First camera, Nikon/Canon because of family?

ivar · February 16, 2007

So, I got my first SLR when I was about 17 I think. It was a Canon 500n. My father mainly came up with that one, and it looked okay to me. He had a Canon SLR himself, an AV-1.

From what I can remember, the main reason it became a Canon, was because A) I had no idea what to look at and

my dad had a Canon which worked well. Since A),

was really the main reason.

So, now I had a Canon. What happens when you want to buy a new camera? Most people stick with the same brand, because of familiarity and lenses, so my Canon-path was chosen.

I was curious as to how many others bought their original camera for a similar reason, or another non-techical reason. Anyone? :ear

(I want to keep it to the non-technical side of why you got your camera and I don't want to discuss which is better or not. Any such posts will be removed.)

DoctorIt · February 16, 2007

I recently bought a Canon because I had run out of Nikon's to buy.

there's not always a good reason, you're right.

pahl · February 16, 2007

My first real camera was a Minolta Maxxum 7000 35mm film.
I remember wanting to get a good camera and my dad did some checking around. The Maxxum was just coming out and they were hard to find. We went to the twin cities and he called all over the place to find one. After a lot of phone calls we found one that was on hold for someone else.

The guy said if we got there first we could have it as they had already waited a couple day for the other guy and he had not come for it yet.

I must have been just starting high school when I got that camera from what I remember. I am 38 years old now.

In high school I bought a number of lens and a couple of flashes, all minolta maxxum stuff. Also got a date back and a number of other smaller stuff.

That stuff is now gone. I never did like the main big flash I had for it as it would miss fire a lot! The lens I had for it were nothing special eather even though they were all minolta maxxum ones.

I was not looking to buy a DSLR, but run into the pentex ist DL on clearence with kit lens for $400. I have had a number of P&S I paid that or close to that for and I was never really happy with any of them.

I could not believe I could get into a DSLR with lens for only $400 because when I priced some out before I was looking at price of $600 on up for just bodies.

So I bought the ist DL and have been so happy to be shooting with a SLR again.

I have so much more then $400 into it now just a few short month later, but I am having a great time with it.

I would guess that even with what few pentax things I have now that I will be sticking with pentax. In the next year or so I would like to pick up a second body. Something like the K10D or what ever is out by then.

JESTER · February 16, 2007

I too started off with a Canon when I was very young. Shortly thereafter I changed to Nikon and have been there ever since. I have owned about 6 Nikons and love them all.

Now for the answer to your question. It depends on several things. #1 is how much Canon gear do you already own? Are you willing to give all that up to switch to something else and buy new?

Which camera is better is always in the eye of the beholder. I like my Nikons. Canon owners love their canons. They all have plus and minus things about them. Both cost $$$$. They both do excellent work as can be shown by the many photos on this site. So the final decision is up to you. If you have a Canon and like it I would probably stick with that brand. Just my personal opinion.

claudermilk · February 16, 2007

pahl wrote:

My first real camera was a Minolta Maxxum 7000 35mm film.
I remember wanting to get a good camera and my dad did some checking around. The Maxxum was just coming out and they were hard to find. We went to the twin cities and he called all over the place to find one. After a lot of phone calls we found one that was on hold for someone else.

The guy said if we got there first we could have it as they had already waited a couple day for the other guy and he had not come for it yet.

I must have been just starting high school when I got that camera from what I remember. I am 38 years old now.

In high school I bought a number of lens and a couple of flashes, all minolta maxxum stuff. Also got a date back and a number of other smaller stuff.

That stuff is now gone. I never did like the main big flash I had for it as it would miss fire a lot! The lens I had for it were nothing special eather even though they were all minolta maxxum ones.

I was not looking to buy a DSLR, but run into the pentex ist DL on clearence with kit lens for $400. I have had a number of P&S I paid that or close to that for and I was never really happy with any of them.

I could not believe I could get into a DSLR with lens for only $400 because when I priced some out before I was looking at price of $600 on up for just bodies.

So I bought the ist DL and have been so happy to be shooting with a SLR again.

I have so much more then $400 into it now just a few short month later, but I am having a great time with it.

I would guess that even with what few pentax things I have now that I will be sticking with pentax. In the next year or so I would like to pick up a second body. Something like the K10D or what ever is out by then.

Woah! Dja Vu!

I went with a Maxxum 7000 for my own first SLR for the same reason: I wanted a really good one. That kit got stolen :cry and was replaced with the 7000i. It has a couple of lenses and flash--I always hated that flash, never really worked well. Still have it & probably hung on to it too long, I can maybe get $300 for everything--thanks I'll leave it in the closet.

Jumped into digital with Nikon & their Coolpix line as it seemed like one of the better ones at the time. That took a couple of years to outgrow, so back to studying the market and my needs. The last jump was to the expensive DSLR world, and this one I went with Canon (brand loyalty? who? ME? :giggle) since they have the capabilities that best met my needs. I've got so much invested in that now that I will be sticking with Canon from here on.

colourbox · February 16, 2007

I bought a Pentax K1000 because I was learning and everyone told me it was the one to get. And it was only $100. Later I was impressed by my mom's Canon AE-1 because it was "advanced." But that camera isn't around anymore, while I still have my made in Japan, made of steel, (they changed all that later), works without a battery, still functioning K1000.

Of course, it's sitting in the closet while I run around with my Rebel XT...

First camera, Nikon/Canon because of family?

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