Equipment

My lifelong interest in photography began when I purchased my first camera, a Praktica single lens reflex with screw on lens and slide film. In those days I mostly shot landscapes and documented my holidays to various parts of the world. Leaving the solid Praktica behind, I moved on to Canon equipment finding the bayonet style lenses a great time saver. Various SLR film bodies followed before I purchased a 120 roll film camera, the classic Mamiya RZ67, to shoot landscapes and interiors. Following the advent of digital cameras, all of my gear was gradually exchanged for digital. My very first digital camera was the compact Canon G2 with a resolution of only two mega pixels. At £670 it was very expensive compared to today's offerings! Once digital single lens reflex cameras entered the frame I bought a Canon 20D then added a 40D after the former died in a fall. Currently, my weapon of choice is a Canon 1DS Mk 11, a 17 mega pixel full frame single lens reflex camera. These days my main focus is on capturing wildlife and landscape images and, along with my 1DS Mk 11, I use L series lenses that give me a range of 17mm to 600mm which covers just about everything I require.

How photography has evolved over the years! I wonder what the next 30 years has in store? Will cameras ever compete with the abilities of the human eye to focus, handle latitudes of exposure and get white balance correct every time? I hope so!