Received my first camera, a Box Brownie for Christmas 1951, I have been taking photos ever since.

 

1957 Purchased a Braun Super Paxette 35mm camera. My first.. Sold it when I purchased my next camera, the Asahi Pentax S1.

December 2012 - spotted a Braun Paxette in a Sunday market, purchased it. Popped a film in and away I went, great to be using one again. Not quite my model - but will look out for a Super Paxette. January 2013 - I am expecting a Super Paxette from the South Island - online purchase.(December 2014) In September 2013 I purchased a 50mm Zeiss Tessar from South Africa. Takes fabulous pictures with the Super Paxette.

 

1962 Purchased an Asahi Pentax S1 -Fabulous Camera. Sold it - much to my sorrow now. (December 2012) am on the lookout for another one to replace it. Have purchased a clip on mount and an early circular exposure meter for it. (December 2014) In 2013 I purchased a replacement. On Ebay from Austria. Very pleased with the photos it takes, lovely and crisp.

 

In November 1968 I purchased a YashicaMat EM. Had done some research about twin lens reflexes so purchased this locally from a newspaper advertisement. No instructions on how to use it, never came to grips with it. Did not like using it so it sat in the cupboard for several years until I sold it in 1991.

In 2013 I purchased a replacement from Western Australia advertised on Ebay. Tracked down other pieces for it, case, instruction manual, lens hood and lens cap. Have used it frequently, FABULOUS camera to use. Certainly attracts attention eg "Does that camera take video?"

 

1972 Purchased an Asahi Pentax Spotmatic 2. 50mm Lens, had this for many years. Purchased a 70-200mm Zoom Lens for it and a 35mm wideangle. Greatly increased my photography. Sold it - now I regret it.

December 2012 have just purchased a beautiful Spotmatic II from NZ TradeMe. I used it last week and it felt really great to be using it again. It has taken some lovely photos - so easy to use.

 

1988 Purchased a Canon EOS 650 - it had a 35-70mm zoom lens-rather pathetic lens. Purchased a Canon 100-300mm zoom to go with it. Had a lot of fun with it. I still have this camera and the 100-300mm zoom. My grand daughter still uses the zoom on my Canon 10D.

I have great attachment to this camera- my first Canon.

 

Wonderful to use with the 100-400 L and the 24 -105 L Series lenses.

 

1990 Purchased an Asahi Pentax 6x7 Medium format (120 film type) with a 90mm lens and a 165mm lens. This is a very satisfying camera to use, big, slow and noisy but delightful. I used it for many years taking stock photographs for a local photo library (now closed) I stiil have it and do not intend to sell it. Film is still there in the fridge.

(December 2012) Got a film out last week, popped it in and blasted away. Great fun - images in the Pentax 6x7 group page.

 

(December 2014) Earlier this year I purchased a 55mm Takumar for wideangle capability. Seen on Ebay for sale in in Japan, had it in three days, amazing. It is a truly fantastic lens.

 

In 1992 I went on a Wedding Photography Course, "You cannot take wedding photos with one camera" the tutor said. He suggested a Canon A1. I purchased an A1 with a three FD lenses, 50mm f1.4, 28mm f2.8 and 100mm f2 . Three great lenses, took better photos than the lens I had on my EOS 650. Sold the Canon A1 after I had purchased the EOS 1.

 

In 2013 replaced the AI with a body purchased locally. Have had it serviced to cure the shutter squeal and replace the light seals. Camera looks like new. From eBay I purchased FD 50mm f1.4, and 28mm f2.8 - brilliant lenses. Really good FD 100mm f2 lens are hotly sought after now, $500NZ+ for a really good one. But I thought, what about an FD L series Zoom instead? The L Series zooms I have on my Canon 5D have bitten me seriously.

 

Did some research online, yes the Canon FD 80-200 L Series zoom is an outstanding lens. Found one in Japan, had it in three days, much cheaper that the FD 100 F2. A tradeoff I know but the zoom is an outstanding performer, I am very happy with it.

So, I have set myself up with a replacement Canon A1.

 

1993 Purchased a Canon EOS 1 with a 28-105mm zoom. Not a very good lens, I sold it later.

Purchased the following prime lenses 28mm, 50mm Ultrasonic, 85mm Ultrasonic, 100mm Ultrasonic (These three Ultrasonic lenses are fabulous lenses) 135mm Softfocus. The EOS 1 is a great camera to use.Tough and solid, built like a brick. My grand daughter has used it recently to see what using film is like.

Fabulous camera, I do not want to sell it.

Have been taking photos with the 24-105 L and the 100-400 L lenses. Great experience.

 

2005 Purchased a Canon Powershot. This was my first move into digital photography. Gave this to my daughter AND in...

 

September 2006 Purchased a Canon 5D WOW Initially I used my prime lenses and the 100-300mm zoom. The constant lens changing was rather tiresome because of dust. Fabulous camera -enabled my photography to really take off. Brilliant with the 2 L Series zooms I have since purchased.

 

July 2008 Purchased a Leica C-Lux 2. Always wanted a Leica. This is pocket sized and slips nicely in to my shirt pocket if I need some photographic capability and I do not want to take the camera shop.

 

September 2008 EOS 100-400 L Series Zoom WOW again. followed by...

 

September 2009 EOS 24-105 L Series Zoom. This was my 70th birthday present. The two L Series cover the range of the prime lenses. Absolutely brilliant lenses to use, so clear and crisp. WOW! WOW! Something I became aware of in 1960, one has to have good glass. But way back then I did not have the money and confidence to invest in top quality lenses.

 

2010 Purchased a Canon 10D second hand for my grand daughter to use. She uses the primes and 100-300 zoom on it. It is useful to have a second body. It is great to see her confidence developing.

 

I keep the 100-400mm zoom on the 10D and the 24-105 zoom on the 5D. I change the lenses in the safety of my home depending on the photographic shoot I am doing. It can be rather bulky to be carrying two cameras around my neck.

 

On holiday both cameras are set up in my camera bag in the boot of my car. This makes things much easier.

 

It is rather sad to think that Canon do not service cameras that are older than 4-5 years. To quote "If we open things up and break bits we are not able to get spare parts" ..so they say.

 

Longevity is not a word in current use, we are a disposable society. The current 5D Mark 3 is close to $4000 and how long will it last for -5 years?. "Get another one"; is the constant refrain we hear.

 

I will hold on to my museum pieces .. They hold so many great memories for me. Very interesting photos in the Flickr Groups I have joined. So many interesting photographers from interesting places.

 

Reminds me of my subject interest 45 years ago - faces and places. So true now, all these years later with so many cameras to choose from.

 

(December 2014) My wife said to me recently when she wanted some photos taken of our latest grand daughter, "Have you got a camera?"

"Yes" I said facetiously, "I have 15 cameras and 17 lenses"

 

That should do the trick!!