whfowle Loc: Tampa first, now Albuquerque

When I was just a teen, I borrowed the "family camera", a Brownie Box 616. Loved the sharp contact prints made with that camera. But I always wanted to move to a 35mm format because of the wide choice of film stock I could choose from. My dream camera in high school was a Kodak Retina III, but never had the money to buy one. After I joined the Air Force, I was assigned to Okinawa and the BX carried a wide variety of great 35mm cameras at very good prices. Became familiar with the Nikon brand and ended up buying a Nikon FTn with a 50mm, f1.4 lens. Before long I had saved enough money to get a good variety of lens including a 35mm, f2.8, 135mm, f3.5, 200mm, f4. Later, I bought another F body so I could carry two lens mounted. Very helpful as I explored the island of Okinawa and later England, the rest of Europe and Alaska. Many years later, I added a used 85mm, f1.8. Now retired, I still shoot some film, but usually just scan to digital afterwards. I picked up a Canon EOS-1n with a 20-35mm f3.5 lens about five years ago and have used it to good effect at sites like Sky City, NM where I had to work hard to get tourist out of the picture and still capture the buildings. I probably would use other brands but when you have invested a lot of money in lens, it is hard to transition to another brand. So, when I first started in digital, I went with a Nikon D40 because I could use my older manual focus Nikon lens that were sharper and faster than the kit lens Nikon was making for the D40. I admit I'm getting lazy in my old age as now I prefer auto focus. It lets me concentrate on other factors more even though I still override quite a bit. Just getting used to my new Nikon D7200. I think I like it so far. Just bought the ultra wide 10-24mm for a trip up north to shoot the Fur Rendezvous and the start of the Iditarod dog sled races in Anchorage. I guess I'm stuck with Nikon. Not that it isn't a good place to get stuck!

Ched49 Loc: Pittsburgh, Pa.

I guess I started out the way most people did. My first decent camera was a Nikon about 20 years ago and I just stuck with that brand. I was always fascinated with cameras but didn't really get into buying a Dslr until 15 years ago.

DRG777 Loc: Metro Detroit

I also have a D7200 and like it well.

tinkerbell2 Loc: Charleston, South Carolina

I started with a film Olympus OM1-MD. When I made the switch to SLR, my spouse bought me a Canon, so that's the brand I'm using. I'm happy with his choice.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Same question, different day?
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-440802-1.html

tresap23 Loc: Texas

I am a Canon user. Guess because it was my first camera. I have had a Kodak camera and a Olympus point and shoot. But when I went to buy my first DSLR, I bought a Canon. I love it! All in what you get used to I think. There are pros and cons in all brands.

Bill_de Loc: US

The first SLR's I had were Pentax. I used them for many years and found it very convenient that Pentax was in Garden City, NY about three miles from home. When I decided to move to a brand with a better selection it was a choice between Nikon and Canon. I lived on Long Island, Nikon is on Long Island, and Canon was in Jersey. My choice of Nikon, which I have stayed with, was based more on geography than brand preference. No regrets, but I think I would have been just as happy with Canon.

As I have mentioned before, both Pentax and Nikon provided excellent customer service. Walk in with a camera just to replace a cap or some minor thing and they would do a clean and adjust, no charge as long as you were willing to wait.

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Jim216 Loc: South Carolina

My first SLR was a Fujica. Next, I bought a Nikon FG. I then bought a Nikon D3300 because I could use my prior 3 lenses with it albeit manually.

Philipschmitten Loc: Texas

WOW, tough decision to make. I am a retired USAF Combat Photojournalist (21years) and was totally Nikon. I carried F3s all over the world, beat them to death. Then I retired and was working in Wolf's Camera Store selling what I knew best....cameras. I guess I really pushed the Nikon Brand as I was a big fan. Then one day a Canon sales rep came in the store and handed me a CANON REBEL (this was in 92) and told me to check it out. I sure did. I really put it through the paces. I shot directly into the sun, then quickly turned to deep shadow. I paned high contrast situations, in other words I did everything you are not supposed to do. I really wanted this camera to be a dud, but it wasn't...I was shooting slides and the exposure is pretty critical. EVERY one of my photos was perfectly exposed and focused correctly. I was blown away. Since then I have been a dedicated Canon man. I highly recommend the Canon Rebel line.

ELNikkor

I still use my Nikon D40 daily. It has large pixels, and is one of the only DSLRs that will synch at 1/500th of a second...

Jerrin1 Loc: Wolverhampton, England

I bought my Nikon D500 because, as far as I'm concerned, it is the best camera available for birds and dragonflies in flight. In this regard I believe it to be superlative. I bought my Olympus EM1 mark II because I knew it was going to be better for BIF than my EM1's: additionally, it has the incredible Pro Capture mode and 18fps in C-AF. Both cameras are beautifully well made, weatherproof and backed up with stunning lenses.

hrblaine

I bought a Nikon F from the PX while in Korea in the '50s but for some reason when I started doing dance photography 25 or 30 years later, I switched to Canon and bought a 40d with an 85mm lens. I still have both plus a 10D and numerous fixed and zoom lens. I gave the Nikon to a friend and afaik, he's still using it.

NoSocks Loc: quonochontaug, rhode island

No logic to my choice at all. Back in my NFL days, I had Canon gear since Canon had a relationship with the league so I got it free to do some sideline shooting. Then I kind of lost interest for a while because film was a nuisance and expensive. When I got back into photography about ten years ago, I bought Nikon because it just felt right. Who knows. Like I said, no logic or thinking.

RKL349 Loc: Connecticut

My first was a Yashica TL- Super, given to me. When I upgraded it, I saw and used a friends Nikon, and that has been my brand for a long time. Recently purchased an Olympus Micro 4/3 for travel, but will not replace my Nikon's any time soon.

TREBORB

Most cameras are fairly good. If they were not, they would not last long in a competitive world. . i started using Canon more than 50 years ago. mainly because everyone was using Nikon. just wanted to be contrary.. have owned and used at least 20 different Canons in my life.. . i am sure Nikon is as good or maybe even better. Thank goodness we have choices. It would be a boring world without choices. Changing systems would be very expensive if one has a large lens selection.