Why did you choose your current camera?

[ChrisD]

My parents already had an old Canon EOS 1000 camera that I took and used when I started studying photography and just build my system from there. Have owned Canon T-50, and EOS 3 for film. First digital was the G5 and then have purchased 2 x 20D's, a 30D and current body now is 1Ds MIII which I've chosen for its performance and high resolution images. I have a 24" and 44" wide format printer that I like large prints from so quality and resolution also plays a big part of my buying decisions these days.
My next step would be the 60MP+ Medium format systems once my businesss is earning enough to afford it.
I do alot of research before each purchase and so far no regrets yet.

[Sparky98]

In 1969 my brother gave me his old Yashica rangefinder camera and I used it until the shutter failed. After that it was a series of Kodak, Canon, and Minolta compact cameras. In 1976 I decided it was time to move up to a SLR and I began reading up on the latest cameras. Canon had just come out with the AE-1, it fit my budget, and it received great reviews from most of the photography magazines so I bought one. I used the AE-1 until my job started furnishing digital P&S cameras in the mid 90s and I used Casio, Kodak, and some other forgetable brands and finally in 2003 I purchased a digital camera - a Canon G3. Again I did a lot of reading about cameras and the G3 was getting rave reviews and it fit my budget so I bought the camera. Finally in 2007 I decided it was time to move up to a DSLR. I began reading again and by this time I was partial to Canon so I was going to buy a 30D but when I got to the camera shop they had some of the new 40D cameras in stock and I walked out with a 40D.

[liveaparis]

I first used a SLR when I was in Journalism class--a Nikon F80 (N80? I can't even remember)...the film camera. I took ok pictures, but had absolutely no formal training. I was the go-to Sports Photographer. I bought my own N80 a few years later, but couldn't really afford to develop them :P

When I bought my first digital camera, I thought I should stick to Nikon, but Canons were selling more cheaply. So bought a Canon XT, but crashed my car the day after and had to return it for cash to fix it!

I currently use a Canon XSi, mainly because I liked the Canon more than the Nikon digital camera I had rented for a day. It seemed easier to use and the picture quality was better--was able to get a bigger MP ratio with the Canon than the Nikon.

[TheRoaddog]

I used to shoot, a LOT, until "my head blew up" (Read: stroke). My BFF steered me into a camera shop as we were waitin' for time to go to a show. "Just to pass the time..." She had me lookin' at digi's and in all "innocence" asked th' clerk if there was "one that can be used one-handed?"
Th' following week "we" bought a Nikon D-80 an' a pair o' zooms. That was a yr. an' long change ago an' I'm lovin' it!

[Mikkic]

When I first began to get into photography, read a book called, "Digital Photography for Dummies" )

Took a gob of notes, and listed everything the book said I wanted in a P&S.... plugged in the stats to a search engine and it spit out a list of cameras that would suit me. At the top of the list was the Olympus C730 UZ. I shot that thing literally into the ground, dropping it on river rock...etc.

As I began to get more serious about photography, I did more research, but I was feeling loyal to Oly after the durability of my little P&S camera...I asked a local pro that I had high regards for what he thought about the E-1. The only negative thing he had to say about it was considering the cost. Fortunately, that was not an issue. Although I loathed the noise, and never used the E-1 over ISO 100, everything else was more than satisfactory...

As soon as the E-3 came out, I started drooling, and my husband took pity on me....he bought me the perfect camera....and I lived happily ever after....

[nutwithacamera]

The Nikon D200 originally selling for $1699, available for $599 NEW at Best Buy this past Spring. How could you not? That was and still is cheaper than the going used rates for the things, in the US. I love it, along with my D40 which I also love for the simplicity, small size, and 1/500s flash sync when I need it. Will probably never sell either.

[Dirk]

Hi Jd.. Grap some Java cafa..

DSLRS:
Canon Eos 300 D: it was my first DLSR , the first one (i later found out) had cracked firmware. i liked and still like the easy menu's in the canon , it almost feels like a sturdy compact to me. i now have a eos 300d with original firmware (the first one was sold complete and i spent the money on a holliday in greece)

Nikon D70: i bought it second hand because i was not happy with the first eos 300d and i allready had a nikon f65 with some glass , i saw the add of a large photostore that they had a d70 body , light used for a reasonable price (299 excl 17.5% vat) i bought it because (a) i was not happy woth the first eos (b) i wanted a digital version close of the F65

in the first 3 months i was not so happy because i was used to the uncomplex menu structure of the 300d , even the "simplyfied menu" did not always work for me but i forced myself to learn it and it shure helped me to get better pictures and more keepers

Nikon D50: i always dreamt to own one , it is a very fine camera and i like it very much , i bought it because of the good iso performance and being perhaps nikons best digital dslr. i read a article that a pro wedding shooter said that the D50 could cope up with the D2x (a camera which is 4000 dollars more expensive)

SLR

Nikon F65, what is there to say, a fine camera good pictures, simple to use no menu;s very light and still interchangeable lenses

Canon T80 (fd)

the first af camera from canon a slr af camera when the af snaps the picture is good but very often it misses to snap , i still have it , it is a keeper because the are not many made

Compacts

Konika minolta dimage z3, bought to use it as a clean desk survaillance camera at work , i some times use it tough it only has 4MP it has a large zoomrange , stableliser and is pretty fast for a compact

Nikon coolpix e 7600 , it works but only in good light and it is slow a misbuy but doesn't bring enough money to sell it

nikon coolpix L12 a fine compact vr, small and thin , photo's are nice just a good camera not mega fast but acceptable

olympus fe 350wide , a good 8 mp camera , a bit slow but the pictures it takes are good so a keeper too

[soxOZ]

Well my journey into SLR's started in the late 70's to early 80's (can't remember exactly) with an Olympus OM10 then a progression of OM bodies and lenses, OM2n, OM1 then OM4, and still have the OM4,1 & 10 and a few Zukio lenses.
I then tried and like in the early 90's Nikon N8008 and a few lenses. Although the OM4 was a superb camera which I used next to the Nikon),
for some reason the Nikon felt good in my hands (I guess it was the way you gripped the new shaped body that all DLSR's have now) and I also liked the shots the Nikon lenses produced.
Unfortunately in 2001 all my Nikon gear was stolen, and I really hope that person....., well I think I'll keep that to myself as I'm sure you know what I would say.

My introduction into digital was with Kodak P&S and ended up with a DC3400 which was surprisingly good for what it was.
My next was a Fuji s602z which was an incredible camera in its time.
I still have it as I use the movie mode on it occasionally as it shots at 640x480 at 30fps which looks good.

It was here that I finally decided to go DSLR. I tried the feel of all of them and for me, I didn't like the feel or placement of buttons or dials on the Canon (can't remember which model it was),
and being an Olympus user from way back looked at them but at that time I didn't think they were to impressive compared to Canon or Nikon.
I really liked the feel of the Nikon in my hands and always remembered how my Nikon film camera rendered shots, so looked at the D50 & D70s and from all the reports at the time the D50 looked to have the better High ISO ability of the 2, plus it was way better priced so I got it.

Since then it's been a rapid rise in camera bodies and lenses, going from the D50 to the D80, Then adding the D300 and also the D700 to my list. The only body I have sold was the D50 and still have the last 3...

[moxi1]

Hi all,


Why I have got the camera I have now - I can't just answer in one sentence - it is more a natural progress. (My wife would say that the progress is more unnatural but that is another story!)
I have gone from one extreme to another in my camera history - and since I am now 65 years young - this is a long history and a lot of cameras.

First was a Box Brownie, which I got from a neighbour as a present - however only 12 years old, I could not afford film and developing, so I just played with my play mates the raving reporter.

The first real attempt was a Mamiya Rangfinder camera that was back in the late fifties.
Then I went tiny and got a sub miniature Minox BL
An Olympus Pen F halve frame SLS followed.
A Canon Rangefinder Q1.8 was next.
Then I got ambitious and got the big 6x6 Mamiya twin lens including lenses.
From the big one to another small one; the Rollei 35.
A Canon AE1 was next, which I complemented with the Canon T70, as I wanted to upgrade to the T 90, Canon went AF and discontinued the old non AF lens range.

That was the main reason for me to change brands again. I turned to the more traditional Nikon, first the 801, then the FM2n, next was the 90X and then Digital started.
My first digital was a small Canon A95 to try out if I like it at all - and since I never used a computer before, the digital camera and the computer started a steep learning curve for me.

But I fell in love with all things digital and the direct gratification of seeing my results.
I have now the Nikon D 200, mainly because of all the macro and tele lenses, unfortunately the old flash guns are only usable in M, so in the near future I will have to invest in a new flash.

As I mentioned in another thread, my film gear is sitting in a shelf, but since they gave me a lot of pleasure they are a bit like nostalgic ornaments.

Each time I say that I would probably not invest more money in photography gear, but the new developments are sometimes tooo exciting...

Cheers Moxi1

[KmH]

The progression: Minolta, Canon, Nikon.

3rd times, the charm.

Minolta was concurrent with wife #1, and was a gift from my FIL who couldn't figure out how to make it work.

Canon was concurrent with wife #2 and marked a return to the pursuit of photography.

Nikon was concurrent with the realization Canon cameras and married life weren't for me.

[km6xz]

I got my first film SLR by walking into a local camera store, back when all camera stores where local and said i wanted the best....for a beginner. The salesman said a new model just arrived that would last from beginner through advanced on learning curve. It was the A1 Canon. I bought it, a few recommended lenses and a flash, bag etc. I used it a lot, just as a diversion but it paid for itself and a large collection of lenses, the best Canon made at the time, that eventually filled up my camera bag. My job was recording engineer/producer and studio owner so I took photos in the studio, just candids during breaks or downtime. A lot of those shots ended up on major record album liner notes or back covers, for which I was paid handsomely. Mostly black and white, i liked the mood they revealed. I also traveled a lot, going to a different country every time I finished an album and that camera went to 86 of them. Always worked, was easy to dial in and had a lot of automation.
I slowly drifted out of taking it everywhere and eventually gave it to a girlfriend who professed a love of photography. She promptly sold it when she found out how much the lenses were worth and bought a car with the proceeds. That was the end of SLR photography for me.
Fast forward 15 years....
I had a few pocket digitals but had moved to a new country to a city that should be an absolute crime if not photographed. On a visit to family back to the US I went shopping for cameras again, DSLRs this time. I had a smaller budget than back then when I was riding high for 28 years so researched carefully for best features in my price range. The leading contender was the Canon Xsi that on paper looked good. I went to a local camera store, Action Camera in Roseville CA where the very nice salesgirl should me most of the competing cameras in my price range. When I picked it up, the Xsi felt like a toy, a gadget despite having the features as promised. She tried to direct me to a D60 Nikon but it was not as advanced, although felt solid. She said there was a new model that was just released but it was $500 more for the basic kit. I was reluctant to even look at it due to the price difference. I did however and found the D90 to fit my hand like a glove, it felt solid, balanced and controls where my fingers would land. Without even knowing the spec I told her to write it up. At that time with tax it was about $1400, twice the price i was looking for. Within an hour i was taking more predictable and interesting shots than I ever did with film. It was better than my expectations.
That was a little over a year ago. The first thing I did when I got back to Russia a few weeks later was to build a studio with home made high power strobes, modifiers stands etc. Over the next few months I took 10,000 shots added lots of accessories and software. My little $700 planned budget had expanded some what with a 70-200VR 2.8, a 85 1.4, a 17-55 2.8, a 10-20 3.5, 10-24, TC1.4, SB900, Sigma 530Super speedlight, 50mm 1.4 and a bunch of other glass. This time I am hooked and plan more additions. Although it is out of my price range right now the new D3s is the next camera to add to my bag. Mostly i shoot candids on the street, night clubs, ballet and drama so fast lens and high ISO are king. I really love the performance and philosophy behind Nikon gear.
Most of my shooting buddies, all young women, have Canon, mostly Xsi, 5dII, one has a 1dmkII and my little D90 hangs with them or exceed their shots in these low light situations. My favorite lens is the 70-200VR, it stays on my camera most of the time. The second most used is the 10-20 and 3rd the 85 1.4, that when combined with the D3s ought to be classified as a NightScope as much as a camera. Next, a MF 100 2.0 Zeiss Macro.

[Joves]

Well I will stay on my current. I started in film back in the old days. I was shooting with my Pentax MX, my first ever brand new camera. Then the digitals came around, I had a Sony Mavica, I used it for playing around still shot and, processed my film. I later bought a Nikon Coolpix 995 then the film camera got less use. I was going to get a D70 but, then the D50 came out so, I got that and, have progressed ever since to the D300 for now. I love my D300 but, Im still planning on stepping up to the D700 when the S revison comes out in hopes that it gets the new D3Ses high ISO improvement. Will keep the D300 as well because I shoot wildlife and, want the crop and, I also shoot lanscapes and, want my wide lenses to function like they are supped to for that and, I want to shoot some things at night. I would prefer the D700 over the D3 though because, it and the D300 could share everything.

[Songman45]

I went to work for a photographer who was a Nikon user. As I began to peice together my own gear I was partial to the conventions of the brand. Also sticking with the same gear as the company meant I could interchange my gear with his.

When I bought my current camera, a D200 it has just been marked for discontinuance. The top-shelf camera of the day was the D2xs and I lusted for one. However the comparable little brother's price tag fell through the floor. Giving up a couple of creature comforts for a grand was worth it. I bought at a good time since the price made a substiantial rebound.

I'm happy with the image quality. The camera operates flawlessly (after the firmware update) and does for me what I need it to do. Would a D3 be a nice own? You bet, if for no other reason than the high ISO quality. If I added another camera to the stable today it would be another D200 and a MD-D200. Why? Because its a good camera and performs well. I shoot a lot of high-risk jobs where wrecking a camera is a daily potential. If I crash a body I'd rather it was a $1K camera than a $5K.

Steve

[Photosus]

Like Songman, I chose canon, because that was what my photography colleages were using. This meant that we could borrow each other's lenses and cameraes when our own ones were to service, or if someone had something that the other needed to borrow but did not have.

That time, I figured, no matter what I chose, I will get used to it, and learn exactly how to get the most out of it.