Then and Now

This week's photo shows two cameras fifty years apart.  The Minolta on the left is my first serious camera and to the right a Nikon Z8 mirrorless.  This week's blog is not as much about the photo as it is about photography and gear we use. The gear we choose is a personal choice that goes well beyond all the technical hype promoted each camera brand.  For me it has always been about the experience and the photo.  One reason I shoot Nikon is because over the years I have acquired some of Nikon's best DSLR glass and it is that old glass that I will use via an adapter on my new camera.  I like to think that this process parallels my transition to mirrorless - same old eyes looking to interact with the world in new ways.

After months of thought and yearning, I bought my first mirrorless camera, a Nikon Z8.  In my mind, it will be my final camera. One personal reason I chose it was for the challenge and complexity it offers. Just as I want to become a more thoughtful and creative photographer, I wanted a camera that would challenge me and reward my thoughtfulness as I continue to grow.

My Z8 purchase has made me feel as I have come full circle in my hobby.  I have moved from mechanical shutters to essentially shutterless, from mirrors to mirrorless (already miss that "thunk"), from simple settings to multiple shooting banks. Many mixed thoughts accompany this transition.  

My past DSLRs were within a comfort zone and each new camera somewhat built upon what I had learned previously trending back to that old Minolta 102.  I didn't have to think much about how to use my gear, but now I will have to do just that from camera set up to field use.  For an intermediate time, I expect to miss and take worse photos because I am again a beginner as much as I was in the mid 1970s.      

That said, I am truly looking forward to shooting with my new Z8 while feeling a bit nostalgic about my old Minolta 102 which was a gift from my parents.  Little did I know how much that gift would help me open my eyes into my soul and to world surrounding me.  I hope that my Z8 will stir my imagination and press my desire to create more memorable moments and photos.