myequip

Photography is my hobby. I started studying the art of photography at Ho Chi Minh City Photography Association in 1992. After taken some time off for my literacy education, I came back to the photo world since 2001. From that year on, I spent lots of time on the internet and books to improve my photo techniques.

I bought my first SLR camera in 1991, it was a Ricoh KR2000 but I was soon switch to Nikon a year later. Now I'm a Nikon fan and I always dream of owning a legendary Nikon system. I have some piece of equipments and I try to write a review of them as I've used.

Please note that these reviews are very subjective and personal, and the contents are under constant changes. All comments are welcome, including grammar and spelling corrections.

Equipment I Currently Own

Nikon F3-HP

This is my most beloved camera because it is very simple to use, easy to create a good picture with manual focus lens. I use the F3 mostly for my landscape work. One disappoiting feature of this camera is the use of flash because it does not have standard ISO hot shoe but I haven't used flash on this camera so far.

Nikon AF-D 24mm f/2.8

A small and lovely lens. After trying some 28mm, 35mm I found it ideal for landscape work. It is neither too wide nor too long so you can obtain a satisfyingly wide perspective with great contrast and sharpness.

Nikkor AIS 50-135mm f/3.5

Rare lens in the Nikon AIS zoom line with non rotate front so it's very helpful for those who like to use filter. It is quite out date now compare to the other modern lens but still very dependable. It can be a good combo with manual body such as F3 or even F4.

Tamron 90mm f/2.8 Macro

The portrait macro lens, this is ideal for close up with beautiful image.

Nikon F4-S

I bought it from the sport photographer who

moved to digital. It seems quite brassing on the

body but it still works great. This is Nikon's work

horse camera preferred by professionals in the

field because it accepts all F-mount lenses with

focus confirmation. It also allows matrix metering

for AI and Ais lenses, and center weighted

metering for non-AI lenses. Nikon F4 is very

dependable and it works great regardless any

difficult situation such as rain, cold or wet.

Nikon AF-N 50mm f/1.8

A standard lens for everyone, it is very small, light

and it among the sharpest Nikon lens ever made. If you want a fine lens with cheap price, this is a choice for you.

Nikkor-S Auto 50mm f/1.4

An old glass in my camera set. It is early Nikkor A version with the distance scale only marked in feet instead of meters and feet like almost recently versions. I guessed it was produced in 1964 as someone says about it on the web.

Nikon SB-28

A powerful, best choice speedlight for Nikon F100. It offers various features such as bounce flash capability, close-up shooting, built-in wide flash adaptor to cover to 18mm. In addition, the SB-28 fires Monitor Pre-flashes for 3D Multi-Sensor Balanced Fill-Flash for Nikon SLRs. A workhorse flash for Pro shooter.

Nikon F90X + MB10

Fast, accuracy and simple are all that I can say about this camera. F90X is trully a top of the line professional camera just behind F5 and F100. The body design is ergonomics like any Nikon pro-classic bodies. I add MB10 vertical grip to the body for better handling especially with the long lens. I found 3D matrix mettering and AF focus are great when comparing with N6006.

Nikon F100

Finally I have managed the budget for it and I

can now remove it from my wish list. I think I don't

need to say much because it's very famous to

know about. The F100 is so highly regarded that

Photo Technique Magazine chose it as the best

of its yearly (1999) top 25 bodies, which includes

all formats of cameras from APS to 8x10. Currently,

this is my most favourite camera for everyday use.

If you are still interested in, I recommend you to refer

some excellence reviews on the net. Just click here

or here or here.

Nikon 105mm f/2.8 Micro AF-D

This is a micro photography lens and it allows you to take photographs at a 1:1 reproduction ratio. Talking about the quality, I am more than happy with this lens because it delivers incredibly sharp pictures and enables me to capture extremely fine detail in a very close distance.

Slik Sprint Pro tripod

This tripod is light weight, compact and easy to use. 3 position adjustable angle legs for easy set up and secure with fast even on the uneven ground or steps. This tripod can easily handle a camera up to 2.5kg in weight.

Lowepro NOVA 3AW

A light, compact bag for medium SLR systems that's ideal for travel. It can hold up to 2 bodies, 3 or 4 lenses and accessories. It also has the all weather feature.

Nikon AF-S 80-200mm f/2.8 ED-IF

Large, heavy and expensive but outstanding

telephoto lens. It's weight over 1.5Kg and

cost around 1,500USD but it deservers to all

what your expectation. This is extremely sharp

lens. It has no chromatic aberration and very

few distortion. Many sport photographers love

this lens because focus action is very fast and

silent as it features the linear motor internally.

I'm personally like this lens but sometimes I

find it too bunkly to drag around. Any how it's

a best telephoto zoom at any price.

Nikon AIS 28mm f/2.0

The Nikkor 28mm f2.0 is great for low-light

photography and yields outstandingly sharp

photos. A beautiful wide-angle lens that allows

the photographer to take advantage of low

illumination. This lens uses Nikon's Close-Range

Correction (CRC) system providing high

resolution at both near and far focusing distances

and has Nikon's SIC multi-coating for superior

photos, made with virtually no distortion, with

sharp resolution, minimal flare, and excellent

color rendition. You know it is one among the best trio wide angle Nikon comprise of 24mm f/2.0, 28mm f/2.0, 35mm f/1.4.

Nikon Coolpix 5700

Company provided camera. A prosumer 5.0 Megapixel digital camera. A portable camera which allows you to grap shot in the place you can not bring a big camera or even in the business trip. You can see some pictures in this website produced by this camera.

Nikon D100

Finally I can own a trully digital SLR hence I can

utilize almost my lens kit with it. The feel of this

camera is professional enough to use with the

long lens eventhough it is based on F80 design.

Image quality is excellent in the 6.1 Megapixels,

good color and very high contrast. It capable to

power up instantly that mean always allows you

ready to shot at anytime.

Equipment I have used

Nikon EL2

Nikon FM2N

Nikkor AI 28mm f/2.8

Nikkor AI 50mm f/1.8

Nikkor AIS 35-70mm f/3.3-4.5

Nikkor AIS 85mm f/2

This fast short telephoto was a favourite for Nikon users. People will recognise this lens as the one featured in the famous portraiture. It rendered sharp images and a pleasing colour saturation. Acceptably sharp even wide open, it got really into its stride around f/4 and exhibited excellent image quality and contrast up to f/8 or so.

Nikon N6006

I bought this camera in 2002 and very please with it. This is my first Nikon AF camera and I find the spot and matrix metering are excellence. It's a very dependable and rugged camera. Operation is easy, especially great for landscape photography. Many times I take pictures at sea, with sand coming everywhere, but the N6006 takes it all. I agree with someone that this is slow AF and noisiest camera but it doesn't bother me at all. It's no longer in my kit from 2003 as I traded it for the better one F90X.

Metz 32Z1 flash gun

A poweful flash with 3 auto modes, zoom head cover 28-85mm range. It's easy to use and always produces a good image when I need flash, even with boucing. Because it's not a Nikon dedicate flash, so I finally trade it for the Nikon SB 50DX which I can exploit many advantages in flash technology that Nikon provides such as TTL, balance fill, 3D flash.

Nikon AF-N 75-300mm f/4.5-5.6

Bought it for short time only. I used this lens for portraiture work. I could deliver good sharpness and contrast. However one thing a don't like on this lens is about the small aperture that may cause difficulty when focus in dim light.

Nikon SB-50DX

A compact, multi-function autofocus speedlight for the Nikon digital and film camera.

Nikon F Photomic FTN

Sold after 6 months purchasing. Actually I don't shot any picture with it. The Nikon F was the first Nikon SLR professinal and it was brought the fame to Nikon during the late 60's. It has really created a landmark for the SLR history.

Nikon F3/T

Traded it for digital SLR camera kit.

Tokina AT-X PRO 28-80mm f/2.8

Very nice lens. It almost similar a Nikon pro-lens with affordable price. It was my favourite lens for some time in the past but now it is no longer belong to my kit.

Canon EOS 300D

I have struggled so much against my mind before I decide invest into Canon Digital equipment. You know, Canon is the trend settle for the digital with the innovation of CMOS technology. Therefore it delivers extremely low noise and clear image over Nikon. Of course everyone always know the quality of Nikon lens obviously but for the digital, technology will be the winner. Finally, I traded some Nikon AF for this stuff.

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

Buy this lens for the above Canon digital camera but frankly speaking I dont' like the build of this camera, feel like much flasticity.

My wish list

I will get these equipments when the budget permits :)

Nikon AFS Zoom ED-IF 12-24mm f/4G DX

Nikkor AF 10.5mm f/2.8G DX Fisheye ED

Nikkor AFS Zoom ED-IF 17-35mm f/2.8

Nikon SB 800DX Speedlight

Favourite Links

Equipments review

Dan Nielsen's Lens advise (mostly Nikkor)

Nikon SLR Guide (Subjective advice by Stephen Gandy)