- Cameras -

I don't consider myself too much of a serious photographer, nor am I interested in spending lots of money on a brand new camera (these days*), but I do enjoy making a point of taking "good photos", at least taking my time over a shot, and doing something with them, whether it be posting them online (see my DeviantArt for examples) or printing some off (I have some hanging on my walls at home). But I have had various cameras over the years and I have a small collection to share below.

Throughout my childhood and early teens I used a couple of cheap point-and-shoot film cameras for family holidays and school trips. I was never really into photography per-se, I just have (actual) albums full of (mostly bland) photos from that era, perhaps I'll one day add a Gallery section for some of those...

- - - - - - - - - -

In the year 2000 following the proud purchase of my first desktop PC, I bought a Creative Webcam 3 USB. It was a buggy affair, partly due to Windows 98, but it was essentially my first digital camera I suppose. I used my setup to host my first webcam "streamed live" from my bedroom over dial-up.

- - - - - - - - - -

It was in 2004 that I finally bought my first proper digital camera, a Konica Minolta Dimage Z3. I used it for a number of years and always felt it produced great photographs. The only downside, and the reason I parted company with it was, it was only 4MP. Considering it cost me over *£300 and I sold it for less than £30 on ebay, I kinda wish I'd kept it...

- - - - - - - - - -

A client of mine gave me a Panasonic Lumix "point-and-shoot" camera (a DMC-FX150). It was a cracking little camera; it had a great zoom lens and high resolution. It could also produce RAW files which could be tweaked with the bundled software. Also, being lightweight and compact it was ideal for slinging in my bag and taking with me on cycling trips. Eventually I parted company with it because it had developed a smudge on the lens that I couldn't shift.

- - - - - - - - - -

My second mobile phone was an LG KS360 which I fondly used for a number of years. While I never really used it for taking photographs I have recently brought it back into commission as a little photo-taking side project (I think it perhaps takes better pictures than my current (non smart) phone). Check out the Gallery for some photos taken with this camera.

- - - - - - - - - -

I ended up buying two FujiFilm FinePix cameras at one point. The one I kept was my preferred "good camera", a FinePix S8200. It was pretty bulky and I sometimes begrudged lugging it around, but it did have a great zoom lens, and could also record video at 1080 (although the mic was poor). My main criticism was its lack of manual focus. Many of my shared photos taken with this camera can be found on my DeviantArt page. You can also find pictures taken with this camera in the Travels section. Sadly the camera got damaged when I fell down a mountain...

- - - - - - - - - -

[no image]

I inherited a film camera. It's nothing "special" but since I feel obliged to not sling it on ebay I feel I must at least do something with it. Therefore I have loaded it with black and white film and occasionally make myself take it with me on some trips. I've only very slowly getting through the film though, and I can only assume it's working!

- - - - - - - - - -

[2020-] A few years ago I bought an Apeman wildlife camera to record some of the goings on in my garden. [See more in the Gallery section]

- - - - - - - - - -

Also in 2020 I decided to reinvoke my old Webcam, this time using a Logitech C270 I've had for a while and mainly using a basic little machine running Windows XP. You can see if this webcam is currently live via the menu on the Home Page.

- - - - - - - - - -

[July 2022] I found one of these old Sony Mavica cameras on ebay. I was intrigued because it records (both still images and short video clips) directly onto floppy disks. It was sold as untested, but fortunately, after buying a battery for it and a charger, it seems to be working. I am having a problem with reliability though... Find out more in the Gallery section.

- - - - - - - - - -

To replace the FinePix S8200 above I finally got my hands on a Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ30 (the other camera I considered at the time of acquiring that one). While limited in resolution it is a nice solid camera. [See more in the Gallery section]

- - - - - - - - - -

 

- BMH Online -