Anybody here ever switch systems?

[BillBingham2]

Up until the Great Recession I didn't sell too much. Nikon was the first system I built. Swapped between a few different body styles (e.g. Nikkormat, FTn, FM, F2), then moved to Leica M. Again, added some bodies and added a few Bessas. Jumped into FSU-land and crawled out as quickly as possible. Then I moved to Nikon RFs. Then I started selling stuff, luckily lots and lots of stuff.

No Ms, Ss, or Bessas, a couple of Nikon SLRs and a bit-o-glass left. Enough to make me think about a D40/60 to dabble with.

I made major jumps from systems for what I think were good reasons. I never lost my shirt on anything I purchased, got a reasonable price for it's length of use every time. They were/are wonderful tools, but easy to replace.

If I go back to film, it will be for MF/LF. There is just something about big negatives that is so beautiful. From what I hear, I think you will find the same thing in MF digital.

Go for it, set your prices, put your stuff on the classified and let us know how you make out.

B2 (;->

 

[Phil_F_NM]

I started out with Pentax then after I started shooting in the Navy I switched to Contax for a couple years 'till a catastrophic failure led me to switch to Nikon which I used for quite a few years until my move to Leica. I exclusively shot Leicas for about a decade then switched back to Nikon and here I am.well, there are a couple Mamiya 6 bodies I use as well but they are not a replacement nor sbstitute, just different gear, different format for different kind of shooting.

Phil Forrest

 

[Addy101]

Must admit that the Sony system does not appeal to me, but given that Hasselblad is now offering its dSLR at a price lower than the Sony A99 + 24-70 f2.8 lens, the thought crossed my mind. It's a larger file machine (23 MB), with a Zeiss lens and that's all I need.

Why would you switch? Just get a Nikon D610 or D750... I'm all for the A-mount as a Sony A900 with an assortment of Sony/Minolta lenses is my main system, but to be honest, if it is just because you got the itch, don't bother. Just IMHO of course.

 

[SolaresLarrave]

Addy101, believe it or not, I do appreciate your opinion. It was honest, eloquent and quite convincing. The itch I had just disappeared some time ago because, oddly enough, I probably channeled your suggestion.

Now, I still would like to lay my hands on that camera, but only to play with it and then send it back. I know it's not kosher and contributes to raise prices... but I'm still curious about this system.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[f2bthere]

Getting into Fuji X system settled me right down. Great cameras, ergonomic, manual controls available, outstanding lenses, light to carry, unobtrusive...what's not to like 🙂

 

[Mudman]

Canon Film (sold) to Nikon Film (kept the Nikon gear) to Pentax Digital and film (sold or given away) to Nikon Digtal & Leica gear. Also added in Hasselblad for medium format. Recently started a contax/nikon rf kit too. Options are fun 🙂.

 

[SolaresLarrave]

Actually, the Fuji X-Pro 1 also caught my fancy... but that one would not be a change but an addition of a system. 🙂

 

[CK Dexter Haven]

My first real camera came in high school. Minolta Xg-m, that I never appreciated, because I coveted the 'more professional' Nikons.

As an adult, canons were used by my favorite (fashion) photographers, so I started with a Canon eos1. Then switched to the eos3. Then Canon PLUS Nikon, plus Contax G2, plus Contax N1, minus Contax N1, minus Contax G2, plus Leica M, plus Leica R, minus Leica R, minus Leica M, plus zeiss Ikon, minus Zeiss Ikon... Plus more Nikon.... Plus Pentax K mount.

MF: Mamiya RZ to Pentax 67 to Mamiya 645AF, to Hasselblad to Mamiya 645 back to Hasselblad, back to Pentax 67, back to Hasselblad, plus Mamiya 6, minus Mamiya 6, Plus Fuji GA645zi, minus Fuji GA645zi, plus Bronica RF645, minus Hasselblad, back to Mamiya RZ, plus Fuji GA645.

I am insane. But, after the first couple of moves, I made a rule for myself. I couldn't buy anything new, unless the funds came from selling something. eBay and Keh helped ensure I didn't lose any money in those transactions.

Point of the story, I guess, is that although I used to take these things very seriously, I now regard all such decisions as temporary. Few negative experiences. I never found the M/rangefinder way to help me. It was always a hindrance. I had bad luck with AF 'rangefinders' half the time, as you can't tell if focus is accurate/calibrated until you get film back. That's about it.

Whether it's Contax, Nikon, canon or Pentax, any qualitative differences are moot. I got good results from cheap lenses, and often didn't want to carry the huge/heavy/expensive 'best' lenses. So I evaluate differently now. And my Leica experience was not great. Some good experiences, some bad, but either way, the cost certainly did not match the results. So, I'm out.

 

[Texsport]

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

Photography can be an expensive hobby, especially if you also have a collector gene!

Texsport

 

[Kent]

Yes, often.

It all started with a Ricoh KR10x, a little more than 25 years ago. Pentax PK-system.

Then came Canon EOS, digital already, the 350D. Later the 40D and the 5D.

Parallely, I bought a Sony NEX-3 and an NEX-7, as a second system.

For some time, I tried a Sigma SD9 and SD10 but never got close to it. And I had the chance to shoot with my father's Fuji S1 and S2 Pro and later Pentax K100D and K200D.
(Most of those cams, we sold again, but I still have his K100D which I "inherited" when he passed away.)

After a while, my first Leica M, an M8, joined the force.

Then I sold all my Sony gear to buy a Fuji X-E1, later the X-E2 and the X-T1.
And I sold all my Canon gear to buy a Nikon Df.

Those are the three systems I use (and love) today: Leica M, Nikon F and Fuji X.

 

[icebear]

Canon FD (AE-1, T-90) --> Leica M film --> Leica M digtal , recently added a Q

 

[narsuitus]

I changed systems three times. The first was when I dumped my first 35mm SLR system, a Miranda Sensorex, because the camera broke too often. I began using a Nikon system and am still using it.

The second was when I had to replace my worn out Mamiya TLR system. At the time, Mamiya had stopped supporting their TLR cameras so I switched to Fuji rangefinders. Shortly after my switch, Fuji abandoned their medium format rangefinders.

Recently, I replaced my micro 4/3 digital system because the bodies broke too often. I replaced the micro 4/3 system with a Fuji X-Pro1 system.


Candid Wedding Cameras by Narsuitus, on Flickr

 

[x-ray]

As to digital I started with a Nikon D1 when the came out and then a D1x when it came out. When Canon Came out with the 1Ds I switched to the Canon. In my work I needed FF and tilt shift lenses for both architecture and product in the studio. I continued to upgrade to the new camera when the came out until Nikon came out with the D800. I sold a boat load of exotic primes primes and zooms and went back to Nikon. I added a Df when it came out and a set of primes to go along with my G series zooms for the D800. Also added a 24 and 85 TS-E. The additional dynamic range was good for the kind of work I do and the performance of the D800 is so good I sold my Hasselblad digital system.

Many years ago I owned Hasselblad equipment and in the late 70's went to Rollei SL66's. I use the Sl66's in my studio and on location for decades until they became harder and harder to get serviced. I would up selling them and went back to Hasselblad.

I had no problem with either the Nikon or Canon. I just switched because of features that were important at the time.

I truly miss my Rollei SL66's. They're the best MF system I've ever used for my kind of shooting. Unfortunately after nearly 30 years of very hard use they were getting delicate and harder to find people who could service them. I do love my Hasselblads but they aren't nearly as versatile as the Rollei's were.

In view cameras I've used multiple systems over the years. Since the early 70's I've owned a 5x7 and 8x10 Deardorff and 4x5 and 5x7 Sinar Norma since 1969. I also owned a master Technika for almost 30 years and of and on several 6x9 Linhof's but have consistently used these systems side by side.

I've consistently used Leica M's since 1968 and Nikon gear off and on since 1970. I've owned some Canon and Pentax 35mm gear during the years and a Rollei 3003 system but always returned to Nikon.

 

[hepcat]

Actually, the Fuji X-Pro 1 also caught my fancy... but that one would not be a change but an addition of a system. 🙂

The X-Pro 1 was the camera that sent me running back to Leica.

I've had various systems over the years as I got into and then out of commercial pro work a couple of times... when I came back, technology had changed.

I shot with Leica M4s for years, and when I started another studio in 1991, I switched to Canon EOS1s (for a variety of reasons.) Shot the EOS1s and Mamiya C330s until I found a Hassy system. Closed the studio in 1998 after nearly eight successful years and sold all the EOS and Hassy gear. I re-bought an M4 kit. I went back into business in about '04 and sold my M4 kit (again) to buy into digital... and the M8 wasn't introduced yet. This time I bought into the Olympus E1/E3/E5 until Olympus stopped supporting "pro" systems. I shot Olympus for about seven or eight years. Oh and I re-bought a Hassy kit.

I was casting about trying to decide what to do after Olympus and tried the X-Pro 1. It was a disaster. I liked everything about the body... except it missed focus sometimes on two out of three shots... but now Leica had digital, so I paid the price of admission and I'm back to Leica. But my Hassy kit is for sale again if anyone's interested as I'm just not shooting 2 1/4 film any more. *sigh*

I'll be staying with Leica this time. Third time's a charm, right? Oh, and I supplement the few shortcomings of the M9P with a Fuji X-T1 which has none of the weaknesses of the X-Pro 1. I didn't think I'd like it, but it was weatherproof and the Olympus mirrorless cameras just don't do it for me... I DO like the Fuji X-T1. it seems to get a LOT of use.

 

[Baby of Macon]

Started in SLR film in the 80s with and FM2 and FE2.
Kept those until the Canon 300 made digital SLR "affordable".
Upgraded to a 5D and hated the ergonomics.
Moved to an M8 but couldn't stomach the price of lenses and telephoto limitations. [But I found RFF through the Leica so that was its biggest contribution to my photographic experiences]
Moved back to the string of digital Nikons that feature in my gallery work.
Added the Fuji Xs.
The two systems are complementary, so I don't envision system changes in the foreseeable future.
But I'd still love to own a mint Hassy 500 - even purely for its design, let alone its photographic capabilities.

 

[SolaresLarrave]

Must admit that I only once switched systems completely. I started shooting Minolta (the X-mount stuff), which was relatively inexpensive and easy to find. But then I started having trouble focusing and sold it all to get into the AF world, and Nikon.

I added Leica to the mix, for a while I had another parallel system with Mamiya TLR cameras, then added the Contax G... and sold them all to stay with Nikon and Leica. My foolish notion of ditching Nikon and moving to Hasselblad just died when I finally read in the manual that this camera does not have an optical viewfinder, only a digital one. That's simply against my religion... Looks like I'm staying with my D700 and a few lenses for a while yet...

 

[ajramirez]

Have switched several times, but have actually only sold two systems. Everything else, I still have.

This is the progression over 30+ years:

Canon FD
Canon EOS (film)
Contax G
Canon EOS (digital)
Micro 4/3
Leica M (film and digital)
Nikon (digital)

Of those, the only two I have completely divested myself of are the Contax G (which I sold to fund Canon lens purchases) and the micro 4/3. Everything else I still have, but only the Leica M, Nikon and Canon EOS systems see significant use.

Regards,

Antonio

 

[Ronald M]

I did multiple times and formats and nothing made me a better photog except Leica.

Today other lenses have improved and the advantage is smaller.