Why did you buy a Canon?

[Simon Easton]

I'm interested in cameras again after a long while off. Had to sell all of my gear last year. Now I'm wondering whether to go Canon or Nikon, or something else.

Why did you all buy a Canon over another brand?

If you were starting over, would you stick with Canon? Thanks in advance to all who respond.

[Tareq]

Because i like to buy a Canon, so simple!

In fact when i watched many TV shows and newspaper and that fashion channel shooting the celebrities i always see those white lenses and heard that gunshot cameras, after searching i found that those equipments are Canon, in sports mostly used Canon, so i just decided and got Canon, never regret it and i will do it again and again, no need to go back in the past to think again, i will end up with Canon again, just now within 2007 or 2008 Nikon started to wake up, they never had Full Frame, so i got Canon, they didn't have camera more than 12mp, so i got Canon, they don't have camera with better ISO before, so i got Canon.

[common man]

I originally used Exakta eqipment.

Canon was the only one that I could find an adaptor to use my Exakta mount Schneider lenses.

Lenses to good to just put back on the shelf and rot.

[medic583]

When I was looking at the various manufacturers in the winter of 2007 my choices came down to Canon or Nikon.

I looked at Minolta quickly as my parents still had their old chipped SLR and I thought about saving some coin by using their lenses to start... but Sony was just announcing their take over and nothing was available.

Nikon... I could have bought the D80 for less than I could by the XTi for, yet looking to accessories such as lenses, the sheer volume/cost of new and used won me over.

Now... I find that I can buy older Nikon speedlights with a PC port cheaper than I can buy Canon ones... the low light shooting I'm just getting into (and my 50D does me just fine compared to my XTi)... but... still... the Canon system has been great for me and I don't plan on changing anytime soon .

[ohenry]

When I first decided to buy a digital SLR (2003), I was using a Nikon film camera. At that time, the only real options were Canon and Nikon. Canon was well ahead of Nikon in technology, as well as price, so I opted to go with Canon. I sold my Nikon equipment and began buying Canon lenses. I upgraded bodies along the way and soon had quite a bit invested in Canon. Since that time, Nikon has improved significantly and is on par with (or maybe even better depending on who you ask or what features are important to you) Canon. Since I have a sizable amount invested in Canon, it would not be economically to my advantage to switch (nor do I see a significant advantage to doing so).

If I were starting out new, I'd likely examine both brands closely and determine which system fit my needs best and go from there. IMO, either brand is a good choice for amateurs and professionals alike.

[Max@Home]

Originally Posted by Simon Easton

1) Why did you all buy a Canon over another brand?

2)If you were starting over, would you stick with Canon?

1) ...glass, glass, glass: I really like the Canon lenses: Canon produces the ones I want and need to satisfy my artistic desires and produce 'sell able' images

2) Yes, no doubt in my mind.

...€0.02...

Kindest regards!

Max@Home

[D-Jam]

I've used Canon cameras back in the 80s. Not high-end cameras but more smaller point and shoot consumer models. I've always been drawn to the brand because it never did me wrong. Plus the great price point of the XTi made it an ideal choice as a starter camera. $600 for a body and lens. Many professionals would scoff at that, but for an amateur/hobbyist, I think it's an ideal choice to get started in. I already know I want to upgrade in a few years, but I still love this XTi for travel and bumming around town. A nice small DSLR with a lot of bang for your buck.

Canon has a great assortment of products that give great quality for your money. I'm currently scanning eBay for the possibility of a used 17-40mm lens.

[icee]

I went to canon when digi came out, I was using nikon before that.

Starting now...I'd go back to nikon.

[R-V]

Simple Local Camera store carried Canon. I went Canon before Internet. Had good input from store employees. So intial investment was with Canon so I have just kept upgrading from film to digital to better digital.. Have had nothing to complain about so Canon it is.

[aam1234]

Didn't read what others said, so pardon me if this is a repeat.

In 1987 Canon introduced a revolutionary system that has auto focus using in-camera computers. Thought it was a great idea, so I bought the first model (650), with two lenses.

Still have those lenses which work perfectly in my current dSLR....22 years later.

[superdel]

Way back in 1987 I was using a Pentax Spotmatic and had decided to upgrade to either a Pentax or a Minolta. I went into my local camera shop and he talked me into having a Canon EOS 650 and as they say the rest is History.

[tekdiver500ft]

My Mom had a Canon, My Dad had a Canon. When my brother and I started taking pictures, my parents made us get Pentax K1000s. All manual, all the time (thanks, Mom!). When I finally felt I was ready to move up to an autofocus camera (okay, my eyes were going bad) in the late '80s, Canon had the best autofocus lenses and system out there. Over the years, I have had Nikon, Pentax, and Minolta offer me loaners and trial systems and whatnot. I have tried them, but I invariably come back to Canon. IMHO, Canon are the best 35mm-size digital SLRs on the market.

Besides, I like keeping the symbols consistent... I "shoot" things with my "Canon."

[SquirrelDip]

I first purchased an EOS film in about 1990 - what originally sold me then was the motors in the lenses (Canons focused faster and more accurately - or at least, so it seemed). So I bought Canon DSLR because of being somewhat familiar with Canon. It also didn't hurt that a friend of mine that shoots semi-pro also uses Canon.

If I were to do it again I'd still go Canon but currently I don't see any reason why not to go Nikon.

[Rogue]

In the summer of 04' I decided to get a digital camera for a family vacation. After checking out the available cameras at best buy I picked Canon's S1IS because it had a 10x zoom. I was very happy with the image quality from it.
3 1/2 years later the image sensor died on the S1IS and I decided to upgrade to a DSLR and was 95% sure I would go for a Canon. I then found out that due to problems with the image sensors on the S1IS Canon extended the warranty on the image sensor indefinitely!
Canon paid for the shipping to them and checked out my S1....... they regretfully told me the image sensor was no longer available. So they sent me a brand new S5IS!

This made me 100% sure I would get a Canon DSLR and I got a 40D.

[SureFire]

Why did I go Canon?

Simply put, I'd probably break it down to one reason overall - their glass is (IMO) the best on the market.

The bodies across the three companies you've mentioned are going to be characteristically extremely similar - that's their job really.

Different sensors, etc will yield minor differences across the three and then it boils down to features. Personally, I'm a photographer. I don't get off on dumb features like HD video and other things these companies are jabbing at each other with.

IMO, it really boils down to glass. IMO, Canon's glass far surpasses other companies in quality. My only gripe about Nikon is that their glass is very overpriced for usually less quality when compared side by side to Canon.

I'm not sure Sony glass is worth talking about yet, but I think Sony will be a big contender in a few years.

[JDArt]

I bought into Canon because only Canon had IS in 500 and 600mm lenses at the time. No regrets.

[20DNewbie]

It was simple for me, the glass. While researching this and that I had noticed that the bulk of the lenses I was interested in were almost always on back order from Nikon. I figured what's the sense of buying into a system in which I would to sit on a waiting list for.

That said, lately I've been peeking into the world of Oly as the E-3 has grabbed my attention from a birding standpoint.

[Hillius31]

Ease of use, quality of the camera, and great prices. I had my A570is for a few years and took several thousands of pictures with out a single problem, thats why I bought the new SX10is. Just my .02, im sure there are people out there that just hate canon, I am not one of them..
Jr.

[wayne_i]

Well, for me, it was impossible to go full frame with the Olympus line. I still use my E-3 and the 12-60SWD and the 50-200SWD, but for landscapes, I use a Canon 5D. The full frame 5D offers better DOF control and I can go wide without problem But, for wildlife, I will still grab the E-3, with the 2x multiplier, giving me 400mm on the long end (600 with the very inexpensive 70-300). I do have an old Tamron 200-400 for the 5D, but it is not an IS lens.

Also, the focusing speed of the E-3 is much faster, the lenses (f2.8-4 and f2.8-3.5 respectively) are lighter and less expensive than the equivalent Canon lenses. I did not go with Nikon because of cost (the 5D was very inexpensive) of the body and lenses (I wanted Nikon VR glass). All of the major players have good glass (varies by line), so if you have the money, you can be certain that there is top quality glass available.

But, this is what I wanted for the type of photography I do, so what fits your needs may be different. If you are considering a camera other than a full frame sensor, then by all means, check out the Canon, Nikon, Olympus, Sony, and Pentax lines. Depending upon what you are willing to spend, your final choice will vary. These days, you cannot go wrong with any of the major lines. All of the cameras are capable of excellent images. As you move up the line (from consumer to advanced), you will find certain models better for certain types of photography. At the Pro level, you need to consider the weight, size, and physical handling carefully (for example, many cannot comfortably use the 1DS or D3 due to the weight and size).

So why Canon - I wanted a full frame camera that is light enough to take on hikes. I wanted compact lenses for travel, and I wanted a solid build for reliability. The 5D fits my needs and was over $1500 less than a similar Nikon setup (D700). Still, when the weather turns bad, I grab the E-3 and the two drip proof lenses.

Wayne

[L. Robinson]

I purchased a Canon DSLR because of my long fondness of Canon Lenses, and, my now retired Canon AE-1. I shot a Nikon F4 for a few years before it was stolen and instead of purchasing a new F4, I just went back to the AE-1 and have kept that loyalty with Canon since.