Archiver
Veteran
Looking back, I'd still say that the 5D Mark II is my oldest, most used and robust digital camera. It was bought new in early 2009 and is still chugging, albeit with an occasionally unresponsive front dial. The M9 is the second oldest, most used and robust camera, still churning out beautiful images. I am slowly moving away from using the M9 for work, not because it isn't good, but because it is now 12 years old and I want to maximise its life, using it primarily for personal work, rather than jobs. The sensor is like nothing else I've used, apart from some vague similarlity to Foveon in its richness and sharpness.
In the last few years, I've toyed with the idea of getting a more recent Canon DSLR because I have the lens infrastructure, but have been put off by the relatively poor dynamic range and video features. Had I been with Nikon, I might have purchased a D780 and been set for another 10+ years. As it is, I could buy a 6D Mark II and be more or less happy, probably less rather than more. Or maybe a 5D Mark IV, who knows.
During the lockdown of 2020, I brought out the Canon 30D, which gave me thousands and thousands of images between 2007 and 2009. It still works just as it did back then, and was surprisingly pleasant to use. With the Sigma 18-35, it has a whole new life and field of use. If I wasn't concerned with video or stealth, it could quite easily be a travel camera once again.
In the last few years, I've toyed with the idea of getting a more recent Canon DSLR because I have the lens infrastructure, but have been put off by the relatively poor dynamic range and video features. Had I been with Nikon, I might have purchased a D780 and been set for another 10+ years. As it is, I could buy a 6D Mark II and be more or less happy, probably less rather than more. Or maybe a 5D Mark IV, who knows.
During the lockdown of 2020, I brought out the Canon 30D, which gave me thousands and thousands of images between 2007 and 2009. It still works just as it did back then, and was surprisingly pleasant to use. With the Sigma 18-35, it has a whole new life and field of use. If I wasn't concerned with video or stealth, it could quite easily be a travel camera once again.