Anybody here ever switch systems?

[SolaresLarrave]

A weird thought hit me this morning when I opened an e-mail from B&H: to ditch all my Nikon gear (cameras and lenses) in favor of the Hasselblad HV and a Sony Zeiss 24-70 f2.8 lens.

Later I learned that the Hassy is just a rebadged Sony A-99 body.

Still, the thought has not abandoned me altogether... but I'd like to know if anybody has done something similar, like migrate from Nikon to Canon, or viceversa, or gone from dSLR to RF or the other way around.

Did you enjoy it to this day? Did you regret it? Just curiosity. Thanks in advance! 🙂

 

[CliveC]

I kinda did, but didn't quite make it.
I started with Canon EF (on a 60D), added a few lenses, but added Sony gear when a friend gave me some Minolta glass. First added a Sony A37, then a full-frame A850.

I found a good deal on a 70-200mm for Canon though, so I've since gone back and added a 5D classic.

So now I'm kinda stuck between systems and I shoot both (5D when light is sufficient, A850 when it's not and I need more megapixels). With Sony's lackluster support for A-mount, I have a feeling that another 5D will be next on my shopping list, as well as a 24-70mm.

 

[Contarama]

I am a multi/cross system fella myself preference manual focus...🙂

Wait for the Pentax and prices on digital full frame used M's to drop even more and then rethink your strategy. My opinion.

Shooting everything...it is the future!

 

[Robert Lai]

I was exclusively Nikon for over 25 years, then I've migrated to LTM cameras, and finally Leica M. I've sold off a lot of the Nikon gear, but I still keep some unique items. Telephoto and Macro are strengths for SLRs, and I've kept those lenses. The more common 50mm and wide angles are now the domain of the Leica.

Besides 35mm systems, I shoot a lot more medium format also. 6x6 and 6 x 9, with some 6 x 4.5cm with a mask inserted in my 6 x 9 camera.

 

[Range-rover]

I've done it went from Nikon to Canon, I just got a bunch of canon glass at
a great price so I sold the Nikon I had, it's just what works better for you.

 

[gb hill]

Just switched from using an RF to my Canon SLR to shoot a couple of projects. I carried it out today & it felt so good for me to use. I was able to concentrate on the project at hand.

 

[lynnb]

I never regretted switching to original 5D as my first DSLR, after using F mount for over 30yrs (and OM before that). Nikon simply didn't have a FF digital at the time. The cost of switching to Nikon DSLRs now is not worth it as my Nikkors are mostly pre-AI.

Used film gear is a different matter - it can be very cheap to try other systems when you can buy an SLR and a bunch of primes for under $100. I have a number of different mount systems that I bought for much less than that. I'm enjoying playing with different system lenses. I suspect there's more than a few who are in the same boat.

For professionals relying on one system with a large investment, switching is a big decision.

 

[farlymac]

I've never abandoned one system for another, except back in 1973 when I went from a Ricoh M42 system to Nikon. I've since gone and bought an M42 system to replicate my original Sears/Ricoh gear.

I've found through a process of investigation (some call it G.A.S.) that each system has its good, and weak points. I'm really liking my Canon lenses, and the Minolta manual focus stuff is great. However, I'm not too fond of their AF offerings, preferring Yashica AF.

It goes on and on, but I find it hard to get rid of camera systems that have some nice features, even if I don't use them as often.

PF

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

Embarrassingly often. I keep coming back to Leica, though. I'm addicted to trying stuff out.

 

[SolaresLarrave]

So far, the very odd thing is that... I'm not crazy about a dSLR. It simply happens that there are moments and situations in which it comes in handy to have a machine that does half the thinking for you.

I'd like to make a last purchase and just keep it. While I like the Nikon gear and system, it's constantly expanding, growing and changing. I know that the Sony won't be any different, but I am not sure whether it'd be a good move. How's the Sony color rendition compared to Nikon's? Anyone here has used both?

Oddly, very oddly enough... the price of a Hassy kit is lower than that of a Sony (body+ 24-70 fast zoom) by some $500 (at least, comparing Amazon's and B&H prices).

BTW, thanks for your experiences! 🙂 I never saw myself even consider a system switch... but then, life comes and things happen.

 

[back alley]

lots...

started out with a miranda, moved to a nikon then a canon and then a olympus (all slrs) used a leica then bessas...used a mamiya 6 for years...rd1 and now fuji...probably one to 2 more that i can't remember...
what a long strange trip it's been...

 

[Pablito]

Never would change outright as in from Nikon to Canon DSLR, but I do use different systems for different types of work; Nikon DSLR (FX and DX), Fuji XT-1 and Sony Nex Series and a6000. I would add new systems if they provided me with the capability to do something I could not do before but I feel pretty well set now.

Yet I don't like learning new systems. I transitioned from the later Nikon film cameras to their DSLRs without much trouble. The Nikon menus are ingrained in me; changing to Canon would require a huge investment in time: sell the old stuff, buy they new stuff and then learn how to use it seamlessly. Really see no reason to do that since I am very pleased with the results I get from what I currently use. Changing from Nikon to Canon would be a horizontal move - I don't see what I'd gain. Of course, I'd say the same thing for someone for whom Canon was second nature. Both systems are equally capable.

 

[Pioneer]

I have tried different systems but have never fully abandoned any of them. As a result I have a lot of odds and ends from a number of systems.

Once the Pentax full frame actually goes on the market I suspect that several of my other systems will be sold, as much to help pay for the new camera and a lens, as to clean out the cupboard.

 

[kshapero]

Started out with Nikon's, then in 2006 I got the Rf bug (Leica and Voigt's). Just recently I discovered Pentax MX's. So I don't actually switch systems because as it seems, I just keep adding systems.

 

[Avotius]

I have two camera systems I use at the same time. A Canon full frame kit for work stuff, and whatever else my fancy is at the time. It was Leica, then I played around with m4/3, then Fuji X, and now Sony FE mount, which is neat because I can use those Leica/Zeiss M mount lenses I have on my Sony, and use my Canon's with a cheap adapter.

 

[muser53]

System switch? Yeah I switch between Leica M and Nikon gear not by buying and selling but by owning some of each and using what suits my purposes best.

 

[kxl]

My first camera (in high school) was a Pentax K1000, given to me as a gift. The first camera that I bought with my own hard-earned money from my first job out of college was a Nikon FE2. I've been a Nikonista since. Technically, I guess that's a switch.

In all those years, I've had a love-hate relationship with the RF experience. It's all good right now, especially after adding the A7R.

 

[lxmike]

too many times to mention, at moment very happy with fuji though

 

[michaelwj]

I switched from a Nikon DSLR to a Leica film setup. 6 years with Nikon, 3 months with both while the Nikon collected dust, 3 years and counting with the Leica. Sometimes I think I'd like to have an SLR kit for the longer lenses, but I never liked them, all my favourites are with lenses under 50 mm.
I also don't think I have the capacity to use more than one system at a time, I like to keep it simple.

 

[p.giannakis]

I started with Canon (Eos5) and a couple of lenses (50mm, 35-105) and then i switched to Minolta (9xi + 50mm, 28mm, 28-80mm), then went to Pentax (Spotmatic + 50/1.4, MX+50mm 1.7, 28/3.5, 35/2), then sold them all for Olympus (OM-1n + 50/1.4, 28,2.8) which i sold for Nikon (F4s+50mm, 28-70mm).
Now went back to Canon (EOS1n RS+ 50mm, EOS-5) and i also kept the Nikon.

I haven't seen any significant differences is picture quality between these systems.