Your first SLR...would you buy it again?

Paul Howell · May 19, 2017

Renato Tonelli said:
Pentax Spotmatic II
I bought it in the early 1970's. At the time I wanted a Nikon but I couldn't afford it.
Still have it and use it - the Pentax lenses are superb. No regrets.

+ 1, I bought my Spotmatic in 1967, got it used at a pawn shop with 3 lens, a 35, 50, and 135mm, over the years added most of the Pentax M42 line up of lens, although I added Konica and later Nikon to my kit, these systems have come and gone, still have the Spotty. I shoot Pentax primes on a Minolta 9000 and 600 with an adaptor.

George Mann · May 19, 2017

A Miranda Sensorex that my neighbor gave to me at the end of '72. It never gave me any trouble.

I don't think that I have any specific desire to own it again.

ronnies · May 19, 2017

A Yashica FX-3 with DSB 50/1.9 to replace my Zorki 4K. I still have the FX-3 and it still works like new. I've had to replace the leatherette though.

It's a great no frills camera and I would definitely buy it again.

Ronnie

ciniframe · May 19, 2017

My first 35mm SLR was a used Miranda D with a 50mm f1.9 Soligor lens (at that time both Miranda and Soligor were imported by AIC).
I would purchase it again but only for nostalgia. My third SLR was a Olympus OM-1, I still have it. My personal preference for 35mm SLR's is the OM system, especially OM-1 and OM-1n models.

macfred · May 19, 2017

My first 35mm SLR was the Nikon FM with Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 Ai (bought it new in 1981) - nothing wrong with it -
still in use (though I prefer my F2 Photomic w/ DP-1 finder in the meantime).

ME Super · May 19, 2017

If you couldn't tell by my username, my first SLR was a Pentax ME Super. I bought it used, and if I could go back in time, I'd buy it again. Nice little camera.

The ME Super wasn't my first 35mm camera, or even my first camera. The first camera I remember was a Kodak Instamatic handed down to me by my parents because the flash no longer worked. It still worked for outdoors though! Shot a few rolls of Kodachrome in it. The second camera was a 35mm fixed focus "toy" camera like they used to give away. Single shutter speed of 1/125 second and apertures of f/16, f/11, f/8 and f/6. The ME Super was what I bought to replace it.

ac12 · May 19, 2017

1) Mamiya/Sekor 1000DTL

2) NO. If I could go back in time I would NOT get it again. I would have gone directly to the Nikkormat FTn.

The thread mount lens drove me nuts when changing lenses. It took too long and required a lot of care so that I did not cross thread the lens when mounting a new lens. And I changed lenses often.
The theoretical advantage of a screw mount, that it self adjusts for wear, was more than outweighed by the hassle of changing lenses.
The thread mount was the only flaw in the Mamiya. If I did not change lenses often (like I did), it would have been a fine camera.
I sold the Mamiya and switched to a Nikkormat FTn. I liked the Nikon bayonet mount much better.
I would have probably liked most of the bayonet (Minolta, Miranda, etc.) or breech lock (Canon) camera systems.

3) Having said that. I did buy a Mamiya/Sekor 1000DTL. But as a senior citizen, that was purely for nostalgia rather than practicality.
If I want to shoot 35mm film, I would pick my Nikon or Olympus OM camera, not the Mamiya.

OptiKen · May 19, 2017

Mine was a Nikon EM and knowing what I know now, I doubt that I would buy it again. Even shortly after acquiring it, I was looking for some manual controls that just weren't there. It was aperture priority - period.
I think I may be an exception, however.
Like a person's first car, we have a fondness and affinity to the 'first', even though we have moved on to 'newer-faster-bigger-smarter-etc.'
I think that most photographers would like to have their first camera back.

pdeeh · May 19, 2017

P30T
Probably , because that's what I could afford then and I didn't really know any better.

Chan Tran · May 19, 2017

My first camera was a black Nikon F2AS in 1977. I had it until someone stole it from me in 1984. Would I buy the same camera again? Yes but it seems the price on the F2 isn't high but the F2AS is and if I buy a camera that isn't as nice as mine when I lost it I would feel bad.

film_man · May 19, 2017

Ko.Fe. said:
My first SLR is Canon EOS 300. I purchased and sold some others SLRs after it. But never sold the EOS 300.

Ha, same for me! The first camera I ever bought myself was a brand new EOS 300 kit (with that plastic fantasic 28-90mm lens). The lens is long gone but the camera has stayed, the wife uses it now permanently paired with a 40/2.8.

Would I buy it again? Yes I would.

AgX · May 19, 2017

Canon AE-1. I still got it and actually bought some more.

colin wells · May 19, 2017

My first slr was an Olympus OM2n I still have it altho the meter is jumpy when i first turn it on it is still very usable .Canons are my main cameras now the basic FTB and the mighty F1

fstop · May 19, 2017

Bought mine mid 70s, yup not only would buy again but have about dozen of them right now including one that's never been used. XK AES

TheTrailTog · May 19, 2017

I got into photography about 12 years ago now. I had always been a fan of B&W photography and was looking for a creative outlet. My first SLR was a Nikon D50. That didn't last long and I sold the camera to start shooting film. My first film SLR was a Nikkormat EL. That camera did end up getting sold, but I do miss it. I've tried buying a few over the past year, but all have had metering issues. Since selling that EL I've run the gamut of film cameras (35mm to MF to 4x5, from SLRs to rangefinders to TLRs). In the end I keep coming back to old school Nikons. So to answer part 2 of your question, yes I would buy my first FILM SLR again and have been trying to do so!

MattKing · May 19, 2017

An Olympus OM-1 (before production exclusively switched to the MD version).
I traded it in on an OM-2S that I still have.
I've had and sold an OM-1n since then, but I'd happily add another OM-1 (of any flavour) to go along with my OM-2s, OM-2n, OM-4T and OMG.

BradS · May 19, 2017

It was 1977. I had saved all the money I had earned working two summers as a caddy at a local country club. My mom took me to "La Belles" - a catalog/department store on the way to the Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport. I had a basic Pentax K1000 outfit in mind...but the salesman up-sold me and I ended up with a Pentax KX...and am I ever grateful. I still have it and use it occasionally. Yeaah, I would definitely buy it again. It has served me very well.

Larry the sailor · May 19, 2017

Bought my Canon AE-1 in 1981 the day I graduated from Basic Submarine School in Groton, CT. Bought it at the Navy Exchange on the Sub Base.
Took a few weeks leave and drove home on the way to San Diego. Went in to a Walmart and they had the same thing for just a bit less than half the price I had paid 3 days prior.
Carried it with me while in the Navy and it served me well all over the world and several trips across the US. Still have the camera and after a 15+ year hibernation I sent it off for repair and CLA about a year and a half ago. Still use it frequently and it has about half a roll of FP4+ in it now.
It is likely to go on the semi-retired list now that my new to me F-1N has been returned to full function.

TomNY · May 20, 2017

In the early 1980s my had a service anniversary at work and he was given a catalog from which he could choose a gift. There was nothing he really wanted so he asked me if I'd like to pick something. I was 19 or 20 at the time wanted a "real" camera. I got a Minolta X-370 with an MD 50mm 1.8 lens. I learned a lot with it. It was my only SLR for 20 years and never failed me and it still works beautifully. I'd use it more often now, but manual focus is getting pretty difficult for me now.

TheRook · May 20, 2017

My first SLR was a Canon FTb (with a handful of lenses), which my father gave to me as he was no longer using it. Although it isn't my favorite SLR, I still use it regularly. A relatively simple, but good camera. I suppose I'd replace it with another FTb if the one I have should someday get lost or damaged.

cooltouch · May 20, 2017

Would I buy my first SLR again? No. I wouldn't even buy my second SLR again -- or at least not as a primary photographic tool.

My first SLR was a Canon AE-1. It was an adequate tool for getting me started with photography. But as soon as I'd learned a bit, I found myself wanting more. So I assumed more automation equaled a better photographic tool and I bought a Canon A-1. Well, I was dazzled by the A-1's impressive array of features -- for a time. Until I found mysef wanting more than even the A-1 had to offer.

I finally made the right move when I bought my third SLR -- a Canon FTb. It's total lack of automation forced me to think about exposure and its vastly superior metering method insured that I nailed correct exposure when using its meter. My next purchase was an original Canon F-1 and I haven't looked back since. I'll always prefer a manual camera that provides an accurate metering method over any sort of automation that attempts to replace what I see and know about photography.

ozphoto · May 20, 2017

My first was a Canon AE-1 Program. Had it for 25 years before trading for an old F1 & motor-drive. Sadly had to give it all up for the dark side (work). Traded in all my wonderful FD gear for EF (nowhere near as much), but I made sure to purchase an original EOS1 as well.

I would definitely purchase again - it was outstanding and alongside my (later acquired) A1 - made for a superb kit, that I really do miss to this day.

blockend · May 20, 2017

A Chinon CX with 50mm 1.7. Being young and insecure I traded it three years later for an OM1. The CX did the job perfectly well but I cared about brands back then. Putting books of my old photographs together last year it's obvious the Chinon lens was as sharp as subsequent Olympus, Nikon and Canon glass, and most importantly gave me the opportunity to record the mid-1970s in a way hitherto unavailable to me. The nearest camera to it in feel is my Canon FTb.

Would I buy it again as a primary camera? No, because most cameras are worth buttons so why not have something special. However the Chinon never missed a beat and I could afford it, which is why I have folders of negatives of a time no camera available to me today could ever capture.

brent8927 · May 20, 2017

Nikon FM10. It was a great camera to learn with, but I wouldn't buy it again. In hindsight, I wish I had thought about buying a higher-quality used camera, like an older Nikon. Basically I just wanted the most affordable manual camera I could buy, and the salesman didn't mention "why not buy used? As an 18 year old kid new to photography, it didn't occur to me how cheap quality manual cameras could be. Shortly after I did learn about the used camera market and bought a nice fast used Nikon lens--along with the FM10 that's how I really started to learn photography. After about 6 months I transitioned to MF, using a Bronica S2a for about 6-12 months, then ultimately getting a Hasselblad 501c which to this day remains my favorite camera.

Willy T · May 20, 2017

1968 Ftn. Yep.

Your first SLR...would you buy it again?

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