Photography Gear

Can we talk gear? One of the factors photographers charge what they do is because of their gear. There are the top-of-the-crop camera brands, and then the lenses. What I use is a Fujifilm xt - 4 mirrorless camera for the body and I have 4 prime lenses - amongst other gear, but that’s for another time. 

Why fujifilm? At first I was attracted to it purely for nostalgia. My Dad was a photojournalist for sports and he had an old Nikon that I would sometimes use and when I started my photography education I also bought a Nikon. Fast forward to the age of digital (DSLR), I wanted a camera that had the same feel as an old film camera. Everything else out there is mostly all digital. As you can see in this photo - I can manually change the on-the-fly settings (the rest is digital).

This is comfortable for me. And as I was doing my research for which brand of camera’s to go, it seems that I’m not the only one that’s Fujifilm obsessed! Not only the look, but the quality.

Next, my prime lenses… 

18mm f/1.4 R LM WR

35mm f/2 R WR 

55mm f/1.2 R WR and 

90mm f/2 R LM

Number mm = focal length

F/ = wide of aperture the lens goes

LM = Linear motor (Fast autofocus for mirrorless cameras)

R = aperture ring to manually adjust

WR = weather resistant to dust and moisture.

Since Fujifilm is a medium format camera, the numbers differ for a full framed camera. Example, my 35mm is equivalent to a full framed 50mm.

What’s the difference between prime and zoom? Prime is a fixed ratio, meaning, I can’t zoom in and out of the frame with a twist of the lens. I have to position myself differently if I want a different frame. Zoom has multiple ratios exp. 16 - 55mm where you can stand and adjust as needed. Seems that zoom is more convenient? I suppose, but when I studied cinematography as an A.S graduate, back then primes where made with a far more superior quality glass. Does it hold true today….there’s debate, but I like to move. Every photographer has their style….

Not to go into sooo much detail with what lens I choose for what situation, I’ll just give you two. My widest lens 18mm and narrowest (telephoto) 90mm lens. 

I took my 18mm with me when the fam and I spent the day at the Gantry on Sunday. Have you been? If you haven’t, take the Astoria ferry to the L.I.C stop, walk down the boardwalk - it’s so beautiful and so much fun for the kids to play!

Here’s my little Charlie. I was only, maybe 2 feet away from her, but the wide angle lens gives me this beautiful landscape shot. And Lina being her silly self.

I was also able to capture this building. I couldn’t do that with my more narrow lenses.

Now here’s all three of my babes with the 90mm. I had them sit on a rock in Astoria Park and I was a good 6/7 feet away from them. Notice the beautiful blurred background? Technical term is Bokeh (Japanese for blurry). The 90 is amazing for this.

Here’s another shot with the 90. You see more of the environment from where they were sitting, but still tight and intimate and your focus is all on this beautiful family. Great lens for these shots!

2 very different lenses for two very different looks.