New Year, New Gear

Photography has always been a part of my life. I remember being probably 5 years old wielding a disposable Kodak film camera on Catalina Island probably taking the sloppiest photos ever conceived by man. But I always loved taking photos. I usually had a point and shoot growing up, going through various models of Nikons and Canons. Then I had a phase where all i wanted to do was make videos so my interest were directed towards the crappy handy cams of the day. I still remember my Mom driving me to 3 different targets so I could spend the money I got for Christmas on a new Sony Handycam. I got lots of use out of that little camera throughout the years, But by the time I started high school I needed a DSLR for the photography class I was taking. It was a small private school, they did not have any loaners. On recommendation from my Dad, who himself is an avid photographer, I bought a Nikon D5300 and he gave me a 18-70 DX lens to kit it out with. 

I used that camera with that lens for the better part of 10 years. throughout that time I didn't feel like I had out grown it just yet. I was taking some great photos, and wasn't really a manual control guy despite taking a class that had encouraged that. Once my Dad gifted me his Lumix LX-100ii, I fell in love with manual photography. Having physical controls to control each setting in your exposure triangle was a game changer, something my nikon seriously lacked (it uses 1 command wheel and button combinations to adjust each setting). An Electronic View Finder also makes composing shots on the fly much more enjoyable compared to the experience on a DSLR (IMO). The LX100ii also came equipped with a 28-70 1.7 leica lens, something that taught me a lot about depth of field. All of these things together all in a small range finder style really cures my X100VI envy. Here's some shots.

Ok, so I've has that Lumix for a couple years, the title of this is called New Year, New Gear, so whats new? well Late last year I was able to purchase a Nikon Z6ii as my first full frame camera. This was a big jump for me, Committing to a new lens mount for future purchases, but also the serious jump in quality and controls. So far I have fallen in love with almost every shot that comes out of this camera, It has this dramatic quality to every photo, the way the sensor catches light, I can't describe it other than to show some sample shots.

Parallel to my full frame journey with the Z6ii, I also got the opportunity to shoot film for the first time since I had those shitty Kodak cameras as a child. A friend of mine who happens to be a photography professor gifted me an old Canon AE-1P with a few lenses to go with it. I did most of my shooting with a 28mm f2.8 lens, until i decided I needed a 50mm f1.8 because that is more in my wheelhouse. 

So far I have shot two rolls though the AE-1, one of Ilford HP-5 and one of Kodak Gold 200. Right now I'm trying out this really interesting stock called Elektra 100, which is a re-rolled Kodak film i believe. I'll post an update once these rolls get developed for sure.

The AE-1P has been a great first step into film photography for me so far. It offers full manual controls, but is one of those film camera where you can get it to shoot in Auto if you are feeling lazy about it.