Yashica

 I got a Yashica camera 

It didn’t have the ring that Nikon had, but it was the first camera I purchased in 1971 from my Science teacher, Emile Santiestiban, for $25. That would be $162 2020 dollars. It was an all manual with no meter Single Lens Reflex with a 135mm screw mount lens and an external Sekonic light meter. 

Emile helped me load the black and white Tri-X film and later how to print and develop in the darkroom. 

Up until getting the camera, I was inspired by Linda Levy and Sonja Shore Griffin in art class. I am sure it was through them and the annual staff I was drawn to photography. 

For my senior year, with the graduation money I received, I went to Harmon’s in Gainesville on University Avenue and decided upon a Honeywell Pentax Spotmatic. It had a 55mm lens and a built in match needle meter. I didn’t have a darkroom and what film I shot, I sent to Sunshine Drugs and Kodak for developing. With the Spotmatic I added several lenses and used it up until the early 1980’s, when I bought a Nikon FM2 with a 35mm 1.8. I later added a 100mm macro, 180 2.8, 80-200, 500 mirror, FE, F3, motor drive, etc. it was my desire to be a photojournalist and work for a newspaper. I almost made it, working for a time for the Lake City Reporter. 

In the early 2000’s I purchased my first digital camera, the Nikon d40 which I still use at 6mp, but with a 500 flash sync speed.

Seems I’ve had nearly all the consumer digital cameras Nikon came out with, my current being the D850 full frame and the D7500 crop frame.

Today I am still bent toward the telephoto end as in the beginning, using mainly a 200-500 and 70-300 lens. 

As I grow older, the heavy camera and lens becomes more a burden.  At times I think of selling and going light, but I hesitate for I get attached to the old gear. I wouldn’t want anyone trading me in for a lithe model. Would you?