A post I read got me to wondering what percentage of current DSLR users actually used 35mm SLRs in the past. I did, for many years.

I am suprized to read that so far the poll goes 17-0. FM members must be old enough. Younger generations have actually very little clue about film (usually).

I'm guessing most of us over 30?

Poll again, based on age range first.
-Jim

I started digital...
(film p&s's done't count...)

I'm 17 years old...

yea - and I'm from the 80s...< 30 :P
I just love the 35mm feeling...

Started shooting professionally in 1985 with a Pentax K1000 right out of high school. I've seen and used many film and digital cameras throughout the years, but the only film camera (in addition to digital) I still have is the Canon 1N RS which is 10 FPS. There is something magic about film that is hard to let go of after using it for so many years.

Yep, had an Elan that I sold when I joined FM.

Started with digital SLR about 3 years ago, now I'm using my dad's old 35mm Nikon and recently got a Rolleiflex TLR as well...the other way around from most of you...

Started out in my mid teens with an old Russian Zenit!

Started with a Nikon FE around 1982. Continued with the FE (I still have it) and an FM2 until we had kids. Switched to a cheap Canon Rebel G to get an AF camera that we used as a high-end film P&S.

Went digital with a 10D in late 2003.

Mark

Started with an Argus C3 (not SLR I guess). I'm not quite that old, it was my grandfathers. Eventually moved up to a Minolta X700 with all the goodies. Kind of waned a bit, then was disappointed that none of the old Minolta gear would transfer over to digital. All is well though as todays gear is MUCH better than that stuff. Every now and then I feel like I should run a roll of film through it, but then I find myself asking "why?".

I remember my Nikkonmat, Nikon 6006, and still have the N75.

My first SLR was a Nikon F1. My first Canon SLR was a EOS 650.

My father bought me a Nikon FM for Christmas one year. It was shortly after that I discovered that the only time girls listened to me was when I had a camera in my hand. It would turn into a habit that soon went out of control. The list contains an 8008s, F4, F5, 645Pro, P67, RZ, 1D, 1DII, 1Ds and 1DsII.

Shooting film simply teaches one to another layer of the art of photography. I do not miss driving to the lab three times to run clip tests, judge the clip and then the processed film. Going to the lab was like Christmas morning and seeing the images on a light table was beautiful but digital is instant gratification.

Minolta maxxum 7000.
It lasted 20 years. I'm waiting for the first digital camera to last that long.

jerrykur wrote:
My first SLR was a Nikon F1. My first Canon SLR was a EOS 650.


Never USED used them, but my father has the EOS 650 also. I plan on using my 50mm f/1.8 II and the 70-200mm f/2.8L IS with it to see what I can get with film...

First SLR was a 300D a couple of years ago. A little 3MP Kodak P&S was my first camera about 3 or 4 years before that.

my first DSLR was a D70 about 3 yrs ago, my first film SLR was a Nikon EM (just like the one 90 5.0 posted) about 2 months ago.

ocean7 wrote:
I am suprized to read that so far the poll goes 17-0. FM members must be old enough. Younger generations have actually very little clue about film (usually).

hey! im 22 and I started photography with film. Me and my Canon AE-1 took plenty (of poorly lit and out of focus) pictures!

I'm 35...still do shoot my 35mm Eos Elan7E a little bit here and there. A coworker recently gave me a Pentax ME Super that's a terrific camera (and it's small!!). I've ran several rolls through that little gem as well.

I have a local lab that will develop only for $2.99 for regular C-41, I just take it home and scan it to see what i've got. Good stuff!

tomhh wrote:
Minolta maxxum 7000.
It lasted 20 years. I'm waiting for the first digital camera to last that long.

That was my first camera, which my dad got me so I would stop touching his Nikon F gear. I had it with the 35-70/F4 Macro, which was a great little performer until I dropped it on concrete while swapping lenses. I would still have it today if I didn't get a really good deal on a trade-in towards an Elan IIe.

I guess the trend to digital only being first will only increase but to me it's hard to imagine digital first. Does that mean I'm getting older ? ;-)

I'm 26 and if I remember correctly my first film SLR was a Canon AV-1 that was probably older than I was at the time. (I was dreaming about an EOS-3 back then) There is still something I really miss about the feel/operation of a fast manual focus 50 on that camera and the whole experience. What was it though ? The solid feel of the metal ? The click of the aperture ring and film wind lever ? The focusing prism in the (full frame) viewfinder ? The more careful approach to making photos when they don't just pop up on a screen and can be deleted ? I don't know what it was about it. I still shoot film too (rarely) but just for "fun".

I started with some low end Canon SLR's (EOS 1000, then 300V).
Then got one of the best SLR's I've ever handled, the EOS 3.

Tied a couple of contax/yashicas, my favourite being the Yashica FX-7 which I rennovated with new light seals and brown lizard skin, I'll always keep that one.