How many bodies do you try before you find the one you want?

footman

footman

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Laurence
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I've only got back into photography seriously for about 4 years and I feel that I've only just found the body I want. Thing is I haven't bought it yet.

Over those 4 years I have bought and sold a 20D, 30D and a 40D. Currently I have a 40D and a 1D Mark IIN. Because of the type of photography that most interests me (wildlife) I have now decided that a 7D is the way for me to go.

I will of course have to sell the 40D and 1D Mark IIN but it will also give me the chance to do something I've never done.......buy a brand new camera!

Now that's 5 DSLR bodies over 4 years. I'm sure my wife thinks I've lost the plot, maybe I have!

Just interested to find how others reach their decisions.
 
I just picked up the Nikon D70 and it felt 'right'. ;) :lol:

Seriously though, the camera you choose, is for most people based on budget, features, intended use, ergonomics, and possibly any legacy equipment (lenses) you may have that you want to utilise imho.

I've had 4 DSLRs over 5 years, D70, D200, D300 and D300S. The initial D70 was purchased after comparing the Canon 300D and the D70. The features were not dissimilar, so it came down to feel for me. And the D70 felt 'right'. :)

Each camera was bought for an increase in features and resolution, apart from the D300S, which was bought to replace stolen D300. :( There was no way I would have upgraded from a D300 to the D300S with such a small difference in features. :shrug:

I can't see me buying another camera unless I suddenly have a huge lottery win or come into a huge amount of money somehow, which is extremely unlikely. My present camera does all that I need though and any new camera would just be greed and for the most part unnecessary. :lol:


What was not 'right' about the previous cameras you've had that necessitated the changes?
 
footman said:
I've only got back into photography seriously for about 4 years and I feel that I've only just found the body I want. Thing is I haven't bought it yet.

Over those 4 years I have bought and sold a 20D, 30D and a 40D. Currently I have a 40D and a 1D Mark IIN. Because of the type of photography that most interests me (wildlife) I have now decided that a 7D is the way for me to go.

I will of course have to sell the 40D and 1D Mark IIN but it will also give me the chance to do something I've never done.......buy a brand new camera!

Now that's 5 DSLR bodies over 4 years. I'm sure my wife thinks I've lost the plot, maybe I have!

Just interested to find how others reach their decisions.
Click to expand...

It really depends who you are. I myself is VERY indecisive when it comes to gear. I started shooting in 2005 and have owned and sold in the last 5 years (in this order):

- Canon 300D
- Nikon D70s
- Canon 450D
- Nikon D700
- Canon 500D
- Canon 5D mkII
- Olympus E-P2
- Canon 7D

That's 8 bodies in 5 years and a HUUUUGE amount of lenses. Notice the pattern of Canon, Nikon, Canon, Nikon etc? :lol:

Now I'm shooting a rangefinder, just sold all my Canon gear on the forum last week. One thing what I noticed was during this whole time, I was getting lazier and lazier with photography. I wanted the latest and greatest, the biggest, the best. I pixel peeped like mad and wanted sharp, clean images 100% of the time. I ended up taking all the automated goodness for granted, and just shot by raising the camera to my eye, AF and let the camera and my presets do the rest. That's not how I want to shoot any more. I've gone for manual now, even on the focusing :)
 
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Started out on a 20D then got a 5D followed by a 1DsII. Needed the higher ISO performance and could not get exactly what I wanted in a Canon body (51 point AF as in the 1Ds and high ISO) So I switched to Nikon and got 2 D700s. Total cost of the switch was around what a 5DII would have cost to add to the bodies I had but I would have had different features in all of them and different controls too. So in the end it made sense and I'm happy :)

I think, for me, it has just been progress. Progress in my own sense in the way I see and use light and progress in terms of what is available at a certain price point that means it's accessible to me. I'd love 2 D3s but is not going to happen any day soon ;)
 
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I started with Canon in the film days before playing with a D70 that blew me away. Canon gear all went out of the window. I been Nikon since and now bonded with my D700's. Unlike AliB I'm not too bothered about the D3s, I use the D700 without a grip, I've tried it with but to be honest I don't like the extra bulk. So, the D700 provides all the features I want (high ISO performance / full frame etc) without the bulk.
 
I use a canon 400D and have 'upgraded' from 350D as daughter was doing an art degree and announced she needed a DSLR but otherwise wouldn't have.

I've tried the 40D but am too feeble to cope with the extra weight though i would like more effective higher ISO as the 400D is really pretty useless in that respect. Too poor so I have to cope and improve my skills :shake:

That is over the last 6 years or so.
 
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Started off with a 450D in 2008, then as my lens collection started to grow, I found the xxxD series too small when coupled to the likes of a 70-200 f/2.8. So I upgraded to a 50D for the better ergonomics and ISO handling last year. Then this year, I've found myself needing even higher ISOs, and moving towards more static subjects, so have just got a 5DII.

Each camera felt right, and was right for my forseeable future needs, however obviously they change with time! :)
 
Won't say what sprung to mind when I first read the thread title:D


However in my film days it took several years and formats to get to the F2as which is my all time favourite, as a recent reborne digital photographer budget was a primary concern and being an almost life long Nikon user narrowed it down to 2 D5000 and D90 and on picking up the D 90 there was no choice just luck I guess. At the moment I have no desire or requirement to handle a D3S as that way madness lies no doubt in the fullness of time though! Now lenses thats another question.
 
Several years ago, whn I wanted to get back into photography after a long break, I sat down with a copy of the equivalent of What Digital Camera and an idea of the specs I wanted it to fill, then made up a shortlist of bodies that met my budget and specs - IIRC, there was a Nikon, a Canon, a Pentax and a Minolta, all of which were about the same price and spec. We're lucky here in Exeter that we have 2 decent shops (Devon Camera Centre and a LCE) as well as a Jessops, so I went to town and spent a while in the Devon Camera Centre having a play with all the contenders. The Nikon F65 felt best in my paws, so I handed over the cash and walked out with it a very satisfied customer (and remain so, using them whenever possible for my photographic needs).
 
I've been into photography for a good few years now, and have taken some surprisingly nice snaps on a compact. Up until recently I thought an SLR was something only rich people could afford. When I got into urban exploration I soon realised that I would probably be better off with an SLR camera, mainly because a wide angle lens is hugely beneficial, and the creative freedom that an SLR allows works very well with urbex, where a compact often feels very limited. So I bought one, a 450D with a kit lens, and I fell in love with the hobby.

In the back of my mind though I started to have doubts about the camera, as I cannot stand things that feel cheap, and being built entirely of plastic, the 450D felt exactly that, even if it did a very good job. I wanted something that performed just as well, but didn't feel like a cheap toy, and in today's world of throwaway consumables, one has to go right to the top to get decent build quality and workmanship. So I did, and sold the 450D and any remaining EF-S lenses, and bought an original 1Ds from the classifieds here. The fact that it was full frame was just a bonus, but the excellent build quality and weatherproofing sold it for me, and I now feel totally happy with it.
 
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My first DSLR was a D100 - Nikon's top Pro camera at the time

My next was a D2Xs, Nikon's top Pro camera at the time - wanted for 12mp and better everything

My last purchase was a D300, Nikon's to Pro DX at the time - wanted for better higher ISO capabilities

There's a bit of a pattern there methinks :D

DD
 
Mine was - in this order - space from about 2006 - present!

Nikon D50
Canon D30
Panasonic Lumix FZ50
Pentax K100D
Olympus E500
Canon EOS 400D
Sony Alpha 100
Canon EOS 450D
Nikon D40X
Pentax K100D super
Nikon D1X
Nikon D40X
Nikon D70S
Fuji S100 FS
Canon 500D
Nikon D50 (broke :(
Nikon D5000 - present no wish to change :D

In between all that, compact wise

Canon G1, G2, S3 IS, Nikon Coolpix S2, S3, 4800, Fuji S5000, S5500, S5700
 
Buying my own, just went for a D200 because of the spec and because every review said it was a more comfortable camera to hold than the equivalent 20/30D - I used both of the latter at work and just never felt right using them, so it was the switch to Nikon.

Got rid of that and bought a D2x, again on the strength of reviews saying it was the ultimate pro-body (for Nikon users, maybe all users) because of superb button config. Now I have two and am very happy :)
 
I had no idea what I wanted (canon or nikon) but was going towards the canon 500d (I think) until I went and looked at it in the shop and compared it to the nikon d90. Pretty much immediately I preferred the nikon over the canon as it was so much more comfortable in the hand.

I do sometimes think what the canon route might have been like, but I'm truly happy going down the nikon route and think I've made the right decision. It does seem that canon is preferred by a lot of people buying their first DSLR for some reason. I'm guessing to the general public it seems a more popular brand.
 
Started from scratch with a Panasonic Z18-something bridge camera. After that:
400D
40D
5DI and 1DII which is where I'll stay until time and money tempt me to go to a 5DII but might keep the 5DI - I just love FF. Somewhere in the car is a Panasonic LX3 which I don't get enough enjoyment from.
 
Digital only

Canon Ixus 500 2004-2008/9 when it broke
Nikon D200 Aug 2007 - Aug 2010
Nikon D700 Aug 2009 -
Nikon D300 Aug 2010 -


hoping...... D4/D800 April 2011 :)
 
I started with a D40, just because I had been thinking of a DSLR, Currys had an offer for the 55-200 kit, recognised Nikon as a pro brand and liked the look of the camera. Upgraded to the D90 'blind' and same with D300.
 
lawrenceots said:
Mine was - in this order - space from about 2006 - present!

Nikon D50
Canon D30
Panasonic Lumix FZ50
Pentax K100D
Olympus E500
Canon EOS 400D
Sony Alpha 100
Canon EOS 450D
Nikon D40X
Pentax K100D super
Nikon D1X
Nikon D40X
Nikon D70S
Fuji S100 FS
Canon 500D
Nikon D50 (broke :(
Nikon D5000 - present no wish to change :D

In between all that, compact wise

Canon G1, G2, S3 IS, Nikon Coolpix S2, S3, 4800, Fuji S5000, S5500, S5700
Click to expand...

:eek: Jeez. Glad you have found something that you are happy with. ;) Looks like a long and expensive road you've been down. :lol:
 
Well apart from the D50 and Panasonic, everything was bought s/h so didn't loose much on the resale (if anything) Some lasted shortly - the A100 and 400D, a week! Loved trying all these different cameras though, want to get back into it! :lol:
 
The body is secondary consideration for me, and by a process of elimination there's a very few bodies I can work with comfortably.

First consideration is lenses, and Nikon just don't offer what I want (except the 200-400 F4, but I have a mortgage and a partner instead). Sony, pentax, et al don't come anywhere remotely close on lenses, so I'm left with canon.

I had a D30 and a 20D, never got on with crop-frame (after my lovely EOS 5 and EOS 3 film cameras, it just wasn't going to work for me).

That leaves me with full frame. 1Ds is bigger and heavier than I want to carry (although for the AF system I'd probably put up with it), but I just can't afford one. That leaves the 5D. I'll get a 5D II when I can afford that, but for now the 5D will do.

Edit: The full list, however, is as follows:

EOS 1000FN (1992)
EOS 5 (1998)
EOS 3 (2002)
EOS D30 (2003)
EOS 20D (2005)
EOS 5D (2009)
 
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i'm on my first dslr, which is a sony a390. i went to jessops a couple of times to get a good grope at the other cameras in my price range (1000d/400d, d3000/d5000). i didn't like the feel of the canons but the nikon's were good-especially the d5000. in the end i plumped for the sony because of the in-body stabilisation and the price, i had no brand loyalty and no expensive collection of lenses at home to worry about.

i'm the guy that sony is aiming their cameras at i guess, no allegiance to the major brands and just starting out.
the sony is doing it's job admirably at the minute, but i can't help thinking though that i should have gotten the d5000. i dither on things though so i'll not worry about it.
if sony don't bring out a better midrange dslr by the time i get round to changing i could just as easily go nikon.
 
EOS 5 film --> 400D (borrowed) --> 30D --> 40D --> 1Ds2 + 40D --> 1Ds2 + 40D + 50D --> 1Ds2 + 1D3 --> to be continued... {At some stage in a distant future 1Ds3 / 5Dmk? / something else?}. Note the absence of Nikon.

Overall, the best body from this list is 1.... Ds mkII
 
daugirdas said:
EOS 5 film --> 400D (borrowed) --> 30D --> 40D --> 1Ds2 + 40D --> 1Ds2 + 40D + 50D --> 1Ds2 + 1D3 --> to be continued... {At some stage in a distant future 1Ds3 / 5Dmk? / something else?}. Note the absence of Nikon.
Click to expand...

Still gives you the chance to make the right choice. ;) :lol:
 
Started with the A300 as my lenses from the 7000i would fit
Bought an A700 for more fps and a bigger frame buffer.
Bought an A900 as I wanted to go back to full frame, which I missed from using film.
 
I took up photography April 2009, since then I have had.

Sony A200
Canon 350d
Sony A100
Olympus E410
Canon 10d
Nikon D50
Fuji S100fs
Canon 450d
Nikon D5000
Nikon D80
Panasonic FZ45 (sent straight back, rubbish)
Canon 1000d
Olympus E510 (current)
Olympus EP1 (current)

its brought me to the conclusion that I don't really like Canon, the 10d was lovely so more the consumer end I don't get on with. Nikon D80 has been one of my faves out of the whole lot and although it was a touch of financial trouble which forced me to sell the D80 I do not miss the bulk and weight of the kit I had.

Olympus is what I have found best for me, decent cameras, light and my fave menu system out of them all, I can see myself sticking with Olympus now, I have enjoyed swapping and changing though to find which suits me best, ill miss that.
 
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My bought my first DSLR camera spontanious really and it was Canon 350D. Loved the camera until the last moment for upgrade. I have moved to 40D which will be probably will stay longer until I'm ready for FF.
 
I went to the shop for a Nikon D70s in 2006, but they did not have one in stock (told be on the phone they did :razz: )

So I went elsewhere and bought a Canon 30D and then in June this year bought a 1D MK IV and that's all I've had apart from a Fuji compact a couple of years before the 30D, still got all 3 cameras.
 
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Had film SLR's many, many years ago but stopped using. The only reason for change was when kit was stolen.

Early 2009 I decided to get a DSLR.

Read up and was convinced with a small Canon - picked it up but it didn't feel right. Picked up a 50D and that felt right. Went away to think about it and research but read a bad report and started to question choice.

Decided to look at Nikon D90 - picked it up but it didn't feel right. Picked up a D300 and that felt perfect. Did research and decided that was the one for me. Bought it June 2009 - 2nd hand with 200 clicks - have no intention to change.

I suppose for me the overiding choice came down to comfortably siting in my hand. All the DSLR's I looked at would have suited my limited amateur use, unlike a pro's specific need.

I like to buy well but buy once.

Ken
 
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My first DSLR was a Canon 350D. I already had (and still have) a Canon EOS 620 film camera with a couple of lenses, so it made sense to stick with Canon, plus my Brother-in-law, a good friend, also had a Canon.

From there I upgraded to a 40D which I loved, but then added a 50D to the kit bag as I preferred the rear display. They both went to make way for my 7D which really is a fantastic camera, the best I have ever owned.

That's 4 bodies in about 6 years, so I'm a bit slow by some of you here ! :lol: I will be adding a 5D Mk2 early next year though. My wife is also interested in photography so I need a 2nd body, and I love the colour rendition that you get with full frame bodies.

Steve
 
Crumbs

Thats a lot of camera's for some of you:D

I started with a canon 400d in 2007, just gone to a 50d and thats it

However if i had some money then I have a feeling the list would have been a lot longer:naughty:
 
450D last year
5Dmk2 in September this as I bought a 580EXII which is totally out of balance on the 450D (was going to buy the 7D but decided I'd like to try full frame). Is it my ideal camera, no, but it is the one I have and use so....

I'm liking L glass though which is expensive :(

Will probably complement the 5Dmk2 with a 7D for Ms arad85 next year (unless a 5Dmk3 comes along first!)
 
I used to be indecisive, now I'm not so sure:suspect:

Started with a Canon 450D (because a friend said buy it)
Bought a 550D after 8 mths (felt like a toy) so bought a Nikon D90 which I absolutely love- however seriously looking at the D7000 but I'm crazy so will calm down soon and just get better glass for the D90 as I still havent mastered half the settings:geek:
 
Bit like Women really i am always looking for a newer model lol.
 
I've probably owned about six or seven film cameras since the mid sixties, and still have my F2 and FM. My first digital camera was a Minolta Dimage 7i, followed by a Canon A640, and I've still got both of them too, although the Minolta doesn't get much use now.

I bought a 30D for a sweetheart price a couple of years ago, after it was discontinued, and it's the only DSLR I've owned. I doubt if I'll upgrade because I'm quite content with it. I'll decide what to do next when it finally fails, but I have a feeling I'll sell the lenses, go back to the film Nikons and possibly get a 3 Series Leica.
 
When I started out, I had an Olympus E420, but it was a disaster as it was way too small and hard to grip in my huge, clumsy hands. I decided to get a 'proper' size DSLR and went to the shop to buy a Canon 50D, but on the advice of the forum members here, I decided to pick up a model by the competition to see which suited my hand best.

That was an expensive move :lol:! I picked up a Nikon D700 (as they didn't have a D300 in stock) and immediately fell in love with the ergonomics, build quality and big clear viewfinder. It took another couple of months to get the money, but I did it and the D700 was my second ever (D)SLR - I've never looked back and fully expect to shoot Nikon for the rest of my days :).
 
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