Longest you owned AND used a camera?

I don't get to use anything as much as I want to. But I still use the Fujica ST 901 I bought new in 1975. I can only guess it must have had 10 to 15 thousand shots though it. It would have been more but I also had a Yashica TL Super to use another type of film in and two different MF cameras. I bought my Mamiya Super Press 23 in 1976, and still use it. Neither of them get the use they used to not only for lack of time, but competition from other cameras I have and also enjoy using from time to time. But if I had to start selling cameras, the Super Press and Fujica systems would be keepers.
 
Mine would have to be a nikon fe. It was the first camera that I had and have used it ever since. I have had it about 12 years. More them half my life.
 
NickTrop said:
Vivitar V3800 - a Pentax K-mount SLR with a 1.7 50mm lens. $100 K-mart special purchased back in the late-80's... Still up and running today. I use it with a 19mm lens. Wide angle digital lenses are too price-y. When I want to shoot wide, I shoot with my ghetto set-up on film, a $40 used 19mm/3.5 Vivitar lens (which is just fine...) and the K-mart special Vivitar. This is a pretty darn good SLR by the way. Light, 1/2000 top speed, decent metering, and has been going strong for 25 years without issue. It's made by Cosina and is still for sale today as a "student" camera. Only downside it its shutter is a bit noisy.
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The Vivitar V3800 camera you refer to has been built and badged by Cosina for everybody and his brother (various Pentax models, Yashica FX-3, Konica TC-X, Vivitar V3800, Olympus OM 2000, Nikon FE-10 and FM-10, Canon T-60, Phoenix something or other, and recently the Voigtlander Bessaflex bodies, as well as the various Cosina Voigtlander and Zeiss Ikon rangefinders, (plus a few that I'm sure I've missed or forgotten). It is a very nice camera for the money.
And the Vivitar 19 3.8 you referred to is an excellent lens as well. I've had mine for many years and think it was one of the best lens purchases I ever made.
 
I've owned my Nikon F2 (used) since 1985, I still use it often, primarily with the 50-135 Nikkor I bought with it.
Longest I've owned and is still usable is my Pentax Spotmatic
 
About 40 years ago, my dad started letting me use his (now mine) Contax. I've tried many other cameras along the way, but that Contax is still the one I really use a lot.
 
I still have my father's Konica that has been in the family since dad bought it in Japan. 1950, plus or minus.
I still have the Brownie Hawkeye Flash I got for my birthday in 1956.
I still have the Canon EF SLR & VI-T rangefinder cameras and lenses that I bought in 1975, plus or minus.
I guess I hold on to things.
 
rbsinto said:
The Vivitar V3800 camera you refer to has been built and badged by Cosina for everybody and his brother (various Pentax models, Yashica FX-3, Konica TC-X, Vivitar V3800, Olympus OM 2000, Nikon FE-10 and FM-10, Canon T-60, Phoenix something or other, and recently the Voigtlander Bessaflex bodies, as well as the various Cosina Voigtlander and Zeiss Ikon rangefinders, (plus a few that I'm sure I've missed or forgotten). It is a very nice camera for the money.
And the Vivitar 19 3.8 you referred to is an excellent lens as well. I've had mine for many years and think it was one of the best lens purchases I ever made.
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Very durable little camera. I remember trying to decide betweem the Pentax K1000 used, and this Cosina/Vivitar and decided on the Vivitar because it was new and lighter and had a better top shutter speed as I recall. Don't regret it. I took some really nice pics with that camera and its kit lens. The 19mm is - yes, a very nice lens. Everytime I get the itch to get a pricey wide lens for my Nikon DSLR, I realize that I really don't shoot that wide that often - usually just to fool around, and forget about it and just keep the cash in my pocket and stick with my old Vivitar "wide" set-up. Besides, its an excuse to shoot film.
 
My Leica m6ttl purchased brand new at the end of 2001.......I use that camera basically every day.......my Hasselbald 501cm that I got in 2000 would not classify because sadly, it does not get used that much lately........but I am trying to change that......

cheers, michael
 
Leica M6TTL - I purchased it in either 1997 or 1998. It was a heavily discounted demo unit, with a ding in the baseplate. I was getting serious about photography and had saved up some money to buy a Nikon or Canon. At that time I didn't really know what a Leica was. I spotted it on the shelf behind the sales man and asked him what 'that' was. The rest is history, as they say.

Ever since I have used that camera on an almost daily basis and have lugged it halfway around the planet.

It's been serviced three times; once for a CLA and twice do to operator error / self-inflicted damage (cracked body shell). The rangefinder was changed from .85 to .72 and it also received the flare fix.

But other than that it has been absolutely bulletproof and I expect to continue to use it as long as they make film.
 
I'd guess no longer than 3-4 years..... my HS Grad gift, a Canon F1 with a 50mm/1.4 (1972) I had the longest... 1972 till 1980 something... I had a FTb-ql before that. (1970-72), and my 1st 35mm, a Voigtlander Prominent 1 with a 5cm f/1.5 Nokton. (1967-1970), but, most camera's have a 2-4 year life span with me, although the Contax G1/45mmf/2 may change that, as may the Panasonic G3
 
My first camera was a Nikon F2 , bought new , serial nr. 71.... , still have it ; I used it a lot until 1994 . Now only from time to time , it's always ready to go , never had a problem with it . Also had a few F's .
 
I don't think I've ever had a single camera for over a year in use. Nikon D50 might have been two years as it was my first proper camera and instead of changing the body I just switched lenses. A lot.
 
Nikon 4004s since 1980...been around the world and stills looks new. Usually used for color film. First slides in awhile were done on the beach last Mother's day at dawn. Amazing pictures!:eek:

Sending out a half dozen for scanning and wet-printing.:)
 
Still own my first camera, a Pentax ME Super with a 50/2 lens purchased in 1981 for $361. Still use it and it works just as nicely today as it did back then. This will always be the special one for me no matter how many nice cams I have acquired since.
 
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