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Danny Lyon

 

Danny Lyon

Danny Lyon, whose career spans the civil rights movement, outlaw biker subculture, and prison reportage, has favored a diverse range of gear across decades—suitable for documentary immersion and cinematic storytelling.

Early Equipment

  • Exa 35 mm SLR
    Bought in Munich during his Europe travels before joining the University of Chicago; his first photographic tool around 1959–1960.

Exa 35mm

  • Leica M-series
    Used early alongside his Exa; small, quiet, ideal for the high-stakes environments of 1960s civil rights protests .

  • Nikon Reflex (early Nikon F)
    Became his “real workhorse” during his Bikeriders years—loaded with Tri‑X and mounted with a 105 mm lens for dynamic street shots.

Danny Lyon and his Nikon F

  • Rolleiflex
    Carried during Bikeriders era, often paired with his Nikon and motorcycle kit.

Large-Format & Field Cameras

  • Calumet view camera
    Purchased in Manhattan post-1967 for architectural and demolition photography—cheap but effective for lower Manhattan documentation.

Film and Motion

  • Bolex 16 mm
    Gifted by Art Shay, used to film early footage in prisons (e.g. Conversations with the Dead).

  • Eclair NPR 16 mm
    Shared initially with Robert Frank, later bought outright; used for his independent filmmaking like Soc. Sci. 127.

  • Nagra sound recorder + lav mic
    Partner Nancy operated this equipment in his documentaries throughout the 1970s.

In Danny’s Words

He described transitioning gear over time: “Using my Tri‑X loaded Nikon F… that early, single‑lens Reflex was such a fabulous camera”. 

And on filmmaking: “I… bought a camera that I shared with Robert Frank. … a very sophisticated camera, a 16 mm Eclair NPR.”

Why This Gear?

  • Versatility & authenticity: small cameras (Leica, Nikon F, Exa) for reportage and immersion

  • Scale & texture: view cameras for architectural and environmental imagery

  • Creative freedom: personal motion picture setups (Bolex, Eclair) to explore narrative beyond static frames

  • DIY ethic: carried own film, gear, worked hands-on in editing, sound recording

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