My Photo Gears

update: 11/2023

More and more people begin to ask me: what camera do you use to take photos? What lenses do you have? How do you print you pictures? I am not a professional photographer (and will not be one anytime soon), and I am not an expert on any photo equipment review either. There are many websites on the internet which give excellent reviews and opinions on photography stuffs (see my resources page). However, I've done careful and extensive research (based on my Engineering training) to choose every piece of my photo gears to fit my need. Everyone has his/her own requirement/preference, so I'd just like to share the list of my collections during these years and you can estimate how much investment I have put in to this bottomless hole.

SLR Camera

Canon EOS
- Camera body:
  - Digital: EOS 5DIV (11/2016)
  - Digital: EOS 5DIII (6/2012)
  - Digital: EOS 5DII (3/2010, stolen in San Francisco in 6/2012)
  - Digital: EOS 5D (5/2006)
  - Digital: EOS D60 (used since 2002)
  - 35-mm film: EOS A2 (aka EOS 5, [photo.net]) (used in 1997-2002)
- Lenses:
  - EF 8-15mm f/4L Fisheye (3/2014)
  - EF 20-35mm/f3.5-4.5
  - EF 24-85mm/f3.5-4.5 (1997)
  - EF 24-105mm/f4 L (12/2006 (stolen in 2012), 6/2012)
  - EF 28-135mm/f3.5-5.6 IS (11/2002)
  - EF 50mm/f2.5 Macro (9/1997)
  - EF 70-200mm/f2.8L (6/1999)
  - EF 75-300mm/f4-5.6 (1997)
  - EF 100-400mm/f4.5-5.6L IS (2/2000)
  - EF 100-400mm/f4.5-5.6L IS II (8/2016)
  - EF 300mm/f4L (9/1998)
  - EF 500mm/f4L IS (bought used in 9/2022)
  - EF 1.4x extender (6/1999)
  - EF 1.4x III extender (8/2016)
  - Sigma 20mm f/1.4 DG HSM (4/2021)
- Flash:
  - 430EX
  - 380EX
  - Off-Camera Shoe Cord 2
  - LumiQuest Promax Pocket Bouncer
  - FX5 Better Beamer Flash Extender
- Accessories:
  - Kenko Extenstion Tube Set (36mm, 20mm, 12mm)
  - Remote Switch 60T3 (for A2)
  - Remote Switch RS-80N3 (for D60 and 5D)
  - Vello Shutterboss Version II Timer Remote Switch
  - Vello RS-C2II Wired Remote Switch
  - Filters (Polarizers, Graduated ND in Cokin P-series holder, etc.)
Minolta (used before 1997)
- Camera body: Maxxum 400si
- Lenses:
  - 35-70mm/f3.5-4.5
  - 70-210mm/f4.5-5.6

Mirrorless Camera

Sony
- Camera body:
  - Sony a7R IVA (11/2023)
- Lenses:
  - Sony FE 24-105mm f/4 G OSS (11/2023)
  - Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM OSS (11/2023)

Point-and-Shoot

Digital
- Rylo 360° action camera (2/2019)
- GoPro Hero3+ (12/2013)
- Lytro Light Field Digital Camera 8G (4/2013)
- Sony DSC-RX100 (2012)
- Canon SD630 (2007)
- Canon SD300 (2005)
- Canon G2 (2002)
- Olympus C-3030Z (1999)
35-mm film
- Olympus Stylus Epic Point&Shoot (with 35mm/f2.8 lens)

Tripod

Bogen 3001 (retired)
Arca Swiss B-1 Ballhead with quick-release
Benro Carbon Fiber C-158N6 (3/2008, broken and retired in 2016)
Benro A-0691 with B00 Ballhead (compact travel tripod, 5/2012; lost screw and a jammed leg section, retired in 5/2021)
Benro GC168T GoTravel Carbon Fiber Tripod (8/2016)
CAME-TV Q66C Carbon Fiber Tripod with Ball Head (6/2021, broken leg in 2/2022 in Yellowstone)
K&F Concept BA225 Carbon Fiber Tripod with Ball Head (3/2022, wobbling central column, retired in 1/2023)
Manfrotto Element Small Aluminum Traveler Tripod MKELES5RD-BH (3/2023)

Camera Bag

Lowpro Mini Trekker (from 1997 to 2018)
Lowpro Micro Trekker 100
Lowpro Photo Classic BP 300 AW (11/2018)
Case Logic Viso Camera Sling Bag (11/2023)

APS Film Camera

This is the only photo investment I regret. I don't think APS will survive after digial is getting more popular.

Canon EOS IX (used in 1996-1997)
Minolta Vectis 20

Digital Darkroom

Film Scanner
- HP Photosmart Scanner (Original version): sold to my friend
- Polaroid SprintScan 4000 (1999): broken
- Nikon CoolScan 4000 (2001)

Printer
- Epson Photo Stylus Inkjet (1st generation)
- Epson Photo Stylus 1270 Inkjet
- Epson Photo Stylus RX620 (All-in-One)
- Epson XP-800 (All-in-One)

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