It is ‘seeing’ a picture that really counts, not the type of equipment you choose to accomplish its capture.

My late friend, colleague and former business partner Robin Adshead (below left) was frequently asked by aspiring defence photographers, “What is the best camera to use to get great military photographs?”

“f/8 and be there!” was his acerbic response. You’re always going to miss that great image if you haven’t got a camera, but even with a humble Box Brownie, or its digital equivalent, you are streets ahead of the man (or woman) with nothing.

Whilst using a wide range of equipment over the years, my constant companions have always been Nikon cameras. Why? Well, they have always been built to very high standards and just go on working, whatever is thrown at them. I’ve only broken two, but then no camera can survive being shot or dropped from a helicopter on to a tank like my Nikon F2 Photomic with MD-1 Motor Drive, below.

Starting with a Nikon F, followed by a Nikon F Photomic FTn with the ubiquitous F-36 Motor Drive (above), through the F2, F4 and F5 range of film cameras (bypassing the F3 which I never really liked) to my first digital Nikon, a fantastically expensive 1.2 mega-pixel E2, I’ve used or owned a large part of the range of Nikon equipment. Lately I've been tempted by the nostalgia groups to dip my toes back into the film market. I briefly found a degree of solace there before all the memories of why I hated film so much came flooding back. You can see what I thought of it here and here.

Today, I use two full-frame Nikon Z 9 camera bodies, along with a back-up pair of Nikon Z 6 bodies (which I intend to replace with the new and improved Z 6III), along with a range of Z mount lenses; the NIKKOR Z 14-30mm f/4 S-Line, the NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S-Line, the NIKKOR Z 28-135mm f/4 PZ, the NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.4, the NIKKOR Z MC 50mm f/2.8, the NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.8 S-Line, the NIKKOR Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S-Line, the NIKKOR Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S-Line and the NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3. I've also added a Nikon Z Teleconverter TC-1.4x as well as three superb Viltrox Z-mount lenses; the 16mm f/1.8, the 20mm f/2.8 and the 28mm f/1.8. Fleshing out the line up are a pair of Nikon FTZ Adapters and a old Fisheye-NIKKOR AF 16mm f/2.8D lens.

Additionally, I have the outstanding Nikon LS8000 Super Coolscan (now sadly long out of production) for scanning 35mm and roll film, hooked up to an ancient Apple PowerMac G5/1.6 which allows me to run the legacy software essential for this scanner, although I seldom use it. I also have an ancient, but highly efficient, Bowens Illumitran slide copier fitted with a 1965 Micro-NIKKOR C 55mm f/3.5 lens that, with either a Nikon Z 6 or Z 9 body fitted, actually produces better digital files from transparencies than the CoolScan and certainly much, much faster!

Pixel T6 wireless remote triggers, Nikon Speedlights, Nikon Remote Control units, two 3 Legged Thing tripods, each with a Manfrotto MVH500AH Video Tripod Head fitted with a Kirk Quick Release Bridge System BQRV2, a DJI Ronin RS3 Pro gimbal with all the bells and whistles, an ancient but highly prized Mazof VISII Camera Trigger and various accessories are packed in Shimoda Action X40, Think Tank Airport Acceleration V2.0, Lowepro Pro Trekker 400 AW or Peli cases, which are all outstanding items of kit. Once I am at my final destination the kit often gets moved into mundane looking Domke bags or rucksacks.

Where I get my kit from is also important I feel. There are any number of impersonal on-line stores, which are great for everyday basic items, but nothing beats personal service in my book, even if you pay a little extra for it. Grays of Westminster provide exclusively Nikon with expert guidance from Gray Levett and his brilliant - some might say eccentric - staff, are the undisputed cream of the crop in the UK, in my considered opinion. Wex Photo-Video in Bristol look after my everyday non-Nikon photographic requirements, whilst KEH Camera in the USA offers really outstanding service for the secondhand market.

But remember, that is purely my personal preference. All the major manufacturers offer superb equipment; the skill is in knowing how to use it to achieve your, and your clients' goals.

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Nikon