If you were wondering what type of equipment I use, my preferences vary with format.
For 35mm I prefer Nikon. I appreciate the fact that Nikon stuck with their mount, allowing me to use lenses from my autofocus bodies with my older mechanical bodies (FM2n and F2AS) and vice versa. I also love EL Nikkor enlarging lenses and will often use them for macro work (on a PB-4 bellows or a Sinar F-1) as well as enlarging.
The Nikon U.S. site can found here http://www.nikonusa.com
The Nikon Worldwide page is here http://www.nikon.com
You can get to the Nikon Japan site from the Worldwide page. It has a lot of interesting articles (including historical stuff) and technical information. Occasionally you can catch press releases on new equipment before Nikon U.S. announces it.
If you ever find yourself in London, be sure to visit Grays of Westminster. You won't find a finer Nikon retailer anywhere. They are exclusively Nikon. Every year when I visit London, I stop in at Grays, usually looking for some rarely seen Nikon part (usually an 8 week special order part here in FL, or even unavailable), and while he may not necessarily have the part in stock (these are pretty infrequently requested items after all), Gray invariably gets it for me before I head back to the states. Grays isn't just a local retailer, you would be amazed at the places people call in orders from (international is a bit of an understatement). Grays is a full service shop; they know and believe in the equipment they sell, and if you buy equipment from them, they'll make sure you do too. In addition to the full range of new Nikon equipment, Grays also deals in second hand Nikon equipment (though seeing it you'd be hard pressed to tell it wasn't also new) as well as vintage and collectible equipment. If you have any interest in vintage and collectible photographic equipment, the Nippon Kogaku room is worth the visit by itself. When you visit the Grays of Westminster web site, be sure to look into the Nikon Owners Club International, as Grays is the host for this as well. To get to their site just click the banner below.
To get to the physical store follow the directions on their site or just punch these coordinates into your GPS: N 51º 29' 33.3" by W 0º 08' 26.4"
For large format equipment I use a Sinar F-1 and a Meridian 45B. The Sinar is really a studio camera, but I have been known to lug it out in the field or convert it into a flat, helical focusing, extreme wide-angle camera (this is awesome with a 6x12 rollfilm back). The Sinar is also great for macro work when I need a lot of movements. I've made adapter plates to mount my 35mm Nikon and 6x7 Pentax bodies if I don't want to use sheet film and the ground glass.
Sinar's site is here http://www.sinarbron.com
Pentax is here http://www.pentax.com
The Meridian 45B is a relatively rare, old tech-field/press camera. It is unusual in that it has full movements (rear tilts and swings like a Linhof Technika), 16 inches of extension, a bed that will drop 90 degrees, an internal rack and pinion focus (in addition to the one on the bed) that allows the use of a lens as short as 47mm (possibly even 35), and even a revolving back. All this in a camera about the size of a Crown Graphic and lighter than the Technika.
For lenses I have a variety of vintage lenses as well as a few modern lenses. My favorite is the Schneider 5.6/47mm Super-Angulon XL. It's a sharp lens, amazing coverage, and a 120 degree angle of view on 4x5. Vintage lenses can be excellent, but they'll rarely match a modern lens like that XL. If you are ready for a new lens, but don't need the 120º angle of view or need a longer focal length, make sure you check out Schneider's Super-Symmar XL's. They are available in 80, 110, 150, and 210mm focal lengths, have huge coverage and are just phenomenally sharp. A properly focusesd negative will just jump out at you. Schneider's site is worth a look if you are interested in new or old lenses, as they have a great deal of information about both. Click the Schneider banner below to go to their site.
If you'd like to see some beautiful wooden field cameras and learn more about view cameras and lenses, visit Ron Wisner's, Wisner Classic Mfg. Co. Web page. Ron is a wealth of knowledge and the classic looks and quality of his cameras always amaze people when you tell them it is a current production camera.
Wisner's site is here http://www.wisner.com
Heading to Key West? Do you want to try a fantastic restaurant? Then go to...Seven Fish, Key West. simple. good. food
More links and comments on the way... not just photography.
