My equipment


early 1997 - late 1997
I started making photographs with an over 20 year old Pentax ME with three lenses:
30, 55 and 135 mm if I remember well. For macro-photography, like with my orchids
I used the additional rings to get more close to my small subjects.

The Pentax ME is a manual reflex camera. It means that more often than not
I had to think a lot before I could make any photo.
The camera made me familiar with photography.


late 1997 - early 2002
In fall 1997 I owned a new, automatic reflex camera: Canon EOS 500.
The old camera had broken down. The new one was a gift from my parents as I
finished my secundary education in that year.
I was equipped with a 28 - 80 mm zoom lens from Canon.

Later in 1997 I bought a Cosina 50 mm macro lens, which enabled me
to photograph anything at its actual size (one-on-one).

From the beginning I used print film (or negative).
Usually my films were from Kodak (Gold) or Fuji (Sensia) at 200 ASA.

"As far as I know, all Fuji films in Europe are made in Tilburg, The Netherlands.
See it for yourself on the package. Actually, from a viewing point in Huis ter Heide,
a nature reserve where I go sometimes, the Fuji-factory is ever present at the skyline
seen from the reserve.
In the last years the factory is accompanied by another Japanese firm: Sony".


early 2002 - present
In spring 2002 I bought a new, but actually second hand, telelens ranging
from 100 to 300 mm from Sigma. This lens proved to be really useful
soon, during my stay in Bialowieza of 11 weeks in that season.

I am convinced that nearly anyone taking photography serious, which
means when it is one of your favorite passtimes will once choose
dia film (or positive) at a certain moment. My visit to Bialowieza
was a good opportunity to switch from negative to positive film.

Since early 2002 I started to use dia film. Depending on my needs I
use Agfa GTXII (professional) or Agfa CT precisa ('standard' quality)
at 100 ASA. I chose 100 ASA not only because of its fine grain,
but also because I experienced that I had become more stable
in taking photographs. It meant that I could reach with a more
demanding film (100 ASA) the same or better results as before
with 200 ASAs.

In spring 2003 my budy EOS 500 would no longer function as result of
misfunctioning software. As I found that - how typical - repair costs
are madly high, it was most economical to get hold of a new camera.
My new Canon EOS 300v is fully compatible with my EOS 500 lenses.