RandallFlagg Posted May 6, 2018 #26 Share Posted May 6, 2018 I started taking pictures with various Brownies and even an old fold out 2-1/4 x 3-1/4 camera, but I consider my first SLR my first real camera. That would be a Minolta SR7 given to me as a high school graduation present in 1966. Everything was manual back then, but that camera was really rugged and went with me every where. I have to mention that my favorite SLR was a Minolta XE7. It added auto focus and exposure and was also very rugged. I carried it everywhere including motorcycle trips all over the west and it always worked. Cripes! I totally forgot one of my nicest Pawn Shop finds!! A Minolta XG7. Used that camera for a long time! :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lenquixote66 Posted May 7, 2018 #27 Share Posted May 7, 2018 Having just purchased a new camera, I couldn't help but mentally compare it to others that I have owned over the years. In another thread on equipment, people started mentioning cameras they owned and that got me wondering about how many of you started shooting with film? I started with my dad's Brownie Hawkeye and later, his WWII-era Leica IIIc. The first actual camera that I bought for myself was A Minolta SRT-102 with the "upgraded" 50mm f/1.4 MC lens. I was a freshman in high school working my first job and in dollars-to-earning value at the time, it probably cost me more than the piece of digital wonder-tech that I just bought. Did you start with film? Digital? A phone? e My first camera was a Kodak Bulls Eye Model D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4x4bob Posted May 9, 2018 #28 Share Posted May 9, 2018 Responding to the question put out by Pierces on what did you start with? I started with film in 1966. My story might be interesting to some, if not just move on to the next post. 1966 My favorite Uncle gave me a free ticket to a land far far away that was covered with Jungle and was inhabited with unfriendly neighbors. I hooked up with a new friend from Texas and He was a guy who went looking for adventure. One day he told me I needed a Camera to take with us on our days off. I told him I did not know anything about photography. He said no problem, I will teach you. The next morning we jumped off the truck we were riding on as it went past the BX so we would be in the front of the line when it opened. In those days if you were not there when a shipment came in you had a very good chance of missing out. The door opened and my friend led me quickly to the camera counter. He pointed out a Minolta 35mm film camera and then a hand held light meter. And he said get several rolls of film before they are gone. Back in our quarters, way less then 5 star, he started to teach/show me how to use the light meter vs. setting the camera manualy. How to read the light and position of the sun, etc. That good ole boy could make a camera sing and he had a good eye for photos. His next suggestion kinda made me think I had hooked up with a crazy person. He said our next day off we will check out our rifles from the armory, bring our cameras, and catch a ride on one of the cargo helicopters down at the 8th aeroport. Hmm, I said, don't you know that our unfriendly neighbors have a bad habit of shooting at Helicopters? He said no worry, its no worse then riding in car back home in a large city. Back in those days we had our film developed into slides and we would mail then home to prevent the heat and high moisture in the air from damaging them. Today I pack Nikon D7100 w/several lens and small canon power shot as a back up. Still taking advantage of the training I was lucky enough to receive years ago. Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare pierces Posted May 9, 2018 Author #29 Share Posted May 9, 2018 Today I pack Nikon D7100 w/several lens and small canon power shot as a back up. Still taking advantage of the training I was lucky enough to receive years ago. Bob Great story Bob. The camera training sticks with you and the other training you got can still come in handy if you visit places like Chicago or New Orleans. :) Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RandallFlagg Posted May 10, 2018 #30 Share Posted May 10, 2018 Responding to the question put out by Pierces on what did you start with? I started with film in 1966. My story might be interesting to some, if not just move on to the next post. 1966 My favorite Uncle gave me a free ticket to a land far far away that was covered with Jungle and was inhabited with unfriendly neighbors. I hooked up with a new friend from Texas and He was a guy who went looking for adventure. One day he told me I needed a Camera to take with us on our days off. I told him I did not know anything about photography. He said no problem, I will teach you. The next morning we jumped off the truck we were riding on as it went past the BX so we would be in the front of the line when it opened. In those days if you were not there when a shipment came in you had a very good chance of missing out. The door opened and my friend led me quickly to the camera counter. He pointed out a Minolta 35mm film camera and then a hand held light meter. And he said get several rolls of film before they are gone. Back in our quarters, way less then 5 star, he started to teach/show me how to use the light meter vs. setting the camera manualy. How to read the light and position of the sun, etc. That good ole boy could make a camera sing and he had a good eye for photos. His next suggestion kinda made me think I had hooked up with a crazy person. He said our next day off we will check out our rifles from the armory, bring our cameras, and catch a ride on one of the cargo helicopters down at the 8th aeroport. Hmm, I said, don't you know that our unfriendly neighbors have a bad habit of shooting at Helicopters? He said no worry, its no worse then riding in car back home in a large city. Back in those days we had our film developed into slides and we would mail then home to prevent the heat and high moisture in the air from damaging them. Today I pack Nikon D7100 w/several lens and small canon power shot as a back up. Still taking advantage of the training I was lucky enough to receive years ago. Bob Funny! My Uncle gave me the same "ticket" in 1969 :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iaminwanderlust Posted May 11, 2018 #31 Share Posted May 11, 2018 Minolta X-370 film camera that I got for high school graduation. I shot a lot of black and white with this camera. My first DSLR was a Nikon D80. I am now shooting on a Nikon D750. I actually lied. My first camera was one of the old 110 film cameras. I don't remember the brand or model, but it was fun. I have had several point and shoots over the year, and of course my cell phone cameras. I am also using a Samsung Gear 360, GoPro, and Autel Robotics Drone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patrick401ca Posted May 11, 2018 #32 Share Posted May 11, 2018 My first camera was an Olympus *****-1. It was a gift from my father. After that I spent the money I made mowing lawns on Fuji ASA100 black and White film and Clearisil. I developed my own prints at the camera club. What I really needed was a girlfriend but that is a whole different story Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GUT2407 Posted May 12, 2018 #33 Share Posted May 12, 2018 My first camera was an Olympus *****-1. It was a gift from my father. After that I spent the money I made mowing lawns on Fuji ASA100 black and White film and Clearisil. I developed my own prints at the camera club. What I really needed was a girlfriend but that is a whole different story Sent from my iPhone using Forums Om1 was another sweet camera. One of only a few that would have made me change from Canon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krazy Kruizers Posted May 13, 2018 #34 Share Posted May 13, 2018 All I remember about my first camera is that it was a Brownie given to me by my grandfather back in the 40's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cirpi Posted May 14, 2018 #35 Share Posted May 14, 2018 My first serious camera was a Canon IV rangefinder I purchased at PX in Korea in 1953. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heidi13 Posted May 21, 2018 #36 Share Posted May 21, 2018 My first serious camera was a Canon AE-1, purchased in Japan. Sold that and upgraded to the Canon A-1. In the digital age, I started with the Canon 20D and now use a 5D Mk3. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BallFour4 Posted May 21, 2018 #37 Share Posted May 21, 2018 Pentax Spotmatic F. 50mm f1.4 lens. First digital was a Canon Digital Rebel. Now a Olympus OMD follows me most everywhere! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NWACruiser Posted June 4, 2018 #38 Share Posted June 4, 2018 Minolta XG-A Manual focus. Learned a lot about photography with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Re-tired Posted June 4, 2018 #39 Share Posted June 4, 2018 My dad was the camera buyer for a large department store, so I always had a camera. My first serious camera was a Canon FT. Dad made me buy it from a local camera store because he didn't sell enough good cameras to get the price break that the camera store got. I still have it. I moved on to large format and use a Canham 5x7 mostly. For several years my point and shoot was a Rollei SL-66 medium format SLR. This year I broke down and bought a Fuji XPro2 for travel. I enjoy the flexibility and speed of the Fuji but I still treasure the time and effort spent in the dark making big prints. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mannyfreshest1979 Posted June 6, 2018 #40 Share Posted June 6, 2018 Last year I got my first 'real' camera - Panasonic G7. I expect to upgrade but for now I'm having a great time with it. Sent from mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dckamme Posted June 9, 2018 #41 Share Posted June 9, 2018 Olympus E420 DSLR, I loved that camera and took tens of thousands of photos on it for a period of 7 years before switching to a Canon Rebel DSLR. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Expat Cruise Posted June 9, 2018 #42 Share Posted June 9, 2018 My first real camera was also a Leica IIIF, I still remember having to remove the outer housing to load the film. Use the camera for several years as well as many other Leica cameras had a few M3's and and still have a complete M4 setup in storage. From Leica I went to the Olympus ***** cameras (OM1 OM2 OM4) and then on to Nikon. Today most of my photos are done with my phone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moviela Posted June 9, 2018 #43 Share Posted June 9, 2018 Contax RTS back in the film days. Now shooting Nikon D7500. Both are real cameras. Sent from my SM-G950U using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marchie1053 Posted June 9, 2018 #44 Share Posted June 9, 2018 Started with the normal box brownie etc Then a Canon Ex-EE AE-1, A-1, F-1 T-90 Mamiya TLR Hasselblad range of EOS, starting with 500, then 33 then 1 After that into digital 500d, then 5dII Started with a 126 Cartridge Film in 1972 until father-in-law gave me an ancient SLR (No brand?) in 1981 (remember asking a chemist in France to set the aperture according to the then weather - he took me into the street, pointed to the sun & then F8, pointed to a cloud and then F11 ... who needs language skills?). In 1983 I went mad and bought a Canon T50 (with an instruction manual!) and kept that until another splurge in 1985/6 when I bought the AE-1 Program. That remained my camera of choice until 2005 when I bought the Canon Powershot Pro1 that saw me through to Feb 2015 when I purchased the Nikon D5300. Purchased a HuaweiP20 Pro phone on its UK launch on 6th April this year - brilliant Alaska pictures of glaciers in the gloom - the AI Unit really came into its own! But the D5300 was invaluable for the Whale photos in Icy Strait! Just grovelling to Mrs Marchie before buying the Tamron 18-400 zoom ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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