One of the many questions I get when people see my photos are "what camera are you shooting with?" I am a firm believer that cameras don't shoot photos, people shoot photos....but I do use different cameras for different reasons....here's why I use some of these cameras...:
Minolta Hi-Matic AF2 [1982: bottom-left]: I got this camera originally for use with Disneyland. It was lightweight, and came with a wide-angle attachment, and built in flash. Since then it became my "go to" camera because of its portability and auto focus [which really comes in handy when doing street photography]
Minolta Maxxum 7000 [1985: top-left]: I consider this camera to be the big brother to the Hi-Matic. It does almost the same thing, except for it allows me more manual control over the camera. I've started taking this camera out more to shoots and outings for things I want to remember. The selective focus is why I like this better than the Hi-Matic but it's a little bigger than the Hi-Matic.
Minolta Weathermatic [1987: center-top]: My underwater camera of choice. I've tried many many cameras from disposable, to digital, to other film cameras..[and can't justify dropping money on a Nikonos...yet] The weathermatic has a strap that goes around my torso when I swim, giving me easy access to it at all times....but not only that, the photos I've captured using this camera on land are amazing for a point-and-shoot.
Olympus XA [1979: center-center]: My latest addition to my roster of cameras I use. I rarely ever use flash, so the flash unit is tucked away most of the times...making this camera TINY. One thing I really enjoy about this camera is the manual settings and the fact that it is literally the quietest camera I've owned. I thought it was broken when I bought it. I can see why this camera series has developed a following behind it. This is the perfect everyday camera.
Canon Canonflex RM [1972: bottom-center]: I found this camera for $5 at a thrift store. $5!!! I originally started shooting film years ago with a Holga and disposable underwater cameras...this camera forced me to go to the next level and teach myself about the manual settings of cameras. It reinvigorated my love for film. I use it for when I want to shoot pure manual, and plan on taking many many photos.
Minolta Instant Pro [1990: top-right]: Notice a motif? I've turned into a Minolta fan mainly because of the results I've achieved with the Weathermatic. This camera is really a Polaroid Spectra Pro, but rebranded by Minolta. I rarely ever shoot instant film. I do own the trademark hipster SX-70 foldable SLR....but I very much prefer using this because you never know when that flash will come in handy.
Mamiya C330 [1969: bottom-right]: One from my list of dream cameras. [the other camera on that list is a Nikonos V] Why this camera? It is fully manual. It's beautiful. It takes 220 film [similar to 120, a bigger format of film, except twice the number of exposures]. The lenses are interchangeable. There is a waist-level viewfinder. And its a definite conversation starter. This is the camera I use for fine art and portraiture. Most of my best work was taken with this camera, or its predecessor the Mamiya C3.
