What makes you keep a camera long term?

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williamming005

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william
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When you decide to keep a camera for several years, what matters most to you: image quality, autofocus, lens choice, or how it feels to use?

I’d be interested to hear which camera has stayed with you the longest and what makes you keep reaching for it.
 
I am using a used Nikon D750 that I got in 2019. I mostly shoot travel, sometimes the milky way and my family. The lenses that I have are mostly AF-D ones which I can use on my Nikon film camera too.

Motivation for keeping this body is that basically its a great body. Has pro level image quality, a good AF system and the D lenses don't have electronic motors and thus are less likely to fail.

I have used the D750 travelling across -20 treks, on my motorcycle on bad roads in rains and its still working as expected.

Everytime I think I need a 'better' body I just have a look at my photos which I have printed and go, hmm, these are so good why would I ever need a new body?
 
Digitally, I bought my A7 in 2015, A7Riii 2021/22 and the X100f early 2024.

For me, it's that they do what I want them to do.

Okay, the A7 gets very little use now. But it doesn't feel like it owes me anything (£) and it's probably not worth much anyway now. I have thought about getting it converted tbh
 
I have four reasons for keeping my X-H1's. Firstly, it's a near perfect fit for my hands. Secondly, I believe 24Mp is near ideal for the sensor size and I like the results from the sensor. Thirdly, for my type of photography if I use the battery pack I don't have to worry about battery life. Last but not least it's built like a tank.
 
Nikon D5300 (2014 - today) for it's built in GPS. It's been so valuable for location work over the years - mainly logging stepwells in rural India. Many are very similar and I would be lost placing them if it wasn't for my camera. Sadly It's retiring soon.
 
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I almost never sell or otherwise get rid of any camera gear. It's nothing to do with the technical capabilities, I just like the kit and don't need the money from selling them. My favourite cameras are my film Pentaxes that I could never part with.

What about you @williamming005 what do you do/think, as you posed the question?
 
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For me it's all about how they feel in use and the results I can get with them, I stopped chasing new models years ago when I found that the ones I had did everything I needed. I settled on these Leica M9s in 2017(added the M9-P a while later) and they are my favourite cameras.

M9 Travel Setup 2025Upload.JPG

The only problem with the Leicas is no weather sealing so when the weather is bad I have my Fuji X-T2s, I find they are real do-it-alls and can take the wind & rain on Dartmoor.

Three X-T2s.JPG

For when I want "better" image quality I have Fuji GFX 50S, the first generation, 2017 which tbh out performs my normal requirements but does provide very nice files.

GFX and Tilt Adapter.jpg

Unless I outgrow any of these I'm not looking to change them, if they break and I can still get replacements or repairs I will replace/repair rather than "upgrade" but I recognise there will come a time when the models I have are beyond repair and replacement will not be feasible but I'll cross that bridge when I have to.
 
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Topsy said:
For me iy's all about how they feel in use and the results I can get with them, I stopped chasing new models years ago when I found that the ones I had did everything I needed. I settled on these Leica M9s in 2017(added the M9-P a while later) and they are my favourite cameras.

View attachment 492590

The only problem with the Leicas is no weather sealing so when the weather is bad I have my Fuji X-T2s, I find they are real do-it-alls and can take the wind & rain on Dartmoor.

View attachment 492591

For when I want "better" image quality I have Fuji GFX 50S, the first generation, 2017 which tbh out performs my normal requirements but does provide very nice files.

View attachment 492592

Unless I outgrow any of these I'm not looking to change them, if they break and I can still get replacements or repairs I will replace/repair rather than "upgrade" but I recognise there will come a time when the models I have are beyond repair and replacement will not be feasible but I'll cross that bridge when I have to.
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Thanks for your sharing, dear Topsy

​

 
I always say I have the last camera I will ever own, and I always make that not true. However, having moved from full-frame to MFT, I can't see me ever going FF again as whatever a FF camera with lenses can do, it cannot shed it's weight and that's the killer for me.

In response to the OP, my longest-lasting cameras were a Nikon FE2 and then an FM2n which carried me through from the seventies until 2002. The FM2n was my last film camera and it was with deepest regret that I felt I had to move on as the lure of getting rid of smelly chemicals and stopping living in the dark became too great.
 
GetBusyLiving said:
I always say I have the last camera I will ever own, and I always make that not true. However, having moved from full-frame to MFT, I can't see me ever going FF again as whatever a FF camera with lenses can do, it cannot shed it's weight and that's the killer for me.

In response to the OP, my longest-lasting cameras were a Nikon FE2 and then an FM2n which carried me through from the seventies until 2002. The FM2n was my last film camera and it was with deepest regret that I felt I had to move on as the lure of getting rid of smelly chemicals and stopping living in the dark became too great.
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I did keep one of my old Canon F1ns and a few lenses but I rarely use 35mm anymore I just can't bring myself to get rid of it.

CanonF1n LUF.jpg
 
My Pentax Z-1p I bought 31 years ago, and M645 Pro SV I bought in 1997. Both still get used.....

I did get an MZ-S which was a beautiful camera but chose to keep the Z-1p as my film use decreased....

The K-1 I bought in 2016 is a keeper, such a joy to use. I couldn't get on with the D810 which had essentially the same sensor. I have the original Pentax FA Limited Trinity, plus quite a few of the gorgeous Pentax prime lenses which I am very reluctant to let go of. Criminally underused by me...

The other keeper is the D500, which I also bought in 2016 and just serviced. Still can't quite put it down, I'll keep it until it breaks.

Reason for keeping the Z-1p, D500 and K-1 is that, in my opinion, nothing that offers me more than what they can, and in their own ways each has their own MOJO.
 
I'm not really all that interested in cameras, I'm more interested in lenses. So, unless there's some big leap in technology or something that irritates me is gone on the new model or something stops working I'll probably keep the camera and carry on lusting after lenses.

I had a Canon 20D for something like 7 years and ditto or maybe longer a Sony A7 but I've had my Kodak Instamatic 36 for for about 55 years. I haven't used it for a long time though and I don't think you can get film for it anymore.
 
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Topsy said:
I did keep one of my old Canon F1ns and a few lenses but I rarely use 35mm anymore I just can't bring myself to get rid of it.
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I've held on to a FT and an AE1 because (a) I like them, though I'm unlikely to put a film through them now and (b) I bought the pair for £27 and sold the lenses they came with for rather more than that.

The Kiev sharing the picture with them suffered a shutter failure, so it went for recycling and I hope someone picked it up and had a go at fixing it.

Kiev Canon AE-1 and Canon FT-QL 50mm D600 D60_5035.jpg
 
My first proper camera, the Pentax MX, is probably the one I will take to my grave. But really what makes me hold onto a camera is the thought that I will use it, one day! :p
 
My Nikon F5 bought in Hong Kong on a visit when my brother worked out there on the new Chek Lap Kok airport in the early 90's, I doubt I will ever sell it, it gets occasional use, is still mint, and I still have the original box etc.

I've also still got, and still use a Hasselblad 500cm which my parents bought me for my 18th birthday, when I was doing my City & Guilds photography course at night school in the early 80's.

The newer stuff I move on without regret, but those two are untouchable as they made precious memories.
 
LeeRatters said:
Digitally, I bought my A7 in 2015, A7Riii 2021/22 and the X100f early 2024.

For me, it's that they do what I want them to do.

Okay, the A7 gets very little use now. But it doesn't feel like it owes me anything (£) and it's probably not worth much anyway now. I have thought about getting it converted tbh
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The A7 I bought in 2014 is still in service as a web cam that I use for work calls on MS Teams, which also finds a use for the kit 28-70 lens that I never got on with :D

I also keep it around as a backup for the A7III that is my main body these days, though I have had similar thoughts about getting it converted to IR.
 
The ones that I have kept - digital M8 and Sigma DP Merrils 1 and 3

Film - Canon A1, Nikon F ...quite a few Nikons and Leica M6 and an M3
 
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