Notes on the equipment:
I use Nikon bodies and lenses.
I used to have
one foot in each camp - the film and the digital camps. Most of the
images on this site were originally captured on 35mm film, then scanned (Epson scanners) into Photoshop and organized and published using Dreamweaver. As of 2020, I have "gone digital" with digital bodies and the addition of Lightroom software.
My first Nikon camera bodies were a Nikon FE2 and a Nikon FA, both manual focus film cameras and both "very experienced." They were mounted on MD-12 motor drives. In 2008, those bodies were replaced with F3 bodies and MD-4 drives.
When the developers/labs in my present town dried up, I didn't shoot for awhile. My wife and I (pre-COVID) planned on a trip to Ireland, so that pushed me to getting my first digital body - a D800. That was followed by a couple of "backup" bodies - a D2Sx and a well-used D3.
All of the lenses used are AI or AIS manual focus Nikkor lenses. The lenses I use most for photographing churches and organs are:
- Zoom-Nikkor 25-50mm f/4
- Nikkor 20mm f/3.5
- Nikkor 16mm f/2.8 Full-Frame Fisheye
- Nikkor Zoom 35-200mm f/3.5-4.5
The fisheye images (where seemingly straight lines at the edge of the photograph are curved) are taken using the Nikkor 16mm f/2.8 full-frame fisheye lens.
The wide angle images (those with little or no rectilinear distortion) were taken with either the Nikkor Zoom 25-50mm f/4, Nikkor Zoom 35-200mm f/3.5-4.5, or a Nikkor 20mm f/3.5.
For any photos that use flash, I presently lug around a SunPak 622 Pro system with interchangeable heads and dedicated Nikon modules.
Speaking of lugging, most of the time I bring my tripod of choice, (the one piece of equipment that contributes the most to a sharp photo); I use a Bogen 3021 with a 3047 pan head with quick-release mounts. When I don't have my tripod with me, I rely on my trusty bean-bag to steady my camera. It's moldable, doesn't scratch church furniture, and functions as one more piece of padding in the bottom of my camera bag when it's not being used. I find the bright orange pumpkin bean-bag (one with a smiley-face) works best!
The oldest images (those from CA) were taken with my first 35mm camera, a Minolta SRT-201. I moved to a Nikon system when that first camera was stolen. Goodness knows, that Minolta is probably still running strong today, whoever has it!
To view an early attempt at photomontage, here is a shot of my photo equipment (film) at one point.
For those morbidly curious enough to go clicking thoughout my site, the several different logos at the top of the index pages are those of past and present bodies and lenses. If you haven't already found out, clicking on the logo will bring you back to the home page. If one navigates through the site, one will find the Photography by Stein logos with the following cameras: D800, D2Sx, D3, FA, FM2, FE2, F3HP, F3 (with MF-18 and various lenses), an old but still-working Busch Pressman, and, just for kicks, a little (takes 110 film) LeMini (which I pack in my bag as a gag "back-up" camera!).
If you have any further questions or comments about my equipment, drop me a line....