What equipment do modern magnum photographers use ?

gzisis69

gzisis69

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I met yesterday an old friend and we talked about photography and some new books about it and the discussion came to some newer great photographers that got the last 10 years in magnum. It would be interesting to know the equipment they use to make those great photographs that are a combination of talent great eye dedication and deep understanding of photography. Do they still shoot in film ? Leica brings me boredom so id like to know what else they use on their daily basis.
 
I'm sure each photographer has his/her preferences and uses whatever they want. I don't think Magnum issues any specific brand or type of camera to their photographers. Probably some still use film but digital is well represented as well.
 
Some shoot film, others digital Leicas, Fuji GFX etc. They're not a press agency which issues standard equipment, more a cooperative.

If you are in proximity to a Magnum location, I encourage you to write in and ask to meet a photographer the next time they're in - or the next time there's an event ask for an invite. They're a passionate bunch.
 
When last time in nyc, I met Matt Stuart. He had the latest Sony with a Zoom. He commented on my MP as being his favorite Leica. I was surprised as we all know the best Leica is a M4…
 
Ororaro said:
When last time in nyc, I met Matt Stuart. He had the latest Sony with a Zoom. He commented on my MP as being his favorite Leica. I was surprised as we all know the best Leica is a M4…
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But are favourite and best the same thing? I agree on the M4 being the best (and I have one) but my favourite is a 1932 Leica II with the 1.5x rangefinder.
 
Having had almost every Leica M in the long line of them, I find it very difficult to say which one is best. They're all pretty darn good cameras. And the same goes for the pre-M "Barnak" models.

I love shooting with Leica cameras ... but that said, some of my best photographs have been made with Olympus, Nikon, Pentax, and other cameras as well. Once you're past a certain level of expertise, the thing that makes your photos great is not the camera that was used, and it's not even film or digital... It's your eyes and heart, and how you use whatever equipment you have in your hands.

I continue to shoot with film and digital, with formats from submini to 6x9cm in film, and FourThirds to 33x44 in digital. What I pick to do a particular shoot is up to my intent of the moment, or the subject I'm intending to capture. I'm not a famous Magnum photographer, but I've won my share of income, notice, and awards from my work in Photography. Most of which are irrelevant because I do my photography for the love of personal expression and for sharing my emotions and thoughts with others.

G
 
Magnum photographer Alex Majoli came into popular photography awareness by using Olympus point and shoot cameras, the C 8080, C 5050 and C5060. This was in the early 2000s. He was later known to shoot with the Leica M9. Olympus gave him a EM1 Mark II for a project around the time that camera was released, but I'm not sure what he shoots with now.

Not a Magnum photographer, but certainly very skilled - UK based Edmond Terakopian has shot for decades, and now uses the Panasonic S1, S1R, G9 and Leica M10. He also has a Sigma fp. He's a Lumix ambassador, which biases his gear choice a little, but he makes good use of Voigtlander micro four thirds lenses, too.
 
Magnum is the glory of the past taken on film.
Personally, I never find most of them to be worth of spending time.
The real reason they established it was for getting maximum money for thier photos. So, it is marketing...

But if you have some of your particular favorites, try to Google which gear they use.

If I'm not mistaken, Gilden is with Magnum and he ditched film because it is obvious obstacle to get the content.
I have seen article with him using Q and video with DSLR.

If you don't need video, DSLR is still unbelievable for stills.
EVF sucks , I mean battery:)
But DSLR is not as mirrorless with compact lens.
 
raydm6 said:
I would imagine they use cameras/systems as tools of their craft and equip themselves appropriately for whatever particular assignment requires.

A sampling...
www.magnumphotos.com

What's In Your Kit Bag? • Magnum Photos Magnum Photos

A look inside the kit bags of Magnum photographers in the field
www.magnumphotos.com www.magnumphotos.com
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This is really fascinating!

Shooter 1: Hasselblad H4D and Canon 5D Mark II

Shooter 2: Sony A7R II and RX1, Canon 5D Mark III

Shooter 3: looks like two Olympus E-M1 Mark II

Shooter 4: 2 x Sony A7 something bodies plus Leica M lenses including Noctilux! This was to shoot a refugee camp in Kenya. From a look online, he now shoots with the Sony A7R IV with Leica lenses.



No one they asked was carrying a Leica, but one was carrying a couple of Sony bodies with M lenses, which is suboptimal for image quality. One used micro four thirds cameras to cover political protests in France, but he is now a Canon ambassador. Very interesting indeed.
 
Archiver said:
No one they asked was carrying a Leica, but one was carrying a couple of Sony bodies with M lenses, which is suboptimal for image quality.
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Yes, but adequate, and, having shot in that type of environment a lot, I have also noticed that non weather sealed Leica M lenses stay operational a lot longer in very dry dusty environments than autofocus lenses, even ‘weather sealed’ ones. Weather sealing works better for rain and moisture.

Last time I had my Noctilux serviced, the note from Camera Clinic (as it was then) to Leica noted that the lens had “gritty focus”. Ugh.
 
Freakscene said:
Yes, but adequate, and, having shot in that type of environment a lot, I have also noticed that non weather sealed Leica M lenses stay operational a lot longer in very dry dusty environments than autofocus lenses, even ‘weather sealed’ ones. Weather sealing works better for rain and moisture.

Last time I had my Noctilux serviced, the note from Camera Clinic (as it was then) to Leica noted that the lens had “gritty focus”. Ugh.
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When I spent 7 months overland in southern and east Africa in 1995/6, one of my (Hoya) telephoto lenses actually split into two pieces - exacerbated by dust exposure and being thrown into my my rich day to day. My Canon 50 is still ‘fine’
 
This makes me wonder, what gear would I use if were to shoot at that level of photojournalism, in the kinds of conditions they face?

I'd want to shoot something robust and lightweight, with current image quality. Lenses should be as light as possible. I'd still use at least one micro four thirds camera, like the Panasonic G9 II or Olympus OM-1. For a full frame camera, I'd be tempted by a Sony A9 or A7R IV, as this would offer maximal image quality, and there are a good number of relatively small, fast E mount lenses. Mind you, I've never shot with a Sony mirrorless camera, I might not like it, haha.

What about you fine folk? What gear would you shoot if you were a Magnum level photographer?
 
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Archiver said:
This makes me wonder, what gear would I use if were to shoot at that level of photojournalism, in the kinds of conditions they face?

I'd want to shoot something robust and lightweight, with current image quality. Lenses should be as light as possible. I'd still use at least one micro four thirds camera, like the Panasonic G9 II or Olympus OM-1. For a full frame camera, I'd be tempted by a Sony A9 or A7R IV, as this would offer maximal image quality, and there are a good number of relatively small, fast E mount lenses. Mind you, I've never shot with a Sony mirrorless camera, I might not like it, haha.

What about you fine folk? What gear would you shoot if you were a Magnum level photographer?
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Nikon Zf (two) and a mix of Nikon AF and Voigtlander MF lenses.
 
Hah! That's a good humor question, Archiver.

Probably either Nikon Z or Pentax K3 Monochrome. Likely the latter - Since I bought my K5, I'm learning late to appreciate Pentax almost as much as Nikon.
 
Archiver said:
This makes me wonder, what gear would I use if were to shoot at that level of photojournalism, in the kinds of conditions they face?

I'd want to shoot something robust and lightweight, with current image quality. Lenses should be as light as possible. I'd still use at least one micro four thirds camera, like the Panasonic G9 II or Olympus OM-1. For a full frame camera, I'd be tempted by a Sony A9 or A7R IV, as this would offer maximal image quality, and there are a good number of relatively small, fast E mount lenses. Mind you, I've never shot with a Sony mirrorless camera, I might not like it, haha.

What about you fine folk? What gear would you shoot if you were a Magnum level photographer?
Click to expand...

Whatever gear seemed appropriate to the needs/my intent for the shoot. Same thing I do now.

G
 
Freakscene said:
Nikon Zf (two) and a mix of Nikon AF and Voigtlander MF lenses.
Click to expand...
I really like this idea. The Zf appears to be a very solid camera with excellent image quality and features, and grabby autofocus with its beautiful native lenses. The Voigtlander primes would add the possibility of character with modern build quality and extra wide apertures. I'm still contemplating the idea of the Zf as a dedicated documentary camera with either my M mount Distagon 35 or the Z mount Voigtlander APO 35 or f1.2 Nokton.
 
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