Gort55 Loc: Northern Colorado

It was a Wardflex twin lens reflex. I think it was a Yashica dressed in Monkey Wards clothing. This is all I have left of it, and don't know why I kept it. It does demonstrate how the aperture clamps down when you release the shutter though. First real SLR was a Miranda Sensorex with a 50mm f/1.4 -- long gone.

Rocky Beech

Yes I do. It's a Nikomat (Japanese version) that was a college graduation gift from my Dad in 1974. Still works.

Steve2Q

My first was a Kodak Retina Reflex III. High chool graduation present in 1967. Still have it, 3 lenses, and another body given to me by a friend when he went digital. I just brought an adaptor so I can put the lenses on my 7D

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

Yes, I still have the Konica Autoreflex T3 that I bought used in approx. 1979. It's the camera on the left in this photo:



That original T3 was bought used from a local photographer along with two lenses: Hexanon 57mm f/1.2 and Hexanon 80-200mm f/3.5. Both were excellent but literally wore out from use and eventually were replaced, while over time some other lenses were added to my kit:



The T3 still works perfectly and has only been in for a "tune up" once (around 1990). I used it regularly through the mid-1990s. But also ended up using other Konica by then... T3"N" ("new" and improved), a couple T4s with winders and FT-1 with built in winders.



I was in the habit of loading one of the matte chrome cameras with black & white film (either Tri-X or Fuji Acros), one of the black cameras with a slow slide film like Fuji Velvia and another with a faster slide film like Kodak E200 VS. Occasionally yet another camera would be loaded with some sort of color negative film.

P.S. More recently I added another T3 to my collection.... the Konica 100th Anniversary Limited Edition (1976, only 1500 made):

BudsOwl Loc: Upstate NY and New England

My first real camera was a Kodak 620 folding camera which my aunt gave me for helping my uncle build his house around 1946 or ‘47 followed by a Kodak Pony 828 which I bought and used until the mid 1950s. Both are since long gone. My first 35 mm SLR was a Miranda Sensorex followed by a Canon Rebel. I have none of these cameras today.
Bud

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Wow, lots of people here must live in high crime areas ! Since 1969, I have never had any photo equipment stolen 8-)

Yes, still have my first REAL camera - a black Pentax Spotmatic with 85mm f1.9 lens purchased at Ramstein Air Base Germany in 1969. It is very WELL used and not working well now ! I do have other Pentax screw mount stuff that is good and usable tho ! 8-) .......some of which I have adapted to my Sony A99. My second camera while still in Germany was a YashicaMat 124 which I do not have anymore 8-(
.

PhotogHobbyist Loc: Bradford, PA

I do not have my "first" real camera, but I do have it's twin, a Petri FT with the 55mm 1.8 lens. I do still have my original first extra lenses and accessories for that camera, 400mm 6.3, 135mm 3.5, 35mm 2.8, 2X TC, and extension bellows. All that equipment is in very good working condition. I also have my second "real" camera, a Pentax K1000 SE, also in very good working condition.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Yes and yes. Since 1953.
--Bob

Leica IIIf - along with some accessories collected over the years

(Download)

Robert MAYVILLE Loc: Ohio

Still have my canon AE1 and my original lens

Delderby Loc: Derby UK

Voigtlander Vito B - I think it was about 60 years ago. First reflex was a Mamiya with a single fixed lens and no instant return mirror. Very off-putting when viewfinder blacked out after shot - about 57 years ago - marketed by Dixons Photographic in London - it had a sticky aluminum label over "MAMIYA" which said "PRINZFLEX" on the prism housing.

KindaSpikey Loc: English living in San Diego

Thinking back, the first ("real" to me) camera I owned, was a kodak instamatic 110. My parents bought it for me, for either a Christmas or birthday present, (can't remember which), when I was around 10 years old, and my dad wasn't fond of me playing with his 35mm! I loved that little camera. I didn't know anything about photography at the time, so the lack of controls and adjustment meant nothing to me, and of course I didn't miss what I'd never had! I think that camera was the first gift I had ever received (at that age), that was not clothing or a toy, and it made me feel very "grown up" . At that time, none of my friends owned a camera and I know that at least some of them were a little jealous, and received cameras of their own for their following birthdays! The form factor of that little device was awesome to me, the slim shape of it, the film cartridge, the slider to advance the film, even the cube flash, it all reminded me of the cameras I'd seen in spy movies, and my little 110 instamatic made me feel like James Bond! I know for sure that's where my love of photography started. My parents are both sadly long gone, and so is the camera, but I have them to thank for this "hobby" that has endured my whole lifetime. Stay safe and Keep shooting!

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

My first camera, bought with my savings when I was in eighth grade, was a Mamiya/Selor 1000DTL which I traded in, for more than the purchase price, on a Mamiya 645 in a Mamiya special offer. My second camera, a Pentax Spotmatic, is still in my camera closet, and very lonely. I also have 2 F5 bodies. I haven't shot film in years!

Peterfiore Loc: Where DR goes south

Yes, I Do...A Zeiss Ikon Contessa. Still works too.

tgreenhaw

I shared one of these with my father. What a fantastic camera. The spot meter was excellent.

tgreenhaw

My first real camera was a Brownie Hawkeye my dad bought for me at a garage sale when I was 4. It sparked a lifelong love of photography and was a hobby my dad and I enjoyed for a lifetime. When I was 5, he taught me how to develop the film and make Velox contact prints.

Until I was 18, all the cameras I used were shared with my dad. My first camera purchase was a Yashica FR1 and I still have it. Although I haven't shot film in decades I could never part with it.

Great question! It triggers amazing memories.