Harry0 Loc: Gardena, Cal

Again, a lot of things are like a lot of things. Those other cameras weren't made in near the sheer quantity that Nikon was. Plus the Nikon "F" series was a pro quality camera at consumer prices- most of those old existing Nikons didn't get the shutter count that "real pro" cameras did. That pro photog might put hundred times more rolls thru that Leica than you ever would- then got it fixed. Maybe 2 or 5 cycles later it got used for parts for his other Leicas.
And the Nikons were great as a "system" camera. Lenses and filters and Photomics and flashes etc- pro quality extras at consumer level pricing. Everything fit- and fit right. Made it real popular.
I still have my Kodak 1914 Autographic. It was a consumer model made in the millions, so as a collector piece- it isn't. Same as my Zenit.


A buddy had a DP2, I had my Nikon, and we spent a day doing a RenFaire. Today we'd say his shots had a little HDR quality to them. The subjects and colors stood out just a bit more. Maybe if that sensor was upgraded and licensed ... a Nikon P1200 w/ a 32mp Foveon?


Actually, that's why I bought mine. I am a notsmall person, and the 6x7 looked and fit right on me. I liked the way it worked. The Bronicas, RBs, and the Hassy got just too much of a bother outside the studio. A MF camera that I could just take pictures just like my Nikon- no assembly or backpack required? Yay! I still have a pair of Kiev 60s- they fit me.

LMurray Loc: North Orange County, CA

Murray Loc: New Westminster

I shot an old secondhand Ricoh, but lusted after a Nikon. Wound up with both Canon & Nikon.

Kenlass

Response
I believe Leica is still very much in business.

therwol Loc: USA

My father paid $330 for my Nikon FTn (body only) in 1969. (A going away to college gift.) It was well worth every penny. I continued to use it into the early 90s, but considering that would be the equivalent of $2300 today without any lenses, it doesn't qualify as being priced for 1969 consumers.

JHS Loc: Carmichael, CA

I started out in 1955 when my parents’ friends gave me a Brownie (Hawkeye, I think) for my birthday. My Dad was in the Air Force and we lived on a base, so I had access to the photo hobby shot, and learned how to develop and print my film. They had big, professional enlargers and the Airman were kind enough to help me learn the ropes. Later, a college room mate had an early Alpa. I purchased an Alpa 6C and then the Alpa Macro-Switar lens. It came with a negative of a resolution chart so demonstrate what a great lens it was, and it truly was a great lens. Then in 1969 I got a Nikon F with the Photomic finder and was in heaven...a camera that told you what exposure was correct–wow! I had those two cameras until about 2016, when I broke down and crossed into the dark side (went from film to digital) with a Nikon D7200. About three years later I moved up to the D850, and love all three of my Nikons. I still take out my Alpa and fondle it ever so lovingly. I still believe that it was built in the Alps by Swiss elves, with its continuously variable shutter speeds, well, not really continuous, but with speeds in between what was marked on the shutter speed dial. Back in the early 1970's I also ventured into 4x5 with a Calumet view camera, and lugged that thing along with a heavy Vivitar Tripod, plus case of film holders all over Yosemite Valley. Unfortunately I did not have a 4x5 enlarger, so I could only get my negatives and chroms printed by someone else. I was also fortunate enough to attend the Los Angeles Art Center, College of Design, and take two private seminars with Earl Theissen (the glamor photographer for Collier’s magazine). I also met Ansel Adams at a lecture he gave in the LA area. Boy, I have been so lucky, its been a great ride!

John

A letter of reprimand is better than no mail at all!

Beenthere

I seem to be the "oddball" here. My first serious camera was a Miranda G 35mm SLR with a removable pentaprism and 50mm lens. I shot a lot of good pics with it and then became curious about medium format. I couldn't afford a Hasselblad, Rolliflex, Bronica, or Mamiya so settled on a, get this, Kowa Six and eventually added a couple more lenses. It was then known as "The poor man's Hasselblad".., and I was a poor man/boy. Some of my best shots, especially portraits, was taken with the Kowa. I still have it well preserved in an imitation Halliburton aluminum case. It looks brand new today, even though purchased in the mid to late 60s. Later a woman friend/camera technician built a Nikkormat, for me, from spare parts which I began to use, most of the time. There were others, I acquired as my employment situation improved, but those were the main ones I used most often.

Mike N Loc: Fairbanks, Alaska

For my first camera in the late '50s my Grandmother gave me a Kodak Pony 828. 10 years later I bought a Minolta SRT-101 and then a Nikon F ftn. In '75 I bought a new Hasselblad 500cm, picked up a Leica lllg that had barely been used that I wish that I still had. I've still got way too many systems: Contax G1 with 3 lenses, Canon new F1 in almost unused condition with a bunch of FD lenses, Nikon FE-2, F-4, imaculate Roleiflex 2.8f with eye level prism, Nikon S2 rangefinder and probably more that I can't remember. First digital that I got in 2010 was a D40, and I now use a Nikon D7100.

no12mo

My all time favorite film camera is the Canon T90 (I have three) and a nice collection of FD lens. I also have Nikon D7000 and a D500 digital cameras with a fair collection of DX lens.

They all have their use - they all are fairly heavy cameras (around 4 lbs with lens).

cameraf4 Loc: Delaware

Now there! There is a Canon that a dyed in the wool Nikon guy like me could really go for. Canon T90. When Nikon introduced the FA (first camera with Automatic Multipattern Metering --- now called Matrix or Evaluative and on just about every SLR-type camera) I was hugely disappointed. The T90 (and the Olympus OM4) had multispot metering where the operator could choose up to 9 different spots in the scene to base exposure on and the cameras would average them all out. Right up my alley.

SwarmDoctor

My first camera was a Brownie Hawkeye 620, and I developed my own contact prints (late 1950's). My first SLR was a Konica Auto-Reflex T2. In 1984 I switched to a Nikon FA. At that time I was told that Cannon had problems with extreme cold, and I was living in North Germany. My kids used EM's in the mid '90's. The only camera that I ever sent off for repair was my wife's AW1. In my opinion, the lens quality is significantly more important than the camera. I've used only one off-brand lens, and that lasted 3 months and gave me only one decent picture.

dvdnj

I started with a Pentax Spotmatic in 1972 -- than later moved onto Olympus (full blown -- Zuiko lenses, etc). It wasn't until the mid 90s that I 'matured' to Nikon (always presuming it was out of reach financially - and it probably was -- I was young, just starting out in the corporate world - going to college -- whole nine yards). Bought a consumer grade SLR Nikon -- can't remember what it was -- but I know I didn't know much about cameras back then. I thought since it was "a Nikon" it had to be good - lol! However, I was so disappointed with my first roll of film - so I pitted my Olympus side by side with this Nikon and brought my results back to the camera shop. He agreed; the Olympus was much better than the Nikon :-) - so he credited me fully and I went home with a Nikon N90s. I thought I was a pro - lol!! Loved that camera for many years and have been a Nikon owner ever since :-)

skywolf

My first real camera was a Yashica TLR. I was taking a photojournalism class and was expected to work in 35mm. I couldn't afford a good one off the bat, so settled for a Zenit B. Too damn slow, so I came up with the money and bought a Nikkormat FTN. Made some freelance money and added a Nikon FTN. I liked the way the Nikon felt in my hand...a natural balance that holds still today. I have but a D7100, but it's done everything I've needed it to do.

cambriaman Loc: Central CA Coast

From Baby Brownie through Argus C3 to Exactka VX11a to Minolta and Mamiya and Rolleiflex and on to Nikon film through to my latest Nikon D800e and D850, been there, done that. Getting better and better and happier with the results. It never ends! Not enough walls in my house to display my proud products. That's what photography is all about!

DaveyDitzer Loc: Western PA

Thank-you, Nikon, for hanging in there.[/quote]

My first 35 mm was a Rollei 35 and I wish I hadn't sold it, but money was an object then. Next I had an Exacta Twin Tl because my dad was an Exacta guy. Finally I moved to Nikon because my research showed that they did not abandon their legacy glass (F mount) users. I'm still a Nikon guy, although in the beginning I could have been swayed to Canon. My son is a Canon guy because his father in law is / was a Canon guy.
So I guess family relationships matter.