Trying to remember how it all began, but here goes…

Maybe the little spark that ignited all this was an old Sony DSC P100. At that time, it was neat, nothing fancy. But a friend from university had that camera for a while but as he told me, it started to “be a little smallish”. It was good but not enough. So he was trying to sell it and asked me if I wanted it, for a nice price, 2nd hand, good condition, as a friend, so it was a bargain. Can’t remember how much, it was around 2003 or something.

After the P100, I also had his problem. I started to like photography and got my hands on a new Sony DSC H20. Better, bigger. Still no interchangeable lenses, but I ordered the official ring adapter to use a lens converter on top as well as 58 mm filters.

Meanwhile I went through some finantial issues and had to sell this H20. I think the P100 was also sold with it.

In 2010 I bought the Sony A500, new. Now with this camera, I started to shoot weddings. No joke. I’ve shot a few weddings with this old crop camera. People liked the photos. Period. Moving on to the next. Need to say I also bought a few lenses after this camera: it included the stock 18-55 and I also got the 75-300, then the 50 mm 1.8 prime, all brand new.

Later, I found the cheapest Sigma 10-20 lens for sale. For the minolta mount. My cameras’ mount. I just had to buy it for 150€. It’s in great condition, auto-focus works (not 100%, but still ok).

A few years after, in 2017, I bought the Sony A77II. Yes, you get the point. I love Sonys. This was one of my biggest upgrades, altough it was also crop size, I knew I could use the same batteries and lenses I already had, so it was an excelent deal. I bought the body only at a huge special campaign and I paid around 800€ for it. New.

Recently I have been shooting and working on a bit on video too, so I looked around in the used market for a small camera that allowed me to expand somehow. I came across a used Sony RX100 IV, and this little toy packs a lot of power. Yes, it is not a video camera, but I figured it was a good opportunity to have a nice little camera, since my other 2 cameras are bulky, both with grips. I bought the RX100 with 3 batteries and good it was this way, the lightweight little batteries last almost nothing. And the charger has slot for 1 only. Still, it gives great selfies with the 180º tilting screen, goes by as a “point and shoot” so I don’t get bothered in places where I am not supposed to have a photoshoot or something, and it creates raw files, allows for absolute creative control like the ISO, aperture, shutter speed, you name it. As a true DSLR. Just pocket-size. And it records 4K video. It had a small price tag, but I guess it was due to the unawareness of the previous owner…

After a few years of using, my A77II started to wear off. A LOT. Rubbers falling apart, the lcd screen stopped working, and today it counts around 170.000 clicks. Its my war-camera. So I wanted to treat it nicely with a new lcd. I bought a new one, but it didn’t solve the problem. I bought a new flat cable. Nothing. I was about to buy the motherboard and install it myself, when I see some guy selling an almost new Sony A7. First generation. Cheap due to having a small scratch on the bottom, near the tripod thread, but nothing else that could affect the quality overall. So I bought it and in the following weeks, I got lenses for it, the 28-70 and the 50 mm 1.8. Again, another big upgrade, this time to the full frame thing.

Now back to my main objective of shooting and… and… Guess what I find again in the markeplace? A Sony MC50. It was such a perfect camera for my needs: working 100% without issues, with cables, microphone and cheap. I got another member for my family.

Now I don’t have any more camera or lens to add. I’m done.

Jokes aside, I’m looking for a telephoto lens now for the A7. My problem is their price. Everything I find has an insane price, and I don’t earn enough to buy gear every month. Thats why I bought so much used cameras, altough I prefer to buy them new due to warranty issues.

Other parts I’ve got meanwhile:

An LCD screen to attach to the MC50 when recording. My tripod reaches 2 m in height, so I need an extra screen to double check the footage and make sure everything is in focus.

A 500 mm Vivitar lens with Pentax mount. Lucky I already had a converter because I bought it a few years back when my uncle gave me his old Pentax with 2 lenses.

Trigger / timer and remote for the A7. All in one.

The K&F Tripod.

Also looking for a huge bag I can use to fit a bit of almost everything and have in my car’s trunk. 3 bags / backpacks are starting to get smaller for all this…