Hiya,
My name is John Softly, born in the UK 81 years ago but emigrated to Brisbane, Australia in 1973.
Spent most of my adult life in photography - firstly in the Royal Navy (MPP 5x4, Rollei and Pentax and the full Monty of D&P) then in various situations from photo journalism to product photography and everything in between. Ended up as a photo journalist for fishing magazines. My gear consisted of 4 Olympus OM bodies and 13 lenses all of which never let me down except for the battery drain on the OM4.
Retirement and the advent of digital I gave photography away for a period but came back with an EP5 and a 17 and 45 f/1.8 ( I was never going to use anything other than Olympus). I struggled with the menu for a time and found it difficult to adapt from having to take pictures in the film days to taking for pleasure. I still, on occasion, have trouble taking more than 10 pix of a subject and using ISO higher than 400!
Then I found Rob Trek, became a Rob Trek groupie and GAS became my second name. EM-10 Mark II, Pen F and EM-5 Mark III with primes from 7.5 to 75mm and 3 zooms covering 12 to 400mm.
Much of my OM System gear is still in use as the 24, 50 and 135mm lenses are particularly good on the digital system - bellows and focusing racks work well too. Godox flashes replaced the OM gear and I am now reining in my GAS until the next must have item comes along.
I will continue under the tutelage of Rob Trek as there is no finer teacher of the Micro Four Thirds System on the Internet and his Live Streams are informative and educational.
Cheers
Tred
My photographic journey
Re: My photographic journey
Thanks for sharing, John. Not sure when I will get into 4x5 film, but will probably come to you for advice when that time comes.
You can support this forum here: Buy me a coffee
Thank you!
Thank you! Re: My photographic journey
Rob,
I also have a Mamiya press and a Press Super 23. Shoots 6x9 and 6x7 with all the attributes of a 4x5. Dark slide, ground glass focusing screen and movable back with tilts and swings.
The whole system is masochistic and choice words are used when forgetting to remove or replace the dark slide but there are advantages. The 50mm f/6.3 is a great landscape lens (89/30 degrees on 6x9). Unlike a view camera there are no bellows but extension tides, which look like something you could pass sewerage through, produce excellent macro viewed through via the ground glass screen. They are however heavy with the Super 23 with the grip and 100 mil lens coming in at 4 pounds. Not to be dropped Rob!
I also have a Mamiya press and a Press Super 23. Shoots 6x9 and 6x7 with all the attributes of a 4x5. Dark slide, ground glass focusing screen and movable back with tilts and swings.
The whole system is masochistic and choice words are used when forgetting to remove or replace the dark slide but there are advantages. The 50mm f/6.3 is a great landscape lens (89/30 degrees on 6x9). Unlike a view camera there are no bellows but extension tides, which look like something you could pass sewerage through, produce excellent macro viewed through via the ground glass screen. They are however heavy with the Super 23 with the grip and 100 mil lens coming in at 4 pounds. Not to be dropped Rob!