Expert: Don Wood - 8/7/2002

Question
Hello Don,

I am a travel journalist and I want to start supplying photos with my work. I am enrolling on a course in September and I need a camera:

What brand of camera is best for taking professional shots. I want to experiment with black and white and transparency film. I will also need a good zoom and be able to shoot at night. Can you recommend a camera for me?

Answer
There are many good cameras out there, just as many as there are car models and you know how car owners are about their brand of cars. Get one that can be upgraded without costing you an arm and leg, whether it costs $200 or $1000. Don't be afraid of investing in used equipment as long as it is with a store or a salesman who is interesting in serving your best interests not just making a sale. Solicit advice from the teacher you're learning from. Talk to other photogs about the equipment they use. Read the photography mags and surf the net seeking information as to the equipment you're wanting to buy. I have a web site at http://pixdw.bravepages.com/photoli.html that contains addresses to all the major manufacturers and some of the retailers. Bear in mind that I don't guarantee the retailers, sometimes, it's buyer beware out there. Best to merely use their offerings to determine how much your local store is charging for the equipment. I personally use a local store in Louisville that cater's to professionals and advanced amateurs.
I personally am a Nikon man, I use FE2, FM2, 8008 and digitally, the 990. I do have zoom lenses for all. The first 3 cameras can use the same lens one either of the 3 cameras. The 990 has a zoom lens and a mini-flash built in. I use a Metz 45 hammerhead flash with a Quantum Battery for power. The newest camera is the 990, the others have been with me for more than 10-15 years. They've never been in the shop for repairs, needless to say when not in use they are kept in my camera bag not just thrown around or hanging by the strap from my hand.
I would suggest that you buy a system camera, one that allows backward compatibility with its components. Nikon, Canon, etc are all examples of system cameras. This way when you get a new camera body, the lenses you already have may still be used. I would further suggest that you get a camera that you can manually adjust as well as being an auto-adjusting camera. You never know when the batteries will go dead on you and without manual controls, it is useless until you replace the batteries and if you're in the field away from a source of supplies you're out of luck.
I hope that I haven't confused you further. It is really like buying a car, what feels right to you and gives you the results you envision is right for you.
Half of being a travel journalist is the ability to foresee the picture and maneuver yourself into the proper position to achieve your vision whether it being waiting for the proper moment of lighting, the proper exposure, the proper position.
Best of luck to you. Keep me posted as to your progress.