When working a job the first part of any workflow is picking the right gear. Thankfully, I have an extensive working collection of new and vintage cameras that I can use in any job I'm hired for not to mention shooting for my own enjoyment. While this only represents a cross-section of my collection, these are the workhorses that come out on the job.
While the cameras listed below are my primary tools when photographing jobs I also have various early 20th-Century Kodak Cameras, SLRs, Rangefinders, and Toy Cameras.
Nikon|Autofocus | |
 |
My primary system in my photographic toolkit is the Nikon Autofocus system. I started with a Nikon F80 then adding a Nikon D70s and Nikon D300. And while I went through several years where I shot a mirrorless digital camera, but I always maintained some form of autofocus Nikon SLR. With a Nikon F5 and F90, but have not added a Nikon D750 to complement my F5 and allow for a sharing of lenses for quick switches without too much juggling.
|
Nikon|Manual Focus | |
 |
Second only to my autofocus kit for Nikon is the manual focus kit. This kit is based around three solid compact SLR bodies from the Nikon lineup. First is the all mechanical FM, great for cold weather but it's all manual right down to the metering. Second is the Nikon FE which is a little more automated with a aperture priority mode to help for semi-automtic exposure. And at the top is the Nikon FA, a full PSAM manual focus camera with an early version of Nikon's iconic matrix metering system.
|
Minolta|Maxxum 9 | |
 |
Like the F5, the Maxxum 9 is a solid professional SLR from the later years of Minolta, a new camera in my toolkit the Maxxum 9 is my primary camera for travel featuring a removable grip for smaller profile and several short lens options including the 35-70, 50, and 28mm lenses. Just because I use it more for personal work shouldn't let you fear when I turn up at a professional job sporting this camera, infact it can be used as a secondary camera on film-only assignments as a second shooter or even primary paired with the F5.
|
Minolta|XE-7 | |
 |
Born of an alliance between Leica, Minolta, and Copal to create a long series of cameras that stands up even today. If you have heard my photographic journey you'll know that I originally ran with Minolta kit, but the XE-7 is the camera that brought me back to Minolta. The XE-7 is the Minolta cousin on the Leica R3. But a far superior camera to the Leica cousin in the sense that it works with any Minolta lens either MC or MD. While a bigger camera it has never let me down with semi-automatic function and with a set of lenses that are pretty darn close to the Leica glass for the R3.
|
Mamyia|m645 | |
 |
This may sound weird, but I think I like my m645 better than my Pentax 645. The Mamiya m645 quickly became my go-to medium format camera for project and travels due to the compact sized. Arriving due to a stroke of luck from a fomer wedding photographer spotting my Crown Graphic in a coffee shop. And while it took some times to build up the lens kit, especally the final lens, thankfully the prices on these cameras and the optics are still resonable and it certainly fits my style specifically for field work.
|
Franke & Heidecke|Rollieflex 2.8F | |
 |
When it comes to cameras, my steadfast Rolleiflex is the oldest camera that has remained in my collection. Having picked it up only a couple years into my journey with film and after figuring out how to use the camera. It has become a fast favourite and while I don't take it out that often it will always deliever amazing quality image and is always a conversation starter on the streets. |
Graflex|Crown Graphic | |
 |
When it came to large format I never thought I would use the size. But then again never say never. But the Crown Graphic fits into my style, with the ablity to shoot both on a tripod like a traditional LF camera or handheld like the Press Photographers of old. The Crown never gives me a bad result, providing I'm on my a-game that day. While I don't often use this in a professional setting, I use it when out capturing landscapes, buildings, and historical projects.
|