Started out with a Canon AT-1 match needle metering film camera, then went to a Canon F-1, also match needle metering. Liked the speed and simplicity of that system. Tried a Canon A-1, but spent to much time playing with all the features, and missing shots.
All my Canon gear got stolen, so I decided to try Nikon - Bought an FM, then several F-3's. They were good cameras, but I still missed my Canons though.
When I decided to make the big switch to Auto Focus, I looked hard at what was out there, and decided to stay with Nikon, buying an F-100, then an F-5. Both were outstanding cameras. I still have the F-100, and use it on occasion.
When I decided to finally try digital, I got a Nikon 5700. Then I was hooked. Got a D-200 when they first came out, a D2h, then a D2Xs. Still have all 4 digital. The next new camera for me is going to be a crop sensor with at least one step better high ISO performance then the D-300 delivers now. The one to two step advantage the D-300 now offers has not been enough for me to drop my D2Xs. As nice as the new full frame cameras are, I am primarily a wildlife photographer, and appreciate the 1.5 crop the DX sensor provides. A 16mp DX sensor with the high ISO performance of a D-700 / D-3 in a pro D type body would be my ultimate camera. (For now, anyway..)
A used Chinon film camera of sorts (excellent metering, never missed a slide
I lent it out, it came back dead.
Used Olympus OM 101 Powerfocus ! (with the manual settings add-on) Amazingly funny camera - with an awesome 50mm lens Got an allergy to film, literally
Used Canon Powershot (the first one with less than 1 mpixel).
Used Canon 20D - For the quality - I still miss you
First new camera : Nikon D700 . For the ISO and most importantly the viewfinder.
Olympus E-P1 (or EP-1 or smth. ) - for the quality in small size
I've upgraded because I got tired of constant soft image out of my old 20D. I'm very happy with my new camera. Today, my D700 started to give me out of focus shots, and I panicked until I found out that the focus mode switch front got turned to M mode somehow. Well, I'm still forgetting basic checks before clicking my shutters. Good thing that I'm just an amateur.
went from 1d III to a d700. i was tired of canon's AF problems and they didn't seem to give two craps about my business (after repeated pleas and proof). thus, i sold all my canon stuff and jumped ship. great upgrade- now my stuff works just dandy
Bought N50 in 1994, went digital with an inexpensive Kodak P&S that I also duplicated for my daughter so I could walk her through any difficulties, progressed to a Minolta Dimage z10 that I got myself for a birthday present. Took the keeper pictures with the N50 still. Finally went Digital SLR with the D50, wondered what the excitement was with pro bodies, so found a nice D1h to test out, which led to two N90s with grips. Got the D300s so that I could use the MF lenses with a camera with longer battery life than the D1h. Still have all the cameras, I also am better at buying than selling
I upgraded from D50 to D300 in 2008. I wanted the pro autofocus, RGB histogram, dedicated buttons, pixel density, bigger LCD. I was blown away by its build quality and refinement. I kept the D50 as a second body. People give me a weird look when I walk around with both.
I don't know what would make me upgrade next time. Perhaps significantly better high ISO, like a D700s. I can't give up the reach of the DX format, so I definitely need to keep the D300 around. I'm really longing for a serious wildlife lens right now. But when I do get another body, I might convert the D50 to IR, or give it away to a friend.
- 20D to 1Ds to get full (35mm) frame and better IQ
- 1Ds to 1D mkIIn because 1Ds had terrible battery life and slow performance for reviewing images etc. Liked 1D ergos and AF and decided at the time that APSH was a reasonable compromise.
- Kept 1DmkIIn for fast moving subjects but added 5D for static shots and to get full frame again.
- Added D700 so I could use my old Nikon lenses (plus other alt lenses like Zeiss and Voigtlander) without stop down metering and because it had a high resolution LCD
- Decided I preferred the Nikon look to images, especially if processed in CNX2. Traded 1D mkIIn for D3
- Traded 5D + 24-105 for Nikon 24-70 lens
* low noise with high iso's
* AF speed in low light
* AF accuracy in all ways
* 12 bit color to 14 bit color. Looks much punchier
* Bright and more usable viewfinder
* Battery Life
* Build quality
* Custom settings, programmable for your needs.
Well, I work in camera retail and rarely keep one model for more than a couple of years. I enjoy the cameras perhaps more than the actual photography- if I rattled off a list of every camera i'd owned, you'd never guess i'd only been a photographer for 10 years. I'm not a rich man so I can't afford to build a collection; instead I sell my old cameras to fund new ones, and because I usually buy used, I rarely make much of a loss (and occasionally make a profit).
Lately this all went to pot; I sold my 1Ds Mk I for the same as I paid for it, my D2Hs sold at a hefty profit and my D200 only just failed to break even... alas, I sold that to fund a brand new D3, as I was just completely caught up in the idea of a full frame Nikon. They had me at "High ISO"*.
Now, the D3 stays because i'm too damn scared to admit how much i've wasted by being an early adopter!
*edit- not completely true. The answer to question is- I upgraded because i'm a format size junkie. My last film camera before the 1Ds was a 501CM, and bigger will ALWAYS = better, whether it's film or sensors!
simonella: I just had the reverse experience, and put my D700 on the shelf to get a 5D2. I know what you mean about Canon, but I had lots of problems with Nikon too, including the autofocus.
1. Kodac ( something) dont remember now film - fell into Niagara Falls
2. casio exslim some model - broke
3. pentax optio s90 - got stolen
4. Nikon D40 - to small for my hands and was not fast enough
5. Nikon D300 - loved it but when night shoot needed hated it
6. Nikon D2X - was a second camera for time D300 in repair ( kid dropped on the floor )
7. Nikon D700 - NEVER BUYING NEW BODY AGAIN I love this camera so much.
P.S.
Maybe in some time will buy Leica but not sure about it. Need something small but for now canon S90 will do.
started with Olympus OM 1, 2, 3, 4. when Oly ceased support i went to:
nikon F4s, N90s the F5
owned a few Minolta digital cameras 7, 7i, A1
The Dawn of the Digital Age
went kicking and screaming to Canon due to its FF support and the lack of it from Nikon
after 5 years hard time with Canon (1Ds- arrived DOA replaced OK, 1D2- never liked it, 1Ds2- died 1.5 months in ownership before a big trip replaced and worked good, 1D3- don't even go there replaced, XTi- excellent camera, 40D- excellent camera)and Nikon finally waking up and smelling the coffee i went back to Nikon.
currently running a D3 and a D700 and i am happy. everything works as advertised
I went from the D100 to D200 because I wanted the better build quality, as well as higher resolution and faster frame rate.
I went from D200 to D300 for better AF and frame rate, as well as a CMOS chip, the ability to use the pro batteries, and that metering.
The D700 was not an upgrade, but an addition to my D300. I wanted it because we are still shooting film. The fact that it gives incredible high ISO performance was a bonus - okay, so it probably had a lot to do with the purchase. Besides, this was the first reasonably affordable FX camera available from Nikon. That and it came out at a time that I actually had the money to pay for it.
The D300s and possible D700s or X will just have to wait. Taxes are going to be ugly this year. Besides, with the D300 and D700, do I really need anything else? I can wait.
David
Feb 07, 2010 at 06:51 PM
Andre Labonte Offline • • • • • • Upload & Sell: Off
2005 - Rebel XT - got into photgraphy
2006 - 20D - frustrated with the Rebel size (hands kept cramping) and the AF points.
2008 - D700 - ISO + AF + FF + cheaper primes
Oly 8080 --> D200
(d)SLR performance (delay/view finder limitations)
Lens system (ability to change lenses)
D200->D3
high ISO performance ** This was paramount. I could have survived most else
speed (plus, but not to die for)
FX (again, a plus but not to die for *at the time*)
My camera body continues to meet my needs/expectations and I don't even pine over a replacement. Lenses on the other hand are my NAS affliction. My wants list is HUGE. 24 1.4/50 1.4/85 1.4 (ok, I'm dying for nearly ANY 1.4 glass) and something in a PC-E.
THE one thing that I would change cameras for would be focus points across the ENTIRE sensor in an FX camera. I hate being limited to the DX center of the image with my focus points.
