Which SLR system to get out of?

[Jeremy Z]

I have 3 systems going now.

Olympus OM - I have my grandpa's camera and lenses. I'm going to keep this one.

• OM1N body
• Zuiko 28/3.5
• Zuiko 50/1.8
• Zuiko 135/3.5
• Tokina 75-150/3.8
• Olympus T20 flash

Canon EOS - I got this on a whim a couple months ago. I wanted a 620 like granddad had. I found a 630 on ebay for $6 and got it. Needed a lens; found an A2/5 with a nice 35-135 for $50 and bought it. That shop also had a Quantaray 24/2.8 for $50, so I bought that too. I was looking to add a fast prime; I like 35, but their 35/2 go for nearly $200!

Nikon - No sentimental value to this system, but it is the most complete and I have some great glass for it:

• Nikkor 35/2 AI
• Nikkor 50/1.4 AI
• Nikkor 50/1.8 AI-S
• Nikkor 50/1.8 Series E
• Nikkor 105/2.5 AI
• Nikkor 28-105/3.5-4.5 D
• Nikkor 75-300/3.5-4.5 D
• Vivitar (Kiron) 75-205/3.8 AI-S
• Tokina AT-X28-85/3.5-4.5 AI-S
• N90s (F90x) body
• FG body

The EOS AF system is better, but I don't have much glass for it. However, if I were to sell off the Nikon stuff, I could add what I needed, and this would be a good AF compliment to the Olympus MF system, which will stay no matter what.

The Nikon system is contiguous, between MF and AF, which is VERY nice. Also, it has more lens options, due to their compatibility decision in the late 80s. I've been hankering for an F4 too, but there's no reason I need one. It doesn't practically do anything the N90s won't do for me. Matrix metering with AI lenses might be nice, but I don't know that I'd miss it, as I only shoot B&W when I shoot film.

I can't decide between the poll options. Let me know what you think.

What would you do in my place, and why?

 

[Huss]

I’d sell the Canon system. Is your FG black and has the finger grip?

 

[Jeremy Z]

I’d sell the Canon system. Is your FG black and has the finger grip?

No, chrome, but has the finger grip.

I actually have two of them, (one for my daughter) $30 ea. (one from Goodwill, one from ebay)

 

[Austintatious]

I would keep the Nikon kit. The F mount compatibility is so deep. I have a few other systems that are great, but don't see much use :
Olympus (2 bodies & glass)
Minolta MD (2 bodies & glass)
Minolta Maxxum (1 body & glass)
Pentax M42 (2 bodies & glass)
The Nikkor glass is used on my film & digital bodies. So that makes difference to me.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Are you for been sentimental or about taking some pictures? Or else?
Picture wise and simplicity EOS would take them all for the ride.
But having EOS including L, personally, I'm finding more in use of old Nikons.
Partually because no batteries are needed, partially because MF works better for me on the daily street.

I recommend to find the honest reason to keep and then check if here is any realistic plans to use.

 

[kshapero]

I would buy a farm and raise veggie's.

Just kidding.

 

[Pál_K]

This is crazy talk! Keep them all.

 

[aizan]

Yeah, keep all of it, but I’d tidy up the Canon stuff to keep it strictly for joy riding.

 

[Bill Blackwell]

After my love/hate (mostly hate) relationship with the Leica M8 I ditched the M system along with ALL of my M lenses in favor of Canon (5DmkII - later upgraded to the mkIII) ultimately adding several Canon zoom and prime lenses.

I then ditched the entire Canon system in favor of Leica when the M-P 240 was released (that camera revived my love for the Leica M system)! Now I'm once again fully entrenched with Leica, but now with more after-market M lenses than ever before.

 

[james.liam]

After my love/hate (mostly hate) relationship with the Leica M8 I ditched the M system along with ALL of my M lenses in favor of Canon (5DmkII - later upgraded to the mkIII) ultimately adding several Canon zoom and prime lenses.

I then ditched the entire Canon system in favor of Leica when the M-P 240 was released (that camera revived my love for the Leica M system)! Now I'm once again fully entrenched with Leica, but now with more after-market M lenses than ever before.

I cringe at the thought of how much the buying in, selling and re-buying into Leica must have cost you.

 

[Doug A]

In the OP's position I would do whatever was necessary to make his grandfather's Olympus a workable system and find new homes for the Canons and Nikons. My LTM Leica system - the only system I use - is based on my father's IIIc.

 

[raid]

If you can afford doing it, I would not sell any equipment. They are so much fun to use. I have mostly Canon FD equipment with lenses from 7.5mm to 500mm. I also have a limited set of Nikon lenses and cameras, and some Rolleiflex SL cameras and lenses.
I also have several Pentax screwmount bodies and lenses.

 

[Bill Blackwell]

I cringe at the thought of how much the buying in, selling and re-buying into Leica must have cost you.

Yea - and this, at least in part, is why my current lens arsenal isn't all Leica.

 

[Axel]

Keep the EOS and get a cheap OM-EOS Adapter to use your Zuikos.
Get an EF 1,8/50 to have a fast AF-Prime.

 

[Rayt]

If you can’t decide then offer up both and let the market decide for you.

 

[narsuitus]

I voted for other because if I were in your position, I would keep the Olympus system and sell the Nikon and Canon systems.

 

[Tim Murphy]

As someone with no brain, this is no-brainer easy

As someone with no brain, this is no-brainer easy

Dear Smaug,

You're keeping the Olympus stuff.

Take the value out of the Nikon stuff and use it where it best suits your needs.

If you want to have AF gear stick to Canon. Rudimentary Canon AF gear soundly beats rudimentary Nikon gear.

Regards,

Tim Murphy

Harrisburg, PA

 

[narsuitus]

On the other hand, I actually use the following nine systems: Olympus, Nikon, Canon, Leica, Fuji, Mamiya, Pentax, Calumet, and Contax.

Therefore, I propose that you accumulate a few more systems.

 

[Chris101]

I have 3 systems going now.

Olympus OM ... Canon EOS ... Nikon ...

I've also got Olympus (OM-1n + 5 lenses) and Nikon (FG, D850 + 13 lenses) slr systems. I had Canons back in the FD days, but switched to Olympus when they abandoned the mount.

I rarely shoot film with anything except a Leica or Polaroid camera now, so my OM is a beautiful relic. As you pointed out, Nikon lenses all work on the 850 as well. So I won't sell them either.

So obviously I'd ditch the Canon stuff. Eos cameras kinda look like Darth Vader anyway.

...
The EOS AF system is better, but I don't have much glass for it. However, if I were to sell off the Nikon stuff, I could add what I needed, and this would be a good AF compliment to the Olympus MF system, which will stay no matter what.

The Nikon system is contiguous, between MF and AF, which is VERY nice. Also, it has more lens options, due to their compatibility decision in the late 80s. I've been hankering for an F4 too, but there's no reason I need one. It doesn't practically do anything the N90s won't do for me. Matrix metering with AI lenses might be nice, but I don't know that I'd miss it, as I only shoot B&W when I shoot film.
...

If you want superior AF, look into an F5 instead of F4. Find one with the factory non-AI mod done, and you can shoot any old, and most* new lenses made by/for Nikon. I like the F5's handling better than the F6.

*some of the newest low priced zoom lenses - P type - are intended for use only with the latest D3XXX and D5XXX entry level cameras. They do not AF - or MF - with anything else.

...
What would you do in my place, and why?

 

[Rob-F]

If you can’t decide then offer up both and let the market decide for you.

No! We therapists call that "External locus of control." One cannot avoid making decisions, because not to decide is still a decision. I suggest he wait until he knows what he wants to do.