I did it again

My first camera (pictured above) was this vintage Kodak Duoflex II that I inherited from my grandmother when she moved up to the world of Polaroid.  I held it with great care while vacationing with my grandparents in Estes Park, CO back in the early 70s. Ever since I got my first camera, I have been fascinated by the art and science of capturing light and moments. I even had a pair of binoculars to view the wildlife from afar and I smile to myself every time I see this picture knowing that even now my overall “public look” hasn’t changed much, finding myself frequently strapping one or two cameras or slings over my shoulder when I go out into the world.

During the early 80s, I was able to save enough money for a Canon AT-1, my first 35mm fully manual SLR film camera, and in high school, I set up my own darkroom in my family’s one and only bathroom. I rolled my own bulk film and found myself taking and printing pictures for my high school yearbook as well as for our local newspaper,  the now-defunct Ossian Bee, whose owner at the time lived across the street from my family.

Over time, I reluctantly left the film world for digital and haven’t looked back.   My first step into a digital single-lens reflex camera happened in 2005 with the purchase of a Canon EOS 5D.   It was wonderful while it lasted, but after much use, it eventually wore out and I found myself in need of a new camera.   I upgraded to a Nikon D850, arguably one of the best DSLRs ever made and a title it will probably retain in perpetuity as mirrorless cameras continue to enter the market and replace the now antiquated technology of the DSLR. 

Over the years, I have used different cameras, from film SLRs to digital compacts and digital SLRs and each one has taught me something new and challenged me to improve my skills. However, none of them has excited me as much as the Sony a7rv, the latest full-frame mirrorless camera from Sony.

Some of the key features of the new Sony a7rv are:

– A 61MP full-frame Exmor R BSI CMOS sensor that delivers stunning image quality and performance.

– A BIONZ XR processing engine with a dedicated AI processing unit that improves the subject recognition accuracy and autofocus speed for human, animal, bird, insect, car, train, and automobile subjects

– An in-body image stabilization system rated at up to eight stops, which helps you capture sharp images in low-light or handheld situations.

– A video recording capability up to 8K at 24fps and 4K up to 60fps, with 10-bit 4:2:2 color depth and S-Cinetone color profile.

– A fully-articulated rear screen on a tilt-out cradle that allows you to compose shots from different angles and monitor your video recording.

Below are some of my past and present Cameras

Why did I purchase another camera, the Sony A7RV?   This question is difficult for me to answer in a way that makes sense to most, but here goes.   First, every serious photographer has a backup camera in their bag, just in case….  Right?  Also I am getting closer to retirement age and my plans to start slowing down in the workforce have provided me with an opportunity to start traveling a lot more than was ever possible in the recent past.  

One such travel destination in the works for January of 2024 is a two week trip to Thailand, a place I have dreamed about visiting for decades.  I can hardly wait to go there and experience this new land and want to have the opportunity to visually capture as much of it as I can through still images and video.  This trip will be different from most that we have taken in the past in that my intention is to do it with only a single backpack carrying all my clothing, supplies and photographic equipment for the entire two weeks.   The goal is to be very mobile for the in country traveling we plan once we arrive in Bangkok and the new mirrorless cameras are small, light and very portable when compared to the much larger and bulky DSLR cameras.

In addition to the exceptional photographic abilities of the new Sony mirrorless camera, the video capability of the A7RV is perfect for my amateur aspirations.  I know that cell phones are much more advanced when it comes to photos and video, but in my opinion, they still aren’t even close when it comes to the sort of flexibility and quality I want for myself.   While, I am currently working through the sticker shock of my new purchase, I am certain that I will have no regrets when we step off the plane in Southeast Asia with an abundance of visual memories just waiting for us to experience.

I know that I will never be an exceptional photographer, but I have never really desired to be anything but an amateur that has a passion for something that I alone can appreciate.   Photography gives me that and I look forward to looking through the lens at whatever world puts in front of me.

I still believe that as I continue to age, the one thing I will cherish most in life will be my photos which open a door into my past and allow me to remember all the wonderful experiences I have had in my life. I only wish I would have started the process sooner and found better ways to preserve some of the old black-and-white photographs I captured during my earlier years.

While I still enjoy playing with some old vintage lenses adapted to my Nikon D850, I have embraced the vast opportunities mirrorless cameras provide and I look forward to the new addition.    I also hope that my wife reads this with an understanding frame of mind and unconditional support for my new acquisition.