Photography, as an image-making process, is a fascinating and rewarding journey. The choice of tool (camera) is also an enjoyable journey and for some that aspect might dominate such that the image is secondary. That’s fine, we should do what brings us enjoyment.
For my camera journey, I’ve come full circle. I started with totally mechanical cameras and that was my first 15 years of photography (1960’s-1970’s). I would read ads in magazines and see cameras with full-information analog-display viewfinders, aperture priority, shutter priority, program, and really wanted to have one. Couldn’t afford it. Eventually bought an AE-1 Program. When autofocus appeared and traditional dials disappeared, I lost interest in cameras (but not photography). From the mid-1980’s to mid-1990’s I ignored everything that happened in the photographic world regarding cameras.
What brought me back was medium format: a family friend had a Rolleiflex and that fascinated me. Not long thereafter I started buying Hasselblad cameras and lenses. Then, digital photography started to become very popular and to me it was a scourge worse than autofocus. But now I was discovering the older cameras and now I could afford them as prices fell.
A camera store I went to every week would have all these Canon Rebel G’s (EOS 500N) for sale on their web site for $20. Although this camera seemed to represent all that I disliked about “modern” cameras, out of curiosity I did some research on it. I found a web page that made the camera really appealing. OK, $20 - not much to lose, eh? Well, I enjoyed it. As an engineer I was impressed how well thought-out the design was even though it used the most inexpensive of materials. With a 50/1.8 it is so extremely light, yet it focuses and exposes accurately.
My experience with that Canon led me to more sophisticated electronic and automated cameras, topping out with an Elan 7NE (eye focus control) and the amazing Minolta Maxxum 7.
At that point I felt that at the very least I shouldn’t be ignorant of modern technology. It bothered me that if someone handed me a digital camera I wouldn’t know how to use it. It also bothered me that I might be making photos with a film camera and someone would remark on that - I wanted to be able to say that I have digital cameras as well.
At that time, still reading about film cameras, I found Ken Rockwell’s site and he wrote about digital cameras as well as about film cameras and lenses. So it came to be that I bought a few digital cameras.
Then, about 10 years ago, I started to feel like all mechanical film cameras are what I enjoy the most. So a journey ends where it began. I like mechanical things. I like analog-display mechanical (trap-needle) viewfinders. I like shutter speed dials, aperture rings, focus rings. I like inserting, winding, and rewinding film. It’s all part of being engaged in the image-making process.
