Equipment

I am often asked what's in my camera bag. For the last six years I have used two cameras, a medium format Mamiya (645 format) and an SLR. Recently, my film SLR has been replaced with a Nikon DSLR. I feel now that digital imaging has matured to a point where it can produce results at least as good as 35mm film and that it affords many other benefits in terms of increased versatility. That said, I still see my DSLR very much as an addition to and not a replacement for my medium format camera. I feel there are advantages to both media and I am enjoying using both. I have invested money in a medium format system that enables me to achieve results I am happy with. I enjoy using this system and have no desire to discard it just yet. I also like to have that hard copy (transparency) of my efforts.

Whether using film or digital, I try to keep post processing and adjustments down to a minimum. I do not suggest that this is the ‘right way’ to work but it is certainly right for me.

My current camera kit consists of:

Mamiya 645 ProTL
45mm, 80mm and 150mm prime lenses
Pentax digital spot meter
Lee linear polarizing filter
Lee 81A and 81B warming filters
Lee 0.3, 0.6 and 0.9 graduated neutral density filters
Cable release
Manfrotto 055ProB tripod with 410 geared head

Nikon D700
24-70mm and 70-300mm zoom lenses
50mm and 105mm (macro) prime lenses

All bar the tripod being carried in a Lowepro Nature Trekker II AW rucsac

As for choice of film, well, like many landscape enthusiasts I still prefer to use Fuji Velvia 50 colour transparency film and I'm delighted that the new Velvia 50 is a match for (if not even a little better than) the old.