ELNikkor

My requirements in the early 80s were: lightweight, dependable, inexpensive, and HAD TO HAVE A MULTIPLE EXPOSURE LEVER!!!. Only the NIKON FE, FM series fulfilled these criteria at that time, (could not figure out why only Nikon had the M.E. lever, to me it was essential for the creative shots I was imagining!). Been happily with Nikon ever since.

KLambar Loc: New Jersey

I started out in 2000 with a Mamiya then a couple of years later went to Minolta - started out with the XG-M then went with the Maxxum 800si which I still use to date and looks brand new still. I finally went digital in 2009 when I purchased a Nikon D60 and then in December 2014 carried on with Nikon with the D7100. Down the road will get another which will be a Nikon.

woolpac Loc: Sydney Australia

I like white lenses I have to many to change brands

mainshipper Loc: Hernando, Florida

Although my first SLR was a Miranda Sensorex, I used Nikon for most of my film years starting with the FTN and finishing with the N8008. I committed to Canon at the beginning of the digital camera era (1999 for me) because I liked their compact S models and really did not care for the Nikon Coolpix 9XX series with it's articulating body. The camera I chose was the Powershot S10 and I never looked back. I also thought the Canon ecosystem was more complete at the time and that their companion software was better (in those days there was no Lightroom). I had several S series Powershots but I focused mainly on the G series (G1, G9, and G15) and various DSLRs (10D, 50D, 7D, 7D II, 5D, 5D II, 5D III). I found the G series a nice compliment to the DSLRs because it shot RAW and had many advanced features not found in typical point and shoots. I also shot a lot of medium format as well (Mamiya C330 TLR and 645 SLR).

ChackbayGuy Loc: South Louisiana

Won my first photo contest at age 6 with a Kodak Brownie. After college, got serious and did some sideline professional work, mostly weddings, High School football and arial photography. Wound up with a pair of Besler Topcon Super Ds with four prime lenses, A Leica 3f, a Mamiya C3 2 1/4 by 3 1/4 with several lenses (wedding stuff), a Speed Graphic 4X5 with several lenses , a Kodak 8X10 Studio with several lenses and two backs and a full film darkroom. This all in the late 60s and early 70s. Lost all in a flood (Houston area no less) in late 70s. Finally got back to tourist and family photography with a Nikon D3100 when they were fairly new.

WHY, well, I had inherited a Nikon F from my Mom with a couple of lenses. Always remember Mom shooting. No technical knowledge at all, but always managed to frame her shots in exceptional fashion. SO, getting back and going Nikon was largely an emotional decision, though I did about a month's research before upgrading to my now FF D750 with the 24-120 kit lens, the 70-200 1.28E and the 105 1.28G lens. Have a daughter that shoots with a Canon T6, so did look seriously at the Canon

Have had the good luck to do more arial photography while riding in the back of a T-6 (numerous times). One day included shooting arial formation flights of a P-40 and two P-51s and then spending over an hour in the jump plane with the Army Golden Knights as they opened an airshow!

Only my second post here, but this one made me think about WHY. Still happy with my decision to upgrade to FF. After about 6 months, getting familiar with the camera, now ready to jump into RAW and PP. Wish me luck!

Really enjoy this forum, read daily and am learning lots. Thanks to all of you that contribute and answer questions/opinions for us "newbies".

MichaelL

NIkon had one of the first digital cameras on the market. I purchased that for a trip to Disney with the family. Worked well so when it was time to upgrade to DSLR just stuck with Nikon. Now that I have a reasonable investment in associated equipment I do not see going back. I have owned a few of them and have had only on issue which needed repair. Bought my daughter a D40 when she went away to journalism school. Bought other daughter and my self D60s when they came out. Night before daughter with D40 was leaving for Europe, it decided it should always use flash. D40 stayed and was repaired, D60 went to Europe. Never did get the D60 back.....

Nalu Loc: Southern Arizona

When I decided to make the move from film to digital, Canon was the only manufacturer who was putting out a full frame sensor, the 5D. Never looked back.

folkus

Was a Canon guy; bought Nikon camera for daughter's travels in Europe- she lived with families in Sienna, Dresden, and Glenoble.

Several years ago, while holding my spot at the Iwo Jima Memorial from 6am until the fireworks on the 4th. I met a guy who came early, set up next to me and was a fellow sufferer in a miserable day of quite heavy rain. He was an AP photographer, assigned to many Presidential One types of flights and we spent an absolute fun day talking about photography he said I might like to look at the Sony mirrorless A7RII - I never looked back. I have it and the A9.

Dannj

Started with Minolta SLRs in the late 70s...had several over the next decade (still have them in a box in the basement). First foray into digital was a Panasonic LUMIX FZ 50 which I chose because of the fixed zoom...great results but the screen somehow shrunk and became too small for my eyes. I did my due diligence and now have a Pentax K50 which had the features I was looking for...someone else mentioned the weather proofing and built in stabilization which were important to me...but most of all it felt "right" in my hands. I'm keeping the Panasonic as a backup and for the extra "zoomability" it provides. I currently use the kit lenses that came with the Pentax but down the road will be looking for something on the 18-150 range as a walk-around.

Summary: IMO, all the major brands make excellent cameras. Go with what works for you.

CO

I like the ergonomics of Nikon cameras. The controls and buttons are placed well. Nikon also has an Fn button that can be programmed to carry out a variety of functions. My D500 has an Fn1 and Fn2 button. I have programmed both of them. Nikon is now putting a dedicated ISO button directly behind the shutter button. That's an excellent design feature.

AndyGarcia

I started taking photo with a Baun Paxette followed by various Praktika SLRs eventually buying a Nikkormat (I could not afford the F1/2) as I'd always been draw to Nikon for some reason. I've owned F Photomic, Fm, Fm2 (the FM/FM2 being my fave Nikons) then bought a D80 (which I hated) then a D300 & finally a D7000. Buy mostly 2nd hand these days - a bit like cars saves a fortune! I now have a Fuji XE2 as well as my Nikons. Love 'em all. The bonus with the XE2 is that I can use all of my Ai Nikon glass plus two Nikon AF lenses via a cheap and effective adapter saving me a fortune at the same time as giving me great photos.

Why did I go to Fuji - weight and IQ. I love the feel and look of Fuji photos. That said with modern PP software I love the stuff my old Nikons produce. I also love the metal construction of the Fuji which combined with an Ai lens gives me, almost, the feel of a metal FM. The size factor also is a very positive for me - the camera does not get in the way.

Where from here? I'll probably run my Nikons until they stop working (I'm very attached to Nikon for some reason - maybe the photographer in Apocalypse Now!) which could be a long time as I've only got about 10K actuations on both, buy another Fuji body in a year or so XT20/XE3 or possibly an XT1 for weather sealing. In the meantime I'll enjoy what I have and continue trying to create some photos I like. Pura Vida from Costa Rica.

Tomcat5133 Loc: Gladwyne PA

I shot with Nikon's for many years. The legacy lens are still being used and indie video guys love the old glass for video.
I think that Sony and Panasonic have really done amazing innovations. I never owned the Panasonic G series GH4 and the new GH5.
The mirrorless camera's from Sony won me over. Started with NEX and now have a7s II, a6300, RX10 III, X70 camcorder for run
& gun video. It was also about price. I like the Canon color science but their camera's and lens are more expensive.
Also size changed me. Carrying a Nikon D800 with a 70 200 lens is heavy and not very portable. All of these camera's
are amazing image makers. And pretty reliable. I really l liked the Nikon D300 and FF D700. Wasn't thrilled with
some issues I had with D800. I think the image or moving image is very subjective for each of us.
I went to a seminar with Director and they had the Canon C300 and many other Canon products. I thought
the C300 was amazing. But I think about 18K. My PXW X70 small pro camcorder make very good footage.
It now can be had for under 2k when it came out it was 3k.
So it is probably price, imagery you like and what you have on your shelf. My few Nikon lens work very easily
on the Sony's with a reasonable adaptor. Good luck.

ksmmike

I began with a Pentax K1000 (until it was stolen) so sad. The K1000 forced me to learn about shutter speeds, apertures, Iso and the connection between them.
From there I jumped to Nikon. Along the way, I switched to 4x5 view cameras until digital made it almost impossible not to use it. I stayed with Nikon mostly because
all my lenses could be used on my Nikon F5 or my Nikon D700 and D750. I'll take a look at mirror less if and when I can use my lenses. It's more an economical
issue as opposed to my dying love for Nikon. It really gets to a point where if you can't get a good image from the camera and lenses you currently own, you shouldn't really be
looking to change to another brand or style. However, that's only my opinion and it's your money. I only moved from the D700 to the D750 because my D700 broke 2 days before a European vacation. I needed another body asap. I'd love to own a Nikon D850 and maybe one day I will, but until I can justify it to myself other than I just want one, or my older bodies break for good, I'll stay with what I own for a while longer. Of course the wind could change this afternoon and I'll put myself on the waiting list for the 850. I do have the same bug many others have on this site and elsewhere.

Mike

wj cody Loc: springfield illinois

thank you, David Hemmings, and Blow Up!

saved for 6 months until i got my first nikon f from Robert Olden, in NYC. great guy and great dealer in those days.
also wanted a rangefinder so Robert Merril, in hartford ct, proved the man to go to.
great, now want medium format for magazine layouts. ah, what else but hasselblad, even though i have a love affair with my bronica s2a, but the repair shop sees more of that than i do!

these days, nikon, leica, contax 645, mamiya rz, linhof technikardan, ICA tropical 5x7. and i'm still listing stuff on ebay that i don't need anymore!!! go figure!

Bazbo Loc: Lisboa, Portugal

Nikon user for two reason: 1. I have been a Nikon user since the F-1. When I switched to digital, I could use my old lenses on the Nikons. Not willing to replace all of my lenses, they had me. 2. I really like the Nikon wireless flash synch for studio work.

BTW, I think the Canon line of both cameras and lenses are great. I don't get involved with Nikon vs. Canon disputes.