I use two major sets of equipment: one SLR camera that I use less and less frequently and reserve for my "serious" photography, and a point-and-shoot digital camera.

SLR - Nikon F601

I bought the F601 in early 1998 when I started getting into photography. It was my first "real" camera of my own. Until then, I had just used an idiot-proof Minolta, and before that, my father's 20-year-old fully manual Yashica from before the days of SLR.

The F601 (known as the N6006 in the US) is an AF SLR with a multi function built-in Speedlight (GN:13) that can even handle matrix balance fill flash. Available metering systems include Matrix, Center-weighted and spot metering. The shutter speed range is an impressive 30 sec - 1/2000 sec, but top sync speed is a weaker 1/125 sec. The automatic film advance is the weakest part of the camera, as it has only a 2 fps rate.

Bundled with the camera was a standard Nikkor 35-80mm AF lens, 4-5.6D. This lens was fine for basic photography, but I needed something a bit more powerful and flexible for anything serious, so a couple of years later I picked up Nikon's 70-300mm zoom lens with their new ED glass. This lens has turned out to be quite a good addition. Super-accurate autofocus (even if it is a bit slow and occasionally can't seem to make up its mind) and crystal-clear glass make for superb photographs.

Finally, although the built-in microflash is fine for casual photographs at parties and what-not, it suffers from the same problems as all other built-in flashes; namely, red-eye, insuficient strength for subjects further than a few feet away, etc. For this reason, I bought the Nikon SB28 Speedlight. It's powerful, light, the power cycles fast (it can easily keep up with the F601's 2 fps speed at normal levels), and has a TTL zoom feature (24-85mm) that unfortunately is not supported by the F601 (which means I have to zoom the flash using the controls on the flash itself). Also unfortunately, the TTL feature does not seem to work with the new Digital SLR bodies from Nikon, so if I do decide to upgrade to one of those great bodies, I'll have to resort to the standard A mode on the flash .

 

Digital - Canon Elph PowerShot SD300

I bought the 4 megapixel SD300 in early November, 2004 to replace my old S400 which, I'm sad to say, died a horrific death by beach sand. The Canon Elphs are notorious for not being able to handle small particles which lodge themselves inside the lens housing, preventing the lens from extending and generating the dreaded E18 error.

So far, I'm absolutely thrilled with this camera. It's TINY and yet still has a 3X optical zoom, the autofocus is fast and accurate, the delay between pressing the shutter button when you want to to take the shot and the camera actually taking the shot is minimal, the LCD screen is HUGE and bright, the video features are great, and the menus are easy to navigate. I'd recommend it in a heartbeat. I'll let you know how it stands up to the beach. The guy from Henry's, though, suggests putting it in a ziplock baggy if you're going to go anywhere sandy.