equipment

Paul W. Baker

Cromer Pier – Worth Every Mile!

O yes I did, o yes! And it was just stunning. The 5+ hour drive up to Norfolk went by surprisingly quickly, although quite how I don’t know. I was stuck in traffic, held up by accidents, and crawling through the endless roadworks.

But despite all of that, I got there — and Cromer Pier did not disappoint. Ooo she is a beauty!

I initially met up with Andrew Banner, a really nice guy, a very talented vlogger on YouTube, and photographer/videographer with a great eye. More than that, he’s just a good man to chat with — especially when the conversation turns to all things photography.

A sneak preview of Cromer – taken with the DJI Mini Pro 4

There’s something about Cromer Pier that draws you in. The structure, the sea, the atmosphere — it all combines to create something timeless. Standing there with my camera in hand, and after talking shop with Andrew, I was reminded once again why I love these long trips so much.

Sometimes, the journey is a test of patience, but the destination makes every minute worthwhile. Cromer Pier was one of those moments — the kind that lingers long after the shutter clicks.

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Paul W. Baker

How many cameras do you need??

It is a known fact that I love to own NIKON cameras and lenses, well they are exceptionally high quality so why wouldn’t I be?

Today I went out to have some breakfast after our weekly too early in the morning meeting. Before I sat down to eat a reasonably healthy breakfast I decided I should call in at one of my my favourite shops London Camera Exchange.

I started to look at some of their lenses and other equipment that were for sale mentioning my desire for a camera purely to do the occasional time lapse, so I looked at the second hand cameras that were for sale.

NIKON Z50 shouting my name

About 5 minutes later I left, with a new camera under my arm, I mean how many cameras can a man use? The Z50 did look lonely and I clearly heard it calling my name so I clearly had to, yes, had to buy that camera.

I had to explain the purchase to my wife, she doesn’t care to be fair, but that question ‘how many cameras do you need’ did pass her lips but thankfully we were distracted by the breakfast that was placed before us and all was forgiven.

Paul W. Baker

Lyndhurst in Dorset.

To celebrate my wife’s birthday (which is actually tomorrow) we took a trip to the majestic town of Lyndhurst in Dorset and I, as I always do, took a camera along for the day out.

The NIKON 1

The camera wasn’t the normal Nikon Z8 but the much smaller though very capable NIKON 1, a small 10 Pixel (or there about’s) camera.

I took the NIKON 1 as it is lighter, could be kept in my pocket and is perfect for those recce trips out when with the family at such stunning locations.

Lens wise, I only took the 10-30mm lens, again very capable and just right for what I had in mind for this trip.

I didn’t take too many, but you get an idea of the treats available on the right day to all having a camera by their side. Below are three of the photographs taken on the trip. Please share your thoughts below.

Paul W. Baker

Evolution

I have decided to sell a couple of my lenses to MPB, very sad really.

Landscape photography, a demanding craft that hinges on precision and vision, often entails tough decisions when it comes to gear selection.

The weight of each piece of equipment can be a burden, prompting photographers to carefully curate their kit for each outing.

Today, I bid farewell to the 70-200mm F2.8 lens, along with its trusty X2 teleconverter, as I own both the 100-400mm and the 70-200mm lenses.

Parting with the 70-200mm F2.8 was a poignant moment for me; its exceptional clarity and performance have left an indelible mark on my photographic journey.

This separation echoes the regret I still feel from letting go of the remarkable 50mm F1.2 in 2023.While the loss is palpable, adapting to new equipment is an inevitable part of growth in this pursuit.