REVISED 06-06-08
It has been a couple of years since I wrote the following statement: "Okay, so I'm not a geeky photo equipment freak. One reason: money! Another reason is that when I'm traveling in the backcountry, I just don't want to be bothered by caring for an assortment of lenses and filters. Also, my Scottish-Irish ancestry dictates that I try to make more from less. Although I'm constantly seeking to improve my skills, I'm not out to become a professional photographer, only to share some of my experiences via my photos with anyone who might be interested enough to have a look."
Well...all of that has changed! Over the past year I've invested in some better equipment and have been selling my work in my gallery. If that makes me a professional photographer, so be it.
My first digital camera: Olympus C-3000 digital. That's it, no filters or add-on lenses. I have two 32Mb, one 64Mb and one 128Mb Smartmedia cards and a bunch of NiMH rechargeable batteries. Oh yes, I purchased a flip-up lens cap off eBay that has been great. I rarely use a tripod, as it is extra weight and volume for the long hikes. Even most of my panoramas are hand-held, though a tripod with a panoramic head is the best. I have retired this cameras because I dropped it and broke it taking photos of a garden spider in my daughter's yard.
My second digital camera: After much research I recently acquired a Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ30. So far, I love it. No, it's not the "best" camera on the market, and there are a few issues (namely digital noise, if you want to get really technical.) However, I feel it will be a good hiking camera that fit the bill for a lot of different types of photography. With the 12x Leica manual zoom lens, and 8 Megapixels, it does produce high quality photos with nice color and sharpness and is just the creative tool I have been looking for. Great macro capability and the panoramics I have taken so far seem to stitch well! I'll have at least two 512Mb SD cards, I have already purchased extra batteries and a charger I can use with 12v. I still use this camera for a variety of purposes, and have sold many photos taken with it.
My current digital system: In the spring of 2007, I finally went the DSLR route. Again, my research and finances led me to PENTAX. I purchased a K10d. There were several reasons I chose Pentax over Nikon and Canon. Cost was a factor and for several hundred less than comparable N/C models, the K10d body is weather sealed, has built-in shake reduction that works with any lens. It has a built-in sensor cleaning feature, and can use any Pentax lens ever made (M42 screwmounts require an adapter.) Even though it can use any Pentax lens, I have ended up using mostly Sigma lenses. Pentax makes excellent lenses, but they are costly, and the current selection is limited but growing. I am very pleased with my choice, the camera has functioned perfectly for over year of intensive use. The K10d is now my backup camera as I have recently acquired the Pentax K20d. It has all of the features of the K10d, plus higher ISO capability, a larger LCD monitor with live view. The big difference is that the K10d has a 10 megapixel CCD sensor, while the K20d has a 14.6 megapixel CMOS sensor. My lenses range from 17-70mm & 50-500mm zooms, several older Pentax primes lenses and a Viviatr 105mm macro, and a couple of teleconverters.
One thing always leads to another, and I have added a variety of filters and accessories too numerous to list. One of the most important parts of my system has become my tripod. I chose an Induro Carbonflex carbon fiber tripod with an Acratech GV2 Ballhead. I use Acratech and Kirk Enterprises quick-release mounting plates and platforms. For transport and protection of my gear, I use the Tamrac Expedition Series and their Modular Accesory System (M.A.S.)
I shoot a lot of panoramas, handheld or using a monopod or tripod. Although not essential, I find using a panoramic head gives the most reliable results. I chose the Nodal Ninja for cost/features.
Future Equipment: A slide scanner to scan some of the 1000's of slides taken over 30 years with my Canon FX and AE-1 cameras.
Software: Adobe Photoshop CS3, Arcsoft Panorama Maker Pro 4, (excellent stitching ability for the money!)
Printer:: One of the most important aspects of being a "professional" photographer is being able to print the photos you take. I spent the better part of a year learning to "develop and print" my photos on a cheap Epson R220, 6-color inkjet. Although it is a cheap printer (with expensive inks) it has excellent output and allowed me to see subtle changes in my processing. I had some of my large panoramas printed for me, but I didn't like the fact that I had no control over the process, and I was very limited with what I could do. So, (again, after much research,) I chose the HP Z3100 44" wide fine art inkjet printer. I can only say that I love it, it is an amazing piece of technology and the output is just great.
So, that's it! A major investment in equipment has given me much more versatility and a huge improvement in photo quality, but also much more to keep up with and carry around. Do I need any more stuff? Of Course!
All images, files, compositions, writings are copyright Edward M. Kelley