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A few years with various digital cameras
A few years with various digital cameras
Well, as I'm now into my 20th year shooting digital pictures, thought I'd take a look back on how things have progressed.
In 1998 I started with the Olympus Camedia 800. I have an engineering background and realised then that there was no future in film/slide. Digital was the future. 810,000 pixel resolution sensor, and with only a built in memory (no expandable RAM cards), you still had to be careful with photo choice.
Slovakian MiG-29 at Mildenhall Show in 1998
Turkish Phantom at Waddington Show in 1999
In 2000 I upgraded to the Casio QV-3000EX. An amazing 3 Megapixels, plus the ability to take a 340MB IBM Microdrive, carefree shooting was available.
Saudi Hawk at Farnborough Show in 2000
15 Sqn Tornado landing at Lossiemouth in 2001
Italian G.222 mishap at Fairford Show in 2002
By late 2002 I upgraded again, to a Nikon Coolpix 5700. This was a great little camera for the time, 8x optical zoom, pretty fast, great handling.
RAF Tornado departing from Marham in 2003 for the Second Gulf War
USMC AV-8B visiting Williams, AZ in 2004
By the end of 2004 I had taken the DSLR plunge. Canon EOS20D and ubiquitous L-series 100-400 IS lens. Very bulky and heavy gear to lug around, especially when you needed to take an additional body with wide angle lens on your travels too.
Mildenhall NAF UC-12 landing at it's home base in 2004
54 Sqn Jaguar touches down at Coltishall in 2005
43 Sqn Tornado F3 over the North Sea in 2006
FAA Merlin arriving at Yeovilton in 2007
Sentinel circuit bashing at Waddington in 2008
Beech 200 circuit bashing at Waddington in 2009
Edwards AFB Test F-16 in 2010
Tornado F2 landing at Boscombe Down in 2011
AAC Apache overshooting Marham in 2012
FN Rafale departing Leuchars in 2013
Pave Hawk returning to Lakenheath in 2014
Saudi Typhoon overshooting at Warton in 2015
B-1 turning in at Nellis in 2016
HL F-16 returning to Albacete during a TLP in 2017
This equipment lasted me a few years but I was becoming increasing disillusioned with my ageing DSLR kit. So, in late 2017 I traded it all in for the magnificent Sony DX10M3, with a phenomenal 24-600mm lens. My backbreaking RIATs and overseas packing woes are now a thing of the past.
F-22 landing back at Lakenheath in 2017
King Air ready to depart Cranwell in 2017
Hope that lot stirs some memories of places and types lost, and shows a bit of insight into developments over the past few years. What will the future hold?
In 1998 I started with the Olympus Camedia 800. I have an engineering background and realised then that there was no future in film/slide. Digital was the future. 810,000 pixel resolution sensor, and with only a built in memory (no expandable RAM cards), you still had to be careful with photo choice.
Slovakian MiG-29 at Mildenhall Show in 1998
Turkish Phantom at Waddington Show in 1999
In 2000 I upgraded to the Casio QV-3000EX. An amazing 3 Megapixels, plus the ability to take a 340MB IBM Microdrive, carefree shooting was available.
Saudi Hawk at Farnborough Show in 2000
15 Sqn Tornado landing at Lossiemouth in 2001
Italian G.222 mishap at Fairford Show in 2002
By late 2002 I upgraded again, to a Nikon Coolpix 5700. This was a great little camera for the time, 8x optical zoom, pretty fast, great handling.
RAF Tornado departing from Marham in 2003 for the Second Gulf War
USMC AV-8B visiting Williams, AZ in 2004
By the end of 2004 I had taken the DSLR plunge. Canon EOS20D and ubiquitous L-series 100-400 IS lens. Very bulky and heavy gear to lug around, especially when you needed to take an additional body with wide angle lens on your travels too.
Mildenhall NAF UC-12 landing at it's home base in 2004
54 Sqn Jaguar touches down at Coltishall in 2005
43 Sqn Tornado F3 over the North Sea in 2006
FAA Merlin arriving at Yeovilton in 2007
Sentinel circuit bashing at Waddington in 2008
Beech 200 circuit bashing at Waddington in 2009
Edwards AFB Test F-16 in 2010
Tornado F2 landing at Boscombe Down in 2011
AAC Apache overshooting Marham in 2012
FN Rafale departing Leuchars in 2013
Pave Hawk returning to Lakenheath in 2014
Saudi Typhoon overshooting at Warton in 2015
B-1 turning in at Nellis in 2016
HL F-16 returning to Albacete during a TLP in 2017
This equipment lasted me a few years but I was becoming increasing disillusioned with my ageing DSLR kit. So, in late 2017 I traded it all in for the magnificent Sony DX10M3, with a phenomenal 24-600mm lens. My backbreaking RIATs and overseas packing woes are now a thing of the past.
F-22 landing back at Lakenheath in 2017
King Air ready to depart Cranwell in 2017
Hope that lot stirs some memories of places and types lost, and shows a bit of insight into developments over the past few years. What will the future hold?
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Re: A few years with various digital cameras
What a great post regarding the development of digital photography for the aviation enthusiast.
Cheers.
Cheers.
- snetterton88
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Thu Aug 07, 2014 9:37 am
- Location: Norfolk
Re: A few years with various digital cameras
Nice post,interesting to see the improvement in digital over the years.
Thanks.
Thanks.
- Blackcat1
- Posts: 24832
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- Location: Southern edge of the Brecon Beacons, South Wales
Re: A few years with various digital cameras
Great set! I was there when the G222s front junk collapsed ;-)
Gareth
6 Sqdn Canopeners
Oculi exercitus
Blackcats remembered
Jaguar Force Excellance! 2nd July 07.
6 Sqdn Canopeners
Oculi exercitus
Blackcats remembered
Jaguar Force Excellance! 2nd July 07.
- The Phantom
- Posts: 3686
- Joined: Sun Oct 04, 2009 7:16 pm
Re: A few years with various digital cameras
Very interesting post
Great to see those old cameras - incredible how quickly digital has moved on!
That Sony camera looks quite amazing - having a 600mm lens
I was also at RIAT when the front nose strut collapsed on the G.222. Can't believe it was 2002! Frightening!
Great to see those old cameras - incredible how quickly digital has moved on!
That Sony camera looks quite amazing - having a 600mm lens
I was also at RIAT when the front nose strut collapsed on the G.222. Can't believe it was 2002! Frightening!
Re: A few years with various digital cameras
Most interesting - and different - post showcasing the evolution of digital photography. Loving that air to air of the F3.
Re: A few years with various digital cameras
Hi Tom
The most interesting post of my day on FC
That Zeiss 24-600 looks awesome
Thanks for posting
Paddyboy
The most interesting post of my day on FC
That Zeiss 24-600 looks awesome
Thanks for posting
Paddyboy
Re: A few years with various digital cameras
Thanks all. Yes, quite a development in technology.
Re: A few years with various digital cameras
Very interesting post.Same as you, I am now using the Sony RX10 III which can easily replace most of the DSLR gear of the moment with its fantastic lens, and which allows me to do everything in all kinds of situations, with only one piece of equipment and just one bag.. ;-).
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