Press, action, wildlife, the driving forces that continually move forward photography.
Folding 10×8 single shot cameras were used by the press at first, then as technology moved on cameras and film got smaller and smaller.
Large format press cameras went from single frame to double sided film holders, enabling a camera man to get two shots quickly.
Medium format came along, smaller and lighter, and amazingly twelve frames available on those twin lens press cameras.
Leica revolutionised photography with the invention of 35mm film photography. For press and action. , this meant smaller lighter cameras and thirty six shots to a roll. The small rangefinder became king.
With the Korean War western photojournalists were mixing with colleagues from the east who had these new fangled Japanese SLR’s. The Nikon F was for its day small light, had a vast array of lens available to it and could take a beating.
From then on Japanese 35mm SLR ruled the day.
Now with rumours flying of the end of production of the SLR and its lens, it will like the Leica M rangefinder become a niche product, as the world again moves on to mirrorless. With video now being a key part of news mirrorless cameras make more sense, and with cameras like the Canon R3, Nikon Z9, sports and news photographers have mirrorless options that can match and some would argue now beat the best SLR’s out there.
Some will always prefer the optical viewfinder, as do I with my Leica M10, but when shooting fashion my Nikon Z7 has become my camera of choice.
