Who is still using old skool gear?

[dinkel]

2005 Olympus E300 here, Using standard 14-45 zoom (so-so) and a very nice 35 mm macro.

Using Raw it still cuts it IMO. Magazine print at A3 (spread) and photoprint at 30/45 cms I can't see better quality with friends / neighbours who have more up to date equipment.

Anyone out there snapping with the old stuff?

[Gemm]

I guess my 1D mkII would be considered well ancient then.

[Simpo Two]

2006 D200 here. 90,000+ shots and responsible for almost all the photos on my website.

At the last wedding I thought I'd give it a breather and use my back-up D200 instead. Bad idea - for some reason it didn't work reliably with an SC-29 and I had to hastily switch back.

Accordingly I've just bought a mint D300.

Which is a surefire guarantee that the D400 will be announced tomorrow!

[RobDickinson]

Does a 7D count now!?!

[unclepockets]

Still use my EOS 20D as my only digital SLR and it was my first digital SLR, must have bought that in about 2005.

I still have my old manual Nikon FM & F3 and Olympus OM1 & OM2 but rarely use them now as I'm far too impatient to wait for some scratched negs to come back, I was a total digital sceptic at first but that was when the sensor quality was rubbish and the cost of the cameras was horrific.

[david_b]

I use a Nikon D2H. My most used lens is a Vivitar 70-210 from about 1975. Use a big variety of other lenses made from the 70s onwards too. Still manage to churn out the odd reasonable picture occasionally I hope...

[mattdaniels]

Plenty of people I know still use film, if that's what you mean by "old skool gear".

[andy-xr]

mattdaniels said:

Plenty of people I know still use film, if that's what you mean by "old skool gear".

I think thats Nu Skool now you know!

[ian in lancs]

andy-xr said:

I think thats Nu Skool now you know!

Absolutely! I regularly use a Nikon F5 and have just bought a Canon EOS 3 for the studio.

[markmullen]

I've got a Canon 1Ds Mk1 (2003), a Canon 1Ds Mk2 (2006) and a 1D Mk2 (2004/5) all of which are still going strong and churning out great results.

[Simpo Two]

david_b said:

My most used lens is a Vivitar 70-210

A great lens; I have the later model c1982. Constant f3.5; it's like looking into a Pringles tube (an empty one).

Vivitar was the top indy in those days but seem to have lost the plot somewhere.

[Synchromesh]

unclepockets said:

Nikon FM

+1

Decent bit of kit too

[Raoul Duke]

Film all the way for me, Pentax Spotmatic SP1000 together with a load of original lenses is the main camera, its far far better than the cheap purchase price would have you believe and the original Pentax / SMC Takumar lenses really are superb. Rollei 35 - the original German one - comes out if i dont want to cart a heavy bag around and fancy doing some candid Henri Cartier Bresson type shots. Was until fairly recently using a Hasselblad 500cm as well but needed some cash so that one went.
Starting to look at medium format film again now though, probably a Pentax 67 - but need to beef up the muscles first!

[DIW35]

When you said Old Skool, I thought you meant film. I still occasionally use a 1980 something AE1. My most modern film camera is the Eos3 which means I can use all my nice new shiney digital lenses.

[david_b]

Simpo Two said:

david_b said:

My most used lens is a Vivitar 70-210

A great lens; I have the later model c1982. Constant f3.5; it's like looking into a Pringles tube (an empty one).

Vivitar was the top indy in those days but seem to have lost the plot somewhere.

I think by the third or so generation they were slightly more compact and lightweight, but there's no hiding mine is a big old chunk of metal and glass! It focusses the other way to Nikkors too which adds to the fun Still takes great pictures though, and is passable in its macro mode (not sure the later ones had this?). As you say it's a shame Vivitar have become pretty low-end now.

[Simpo Two]

david_b said:

and is passable in its macro mode (not sure the later ones had this?)

It's 1:4, good for a lens of that range. Mine is PK fit and now lives in happy retirement in a trunk upstairs along with other old photo gear going back two generations

[nellyleelephant]

Anyone regularly use the 5dmk1?

[theboyfold]

nellyleelephant said:

Anyone regularly use the 5dmk1?

Me! I really like it, it's a nice camera with out too much in the way of automation, so you can still learn how to use it without just whacking it into 'Auto'.

I also use lots of M42 and Contax mount lenses. I've also discovered the wallet busting skills of the Leica R lenses...

[nellyleelephant]

theboyfold said:

Me! I really like it, it's a nice camera with out too much in the way of automation, so you can still learn how to use it without just whacking it into 'Auto'.

I also use lots of M42 and Contax mount lenses. I've also discovered the wallet busting skills of the Leica R lenses...

I'm tempted to use one alongside my 1D2N as it's probably one of the cheaper ways of going full frame, have tried and failed to justify a 1DS to the other half.

[theboyfold]

nellyleelephant said:

I'm tempted to use one alongside my 1D2N as it's probably one of the cheaper ways of going full frame, have tried and failed to justify a 1DS to the other half.

Oddly enough I'm looking at the 1D2N as a crop body to go alongside it.

It's a good camera and I picked it for the same reason you are looking. It's the cheapest way to go full frame. I don't think it does anything special over and above your 1D, but I'm sure somebody with more knowledge than me will be along shortly.