What was your very own first camera?

[jeffrypittman]

Minolta X-700 with a 50mm 1.4 lens. Used it for a decade with no complaints!

 

[garygraphy]

started in the digital era so the first camera i actually ran around with was 400D although having numerous olympus PNS film cameras when i was younger

 

[Cameron]

My first camera was a chunky Nikon N75 SLR. It was a beefy thing but definitely reliable. Only reason I'm not using it still is because the battery compartment door has been lost and the camera won't work without the metal piece for the batteries.

 

[KoNickon]

A black Nikkormat FT2, with 50/2 Nikkor, purchased new in early 1977. Sadly, it was stolen from our house some years ago.

 

[presspass]

A Kodak 120 folder my uncle carried in Okinawa during WWII. Still in the box with his rank and serial number on it. It started me on photography in the mid-50s. Although I haven't used it in years, I won't part with it.

 

[mwoenv]

A Konica Auto S2 in 1970 when I was 16. Great camera which I still have and use and had CLA'd with battery conversion only 3 years ago.

Between that and a small Bogen enlarger I learned to shoot and process black and white film and prints. Still enjoy it. I have since gotten more cameras and darkroom equipment for very little money, thanks to the great film equipment selloff.

 

[Kirbot]

Fisher Price!
Don't still have mine, but some day I'll probably replace it, just for fun.

 

[Scrambler]

I see I am in a small minority only marginally ahead of LEICA ... I find that so hard to imagine 😱!

My first camera was an Agfa for 240 cartridge film. I got it aged about 10. I lost it aged about 20 - probably around the time 240 became extinct.

 

[pixelatedscraps]

I think the first camera I was given was an OM-10 with a 50mm f/1.8 and a 75-150mm lens.

The first one I ever bought was an F2A with 50mm f/1.8 a Series E. Love that beast. Still one of my favourites.

 

[Rangefinderfreak]

My father said: You have a lousy techique, to look like a pro, I buy you a Black leica M2
I traded it to a leica MP (original...# 302) when it was not yet a collectors item... Sold it when it became one...

 

[thereabouts]

I had a Welmy something or other. Bought in a flea market. It was brown, with a lever type shutter-release thing on the front. If anyone knows what model I'm talking about, it would be great to know what it was called.

My father's advice for taking photographs was as follows:

1. You'll never need another lens, that's just for pros.

2. Only use 100ISO film, all the other stuff is just for pros.

3. Always stand with the sun behind you.

4. Always leave the shutter speed on 125.

5. If it's cloudy, put it on f4-5.6.

6. If it's sunny, put it on f8.

7. Only use f11 if it's sunny and you're by the sea, because that makes everything much brighter.

And, you know what, it generally worked OK. 🙂

 

[rwintle]

Pretty sure mine would have been a 126, likely a genuine Kodak with probably a nasty plastic lens. Long gone now, wish I still had it (not to shoot, just for fun).

Some old photos, with varying degrees of restoration/post-processing:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ricardipus/sets/72157630863269046/

 

[Olympus Lady]

Mine was a Kodak that I received one Christmas in the 1960's. Before that I used the Hawkeye that everyone used and was kept in the linen closet (neutral territory). 😀.

My folks gave it away when I moved out.

 

[bwcolor]

My first was a Christmas present, the Yashica TL Super with 50mm lens. A few years later I purchased the Yashica Mat-124G. A bit later, the Kowa SL66 was the more affordable alternative to the Hasselblad system.

 

[someonenameddavid]

My first was a Diana... piece of yak squeeze. First real camera was Praktica Nova 1b... then a Nikkormat Ftn which began the drain of my resources... really was all the 35mm I ever needed. Then the Zorki. The Mamiya C33, the Leica M3, the Bessas, the F2, the F... and on and on and on.

 

[defconfunk]

My Dad's Canon AE-1.
Technically I borrowed it in high school and then bought a Vivitar P&S. I no longer have the P&S, but I once again have my Dad's AE-1.

It is right up there as one of my favourite cameras to use. I reach for the OM40 first for a lot of reasons, but the AE-1 just feels good to use.

 

[Stanton]

Kodak Brownie Special, cicra 1948. I was about 7. I don't have it, but I do have a Brownie Special as a remembrance. Dave

 

[asiafish]

Minolta SRT200

Minolta SRT200

I wish I still had it. I bought it new (old stock though) in 1980 with a 45mm f/2 Rokkor lens. Later added a 135mm f/2.8 from K-Mart's "Focal" store brand (Kiron lens, I think) which was also excellent despite its very low price.

These days all I have is my Leica M Monochrom and iPhone 5, though I will probably buy a Sony RX1 or Leica X2 before my trip to Germany in April.

 

[JoeV]

Vivitar 110 with flash. Early 1970s.

~Joe

 

[Sym101]

My first film camera was a Chinon compact camera. First digital camera was an Olympus C-700 ultra zoom. I still can't believe I paid $1000 for the 2.1mp Oly C-700 back in 2001 :bang: