S Paul—born Sharampal “S” Paul—was a legendary Indian photojournalist, and his gear reflected both the depth and breadth of his passion:
Early & Medium Format Gear
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Zeiss Ikon 6×6 medium-format (e.g., Nettar): his first professional camera, used during his early development in Shimla in the 1950s.
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| Zeiss Ikon Nettar |
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First paying camera: Rolleiflex: a pivotal medium-format twin-lens reflex that helped launch his career.
Renowned “Gear Collector”
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Owned over 100 cameras, spanning multiple brands and formats, always eager to explore new tools.
Later Gear (Visual Evidence & Interviews):
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Sony Alpha 7 / A7 series
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He was often photographed with it in his hands during photo walks and interviews.
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Lightweight and mirrorless, the Sony A7 likely appealed to him because of:
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Full-frame sensor with high dynamic range
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Compact body (compared to DSLRs)
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Compatibility with classic lenses via adapters — important for someone with a vast camera collection.
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| S Paul and Sony A7 Mark II |
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| Sony A7 Mark II see it on Amazon |
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Nikon D800
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Also mentioned as a favorite in several tributes, notably for its 36 MP resolution, which suited his preference for high detail and print-worthy images.
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| Nikon D800 |
Context & Legacy
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His toolkit evolved with his career—shifting from medium format to a wide variety of cameras, finally settling on high-resolution digital.
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Despite this variety, he was known less for brand loyalty than for a relentless curiosity and commitment to quality in capturing India’s life and people.