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.