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Equipment

My friends know me as somewhat of a minimalist when it comes to photo equipment. While in many areas of life I love to have the latest solar whatzit or multi-gigahertz gizmo, I rely on some trusty old-fashioned tools when it comes to capturing images. The short equipment list has made packing light easier through the years, but more importantly, with fewer pieces, I feel I have come to intimately know how each tool will perform.

Some may wonder why, as I write this in late 2005, there is still no digital camera on the equipment list. I have two simple reasons:

• The first goes back to the value I place on understanding one's equipment and knowing it like your best friend.  At the rate digital SLRs are improving and changing, I wonder if I could own the same camera long enough to build up more than just a casual acquaintance!
• For now, getting my images into digital form through high-quality scans and to print from these scans using some of the latest technologies yields a final product that I am pleased with. 
  

That said, on to the equipment lists.  There are always exceptions, but generally speaking, if it moves, I shoot 35mm, otherwise, its usually the 6x7.
:

Pentax 6x7 

•  6x7 body, w/mirror lock-up, TTL prism finder, Beattie Intenscreen (grid)
• 45mm F4
• 105mm F2.4
• 135mm F4 Macro
• Auto Extension Tube set for inner mount series
• 200mm F4
• Wish List: 300mm F4

Nikon

• Nikon F5
• 28-70 F2.8 D AF-S
• 80-200 F2.8 D
• 80-400 F4.5-5.6 D ED VR
• Wish List: 70-200 F2.8 AF-S VR (for lower light, hand-held shots aboard boats at sea)

Some support, such as a tripod, window mount, bean bag or my wife's head is in use for 98% of my photos.   I use a few choice filters and fill-flash when a scene calls for them as well.