Brent Flint Photography

I’ve been shooting now for about 32 years, and in that time I’ve used a lot of different equipment and what I use today is an evolution of needs and compromises. I have to admit, I am an equipment junkie. I have lots of cameras that don’t even have a practical use anymore, but I keep them for sentimental reasons or that I consider them to be collector items. Most are old film cameras and a lot of those don’t even have available film sizes anymore. I think it says something that while digital cameras can be considered “out of date” within a year after their release, most of these old film cameras actually outlasted their medium.

I think its also important to point out the fact that it really isn't about the equipment. I’ve shot with everything from a 4X5 to a cell phone and what really matters is being in the right place at the right time and knowing how to use the tools in hand to capture the moment. I’m not going to say that a cell phone is a great camera, but they are a lightweight option with reasonable quality. When something is lightweight, you have more of a tendency to actually bring it with you, and when a moment happens, you at least have an opportunity to capture it.

I don’t have a lot of money to spend on equipment, so when I do buy something, its usually because I’ve done lots of research about what I think its worth to me in the long run. I like things that are built well and have good quality, but I’m also looking for value. Lenses keep their value. They are still a good investment. Digital cameras, however, are a horrible investment. Its like a new car that depreciates as soon as you drive it off the lot. Not only do the changes in technologies immediately outdate them, but electronics are thought of as “disposable” in our society. I think of digital cameras as “film cost”. They have taken the place of what you would have paid for several years of film and processing.

Here’s what I’m currently using…

DIGITAL

Canon EOS R5, 6D, and 7D camera bodies

Rokinon 14mm f/2.8

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4 L USM

Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM macro

Canon EF 300mm f/4 L USM

Canon EF 400mm f/5.6 L USM

Canon EF 500mm f/4 L IS USM

Canon EF 1.4x II teleconverter

My “ultralight” hiking/cycling setup consists of…

Pentax K-50 camera body

Pentax SMC-F 24-50mm f/4

Pentax SMC-F 300mm f/4.5

Sigma APO 70-300mm f/4-5.6 macro

FILM ( I've been using it again)

Large format-

Toyo 45AX 4X5 field camera

Caltar/Schnider 65mm f/8

Rodenstock 75mm f/4.5

Caltar/Rodenstock 150mm f.6.3

I sometimes shoot this camera with the addition of a Wista 6X9cm roll film back for economy and it's crop factor with the above lenses.

For lightweight 4X5 excursions, I use a Zone VI (Tachihara) wooden field camera along with a Caltar/Schnider 135mm f/5.6.

Medium format-

YashicaMat 124 twin lens reflex camera with built-in 80mm lens

Hasselblad 500C with a Carl Zeiss Planar 80mm f/2.8 lens

Films I am currently using include Fujichrome Velvia 100 and Fujichrome Provia 100 for color and Ilford Delta 100 for black and white.

As for accessories, I use a Canon Speedlite 430EX II, a Kenko Extension tube set, and occasionally Tiffen or Hoya filters.

I still carry most stuff in my old Tamrac 787 photo backpack. For lighter trips I use a LowePro Slingshot 202 AW. Lighter still is a LowePro Orion fannypack. Large format equipment is carried in a Cabela's Alaskan frame backpack with Tenba BYOB inserts.

I have many tripods, but my workhorses are the Really Right Stuff Versa 34L, a small, lightweight Neewer tripod, and an old Gitzo 410 with an ancient Wimberly gimbal head.

Since the images on this site span such a long period, other equipment used in the past (and present) include…

Canon EOS-1N film camera, Canon EOS Rebel XTi, Canon EOS Rebel SL1, Canon EF-S 18-55mm, Canon Powershot S5 IS, Canon S100 Digital Elph, and Canon Powershot Elph 360HS.

Pentax LX, K-1000, and ZX-L film cameras, and Pentax *istDS digital camera all used with the above mentioned Pentax & Sigma lenses, plus Pentax SMC 55mm & Pentax SMC-M 100mm macro lenses. Vivitar extension tubes (Pentax mount)

Lubitel 166-U twin lens reflex film camera (75mm built-in lens) (120 roll film)

Apple iPhone 5c and iPhone 8