Rick Waldroup
Active Member
The title is just a play on words.
Back in the 70's, I worked for several newspapers and magazines and shot mostly Nikon 35mm cameras. I shot 35mm rangefinder cameras for most of my personal work.
Then, sometime in the 80's, I switched gears and became an architectural photographer (the money was much better than press work), and I moved to medium format and large format cameras. I mostly used a Toyo 4x5 system, and for even larger work I used a Wista 8x10.
Then, I changed direction again and moved back to press work in the early 2000's. I went back to shooting Nikon's, but this time they were DSLR's.
About 5 years ago I was really getting tired of lugging around the heavy Nikon gear and sold everything and invested in the 4/3 system. After a couple of years of that, I sold all of that gear and finally moved to the micro 4/3 system. And this is what I am currently shooting now.
While there are some limitations as compared to shooting the Nikon gear, for the stuff I shoot now, the micro 4/3 system is just about perfect. I simply had to learn how to work within the few limitations I encountered when I first moved to the micro 4/3 cameras.
My entire system now fits in a relatively small shoulder bag and for street and documentary work, this system performs admirably.
Lumix GF-1
Lumix GX-1
Lenses - Panansonic 20mm 1.7, Panasonic 14mm 2.5, Olympus 12-50 zoom, Olympus 45mm 1.8, Holga 25mm f8, a Wanderlust pinhole lens, a C mount TV lens, and finally a Panasonic 45-200 zoom for some reach. I do not carry the big zoom with me all the time, as I shoot mostly with wide angle lenses.
I also have the new Olympus bodycap lens on order and it should be arriving any day now.
I just a acquired a Sony voice recorder which I now will be carrying with me and will be using for a new project involving street photography.
I have a Vivitar flash that I do not carry with me all the time, as I rarely ever use flash anymore and in a pinch I can always use the built-in flash on the camera bodies.
Throw in a few odds and ends- a notepad and pen, my Kindle, spare batteries, memory cards, etc....and I have managed to put together a kit that fits in a very slim, lightweight Lowepro Photo Runner 100 bag.
The entire kit weights about 8 pounds. For that much gear in such a small bag and for that weight, this is simply the best solution I have found for what I currently shoot.
I do not pine for the days at all when I shot larger, heavier gear. Not one bit.....


Back in the 70's, I worked for several newspapers and magazines and shot mostly Nikon 35mm cameras. I shot 35mm rangefinder cameras for most of my personal work.
Then, sometime in the 80's, I switched gears and became an architectural photographer (the money was much better than press work), and I moved to medium format and large format cameras. I mostly used a Toyo 4x5 system, and for even larger work I used a Wista 8x10.
Then, I changed direction again and moved back to press work in the early 2000's. I went back to shooting Nikon's, but this time they were DSLR's.
About 5 years ago I was really getting tired of lugging around the heavy Nikon gear and sold everything and invested in the 4/3 system. After a couple of years of that, I sold all of that gear and finally moved to the micro 4/3 system. And this is what I am currently shooting now.
While there are some limitations as compared to shooting the Nikon gear, for the stuff I shoot now, the micro 4/3 system is just about perfect. I simply had to learn how to work within the few limitations I encountered when I first moved to the micro 4/3 cameras.
My entire system now fits in a relatively small shoulder bag and for street and documentary work, this system performs admirably.
Lumix GF-1
Lumix GX-1
Lenses - Panansonic 20mm 1.7, Panasonic 14mm 2.5, Olympus 12-50 zoom, Olympus 45mm 1.8, Holga 25mm f8, a Wanderlust pinhole lens, a C mount TV lens, and finally a Panasonic 45-200 zoom for some reach. I do not carry the big zoom with me all the time, as I shoot mostly with wide angle lenses.
I also have the new Olympus bodycap lens on order and it should be arriving any day now.
I just a acquired a Sony voice recorder which I now will be carrying with me and will be using for a new project involving street photography.
I have a Vivitar flash that I do not carry with me all the time, as I rarely ever use flash anymore and in a pinch I can always use the built-in flash on the camera bodies.
Throw in a few odds and ends- a notepad and pen, my Kindle, spare batteries, memory cards, etc....and I have managed to put together a kit that fits in a very slim, lightweight Lowepro Photo Runner 100 bag.
The entire kit weights about 8 pounds. For that much gear in such a small bag and for that weight, this is simply the best solution I have found for what I currently shoot.
I do not pine for the days at all when I shot larger, heavier gear. Not one bit.....


Last edited: