All the cameras I've worked with in review
I try to do an honest examination of the digital cameras I've worked with in my career. Many will be surprised to find very little that can be called a pro camera. I left out the cameras that I only tested for some time. These are only the camera I own/owned. It will try to list them chronologically.
Fujifilm Finepix S1000FD
Yes, I used even a bridge camera when I still only played with photography. Something impractical today, but functional at that time. Useful for me to begin to understand that photography had returned to me and this time to stay.
Nikon D40/D60
The Nikon D40 featured a 6.1-megapixel sensor, and after 1 year I upgraded to the D60, for its 10.2-megapixel sensor. At my expense, I discovered how stupid it is to let yourself be guided by the increase in mpx. In my opinion, and not just my opinion, the D40 was better. Yes, my first DSLRs were Nikon.
Panasonic Lumix DMC LX3
I took this compact camera to do street photography. A decidedly right choice. One of the best compact cameras ever, perfect for street photography. It has a Leica lens, a metal body and... the only thing I didn't like very much is that at its widest range the lens came out excessively. But I've done it for many years and it remains perhaps the most pampered camera by me. I also invested in a certainly not cheap Leica leather case. The camera is the one with which I made the first works in Mexico City, while the D60 stayed at home.
Olympus Pen E-P1
The Olympus Pen E-P1, my first mirrorless camera with a very cool retro-inspired design. A 12.3-megapixel sensor, interchangeable lenses, and advanced features like image stabilization and manual controls. I replaced the entire Nikon DSLR equipment with this camera. With this camera I became a professional photographer starting as a correspondent. The well-know shot iof the Oriental woman in Los angeles and the Reality Remade project were made with this camera.
Panasonic GF2
With the 14mm was a very good solution for street photography, despite I always preferred the Oly. The GF2 given to me from Panasonic Mexico was…white. Given to my wife, she was attacked at gunpoint and bye bye camera.
Canon Powershot G12
I purchased the Canon Powershot G12 to make a coverage for an agency about the food in Mexico Cityand G12 was a high-end compact camera designed for enthusiasts and professionals seeking excellent image quality in a portable package, like a sort of mini DSLR. Featuring a 10-megapixel sensor, a versatile 5x optical zoom lens, and advanced features such as RAW shooting and full manual controls. I can remember that Rino Barillari had one and said that in reality you could do everything with a little one. In Los Angeles was my second camera but, sincerely, it would have been better to take the LX3 with me.
Samsung NX200
I was an ambassador for Samsung's NX series. The first camera I was given was this. An extremely thin body and a decidedly disproportionate lens, a kit lens that was not the best solution for the photography I did.
Samsung NX20
A DSLR-style camera body that I didn't understand, coming from the E-P1. And still I believe that DSLR like mirrorless has not much sense. A major problem with this camera is that it crashed: it froze and the only way to unlock it was to remove the battery to turn it off. Obvious software problems. The best thing though was the 85mm, one of the best lenses ever owned, perfect for portraits. Samsung discontinued all the cameras production but we can talk of the first APS-C mirrorless series.
Leica X2
What can I say about a camera that came to me from Germany for a job commissioned by Leica Camera AG itself? I decided to get paid less to keep the camera. And the choice was really smart. A camera that I have worked with professionally, making photographs for magazines. I don’t care what many say that is not a real Leica camera. For me it is, having all the Leica philosophy. A camera that in black and white and shooting at 1600 ISO gives you the grain similar to a TRI-X film. Oh, I loved this camera. Not easy when you come first time at the world of Leica, but then you get to know it and well, in my opinion one of the best cameras I ever had.
Ricoh GRD IV
Before the GR era there was the GRD series, with a smaller sensor. Shooting with Ricoh is a different experience, to the point where you become a different photographer. For better or for worse. A diary camera. A camera that has experienced particular things. I still remember the fear of when the sand infiltration lens didn't close. Another camera that I loved a lot.
Fujifilm X20
An optical viewfinder. A mini-range finder. A decent compact that I enjoyed with before passing it on to my wife.
Fujifilm X100S
I've used it a lot. For a time, I even considered it my main camera. Good solution for street photography. Literally died suddenly when I plugged it into my computer.
Fujifilm X-E2
Good and reliable, in some ways I preferred it to the X2Pro. With the 18mm was a good combo for street photography.
Fujifilm X70
Perhaps the Fuji that I used the most. Fuji discontinued it because Fuji doesn't understand shit. I know that many street photographers love this small camera. Part of the work for my landscape project AMERICANA was realized with this camera.
Fujifilm XPro2
A nice tool for street and journalism, which I also used for erotica and fashion with models. But thescam that Fujifilm Mexico gave me is that the used model they gave me reset as soon as you removed the battery. A pain in the ass.
Fujifilm X-A3
Together with the XPro2 I got this (they didn't pay in money that pandemic year) because I thought to change the general opinion that it was a handbag camera (for women) but I was wrong. The camera that I have found least harmony in my entire life. Hey, Fuji is not Panasonic and not even Olympus. They would make it stylish but no, that is not their game.
Fujifilm X-T10
Even with this there was no feeling. A pretty forgettable camera. Sold after a few months, when I am used to have my camera with me years.
Pentax K-S1
My first and only, so far, Pentax camera. I think it was a good camera, but in combination with just a manual lens I didn't get the most out of it. Some simulations were really interesting. I worked with for some fashion street style shootings.
Canon EOS Rebel T3
A revelation. Ease of use and fits really well in my hand. An old, used camera that I still use in my work.
Canon EOS Rebel T7
My main DSLR camera right now. In combination with the 24mm pancake lens it is a real pleasure to use on the street.
Canon EOS M200
Currently my only mirrorless camera. The results can be appreciated on this blog. A very tiny camera that is simply perfect for street photography. With the 22mm I achieved to obtain again a 35mm focal lenght (it is an eq. 35.2mm) in a camera body that can be compared to Ricoh GR series.
CONCLUSIONS
Every camera I've worked with was important at the time. After all, I gained more experience and knowledge of various products on the market. I am perfectly aware that my camera fleet is now very minimalistic and considered poor by many. Yet with these cameras considered low quality by many i am doing my job, every sigle day. And I receive appreciation. I think that since I left fuji my photography has gained. I don't mean that that's the reason, but rather this change has generated a new stimulus in me. It doesn't matter, in the end, what cameras we use but how we use them.
