charles_escott_new

A friend has formed a new band and they have their first paid job in a local pub. Hearing that I would be going and would bring a camera he asked me to use film as he loves the look and would appreciate prints. Now with a digital set up I would be confident of capturing some decent shots but it is a couple of years since I used film for other than personal use. Increasing disability and recent events have led to a loss of confidence when stepping outside my comfort zone and I don't want to let him down and honestly there is a bit of pride at stake. I have several good film cameras and a range of fast lenses but I do not want you to advise on what I have or what the ultimate gear would be, but on what you would select from your gear and film if you were asked to do this.Later I will tell you what I went with. Also although I have been taking photos for seven decades I would appreciate hints and tips as you would give to a beginner. Any help would be very much appreciated, Charles.

I am lucky enough to live on the edge of a former Norman hunting estate, seven miles of broadleaf woodland. I have photographed sunlight through branches, secret pathways, hidden streams, early morning mist, sylvan autumn colour, although not as stupendous as New England in the fall, and ,err, trees. All very pleasant but images seen so many times before. This photograph leads me to think that less chocolate box and more edgy could be interesting. Street woodland perhaps.

The juxtaposition of the often seen glory of autumn colour with the gothic menace of that remarkable tree. I am going mad, I see an eye, a hand , the head of a goose and as for the rocket launcher I won't go there. I like how the tree leans in to the photo. Great fun. An excellent spot by you, well done.

Cool it is. Love the colour of the clock face highlighted against the more muted colours of the window. Since you have shared the secret of how you shot this I am tempted to try to replicate this in my local church. No idea why but I love the name Hoboken. All the best, Charles.

Restricting the list to those I own. Nikon F6 Nikon F2AS Canon F1 Leica M6TTL Pentax LX. Fine and dandy for me owning these cameras, bought at sensible prices over many years. What if I were starting today? What would give me the experience at much less cost? Again selected from cameras I own. Nikon F90s Nikon FT2 Canon EF Canon P Pentax MX. Then it is down to lenses, I would buy the best 50mm glass I could afford. Same applies to 120 cameras, Rolleiflex 3.5 or Ensign 820.

It's different, I like it. Then I'm a film noir kind of guy.

In a long lifetime of owning and using every Nikon film and digital camera from the top half of their ranges I have to say they have done me proud. Other brands have sometimes failed me but never Nikon. From the F to the F6, the FE, FM, 100, 90,etc, what a range of excellence ! I can not name a weak camera from these, the F80 is a great starter choice and certainly the F100 is a classic. Now I take 95% of my film photos with one body and one lens, an F6 with 24mm 1.4 G lens, I have found the best for me. All the best to all Nikon users, whatever the model.

I bought a support bag filled with polystyrene beads but it is the shape I find so useful. It is made like a miniature set of panniers that I can place over the top rail of a fence or over a rolled down car window or just use flat to support camera and long lens. Much prefer this to fiddling about with a tripod.

I like the light against the dark. Could you try a shot with the rose in focus? My old eyesight is not good and I have difficulty looking at the picture as it is. The shot has drama and is worth further effort, I could see it framed on a wall. Others here who know much more than I about technical aspects will offer better advice but well done for the experiment.

I use a Tokina macro 100mm f2.8 ATXPro.Quick shift between af and mf with slight push pull movement to select, 1:1, really solid build, the Tokina lenses work well for film and digital. I bought it mint for £200 mainly for my F6, mf for macro and af as a really nice portrait lens. On my old aps-c Nikon it gives me that longer length I like for macro. It is good enough for my work and is such a versatile lens.

Like NHSN I have tried to move towards user Nikons rather than a collection and have sold F,F2,F3, F5 ,FT3, FE, FM2 and have settled on a trio that get regular use with only 6 lenses, that is Nikkormat FT2, F90x, and my F6. On the digital side the 800e and the D4 have departed leaving one mirrorless and again two lenses. Lenses are often switched between the four cameras. Wish I had done this years ago, the lack of choice is a relief.

This photo stirs emotions, I looked before reading and saw sadness and isolation. The hand is eloquent and the she is looking down not through. You tell me it is a holy site and the sense of exclusion reminds me of the medieval church with the congregation kept back from the alter and the miraculous. It says something to me about the position of women in this society but I make this point with hesitation. Shot from the back it doesn't intrude on the grief and that is to be welcomed. The crop is the better photo but I prefer the first which gives the context. A photo of real worth, thank you, Charles.

Wow! Feeling a tiny bit self-satisfied that I bought the last new X113 in the UK even if I had to go for a rather unusual colour. As a cheapskate Leica user my M8 is my £800 version of the Monochrom.

Mr. Herbert, great that you mention the Leica X113. For a thousand pounds you can buy a superb modern lens giving my favoured 35mm at a bargain price and get a free camera thrown in. No wonder Leica pulled this camera before it hit Q sales.

Thank you, Charles.

Reading Mr. Morrells' post I like what he says about contrasts and links between the scenes, the shop and the street market, the horse carriage and the taxi. Intrigued to see what MrAndMrsizzy come up with. Please don't crop out the shopping queue, at my advanced age I cannot afford to miss out on any opportunities of being reminded how beautiful women are, Charles.

I like photos where there is a lot going on and you can look from scene to scene. There is a pleasing repeating pattern of colour especially yellow and blue that links the scenes. The ladies waiting outside the shop are the main point of interest. For some reason I would like to see the passengers in the carriage. Well worth keeping.

Thank you for this discussion, for an enthusiast for the marque seeing Topcor/Topcon at the head of a thread is like finding water in the desert. I only have two lenses, the 50 1.8 and the 135, to go with my Super D and RE-2 but there is something about this brand. That back story about beating Nikon for the U.S. navy contract then to fade away after that with some very poor later products is very interesting. Those early bodies and lenses seem every bit as solid and sharp as a Nikon F with a pre AIS lens. In the book Classic SLRs the author says his best shots were taken with a borrowed Topcon camera and lens, a make of which he had no previous experience. He could not explain why, he just said everything felt right. It is exciting to hear of people giving the lenses a second life on their mirrorless cameras. People who know cameras tend to take a second look when they see a Topcon outfit which has led to some pleasant conversations. All the best to Topcon users.

An arresting image. It reminds me of an old fashioned portrait studio ,which gives it a very staged and formal look which works well. Would it be even stronger if you upped the poltical ante and chose a page with a photo of your least favourite politician? In this country we had a saying that todays' news is tomorrows' chip paper.

Thank you all, I have learnt so much. I am touched that some of the wisest heads here have taken time to help. The Tokina is relatively light so I will try it handheld but I am sure a sturdy support will be the long term answer. The lens has macro in its' title so it will be very interesting to see what it can do compared with my usual Nikon 55. It will arrive with a hood which should help with shooting at 1/1000. This lens also comes with rear fitting filters, some say it is difficult to get sharp focus if such a filter is not fitted. Anyway it sounds like fun to try it in many ways on different cameras, even with IBIS on the Z. Every post made an insightful point, much appreciated, Charles.

In my advancing years I have lost the desire for new cameras. I own or have used nearly every type marketed, from my Thornton Pickard to Nikon Z but my wife said I should buy something for myself this Christmas. One thing I have zero experience of, but have always fancied, is a mirror lens so I purchased a Tokina 500 f8 in mint condition with all accessories, including the filters. It is in F mount as I have digital and film Nikons ,AF and manual. Can you help me with hints how to get the best out of this lens, as basic as you like, every reply would be appreciated. Happy New Year, Charles.

So used to seeing colour shots of Christmas lights this was inspirational, will try it myself. Liked the smokiness of the background leaves and the lights shining on the paving. The blurred figure really works. Maybe the seat is distracting but ,hey, this is a better photo than I could take. Christmas greetings, Charles.

I'm lucky in that being a disabled person I am used to carrying on with photography against a background of limited mobility and periods of isolation. You either give up or do what you can. I've taken a lot of photos from my car and now I have had more pricks than a pin cushion, sorry very old joke, I can once again document friends and family. These snaps mean a lot to me at this time, honestly my attempts at arty shots do not. The recent birth of a grandson gives me all the incentive I need to take photos. Christmas greetings to you all, Charles.

I loved this sequence, thank you for sharing the images. The buildings look like they are going to fly. About the black and white photo, it works, there is something about black and shiny chrome that looks so sharp without colour. Please post a photo I don't like otherwise I sound like a fanboy for your work!.