I bought my first 35 mm SLR film camera in the mid 1970’s (1975?). It was a Minolta SRT 201. I took B&W pictures using Kodak Plus-X and Tri-X film and developed them in the basement of my parent’s house using my Dad’s darkroom equipment. Suddenly, I was able to capture snapshots of my teenaged friends and share them the very next day. Back then, everyone had to take the film canisters to a local Camera or Drug Store chain to develop the film. it took a week at best to receive your prints.

In the mid-1980’s, I purchased a used Canon AE-1 SLR from a friend of my Father-in-Law. The camera came with additional lenses, a flash unit and filters. This kit offered more focal length options beyond the typical 50mm lens and I added a compact Canon 70-210mm lens (?) later.

When digital cameras entered the market, I bought an Olympus 8MP camera in the 1990’s. Picture quality was lousy but I could bypass film development and share snapshots directly with my friends via SD Card or across the web. In 2008, I invested in a Canon G9 Powershot 12 MP digital camera. It was my 1st “real” digital camera able to capture respectable images for printing or the web. Most of the pictures on this site were taken with the G9. For 18 years, I’ve appreciated its compact size and versatility of the 35 mm to 210 mm lens. It has been and continues to be my “Grab and Go” camera wherever I travel.

In March of 2026, I allowed myself to purchase a new “grown up” digital camera. During my research, I seriously considered the enticing Super Zoom cameras like the Canon SX-60 that my brother, Kev owned. I also considered used DSLR options. Steve, my boyhood best friend, urged me to choose a camera body with a minimum of an APS-C sensor size (Thanks Steve). I further read that both Super Zoom and DSLR product lines were being phased out and mirrorless camera sales were on the rise. I chose a forward-looking mirrorless (APS-C) Canon R50. Available lenses were limited but newer options were promised. The basic kit came with a Canon 18-45mm lens. I added a budget-conscious, Canon 100-400mm (IS) zoom lens to my new kit.

Transitioning from the 2008 Canon G9 to the 2026 Canon R50 has been straightforward. Although there are many more programing options, navigating through the broader menus is intuitive and familiar. I’m learning to adjust to the known light restrictions of the Canon f/5.6-f/8, 100-400mm lens. Regaining the use of an actual through the lens viewfinder (now EVF) after 18 years has also been a great relief. I’m sure, Kathy from the “Hills” agrees. The days of sun glare on a fixed, low-res display are resolved. Here are some of my first attempts to capture life through the mirrorless lens. The images in this post are mostly limited to experiments with the 100-400mm zoom lens and are somewhat mundane. I’m concentrating on rudimentary exposure and clarity issues at this point.

Fur

Feathers

Scales

Insects

Foliage

Miscellaneous