What Camera Gear do they use?

Raghu Rai: The Eye of India by Jerome D. Introduction Raghu Rai (18 December 1942 – 26 April 2026) was an Indian photographer and photojournalist widely regarded as the greatest chronicler of independent India — and, by many accounts, the finest photographer his country has ever produced. Born in the village of Jhang in Punjab, British India (now Pakistan), he trained as a civil engineer before discovering photography through his elder brother, the photographer S. Paul. His first published image — a donkey staring straight into the lens — appeared in The Times of London . He joined The Statesman newspaper in New Delhi as chief photographer in 1966 and never looked back. In 1971, the legendary Henri Cartier-Bresson , impressed by an exhibition of Rai's work at Galerie Delpire in Paris, nominated him to join Magnum Photos — making Rai the first and, for decades, the only Indian member of the world's most prestigious photography cooperative. He formally joined in 19...

  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 Zeiss Ikon 6×6 medium-format (e.g., Nettar): his first professional camera, used during his early development in Shimla in the 1950s . Zeiss Ikon Nettar First paying camera: Rolleiflex : a pivotal medium-format twin-lens reflex that helped launch his career. Renowned “Gear Collector” Owned over 100 cameras , spanning multiple brands and formats, always eager to explore new tools . Later Gear (Visual Evidence & Interviews): Sony Alpha 7 / A7 series He was often photographed with it in his hands during photo walks and interviews. Lightweight and mirrorless, the Sony A7 likely appealed to him because of: Full-frame sensor with high dynamic range Compact body (compared to DSLRs) Compatibility with classic lenses via adapters — important for someone with a vast camera collection. ...

  Raghubir Singh’s signature photographic style was rooted in analog 35 mm gear , chosen for its reliability and mobility—perfect for his vibrant street and documentary work: Core Camera & Lens Setup Hand‑held 35 mm Leica (later Nikon SLR FA) Early in his career, Singh used Leica rangefinders while learning from Henri Cartier‑Bresson. Later, he simplified to a single Nikon FA body paired with a fixed 35 mm lens , which he described as:  I have simplified my work into one body and one lens… If that lens can’t take the photograph then I don’t take it. Raghubir Singh and his Nikon FA Nikon FA Film & Flash Kodachrome slide film Preferred for its rich colors and fine grain—rare in India until the late 1980s due to trade restrictions. Allowed him to use small apertures and slower shutter speeds to capture deep depth of field and clarity . On‑camera flash Experimented with flash at dusk or in crowded scenes—though unconventional for documentary photograp...