Camera & Studio Equipment — Edward Olive Photography

At edwardolive.info, we combine ultra-high-resolution digital technology with an aesthetic and technical foundation forged in traditional analog photography. While our current commercial workflow is 100% digital and we no longer shoot with film cameras on active assignments, our artistic vision, mastery of lighting, and approach to color and black-and-white tones stem directly from years of developing and printing in our own traditional darkroom.

Today, we channel that chemical heritage into recreating the atmosphere, organic grain, tonal contrast, and soul of classic film directly onto the files captured by our modern digital sensors.

1. Primary High-Resolution Digital System (Sony Full Frame)

For commercial photography, high-end studio portraiture, fashion editorials, and book covers where pinpoint detail and wide dynamic range are paramount:

• Primary Camera Body: Sony a7R IV (62-megapixel back-illuminated full-frame sensor), delivering extraordinary resolution, micro-contrast, and fine-art texture.
• Full-Frame Lenses (E/FE Mount):
  • Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8 Di III RXD and Tamron 28-200mm f/2.8-5.6 Di III RXD for versatile editorial and location work.
  • Sony FE 35mm f/1.8 and Sony SEL 50mm f/1.8 for natural depth separation in portraiture.
  • Samyang AF 24mm f/1.8 FE (low-light and astrophotography) and Samyang AF 45mm f/1.8 FE.
  • Viltrox 16mm f/1.8 FE and Viltrox 20mm f/2.8 FE ultra-wide primes.
  • Manual K&F Concept Lens Adapters: Allowing us to mount our classic Canon EF lenses and vintage Minolta Rokkor (MD/MC) glass onto the 62MP full-frame sensor.

2. Fujifilm X System: In-Camera Double Exposure & Film Simulations

The Fujifilm ecosystem is our signature creative tool for expressive portraiture, fashion, and visual experimentation:

• Camera Bodies: Fujifilm X-T5, Fujifilm X-T50, Fujifilm X-E5, Fujifilm X-H2, and Fujifilm X-HF1.
• X-Mount & Adapted Vintage Lenses:
  • Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD, Viltrox 15mm f/1.7, TTartisan AF 35mm f/1.8 II, and manual Meike lenses (6.5mm f/2.0 circular fisheye, 7.5mm f/2.8, and 85mm f/1.8).
  • Adapted Vintage Optics (M42 & Minolta MD/MC): Classic M42 screw-mount lenses (Super Takumar, Helios, Carl Zeiss Jena) and Minolta glass adapted to Fujifilm bodies to achieve a painterly character, organic flare, and distinctive bokeh.
• In-Camera Double Exposure & Color Science (Digital Analog Atmosphere):
  • We use Fujifilm cameras natively to create in-camera double exposures, layering silhouettes, highlights, and textures live during the shoot rather than relying on artificial post-production compositing.
  • The Roots of Our Film Look: Our understanding of color grading and monochrome contrast comes from years of hands-on learning and printing in our own darkroom, working with both color and black-and-white film across 35mm and medium format. Today, we apply that chemical intuition to our digital processing and Fujifilm film simulations—calibrating silver density, highlight roll-off, and subtle grain structure to reproduce an authentic, organic film atmosphere digitally.

3. Video & Audiovisual Production (Sony ZV-E10)

For 4K video production, behind-the-scenes features, interviews, and studio content:

• Video Camera: Sony Alpha ZV-E10 rigged with a SmallRig cage, continuous AC studio power, and the Sony GP-VPT2BT wireless Bluetooth shooting grip.
• Video Lenses: Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary, Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary, Sony E 11mm f/1.8, and the 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 power zoom.

4. Analog Heritage: The Film Cameras That Shaped Our Craft

Although no longer part of our active commercial kit, our studio preserves the legacy—and much of the collection—of the analog equipment we used for weddings, portraiture, and fine art over the years:

• Medium Format (120 / 220):
  • Hasselblad 500C/M (multiple bodies) with 15 interchangeable film backs (A12, A24, A16, and A16s) and legendary Carl Zeiss T* lenses (Planar 80mm f/2.8, Biometar 50mm f/4, Sonnar 120mm f/4, Sonnar 150mm f/4, and Sonnar 250mm f/5.6).
  • Mamiya M645 1000s with 120/220 inserts and Mamiya Sekor C lenses (80mm f/1.9, 80mm f/2.8, 45mm f/2.8, 50mm f/2.8, 150mm f/4, and 210mm f/4).
  • Pentacon Six TL with Carl Zeiss Jena glass, Rolleiflex (Carl Zeiss Biometar 80mm f/3.5), and classic/toy medium format cameras including Agfa Isolette, Agfa Clack, Lomo Lubitel Universal, Pouva Start, Holga, Certo, Halina 6-4, Kodak Brownie Cresta, and an original Diana.
• 35mm Manual & Autofocus Systems:
  • Classic mechanical bodies including Honeywell Asahi Pentax Spotmatic SP II / SPF (paired with Super Takumar and Helios M42 lenses), Olympus OM-2 / OM-40, and Minolta X-300 / X-370.
  • Canon EOS 35mm Film Bodies (EOS 1, EOS 5, EOS 50, and EOS 300) alongside the Canon EF L-series and prime lens lineup.
  • Iconic rangefinders and compact cameras: Contax G1 (Green Label) with Carl Zeiss T* lenses, Leica CM, Leica Mini II, Contax T2, Contax TVS II, Olympus mju-II / Stylus Epic, Olympus XA-2 / XA-4, Fujifilm Natura Black, Lomo LC-A, Lomo Smena, and the half-frame Olympus Pen.

5. The Traditional Darkroom

The core of our technical training took place under safelights, working with enlargers and chemical baths:

• Enlarger & Lab Optics:
  • Kaiser-Fototechnik VCP 6005 color and black-and-white enlarger equipped with reference-grade laboratory lenses: Schneider-Kreuznach APO-Componon 50mm f/2.8 and Rodenstock (APO-Rodagon HM 45mm, APO-Rodagon N 80mm, Rodagon WA 40mm/60mm, and Rodagon 105mm f/5.6).
• Chemical Film & Paper Processing:
  • Nova temperature-controlled 3-tank dip-and-dunk processor for C-41 color negative and E-6 slide transparency film (35mm, 120, and 220), alongside Paterson System 4 developing tanks.
  • Nova 30x40cm slot processors for fiber-based black-and-white prints and Nova Club 4-slot processors for color prints, paired with vacuum and LPL easels, a Silverprint archival fiber print washer, Zone VI drying screens, and a dry-mounting press.

6. Studio & Location Lighting

• Studio Strobes & Wireless Control: Godox 2.4GHz wireless system (Godox AD200Pro, AD100Pro, and Godox X3 / X3 Pro touchscreen triggers) alongside Bowens Gemini Pro studio monolights with portable location battery packs.
• Continuous Lighting & Modifiers: Portable bi-color LED panels, continuous CFL and tungsten studio lights, octoboxes, softboxes, beauty dishes, snoots, honeycomb grids, barndoors, reflectors, flags, and a dedicated tabletop mini-studio for still life and product photography.