35mm
35mm cameras utilize short focal length lenses that can be used hand-held in low light situations.
Portability and spontaneity are their main strengths. Prints even moderately enlarged from 35mm
negatives however generally exhibit graininess. Grain can actually enhance an image though and is
used by many photographers very effectively.
The camera that I usually carry when I go walking is the Leica M6 with either 50mm or 35mm f/2
Summicron-M lenses. These lens are sharp from corner to corner and at all apertures.The camera is
a high precision instrument and a joy to use. The M6 is totally manual and its simple design allows
for highly intuitive image making. The one thing that I donÍt like about this rangefinder is its
minimum focusing distance of 70cm.
When I want to get really close I use a Nikon FM2 with a 55 f/2.8 Micro-NIKKOR. The minimum focusing
distance with this lens is 25cm.
Medium Format
I rarely enlarge my images beyond 11x14 so find the resolution afforded by medium format cameras more
than adequate for my purposes. My primary travel camera is the very compact Fuji 645Zi. It is equipped
with a very sharp 55 to 90mm zoom lens.
My favorite camera is a Pentax 6x7 mounted on a Cambo CBH 3 ball head attached to a Gitzo carbon G 1227
tripod. My lenses of choice are the 90mm f/2.8 and the 55mm f/4 closed down to f/22 for maximum depth of
field. This combination is ideal for speed, spontaneity and freedom of movement. The Pentax 6x7 is designed
as a hand-held camera but I find it impractical to use off of a tripod.
I also occasionally use 6x7, 6x9 and 6x12 roll film backs attached to view cameras making it possible to use
light-weight and compact 120 film and at the same time utilize camera and lens movements. The problem
with this system is that it is slow and the viewing screen is small.
Large Format
Although large format cameras and film holders are heavy they offer an experience like that enjoyed
by the earliest photographers. It is a delight to see an image on the ground glass of an 8x10
camera and contact prints made from large format negatives can be breathtaking. Alternate process
printing requires large negatives so most alt-photo practitioners use large format cameras. These
cameras require long lenses but, with the movements that can be employed, depth of field is manageable. Large format photography is slow and deliberate. I mainly use large format cameras for still-life imagery.
I use a Tachihara 8x10, an Ikeda 5x7 and an Ebony 4x5. My large format lenses are all Nikon
with the exception of one 100mm Rodenstock Apo-Sironar that came with my Horseman VH 6x9 medium
format view camera.
My favorite camera is a Pentax 6x7 mounted on a Cambo CBH 3 ball head attached to a Gitzo carbon G 1227 tripod. My lenses of choice are the 90mm f/2.8 and the 55mm f/4 closed down to f/22 for maximum depth of field. This combination is ideal for speed, spontaneity and freedom of movement. The Pentax 6x7 is designed as a hand-held camera but I find it impractical to use off of a tripod.
I also occasionally use 6x7, 6x9 and 6x12 roll film backs attached to view cameras making it possible to use light-weight and compact 120 film and at the same time utilize camera and lens movements. The problem with this system is that it is slow and the viewing screen is small.
Large Format
Although large format cameras and film holders are heavy they offer an experience like that enjoyed
by the earliest photographers. It is a delight to see an image on the ground glass of an 8x10
camera and contact prints made from large format negatives can be breathtaking. Alternate process
printing requires large negatives so most alt-photo practitioners use large format cameras. These
cameras require long lenses but, with the movements that can be employed, depth of field is manageable. Large format photography is slow and deliberate. I mainly use large format cameras for still-life imagery.
I use a Tachihara 8x10, an Ikeda 5x7 and an Ebony 4x5. My large format lenses are all Nikon
with the exception of one 100mm Rodenstock Apo-Sironar that came with my Horseman VH 6x9 medium
format view camera.