All The Gear & No Idea (well not quite)

The cameras I’ve used and still do to capture my images.  No technical reviews, I’ll leave that to others.

When I decided to try photography, I was overwhelmed by all the different makes, types and models and didn’t know where to start, then there is all the technical specifications that truly blew my mind.  I was after a step up from my smart phone but nothing to advanced so that if I didn’t like photography, I hadn’t spent hundreds if not thousands on gear.

Panasonic FX82

My first “proper” camera.  After lots of research on what type to buy for a beginner, I saw a category called “bridge” cameras as they “bridged” the gap between point and shoot cameras and phones and more advanced DSLR and mirrorless cameras.  I chose the FX82 as it had a long fixed zoom lens so would hopefully allow me the opportunity to try lots of different types of photography to see what I liked.  The first time I used it was on a family holiday, the sun was setting over the Moray Firth as I rushed to the beach to capture an image that would lead to thousands of likes on social media and lots of awards.  Boy how wrong was I, having been stuck in the point and click mode with smart phones I naively thought I’d just have to point the camera at a scene, and it would produce an amazing image. 

Many hours of YouTube tutorial videos later and even one point nearly throwing it in the bin, I began to slowly understand all the different elements required to take even a half decent picture.  I did manage to get some decent images despite its and more likely my limitations.  This one taken in Dundee of HMS Unicorn showed I could at least take an image that’s in focus if other elements weren’t quite right.  I don’t use this now, but it was a big part of my journey and would recommend a bridge type camera to anyone starting out or on a low budget.

Canon AV-1

Not strictly mine but my Dads, he bought it for a family holiday to Australia in the early 80s, which was no longer in use, so I inherited it, this is a film camera and despite its age it still works.  With digital photography we’re all used to taking a shot and instantly deleting if were not happy, but with film you don’t get that option.  It teaches you to think about photography as you don’t have the option of seeing your shot in a viewfinder and with the cost of film being what it is its not prudent to be trigger happy.  I love the mechanical sound of the shutter and when you wind the film on.  Again, like the Panasonic I’m still able to get some pretty decent images out of it and like to take it out every now and again. Reflection shot of Frasers on the Bank of Scotland, Glasgow.

Sony A6000

After a few years use of the FX82, I wanted more.  I was still to learn that improving the gear doesn’t necessarily mean an improvement in images, so an upgrade was what I thought I needed.  But after many hours of pouring over reviews and trying to talk myself out of it I went for the Sony A6000.  The primary reason being the FPS (frames per second) feature as at the time I wanted to try sports and wildlife photography more and the FX82 was limiting in that respect.  Whilst bought new its an old camera in terms of technology but still an excellent wee camera.  Ive used this extensively in the 4 years I’ve had it and tried all different genres of photography and seen a huge improvement in my output, well I think I have.  This is one of my favourites taken last year at the Tall Ships Race in Aberdeen.