Jack Baty

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

Last updated Thursday, February 5, 2026.

Computer Hardware

• Beelink Ser8 - My desktop computer. Runs Fedora/KDE
• Framework 13 - Running Fedora/Gnome
• Apple Mac Mini M2 (Max) - A solid, capable, inconspicuous desktop computer. Used for photo processing.
• Apple MacBook Air M4 – Powerful and tiny. Great hardware. Not using it much lately.
• 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 stuff on this. I hate the trackpad more than anything.
• Intel NUC i5 - Dedicated box for running Roon Core
• UGREEN NAS - Runs things like Immich, Miniflux, Jellyfin, etc. File archives.
• Lofree Flow84 Keyboard - It's no HHKB but I wanted real function and arrow keys.
• Logitech MX Master 3 mouse - I still prefer a mouse over a trackpad. This is a good one.

Software

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

• Emacs and  Org mode – Notes, emails, RSS feeds, journaling, most everything.
• Zen Browser - Web browser. Nicer than Firefox, but I still miss Arc.
• Ghostty – Apple’s built-in Terminal is fine, but I'm running with Ghostty because it's new and fun.
• 1Password – Password management (cross-platform)
• Signal – For non-Apple and/or private communication
• BBEdit - My text editor of choice since the late 1990s. (When I'm on a Mac)

Services

• Hetzner - Website hosting for baty.net and a couple others
• Fastmail - Personal email
• Porkbun - Domains and DNS

Photography

Cameras I use most frequently

• Leica MP (Black Paint) - My dream camera. I bought it new in 2021 as my “forever” camera. It might be the most beautiful thing I own.
• Leica Q2 - World's best "Point and Shoot" digital camera.
• Leica SL2 (Digital) - Superb build and image quality. Best EVF I’ve ever used. And made for use with adapted M lenses. (SOLD: Jan 2026)
• Leica M3 - OG Leica M. Built in 1960 and works like butter.
• Rolleiflex 2.8D - Beautiful medium format TLR.
• Nikon F100 – 35mm auto-focus film camera. Best bang for the buck in film cameras.
• Ricoh GRIII (Digital) - Pocketable, high-quality (APS-C), and fun to use snapshot camera.
• Fujifilm X100 - The original 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

• Olympus OM–1n – 35mm film camera. Tiny and jewel-like. Amazing viewfinder.

• Olympus OM–2n – 35mm film camera

Retired cameras

• Olympus Stylus Epic – Compact 35mm film camera. I love these little things. Both of mine have light leaks and are unreliable. I refuse to pay what the internet wants for a new one.
• 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.

Software for photography

• Darktable - Raw file editor. Open source. Weird, but powerful.
• Immich – My library of final edits
• Adobe Lightroom – Raw file editor and library. Once a while I still use Capture One. Make one for Linux and we'll talk.

Photo Hardware

• 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.
• Negative Lab Pro 35mm/120 scanning kit - Overpriced, but well-made and complete. I don't use it much, because I prefer using the Epson.
• 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.

Darkroom

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.

Pen and Paper

• Midori MD Notebooks - 7mm ruled, great paper, lays flat. It's my journal this year.
• Leuchtturm 1917 Notebooks – Great for use as a Bullet Journal, but I don't love 5mm dot grid paper.
• 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

Other Every Day Carry

• Tag Heuer Aquaracer Automatic watch – No batteries, beautiful, and good to 300 meters in the water – because that’s handy right?
• Apple Watch (Series 10) – 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. I lost one after many years, so bought another just like it.
• 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.