Cameras

• Invest in Optics, not Automation. Good lenses will improve your photography far more than any wiz-bang automatic feature, so don't waste your money on the camera body. In fact, some shots, particularly those in marginal lighting conditions, will be impossible without decent optics. For the most part, automation just gets in the way, particularly center-weighted exposure systems (which tend to produce false results, thanks to extremely bright locomotive headlights). Auto winders are handy when used in combination with a zoom lens for multiple compositions per train, but they tend to be fragile and burn batteries.
• Avoid Zoom Lenses, if Possible. Zooms are always compromise designs, not as sharp as prime lenses, and several stops slower to boot. They are, however, handy if you want to get more than one or two compositions per train (lightly travelled branchlines, for example).
• Carry a Good Quality Point-and-Shoot. These make excellent backups to your primary camera, and since they're compact and easy to carry, you won't risk missing that ideal "grab shot".

Amtrak San Joaquin at Stockton, California.
Olympus Stylus Epic, Kodak Ektachrome Extra 100

If you're just starting out in railfan photography, I'd recommend that you purchase a good quality point-and-shoot. These are simple, cheap cameras, and yet they produce excellent results. I particularly recommend the Olympus Stylus Epic , which has a fixed 35mm f/2.8 glass lens, yet is cheap enough ($99) to fit a student's budget. Take lots of pictures, look over them, see what you like the best. This will guide your decisions later on.

Your next step up should be a good used 35mm SLR. I'd suggest starting with a 50mm lens and an inexpensive body. Learn how to use the camera without the automation, using the light meter as a guide, taking your measurements off of a neutral gray body, such as track ballast. While both Canon and Nikon, the two most popular camera lines, have their advocates, the best optics are still manufactured by Carl Zeiss for the Contax brand. In fact, the Zeiss 50mm f/1.4, when combined with a high resolution film, such as Kodak T-Max 100, will actually outperform the equivalent Medium Format camera under average conditions.

With those two steps taken, and some experience, you should let your future purchases reflect your tastes.

Okay, what do I use? I have a Contax S2 mechanical body, with a 137MD as a backup. Lenses are Zeiss 50 f/1.4, 85 f/1.4, and 135 f/2.8. This setup reflects my preferences for no automation, high reliability, high resolution, and fast glass for sunrise and sunset shots, my personal favorites. I also carry an Olympus Stylus Epic for backup. My equipment is housed in Lowepro nylon bags, a Photorunner for the SLR, and an AF Mini for the point-and-shoot.