Digital Photography

Sony A7RV - my primary digital photo camera for several reasons. I’ve listed a few below, but much of this list is secondary to the simple reason of being pleased with the images produced by this camera.

1. High resolution allows for cropping without loss of detail

2. A plethora of customizable buttons, nobs, and wheels

3. Incredibly fast and accurate auto-focus for lifestyle or animal photography

4. Flippy-tilty back screen and high res viewfinder for accurate focus at different angles

5. Colors are well represented and RAW files are easily edited

6. Reliable weather sealing for outdoor photography in any condition

7. Ergonomic for handheld shooting and lightweight for hiking and travel

I have 3 primary lenses for the Sony E-mount system. The Sony 24-70 f/2.8 GM II is my most used lens. It is incredibly sharp and versatile. I also invested in a Sony 100-400 f4.5-5.6 GM since long lens photography is one of my favorite styles for landscapes, and with the 400mm reach, I can even photograph some wildlife. The Sony PZ 16-35 f/4 G lens is a small and lightweight lens that I only use occasionally if I really need that ultra-wide look.

Fujifilm X100F - I purchased a used one because new X100 series cameras are near impossible to get ahold of. This is my “EDC” camera. It goes with me almost everywhere because it is light and produces high quality photos for its size and age.

Analog Photography

My journey into analog photography began in 2022 when I made the new years resolution to spend the entire year shooting primarily film. Today, I would say I am a 50% digital 50% film photographer. If I had unlimited funds and unlimited time, I would continue shooting primarily film, but because I run a YouTube channel and have an unreliable income, I need a faster turnaround and a cheaper approach when creating tutorial-style content. These are the four primary cameras I use for film photography:

1. Polaroid I-2

2. Minolta CLE (35mm Format) with a Voigtlander 40mm f/1.4

3. Mamiya RZ 67 Pro II (Medium Format) with a 250mm f/4.5 and a 75mm SB f/4.5 with a shift/tilt adapter

4. Chamonix 45F-2 view camera (Large Format) with a Fujinon 180mm f/5.6

Along with those 4 that are used more often, I also have a collection of other film cameras like a Canon AE-1 Program, Minolta SRT 202, and a Pentax 6x7. Accessories include cable shutter release, dark cloth, Da-Yi 6x12 adapter, etc. But one of the most valuable pieces of kit I have in my Analog Photography arsenal is my Pentax Digital Spotmeter (the one Nick Carver uses). This lightmeter is integral to my manual metering approach. I like it so much better than any app or chart that I’ve tested.