Tag Archives: what gear to buy

Sony RX1R 11 First Impressions

The Sony RX1R ii is a brilliant little camera that costs as much as a second hand Hyundai… If you can get over the sticker shock, it is a wonderful tool for street photography. I was recently lucky enough to access one to review… This camera takes great pictures. Every camera that costs more than […]

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Meeting Other Photographers

Need some inspiration or want to learn some new approaches to your photography? Then meet with a few peeps for coffee or a beer! It has been some time since I actually sat down with people who share a passion for street photography. Emailing and participating online is just not the same as actually sitting […]

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Free Ebook Download #2 – 2015 Melbourne Street Photography Article Archive!

I have published all the articles from MSP in 2015 in a nice PDF book, suitable for reading at your leisure. Please feel free to share with anyone interested in Street Photography. Here is the link : Melbourne Street Photography 2015 Oh, and here is the link to the 2014 Articles : Melbourne Street Photography […]

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Photographer Stories Podcasty Stuff

I was recently approached by a mate to be interviewed as part of his ongoing series of podcasts featuring different photographers talking about their work, gear, and how they go about it. You might like to listen to it here. I hate the sound of my own voice and suspect I come across as a […]

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Minox 35GT

What a great time to be into film photography. Cameras that take film are rapidly declining in price, but still available in great condition. Film is still ready to buy in a reasonable range of flavours on ebay, and scanners like the Epson V700 relatively affordable. It’s not going to last, but it is a […]

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Hong Kong Analogue Camera Trail – Matsuya Camera – Tsim Sha Tsui

Matsuya Camera In the same building as Shogun, Matsuya is also worth a look. Matsuya Camera has a very extensive range of Nikon lenses – probably one of the better ranges outside of David Chan’s store for both Nikon bodies and lenses. They have some beautiful examples of Nikon F, FA, FM2, FM3as and other collectable […]

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Hong Kong Analogue Camera Trail – Shogun Camera – Tsim Sha Tsui

Shogun Camera Shogun Camera was full of local film buffs when I visited. A whole bunch of Leica fanboys comparing gear and pawing at all the beautiful lenses and bodies. Their range of second hand Leica lenses was extensive and looked to be in great condition. More targeted at the collector or person looking for […]

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Hong Kong Analogue Camera Trail – Sencery – Champagne Court

Sencery An unexpected experience. The stock in the window as a little sparse and underwhelming, but there were some hidden treasures inside. Sencery has stock of new in box Rollei compact point and shoots, and some similar Ricohs as well. It was nice to see something a little bit different. There were some other nice […]

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Hong Kong Analogue Camera Trail – David Chan – Champagne Court

David Chan Camera David Chan is the Mac Daddy of analogue cameras in Hong Kong. I am pretty sure there is nothing he doesn’t know about photography gear. Mention a camera and he will say two things, in this order. 1. That he loves that particular camera. 2. Come over here and check out my stock […]

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Hong Kong Analogue Camera Trail – M&K Kamera – Champagne Court

M&K Kamera – Champagne Court All high end gear, in fantastic nick, and staff that clearly love to help people with their camera passions! Very much for Leica collectors who like quality second hand gear. M&K also have a great range of Leica accessories such as flashes, hoods, caps and viewfinders. A great place to […]

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Hong Kong Analogue Camera Trail – All Good Friend Camera Company – Champagne Court

All Good Friend Camera Company AGFCC are spread across a few windows at the start of Champagne Court. If there is a window nearby, without being part of a shop, just head back to the main shop and ask about what you would like to look at. It takes a while to work out which […]

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Hong Kong Analogue Camera Trail – Dot Well Camera – Champagne Court

Champagne Court is the hub for second hand gear. All the stores are in a little arcade – the entrance on Kimberley Rd looks like this : Dot Well Camera Friendly staff and approachable. The shop staff actively engaged with me as I walked in, asking about my Ricoh GR (yes, I was using an […]

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Hong Kong Analogue Camera Trail Introduction

Searching for an analogue camera, even on the internet, has more of an Indiana Jones feel to it. To find what you want, you have to head off the beaten track, talk to some people who you wouldn’t normally be in contact with, possibly watch out for some less than reputable back alley stores, and […]

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Compact Obsession Continues…

Went out to visit my camera buddy Hing Hshen today, at his shop “FilmNeverDie”. More on that to come… I am delighted to say I am now the proud owner of a “new in box” Olympus Mju II. This little beauty was hiding in the FilmNeverDie shop on a table, in the box, untouched. I […]

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Compact Cameras – Undiscovered Brilliance

Until you discover compact film cameras, you will never know what you are missing! I recently went out with a couple of old favourites, the Nikon 35ti and Ricoh GR1v… You can read more about these cameras here : Ricoh GR1v Nikon 35ti Compact 35mm Cameras There are plenty of others I would love to […]

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Mamiya 7II Rangefinder Review

Everyone deserves a brand new medium format film camera once in their life. You can still buy these as new “old” stock on Ebay. If you have the means, spoil youself. Getting one of these babies, in a brand new, unopened carton is a special experience. They ain’t making many medium format film cameras any […]

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Does Film Still Matter to Street Photography?

The simple answer is “no”… But why cling to the analogue aesthetic and process? I have noticed a few of my previous stalwart film buddies exiting the genre recently as well, leaving me both a little heartbroken and worried about film. I am not going to prattle on about the dynamic range of film vs digital […]

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Ricoh GR External Optical Viewfinder GV-2

I hardly ever pick up digital gear on my way out the door for a photo walk. Using live view on digital just doesn’t get me excited. Call me an elitist, or whatever you like, but I just hate using live view and chimping. When the awesome new Ricoh GR digital turned up in my […]

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Ricoh GR Digital Compact

Mid to long focal lengths have been my preferred lenses to reach for when heading out to see what is out there to photograph. My absolute favourite (which will probably change next week – like my fave camera of the week) is 135mm on 35mm. Long enough to get closer, and still short enough to […]

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Book Review – The Street Photographer’s Manual

A great little book to drive inspiration on those days where you are a bit ho-hum about it all. The author, David Gibson has written a whole book full of tasty little bits and pieces to get any street photographer fiesty and firing the shutter! The book focuses on short profiles of street photography masters, […]

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Free Open Source Street Photography Course

Eric Kim is a great source of inspiration for street photographers. He sets a great example by bringing a disciplined approach to learning and the creative process. He has brought together a whole bunch of his great content into a structured Street Photography course. You can find the course here : Free Open-Source Online Street […]

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Starting in Film Photography on a $350 budget.

So you have decided to have a crack at film photography? Here is my recommend “first go” kit for under $350.  What do you need? 1. Film Camera Body (featured above) 2. Lens (featured above) 3. Film 4. Someone to develop and scan OR scan yourself.   1. Camera Body. Well, there is some good […]

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Stop Taking the Same Images Over and Over

Ever found that you have started taking the same image over and over? A particular type of composition that you find particularly pleasing – so you start to see it everywhere. And photograph it over and over. I found late in 2013 that I was losing my photography spirit. I had reduced the number of […]

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Nikon 50mm f1.8 – The affordable nifty fifty

So, you just purchased a shiny new DSLR, despite my advice that you probably really needed a high end point and shoot compact camera… It came with a couple of lenses in the box, didn’t it? They look pretty awesome. Maybe you could even offer to shoot your cousin’s upcoming wedding with these new image weapons? […]

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Value of a Notebook

Ever felt a bit flat about your photography? Like you are taking the same groundhog day shots every time you go out? Last November, I made a commitment to take another step forward with my pursuit of creative growth. I had slipped into a groove which had rapidly developed into a rut. As photography is […]

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Holga “Toy” Camera

Analogue is good. Overlay that with plastic and you get something great! Holga cameras were designed and started manufacture in China during the heady days of the early ’80’s. I suppose they were manufactured as a super economical camera suitable for a radiant socialist future. The are a medium format camera – ie. they take film like […]

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Domke F2 Classic Bag

Gadgets, doodads, and technical stuff seems to go hand in hand with some photographers. Sometimes I wonder if photographers are just bicycle freaks who are too unfit to ride. Both groups suffer from GAS – gear acquisition syndrome. The number of times I have seen “wiggle” boxes turn up with scientifically proven performance enhancing cycle gear at work […]

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Tilt Shift Digital Toy Camera

Tilt-Shift lenses are designed to help 35mm and medium format cameras achieve the same effect as a large format field camera. The bellows of a field camera allows the photographer to tilt the lens left and right, and shift it up and down relative to the film plate. There are a whole bunch of technical […]

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