What I Use

A list of things that I use to manage my life or that I simply enjoy using.

Last updated August 22, 2024. (Always working on it)

Computer Hardware #

Apple Mac Mini M2 (Max) - A solid, capable, inconspicuous desktop computer
Apple MacBook Pro M1 Max (2020) – Finally, Apple makes a great laptop again.
Apple iPad Pro 10.9 (2021) – I am not an iPad person, but this is a great “get-away” device. The Magic Keyboard makes it usable.
iPhone 15 Pro – I’ve finally gone with a “full-size” phone. No more Minis. It’s fine.
Apple Studio display – Just the right size. Gorgeous view.
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon (2015) – I tinker with Linux on this. I hate the trackpad more than anything.
Mac Mini (2012) - For cold storage and running Roon Core
Synology - Plex server and file archives.
Happy Hacking Keyboard Professional 2 – The greatest keyboard there is. It’s nearly perfect.
Logitech MX Master 3 mouse - I still prefer a mouse over a trackpad. This is a good one.

Here’s the software that I currently use on a regular basis

Bear - Part my Reduce & Simplify goals. Bear is beautiful and simple.
Emacs and Org mode – I still write stuff in Org-mode, but my use of Emacs has dwindled somewhat.
DEVONthink – Email Archives, Manuals, PDFs, Scanned documents. Years of archives remain searchable and synced across devices. It’s also another way into my ~/org files.
MailMate – I switch between this and Apple Mail. MailMate is more powerful, but Apple's Mail is simpler and prettier.
BBEdit – As much as I like Emacs for editing, whenever I need something fancy done with a lot of text, I turn to BBEdit. It’s the editor I’ve used the longest. In fact, it may be the piece of software I’ve used the longest, period. It remains truly great.
Apple's Terminal – I spend a lot of time in a terminal. Apple’s built-in Terminal is fine.
Apple Passwords – Password management. Migrating from 1Password, now that the built-in app is good enough.
Raycast – Launcher and generally useful utility for all sorts of automation and shortcuts. Replaced Alfred for me a year or so ago.
Espanso - Text expansion utility. It’s free, cross-platform, fast, and appropriately nerdy.
CleanShot X — Far and away the best screenshot utility
Apple Messages – Nearly everyone I communicate with uses Apple devices
Signal – For non-Apple and/or private communication

Hetzner - VPS used for hosting baty.net and other static websites. Runs Ubuntu.
Fastmail - Personal email
Porkbun - Domains and DNS

Cameras I use most frequently

Leica MP (Black Paint) - OMG it’s so beautiful. I bought it new in 2021 as my “forever” camera.
Leica SL2 (Digital) - Superb build and image quality. Best EVF I’ve ever used. And made for use with adapted M lenses.
Leica M3 - OG Leica M. Built in 1960 and works like butter.
Ricoh GRIII (Digital) - Pocketable, high-quality (APS-C), and fun to use snapshot camera.
Fujifilm X100 - The O.G. Fuji X camera. It’s 12 years old now but I still use it, even though the rear buttons suck and it’s "only" 12 MP.

Cameras I use occasionally

Leica IIIf – Barnack! Mine was made in 1946.
Hasselblad 500C/M - The Hasselblad V series cameras are iconic, beautiful, and superbly engineered. They also produce wonderful images, which is why they are my favorite all-around cameras.
Graflex Crown Graphic - Large Format (4×5) film camera. Mine is beat up and held together with gaffer tape, and I love it. It’s a pain in the ass to use, but there’s nothing like a 4×5 negative.
Canon Pro-zoom 814 Electronic – Super8 movie film camera
Nikon F100 – 35mm auto-focus film camera. Best bang for the buck in film cameras.
Olympus OM–1n – 35mm film camera. Tiny and jewel-like. Amazing viewfinder.
Olympus OM–2n – 35mm film camera
Olympus Stylus Epic – Compact 35mm film camera

Retired cameras

Canon AE–1 Program – 35mm Film SLR. This is the first “real” camera I ever owned.
Canon Canonet – 35mm rangefinder camera. Retired.
Minolta Autocord – Medium format TLR. Retired.
Graflex Speed Graphic – Another 4×5 film camera. Mine has a bad light leak so it sits on a shelf.

Adobe Lightroom – Raw file editor and library. Once a while I still use Capture One.
Apple Photos – For iPhone shots and keepers exported from my editor
ApolloOne - New-to-me photo browser. Replaces Photo Mechanic, which has become too expensive.

Epson ET-8500 - “EcoTank” photo printer. Great photo printer that doesn’t cost a fortue to run.
Epson V850 – Flatbed film scanner. Works great for medium and large format. Less great for 35mm, but still fine.
Profoto D1 Monolights – Aging but still great for studio portraits.
Billingham Hadley Pro Small – Beautiful and well-made camera bag
ONA Prince Street - Fancy leather bag for the Hasselblad.

I use a basement bathroom as a makeshift darkroom.

Leitz Focomat v35 – 35mm auto-focus enlarger. Solid and reliable. It is a fantastic device.
Leitz Focomat IIc – Manufactured from 1956–1983, the Focomat IIc is a giant, over-engineered marvel of an enlarger. I bought mine as a fixer-upper from Craigslist and I still don’t have it working completely. Getting there, though.
Beseler 45MXT – This is for printing medium and large format negatives. Mine is a little janky but works great overall. It's in a separate room, so is rarely used.

Leuchtturm 1917 Notebooks – Perfect for use as a Bullet Journal.
Apica C.D. Notebook - Full-sized (A5) 7mm-ruled with smooth-as-butter paper.
Traveler's Notebook w/cover (passport size) - Very nice, and the only one that doesn't fall out of my pocket.
Field Notes – Always have a Field Notes notebook in my back pocket. It’s a better capture tool than the iPhone
Pilot Custom 823 – My everyday fountain pen. It’s nearly perfect
Pelikan Souveran M400 – Beautiful, classic fountain pen. I had the nib tweaked by Richard Binder and it writes like butter. It’s for fancy writing.
Mitsu-Bishi Hi-Uni Pencils – I’ve come around on pencils recently. I find myself reaching for a pencil as often as a pen. More so, maybe.
Caran D’ache Pencil Sharpening Machine – Overkill, but I love it.
Olympia SM3 Typewriter – My favorite typewriter
Olympia SM9 Typewriter – My second favorite typewriter

Tag Heuer Aquaracer Automatic watch – No batteries, beautiful, and good to 300 meters in the water – because that’s handy right?
Apple Watch (Series 7) – The health stuff and proper notifications are handy. I wish I could wear this and the Tag.
Casio G-Shock(s) - I have 2 of them. They’re great and I can beat them senseless without worry.
Kobo Libra 2 eReader - Replaced the Kindle Oasis and older Kobo Forma. ePub and Libby, baby!
Goruck GR1 backpack – If I ever go outside, I’m ready.
Benchmade Mini Griptilian AXIS Lock Knife – Always in my pocket. I never realized how handy a pocket knife could be until I started carrying one everywhere.
Bellroy Note Sleeve Wallet – Feels great, works great.
Blunt Classic Umbrella – Who knew a good umbrella would make such a big difference? This is a very nice one.
Filson original Briefcase – I’ve owned a number of bags and this one is the one I’ve settled on. Well-designed, simple, and very well-made.
[RETIRED] Bellroy Field Notes Notebook Cover – A great way to carry my ever-present Field Notes notebook.