OLYMPUS SNAPPY
‘This was my first camera. My father gave it to me when I was about 6 years old (1983). It is a very simple design, but it takes good pictures and I still occasionally use it.’
ROLLEI 35
‘My first fully manual camera. This is not a reflex camera. You have to judge the distance through the top left viewfinder and set the distance on the lens yourself. It was introduced in the late sixties and, along with the Minox, it is still one of the smallest 35mm cameras ever made. The camera fits so well into your hand and can be easily carried in an inside pocket, which I used to do. Using this camera was one of the best learning curves and threw me straight into the deep end.’
ROLLEI 35 classic
'This model has the faster 2.8mm lens and the hot shoe for the flash on top of the camera rather than underneath as on the early models. It was manufactured around the mid nineties and takes really crisp images.'
HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN, using an ur-Rollei classic
‘My father’s Rolleiflex 80mm 2.8 White face. It is the camera I inherited when my father died. This model has the faster 2.8 lens and it is quite an upgrade from my own Rolleiflex. Most of my portraits have been taken with this camera.’
‘I found this Rolleiflex 75mm 3.5 at a camera fair in Victoria, London in the late 90’s. It cost £150 and the lens and mechanism were in perfect condition. I used it to photograph the bullfighting in Marbella.’
LEICA Delay Rangefinder
‘My 1954 Leica Delay Rangefinder camera. Of all the Leica design’s this is one of the best and one of the nicest cameras to hold and use.
I used to carry it on me everywhere, although without a light metre you have to judge the light.
The only issue is having to cut the first 13 cogs on the 35mm film strip to thread a roll into the camera. After the first time it’s easy.’
NOBLEX PRO 150
‘The Noblex Pro 150. A medium format camera that shoots six frames off a 120 roll of film. It makes large panoramic images - the lens spins round at 4 different speeds and the aperture is set on the dial in the middle of the spindle.
It is a big camera and ideally you need a tripod to get the best results.
The panolux light metre on top of the camera is ok, but it’s best to get a good handheld one.’
WIDELUX F8
‘Widelux F8. Unlike the Noblex this is a totally mechanical swing-lens panoramic camera. There is 120 version, but like the Noblex it is big and heavy.
Production ended in 2000. Jeff Bridges has used his F8 extensively over the last 30 years capturing behind scenes on movie sets.’
MAMIYA PRESS
‘The Mamiya Press. This is the Universal and Super 23 models with 75mm and 65mm lens. They both shoot 120 film in 6x4.5, 6x6 and 6x9 format.
They are big heavy cameras and I only got them after I saw Sir Don McCullin using one.’
PLAUBEL MAKINA 67
‘The Plaubel makina 67. This is a 6x7 folding camera made in the mid seventies. It has a really fast 2.8 80mm lens and when folded can fit into most overcoat pockets.
It is totally manual with an internal light metre powered by a tiny watch battery.’
‘Canon EOS 5D Mark lV. This a brilliant camera and used not only for stills photography, but also for documentary’s and feature films. Probably a little embarrassing to admit that I use this as back up for my Rolleiflex.’
MY OTHER FAVOURITES
