Do you still own your first "real" camera?
Nov 20, 2021 08:22:21 #
DavidSells
Loc: Ferndale, MD
My first "real" professional camera was this Canon F1, I saved every nickle and dime and placed small pictures of it everywhere to remind me to save. I finally saved enough to give myself a Christmas present, I bought in December 22, 1971. The camera paid for itself many times over. Now a days I’m shooting with a Sony a6600, purchased an adapter that allows me to use the FD lens for low light situations. This old Canon brings back good memories from days gone by.
Nov 20, 2021 08:31:49 #
Mine I received as a graduation gift from my Uncle Mike in 1969. It is a Nikkormat FTn with a 50mm lens. The following years added a 135mm, and then a 200mm telephoto. It was/is an awesome camera that I used over the years, learning to develop my own b&w film and print them.
I lucked into a Mamiya C330 at a "Hamfest" in Miami in the late '70s. Went digital with various models through the present with the Niko Z6ii - which I really love.
I lucked into a Mamiya C330 at a "Hamfest" in Miami in the late '70s. Went digital with various models through the present with the Niko Z6ii - which I really love.
Nov 20, 2021 08:44:39 #
I bought a replacement on eBay - Agfa. I also bought a Miranda Sensorex, my first SLR.
Nov 20, 2021 08:45:55 #
jlsphoto
Loc: Chcago SubBurbs
My first "Real Camera" was this twin lens reflex given to my Uncle in 1968. He purchased it used in 1962. I still shoot B&W film on occasion.
Nov 20, 2021 08:46:03 #
Warhorse
Loc: SE Michigan
My first "real" camera was a fairly inexpensive 35mm film Yashica SLR in 1977, followed by a Canon AE-1, followed by a Canon F1. Sold the Yashica to help finance the AE-1, then sold the AE-1 to get the F1. Used that Canon F1 till I went digital in the early 2000's. I bought a string of digital point and shoots, till my wife bought me a Nikon D3200, sold my Canon F1 to help purchase a D5600 which I still have. Bought a refurbished D500 last year. That pretty much sums up my photography journey.
Nov 20, 2021 08:50:45 #
wide2tele wrote:
Do you still own your first real/serious camera? (... (show quote)
I am afraid not. My first real camera as you put it was an Asahi Pentax KM film camera. It was stolen in 1987. I would have continued to use it at least until I started using Digital. I still very occasionally shoot film.
Nov 20, 2021 09:01:46 #
Retina
Loc: Near Charleston,SC
Yashica Electro 35 (1972) which I gave to another Hogger a couple years ago who missed the one he bought in Viet Nam. He reported that with a new battery it worked fine. I went to Asahi Spotmatic F (1972) and Nikon F (1973) which I sold or traded to professionals who needed them then. I still have their replacements which I use for the lenses and to remind me that I am still able to manually focus.
Nov 20, 2021 09:08:20 #
I still have my Pentax K1000 that I used for 25 yrs. I self taught myself with this one before buying a Canon Rebel xTi.
Nov 20, 2021 09:28:20 #
My first camera was one I borrowed from my Dad when I was about 5 years old. I think I wore it out. That was in 1961. It was a "Brownie". My Mom let me earn money to buy an Instamatic. I was about 8. Wore it out. I grew up.
I learned how to build stuff, and my brother asked me to build a front porch for his modular ("Mobile") home. I agreed to. He had a Canon camera. I told him I would build it if he bought me a new camera. I chose a Nikon N2000 with a 50mm pancake lens. I bought a Tokina zoom to go with it. That was in 1985.
I got married in 1987 and our honeymoon was in Hawaii for 2 weeks. I took hundreds of photos. Developed all of them and still have many. That N2000 took darn good photos and probably still does. Haven't shot it in 25 years. I still have the camera and lenses. They are pristine.
I learned how to build stuff, and my brother asked me to build a front porch for his modular ("Mobile") home. I agreed to. He had a Canon camera. I told him I would build it if he bought me a new camera. I chose a Nikon N2000 with a 50mm pancake lens. I bought a Tokina zoom to go with it. That was in 1985.
I got married in 1987 and our honeymoon was in Hawaii for 2 weeks. I took hundreds of photos. Developed all of them and still have many. That N2000 took darn good photos and probably still does. Haven't shot it in 25 years. I still have the camera and lenses. They are pristine.
Nov 20, 2021 09:30:07 #
leftj
Loc: Texas
wide2tele wrote:
Do you still own your first real/serious camera? (... (show quote)
No, but not a day goes by that I regret letting it go.
Nov 20, 2021 09:47:34 #
nmw1004
Loc: Dresher PA
My first real camera was a Kodak Signet 50 35mm camera. I recieved it as a gift when I was 13 in 1960 and enjoyed it for quite a few years. I've sold or have given away other cameras that I have owned but I have held on the this one. Its sits on a shelf in my basement with some other old cameras I collected over the years but it still brings back memories every time I look at it.
Nov 20, 2021 10:02:12 #
StanMac
Loc: Tennessee
What qualifies as a “real” camera? The first camera that I acquired when I wanted to start taking pictures of me and my wife was a Kodak Instamatic 500. I still have it. It made nice images. In a couple of years I graduated to a Kodak Retina IIf. I still have that one. After graduating college and having a bit more disposable income, I graduated to a Miranda Sensomat. I later gave that camera away or sold it and dropped out of photography for many years. A couple of years ago, I acquired a mint condition Sensomat. So now I’m back where I started.
Stan
Stan
Nov 20, 2021 10:06:58 #
Yup, still have it. 
My dad bought it for me in the early to mid 70s from a place in Toronto called "Direct Camera" if I recall correctly. It had a Direct Camera label stuck over the brand name (more like a metal plate than a label) which I pried off out of curiosity. Cleaned up the glue residue et voila ... a Russian made Zenit. Sorry for the cell phone picture quality (and the dust on the camera ... disrespectful, I know
).
I have been meaning to contact Guinness and see if they have a category for the "world's loudest combination of shutter noise and mirror slap" as this one might just take the title!
My dad bought it for me in the early to mid 70s from a place in Toronto called "Direct Camera" if I recall correctly. It had a Direct Camera label stuck over the brand name (more like a metal plate than a label) which I pried off out of curiosity. Cleaned up the glue residue et voila ... a Russian made Zenit. Sorry for the cell phone picture quality (and the dust on the camera ... disrespectful, I know
).I have been meaning to contact Guinness and see if they have a category for the "world's loudest combination of shutter noise and mirror slap" as this one might just take the title!
Nov 20, 2021 10:09:09 #
wingclui44
Loc: CT USA
wide2tele wrote:
Do you still own your first real/serious camera? (... (show quote)
My very first real camera was a Praktica Super TL in late 60, then a Yashica TLR, but didn't keep them long, after about two years, I finally got what I wished, a pair of Nikon, the Nikon Ftn and Nikkomat, I still have them as collecting item. Now I have a Df and a D200.
Nov 20, 2021 10:21:19 #
wide2tele wrote:
Do you still own your first real/serious camera? (... (show quote)
No, my daughter has it.
Still in the family though.
But I replaced it with an identical FTb a couple of years later and still use it to this day.
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