Anybody here ever switch systems?

[JP Owens]

Nikon from the late 1960's until autofocus came along, then switched to Canon. Still use Canon as primary gear. Have M4/3 and like the Panasonic GH3, but use it mostly for video. I've owned most of the Leica M and Bessa film cameras at one time or another. Various medium and large format gear. As far as the primary system, though, it has been Canon for decades, simply because it's what I'm familiar with now. I'm pretty much camera agnostic.

 

[grouchos_tash]

Sold all my canon equipment to fund some M glass a few years ago. I'd been shooting with canon for years, but now I've got a Nikon F80 and 50mm coming for Christmas (wanted AF for photographing an active niece). Nikon is totally new to me but I enjoy learning/trying new equipment.

 

[sevo]

I would not be here, in several forums on different systems, if I did not have a tendency to switch systems - or rather, to add and un-add extra systems. Be smart and buy used, and it can even be affordable...

 

[Roger Hicks]

Sure. Pentax to Nikon in about 1974, and Hasselblad 500-series to Mamiya RB in about 1985. Then Mamiya RB to "baby" Linhof later. Still using Nikons and Linhofs to this day. And Leicas since about 1969.

Of course I'm talking about principal systems here: I still have other cameras as well, and I don't count LF cameras as systems.

Cheers,

R.

 

[valdas]

All my attempts to "switch" ended up by adding one more system...

 

[David Hughes]

Hi,

Hmmm, I can't help thinking that, if you have a RF and some SLR, you'll usually be changing systems all the time. Add in the P&S you keep in your pocket and that's 2 or 3 systems: not that I'd call a P&S a system but there it is... And, of course, there's the smart phone, which no one ever mentions.

Regards, David

 

[Addy101]

I keep adding - in chronological order: Canon EOS, Minolta (Sony) A-mount, Minolta SR (MC/MD), Sony E-mount, Contax C/Y-mount. So, no, I never switched.

 

[Freakscene]

When I started working as a photographer, someone very famous told me to buy a couple of Nikon FM2ns and the lenses I needed. Being twenty something, I paid no attention. Over the next few years I went through Contax, Olympus OM and Leica R systems. They all had great lenses but reliability problems abounded with all of them. Later when I got given pool equipment I carried 2 F90x cameras, a 28-70 f2.8 (Tokina first, then Nikon later when they made one) and an 80-200 plus 2 SB-26 speedlights and a bunch of cords, cables, film and batteries. That all slowed me down enough that it nearly got me killed me once or twice so eventually I bought two FM2ns, a 28/2.8 AiS, a 50/1.4 AiS and an 85/1.4 AiS. Later I bought an M6 and 35 and 50 Summicrons and a C-V 75 and later a 75 Summilux.

I did better underwater - Nikonos until digital, and am still working there with a housed D700.

And that's just in 135/hand cameras...without the Rolleiflexes, Hasselblads, various field cameras, a monorail studio set-up and who knows what else.

I also have about 3 darkrooms worth of enlargers.

Writing this I actually wonder if I have a problem. Well, more of a problem than I already knew I had, anyway...

Marty

 

[yanchep_mike]

OK here is my list:

Started with a Photo Porst P&S (my first camera i bought from pocket money)
Agfa Silette
Ricoh
Canon
Minolta
Yashica
Ricoh
Nikon
Pentax
Nikon
Nikon(Digital)
more Nikon(Film)
Minolta/Sony
Pentax
Canon FD
Canon EF
Some Mamiya MD in the mix
Short love affair with Leica and Voigtlander
Back to Nikon
etc etc

This thing is going on for 5 decades i kept most cameras and lenses and now have more then enough, but GAS is still present and i have found no cure.

I am an addict!!!

 

[robert blu]

In the film times I had two main systems: SLRs nikon (FM2+F100) and lenses + RFs (Bessa R+M7). These systems are complementary and do not need any changes, for thus I do of them.

But now as digital I only have since more than 4 years a small Leica x1. I would like to have something more flexible but I'm confused about which way to follow...

Really changing a system for a different one is not in my mentality...

robert

 

[oftheherd]

In SLR started out with Yashica, and built a screw mount system (who knew you could actually get different lenses? 😀). Within a couple of years, went to Fujica M42, and I haven't abandoned that, but don't use it as much as I could. Added a Mamiya Super Press 23 and slowly built up a system. Tried a Rolleiflex and eventually gave it away.

Later got a Contax 139Q and then a 167mt, but never used but one Contax lens. I had others that gave me good photos from my M42 lenses. Got a Kiev 4am and set of lenses. Also several folders along the way, from 6x6 to 9x12. Two 9x12 with RF.

SLR remains my preference for all around versatility. Cameras are more tools, so I can use RF when it suits me or it is what a camera comes with, but I don't prefer it nor hate it. I have also added some more Yashica C/Y mount cameras, and some Pentax ME Supers (even smaller than my Fujicas but don't tell anyone).

I have threatened but yet have not gotten rid of any cameras. Some day. Maybe. 😛

 

[Timmyjoe]

Shot Canon FD system from 1976 until I finally threw in the towel in 1996 and sold off the whole system and made the switch to Nikon. Haven't owned a Canon camera since.

 

[Photog9000]

Started with Olympus in 1978; shifted to Nikon for autofocus in 2000 when I went fulltime as a news photog; stayed with Nikon when I went digital in 2002; and shifted to Fuji X-System when I retired. Loved my Olys for the light weight and metering systems (especially the OM-2S/4T bodies); my Nikon F100 bodies were great (AF module was the same as the F5); kept my Nikon D2H bodies for a decade (all they did was just WORK!); and am enjoying my X-E1 and X100S for the lightest weight and ISO range. So each system had its pros and cons and I was fortunate to be able to get them to fit my style and needs.

 

[FujiLove]

I used nothing but a Nikon D70 (and my iPhone) for 9 years. I enjoyed it but my interest in photography wasn't what it was, so I hardly used it and had no interest in buying anything else. When I finally decided to upgrade to a bigger sensor I bought a Fuji X100S, mostly becasue it was easier to carry. Loved that camera.

I enjoyed the rangefinder style a lot, so I asked my Dad if he still had his old Fed 4. It had been sat in a drawer, unused for twenty years. I shot a couple of rolls of B&W film with it on holiday and Boom! I finally realised that my waning interest in photography was simply utter and complete boredom with digital. The whole process just bores me stupid.

Since then I've tried most types of cameras and currently use a Leica M3, Pentax 6x7 and Rolleicord. I've converted the spare bathroom into a darkroom, develop my film and print it in both B&W and colour.

That old Fed has a lot to answer for.

 

[kshapero]

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.

Yes that was what I meant to say, too.

 

[Sid836]

In digital I have shifted to Fijifilm from Nikon. It was a bit rough to get used to a bit different workflow, but being aware of the concepts in the various steps shortened the discomfort quite a bit. I got used to things in no time.
In film I have never used exclusively just one system so I cannot speak of changes of systems in analog.
All these of course from an amateur point of view.

 

[Lauffray]

Years ago I sold my digital Nikon gear to get a RF system, when my F100 died I sold the lens and completely switched to Leica. I loved that F100 but I haven't really looked back since

 

[Robert Lai]

I should add that I got back into Canon FD, thanks to Timmyjoe's cast off gear.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Yes and No in terms of switching.

I started with RF on film, switched to P&S, switched to SLR, but came to RF.

On digital I succeeded with DSLRs, but was ready to hit mirrorless.... and went with much more cost effective and simple solution to fulfill my current needs within DLSRs system.

 

[ChrisPlatt]

Canon --> Nikon --> Pentax

Chris