay at my school so comprised by giving up Photography. However there was a light at the end of the tunnel - my teacher had pulled several (or maybe hundreds) of strings with the senior staff and persuaded them to run a Photography course. She had previously taught Photography at other schools, so let they let the course run and I could stay. I have to admit, I was incredibly fortunate and have to applaud my school for getting this right.

   Myself and two others are now on the course and although we have very few lessons with teachers (it would only fit into the timetable this way) we knew it would be like this and instead work with each other very well. The equipment the school has provided me with has helped me so much over the past few months of starting the A Level - something I never took advantage of at GCSE. I have refined many of my skills and have been able to take more mature and developed photos which I hope to regularly share on this blog along with my thoughts on recent photographers work and exhibitions that I visit.