What do you use to take photographs ?

[Blaze]

Do you use a camera or a smartphone ? When I see some of the photos taken with a smartphone, I wonder why I bother with a camera, lenses etc. Only joking - I don't have a smartphone and I love cameras ! But a smartphone is a heck of a lot lighter and lugging camera, lenses and a tripod can be hard work.

I have a very worn Pentax K3 and an assortment of lenses for different purposes. The ones I use most are a fixed 300mm for birds, insects and anything that isn't moving too quickly because the auto-focus is old and a bit slow. For sport (I used to take a lot of photos of horses in competition) and a Sigma 70-210 2:8 was perfect. It's fast and lets lots of light in when I need it. My favourite carry around lens is a Sigma 17-70 which gives good definition and is useful for landscapes, buildings etc.

Why did I buy a Pentax ? Simple answer, because I had a Pentax non-reflex film camera and so could keep the lenses. As it happens, I don't use the old ones now ... Pentax is cheaper than Canon or Nikon but has a smaller range of lenses, hence my buying Sigma lenses which are superb.

[niemeyjt]

I have to say I used Pentax film cameras - but I never forgave their lack of service and support for my MX and LX at the time Nikon was still servicing and supporting the F3 of the same era. Mind you, I think they were going bust at the time.

So now I have proper Nikon DX and FX digital SLRs - none of this EVF stuff. Lenses - DX I use a couple of old metal ones without VR - a 12-24 and 17-55 and FX I have a kit zoom, plus a few telephotos as required albeit F4s not F2.8s like you 'cos I'm a paup.

I will put a Sony mirrorless on my computer at some point. Will see what Black Friday has in store. My 6yo Logitech golf ball is a bit too unprofessional at 480p.

[Veem]

I started off with a Brownie 127.
Then a Polaroid.
Then for many years I didn't have a camera.
When I retired I was given a camera but I can't remember what it was.
Much later we bought a small, not very good digital camera which wasn't a lot of use.
Then my nephew gave me his old smartphone and if and when I think to take a photo, it will be on that. The trouble is most of my pockets aren't secure enough to carry it about with me, so usually when there is a photo opportunity the moment passes because the phone is at home.

[manonthemoon2]

I use my phone mostly, a Samsung A50. The quality of photos is not great but it's convenient.

I do have a Samsung galaxy camera, which has WiFi etc. It takes reasonable photos, but I find when I try to focus it's heavy so most photos are blurred.

I would like a new camera that is lightweight and has a good focus.

[DominicBest]

I have a Canon EOS DSLR with a number of lenses, an Olympus uTough compact digital camera and my iPhone. On trips away on my motorbike I usually take the Olympus and my phone and take photos with both. In most cases the iPhone takes the better photos, in low light or difficult light situations there is no contest. The Canon still gets used from time to time but usually just around the house and garden.

[nifty]

OH’s mobile, small digital camera, I.Pad.
Is there a market for old film cameras ?
I have an old OM 10 with lots of lenses and accessories that I want to sell.

[RobertArthur]

Today it's mostly my smartphone. My first real film camera was an Asahi Pentax SLR, bought it new, was also considering the Nikon FTN, a Canon or an Olympus. Not Ricoh or Praktika. After it failed after taking its second picture in July 1975 from the Svinesund Bridge between Sweden and Norway I regretted this decision. We had to go down south, to Oslo with the only Norwegian service center. Later several Nikons. Follow up: a little digital Canon camera and a Panasonic TZ8. Smartphones: from Nokia to Huawei P9-light and today a Motorola G-Pro with surprising good photo qualities. Always at hand, not a luggable SLR camera. Available light photography: not easy, tiny lenses. Clever processing software can do a lot, but never a substitute for a real lens.

[Spectrum]

Started off with a plastic camera then an Instamatic, then a Polaroid, my uncle was a professional, so I went upmarket got an OM10 with manual adapter, five or six lenses, remote lead, "Cokin" filter system etc, lost it all a few years ago so two years back Super U was having a sale so bagged a Kodak Pixpro AZ422 for half price, still learning.

[Spardo]

I don't have a smartphone, but my Doro mobile (bought for its big keys and excellent volume control) does take photos I think, though perhaps not very good ones, so never used as such.
I have an Apeman, which is a cheaper but excellent GoPro type and, as it measures only 2"x1"x1" (sorry for the imp. but I am using my finger joints ) is very easy to hold and carry around, and it takes excellent videos. It has no zoom feature but can be strapped to my head, chest or a dog.
Also a Canon video camera which mounts on the dashboard of the car. Again excellent videos and, a Viofro dashcam which records all the time I am driving.
If I am intending to capture good video I use my Nikon Coolpix, also excellent.

All these devices except for the Doro are used only for videos from which, on the computer later I choose several snapshots and then keep the very best of them. I never take photos anymore. Dogs never sit still at the right moment and in any case are most often better caught in motion.

[Blaze]

A fancy camera with lots of lenses doesn't necessarily produce the best pictures - composition and picking the right moment to press the shutter is down to the person taking the shot. For example, a landscape doesn't have to be pin sharp and full of detail if it conveys feeling and is nice to look at.
Photography is always a learning curve, and an interesting one too !