Currently for many, it is because they are invested in a system--but when and why did you go with Nikon? For me, I purchased my first Nikon SLR in the early 2000s (N65). My girlfriend's dad had an old FTN (or similar) that he shot slide film on vacations with, so that was my only rationale. I shot it with the horrendous kit lens and learned some BW dark room stuff. It was a good time.
Then the digital age came and I went through a whole bunch of bodies (and glass) (D5100, D7100, D7000, D600, D800, Df, D500, Z6, D850)
No real reason, just was daydreaming today about how I got here.
I started with a Pentax ME Super in 1981 and had various SLR Pentax's up till the first Pentax APS C DSLR came along in 2004. In July 2004 purchased a Pentax *ist D partly due to the fact I could use legacy Pentax lenses but also the Pentax DSLR's were excellent, they had great build quality and great ergonomics - the legacy lenses were fantastic as well. I had a succession of Pentax APS C DSLR's but I wanted to get a FF DSLR and as Pentax weren't going FF anytime soon I decided on a Nikon D700. So, in May 2010 I sold all my Pentax cameras and lenses and moved to a Nikon D700 and the rest is history, as they say.
My first camera was an old beatter Nikon rangefinder they had at the LCS. Used it for the yearbook and school paper. Never looked back, never going to change.
I’m new to Nikon. I was a two decade Canon user. Film->Digital. When I stopped shooting professionally, I switched to Fujifilm for 2 years. But then I wanted back into full frame and now starting with the Z6. I had ZERO Nikon lenses.
Why Nikon? I bought the Canon EOS R. Meh. But that’s okay. The lenses, which everyone raves about and are indeed great, are just HUGE. I think technically they are the same size as their EF equivalents but they FEEL bigger compared to the smallish bodies. It’s a bi-polar system, professional lenses with amateur bodies (yes, yes... image quality was great but, trust me, they were a butt to use). The lenses are so poorly balanced on the EOS R without some sort of grip. Tried Sony. No. And so I dipped into Nikon. I applaud Nikon for releasing more consumable, reasonable lenses. It lets me tip-toe into the system but so far I’m really liking it. When they release faster glass, I’ll be in.
I started with Pentax SF-1 then SF-10 then gave up on film photography entirely. Once digital camera becomes more readily available, I then came back with Olympus 4040/5050 for underwater photography. Then Nikon released D70 and I am with Nikon ever since.
Sony, Leica, Fuji joined the team here and there but nothing can really replace Nikon completely for me.
BSPhotog wrote:
Currently for many, it is because they are invested in a system--but when and why did you go with Nikon? For me, I purchased my first Nikon SLR in the early 2000s (N65). My girlfriend's dad had an old FTN (or similar) that he shot slide film on vacations with, so that was my only rationale. I shot it with the horrendous kit lens and learned some BW dark room stuff. It was a good time.
Then the digital age came and I went through a whole bunch of bodies (and glass) (D5100, D7100, D7000, D600, D800, Df, D500, Z6, D850)
No real reason, just was daydreaming today about how I got here. ...Show more →
A family member had a Nikkormat EL and I started with that in 1976.
My dad used a Nikkormat throughout my childhood and I never really gave it much thought growing up. About a decade ago I began to get interested in photography and bought a D90 purely because I remembered that Nikkormat. I eventually upgraded to a D600 then a D800 before adding a Sony to my lineup. I don't use my Nikon bodies very much anymore but I still have my old glass and I'm keeping an eye on future Z bodies.
US Navy worked staff Commander US Naval Forces in Yokosuka, Japan 1967-1969. Purchased Nikon F with Photomic FTn meter and several lens. Went through F2 and F4 until D200 started digital NAS.
For me... I started out with film and took some college courses etc. My 1st camera was a Canon AE-1. That was the only film camera I ever owned, given to me by my father. I took o looong break from photography and when I came back in 2006 I figured, I'll try a Nikon this time around and bought a Nikon D40. Since then... D80, D300s, D7100, D600, D610 and now 2 D750's. I hate to admit it, but the used price of the A7iii's come down a little more, I might switch unless they replace the D750. Low light capabilities(at this price point) and the grip are the only reason I have stayed.
I inherited my moms old Nikon 35mm from the early 90s, never really had a need to swap brands after that. Apart from a Mamiya medium format, never owned anything else.
I started with a Nikon back in the film days, and that carried into digital when I was doing it full time, then switched to Canon when I found the D810 and D750 a bit lacking from an AF standpoint, then switched to Sony, then after several years with the Sony system, got a Z7 recently, in part because I just really miss the feel of a Nikon camera (I think they are the best in the industry from an ergonomics and design standpoint - in my opinion the Z7 is a very handsome camera) and have since really fallen back in love with the colors and finding the glass to be quite addictive. I am likely going to pick up a D850 over the holidays
Started with D50 in ~2006. Always had a Nikon since (D50/D90/D700/D800/D810/D750/D850). Had some brief side system trips to Fuji and Sony but Nikon just feels better / more familiar. Now with the Z6 - very happy with the performance and new mount glass is stellar.
I only came to Nikon a few weeks ago with a Z7, 24-70/4S and 14-30/4S. I don’t own anything else Nikon and never have.
m43 for the past ten years. Canon APS-C digital for five years before that. Canon EOS 35mm for fifteen years before that. Canon AE-1 as the family camera growing up.
Why Nikon now is finally a FF system that has a good UI, good sensor and exceptional lenses that are as small as possible. Early days but I think I’m in love.
Thought Nikon was cool when I picked up my first DSLR(D70s) in 2006. Took me a couple tries to not get completely black images with it.
I then moved up to the D3 when it came out. D800 was next then D850/D500 and now Z7. I’m still shooting Nikon because of the Z lenses and I don’t do birding anymore. I hope by the time I’m ready to go back to birding, Nikon will have an improved AF for birding on Z camera and their 600mm f4 is 6.5lbs like the competition.
Almost bought an A7R4 the other day. Lol
I had a Canon EOS-1 back in the '90s, but then went off motorbiking around India for 8 months with my GF of the day, and due to limited space we consolidated to her FM2. Quite a few years later, in 2006, I was heading off on another adventure (sailing across the Pacific, this time) and chose a D200 to take along, pretty much at random. Since then I've had D300 (x2), D3200, D700, D800e, D7200, Df, D750, D810 and now the D850, along with a good cross-section of (almost exclusively Nikon) glass. I've been eyeing up the mirrorless options lately, and when I finally do make that jump it will likely be with Nikon again. Old habits die hard.
Got into photography around 2006 I think, bought a higher-end Canon point-and-shoot that I thought would be all I would need. Didn't take but a few months before I started eyeing a jump to the DSLR. I really didn't have much money back then, I think I made around $12/hr or so, so price was of big concern.
I had a friend with a Canon Rebel, which is who actually got me interested in photography, with that camera. When I started looking at DSLRs, I just kind of assumed I'd get a Rebel but when I held the Nikon D50, it fit my hands soooo much better. I went with the Nikon and really just haven't looked back. I don't really see a need to switch, cameras all do the exact same things I want them to do and I've never had a single issue with any Nikon equipment I've owned over the years, so I'm loyal for that.
