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Showing posts with the label Nikon F

Fred Herzog

  Fred Herzog, a pioneer of color street photography in mid-20th‑century Vancouver, worked with a surprisingly modest yet powerful analog camera setup rooted in portability, intuition, and technical precision. Cameras he used Kodak Retina I His very first camera , inherited from his uncle—a folding plate format he later traded for a more manageable model . Leica Rangefinders (M3, later M2/M4) In 1957 he bought a Leica M3 , and later used the M2 and M4 models for street photography . Valued for discreteness, sharp lenses, and quick focusing—ideal for street scenes. Leica M4 Nikon F SLR Added a Nikon F to his kit later, used for flexibility and different lens choices . Nikon F Yashica 635 TLR Photographed using a Yashica 635 twin-lens reflex later in life—an example captured by a fan at CBC Vancouver . Yashica 635 Canon WP-1 Also experimented with the rugged Canon WP‑1 waterproof 35 mm camera. Canon WP-1 Film & Lenses Kodachrome color slide ...

Don McCullin

  Don McCullin's gear evolved dramatically over his decades-long career—from early film bodies to modern digital systems—shaped by his philosophy of proximity, discipline, and truth. Early Film Years (late 1950s–1960s) Rolleicord twin-lens reflex (120 film) McCullin’s first camera, bought during his National Service in Nairobi . Rolleicord Nikon F 35mm SLR Became his signature camera during war coverage. Famously, one even stopped a sniper’s bullet in Cambodia . Nikon F He used two Nikon Fs with 28 mm and 35 mm lenses and a lightweight kit of 30 rolls of Tri-X plus backup light meters—prioritizing speed and connection over gear bulk. Transition: Olympus SLRs & Medium Format Olympus OM-1 & OM-2 Adopted in the 1970s for their compact form and reliability . Olympus OM2 see it on Amazon Rolleiflex medium format, Mamiya Universal Press Used later for portraits and landscapes, offering versatility and larger formats. Digital Era (since ~2012) Canon EOS 5D Ma...

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 ...

Daido Moriyama

  Daido Moriyama, the influential Japanese street photographer, is renowned for his raw, high-contrast black-and-white imagery that captures the gritty essence of urban life. His choice of camera gear has consistently reflected his philosophy of spontaneity, simplicity, and unfiltered expression. Primary Camera Gear Ricoh GR Series (Film and Digital) : Moriyama has long favored the Ricoh GR series, starting with the 35mm film-based GR1s and later transitioning to digital models like the GR Digital and GR III. He appreciates these cameras for their compactness, lightweight design, and fixed 28mm lens, which allow for quick, unobtrusive shooting—essential for his candid street photography. Ricoh GR1 Ricoh GR III Nikon F and FM SLRs : In the earlier stages of his career, Moriyama utilized Nikon F and FM series SLR cameras. These robust, manual-focus cameras enabled him to capture the dynamic street scenes that became a hallmark of his work. Nikon F Nikon FM Nikon Coolpix S91...