Hello everyone, I am always curious to read about people's "camera careers", i.e. which cameras they used over the years, what they liked about them and what they missed. And also, why did you choose (or are considering) a NEX? Is it your only camera or do you have others besides it? Etc....
I will start with my camera history, even if it is quite... uhm, short.
As a kid, I had various cheap compacts and so-called "pocket cameras". (Dating myself here.) I was fascinated by older cameras, like Leicas, but alas... In my last year at school, I bought a Yashica SLR (with a 50 mm) which I really, really liked. Unfortunately, it got stolen on a weekend trip to Amsterdam. I then got an Olympus XA-something but never quite warmed to it... a bit too automatic, I guess... It must still be somewhere in my possession, in pristine condition.
A couple of years later during my university education, I freelanced for a newspaper and needed a camera. Upon the advice of the paper's photographer I bought a used, very old SLR (Nikon FM) and a 35-135 zoom. It was all right, but I missed Av.
Then I didn't take photographs for a long time, not even with a mobile phone, even though I was still interested in photography, art etc. A couple of years ago, I was asked to volunteer for a small local magazine. So I needed a camera. As serious compacts with a viewfinder seemed nowhere in sight (actually, people in technology-savvy forums seemed quite amused about the very idea), I went for a used Pentax K100Ds. Fine camera, but I find it too heavy/ bulky, so it remains in the cupboard unless I need it for the occasional newspaper work. That also means I am not getting much badly needed practice.
Last year I had the chance to play with the LX3 of a friend. Great little cam.
Of course the recent developments are very exciting. Small, serious "prosumer" compacts, and compact big-sensor EVILS AND now, even with viewfinders!
For budgetary reasons I consider getting a used GRD I or II for now and see what happens in the market... I'd like a camera I can take with me all the time, mainly for b&w images. If I could have my way, I'd love to try the NEX-5n (and NEX-7, and X100, and GXR)... I like the IQ of the NEX images I see on the net, also the high iso capabilities.
ADDING: Oh, and I forgot: the flipscreen, of course!!
Until then, I live vicariously through others, like photos and discussions on internet forums.
Wow, few cameras, long rant!
So what cameras have you used?
I will start with my camera history, even if it is quite... uhm, short.
As a kid, I had various cheap compacts and so-called "pocket cameras". (Dating myself here.) I was fascinated by older cameras, like Leicas, but alas... In my last year at school, I bought a Yashica SLR (with a 50 mm) which I really, really liked. Unfortunately, it got stolen on a weekend trip to Amsterdam. I then got an Olympus XA-something but never quite warmed to it... a bit too automatic, I guess... It must still be somewhere in my possession, in pristine condition.
A couple of years later during my university education, I freelanced for a newspaper and needed a camera. Upon the advice of the paper's photographer I bought a used, very old SLR (Nikon FM) and a 35-135 zoom. It was all right, but I missed Av.
Then I didn't take photographs for a long time, not even with a mobile phone, even though I was still interested in photography, art etc. A couple of years ago, I was asked to volunteer for a small local magazine. So I needed a camera. As serious compacts with a viewfinder seemed nowhere in sight (actually, people in technology-savvy forums seemed quite amused about the very idea), I went for a used Pentax K100Ds. Fine camera, but I find it too heavy/ bulky, so it remains in the cupboard unless I need it for the occasional newspaper work. That also means I am not getting much badly needed practice.
Last year I had the chance to play with the LX3 of a friend. Great little cam.
Of course the recent developments are very exciting. Small, serious "prosumer" compacts, and compact big-sensor EVILS AND now, even with viewfinders!
For budgetary reasons I consider getting a used GRD I or II for now and see what happens in the market... I'd like a camera I can take with me all the time, mainly for b&w images. If I could have my way, I'd love to try the NEX-5n (and NEX-7, and X100, and GXR)... I like the IQ of the NEX images I see on the net, also the high iso capabilities.
ADDING: Oh, and I forgot: the flipscreen, of course!!
Until then, I live vicariously through others, like photos and discussions on internet forums.
Wow, few cameras, long rant!
So what cameras have you used?