Summer

Nikon D2Xs with a Nikkor 28mm f/2 AI lens, made circa 1981, and said by Bjørn Rørslett to be excellent for DX, FX, and on film. Rørslett commented that the lens offers outstandingly sharp images and these are produced at all aperture settings from f/2 to f/8. Rørslett found it unusually resistant to flare and ghosting and eminently suitable for shooting directly into the sun.

Nikon D2Xs set at 100 ISO with a Nikkor 50mm f/2 AI lens. The "Japanese Summicron".

A photograph taken almost five years ago. It does not seem so long, but the EXIF data does not lie. This is a fresh edit,using the old version of PicMonkey, an application which will sometimes do quickly what other programs take longer to accomplish, and which occasionally will do what other programs seemingly cannot do at all.

Fujinon 55mm f/2.2 lens on a Canon EOS 30D.

I used an AF Zoom-Nikkor 70-300mm f/4-5.6 G lens bought secondhand for about £60 (do not confuse this lens with the later, more expensive, VR version). Optically, it is a decent lens within its limitations, and its chief weakness is degradation beyond 200mm. Here I had it at 300mm because I was a long way distant. The picture also suffers from being strongly cropped and over-processed. But it is a picture nonetheless. One other thing about the AF Zoom-Nikkor 70-300mm f/4-5.6 G - it is flimsy and light in weight. At least you don't get backache carrying it around. But treat it carefully if you buy one.

Canon EOS 30D and 18-55mm kit lens. Bought for £88 in 2015. Digital photography need not be an expensive hobby.

Lens: Tamron SP 35mm f/1.8.

The cult of Sydney continues. Here, on a whim, I processed the earlier colour version into black and white. I always find this so much more satisfying than attempting to convert black and white into colour.

Nikon D2Xs + Tamron 70-210mm f/2.8 LD SP (67DN) lens. This lens was made from 1992 until 2003.

So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

The D2X and D2Xs were Nikon's last professional grade DSLR cameras using the APS-C format, which Nikon badged 'DX'. They were in production between 2004 and 2007 with the final year being the 's' variant, although the update changed little. They were essentially the same and you can get one now for about £250 (2022). I got mine secondhand in 2011 and it is the one camera I am never going to sell or give away. Sometimes you just get lucky and find the product that seems a perfect fit. Set at 100 ISO results can be sublime. Beyond 400 ISO they can be - and often are - dreadful. This is a camera for which you need decent light and fast lenses. Nikon D2Xs and Tamron 35mm f/1.8 lens. 100 ISO. F/1.8. 1/500th.

Only red and pink, she said. Fujifilm X-E1 with Fujinon XF 35mm f/1.4 R lens.

Something to gaze upon as the winter months approach. On a nice bright day it's great to get the depth of field of f/11 aperture.

Nikon D2Xs with a Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 at 50mm. L to R: Man with a brochure; girl with a hat; woman with a sad face; man with a guitar (perhaps).

No sign of the Delrons on this occasion. They may have been given shore leave.

Kennet and Avon Canal, Bath. Thanks to the man for being a good sport. Nikon D2Xs and Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 lens. This is a selective enlargement. The 17-50mm type of lens suits wide-angle work rather than portraiture. I frequently wanted more telephoto and had to crop in post-processing. These days I get on better with a 18-200mm zoom.

Nikon D2Xs and Tokina AT-X 50-135mm f/2.8 PRO DX AF lens.

Nikon D2Xs and Tokina AT-X 50-135mm f/2.8 PRO DX AF lens.