Damien Demolder
Tharg the Mighty
Reged: 22/08/2001
Posts: 1022
Loc: Essex born and badly-bred
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Remembering our earlier poll that discovered that most of us don't switch systems if we can help it, I thought it would be interesting to see what got you into the system you use. So, go to the home page to tell us what most influenced your first camera purchase.
Technically this is a different question to 'what was your first camera' because you may not have bought it yourself. But I'd say this is a good time to discuss that too.
Mine was a Kodak 127 Brownie that leaked light though the back door. My Mum gave it to me when she bought a 110 Fuji thing. Fancy swapping medium format for 110. I was only 10 but I knew even then I'd got the better end of the deal.
damien
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See my photographs at www.wordsonpictures.com
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Benchista
Wich Tyler
Reged: 11/08/2000
Posts: 37887
Loc: Everywhere and nowhere, baby
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My first camera was a Kodak Instamatic 33x, a birthday gift from my grandmother, who misunderstood "Instamatic" to mean "Instant". 
My first camera purchase was a Zenith E with 58mm f2 lens - simply the only SLR I could afford.
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Nick
www.nbrphoto.com
Light and Shade II - the new blog
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Hotblack
Dead Horse Flogger
Reged: 07/03/2006
Posts: 7352
Loc: Upstairs in the spare room.
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My first camera was a Kodak disc camera bought as a Christmas present as a kid.
My first foray in to SLRs some 20 odd years ago was a Praktica with a standard 50mm lens. I can't remember which one. I was so ignorant I didn't even know you could change lenses on it. It was the only thing I could afford at the time.
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Cheers
David
David J White Photography
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spinno
Curmudgeonly Fellow
Reged: 07/02/2007
Posts: 3314
Loc: Meat and Fish
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My first SLR was a Practika MTL5B, but previous to that I'd bought a Boots Beirette and Halina Autofocus compact camera.
IIRC got one or two good shots on the Halina including a by accident backlit shot which looked really cool.
Probably that shot that got me hooked.....
Cash mainly (or lack of) influenced my purchases, but after trying the two earlier cameras decided to get the Practika but didn't want to spend loads of money.
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David
No emoticons were harmed during the production of this message, but if you feel affected by the issues contained herein please contact our premium charge helpline based in Nigeria
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Edited by spinno (12/11/2007 14:14)
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BigWill
Gorgeous oversensitive Nikon-loving cream puff
Reged: 08/09/2000
Posts: 33777
Loc: Northern Ireland
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Like Nick, price was an important consideration at the time though curiously "style" also had a lot to do with it. It was important that it "looked" right as well. I think this is still an important factor and one that is sometimes not admitted to by owners but if you look at the example of the recently launched Apple "iphone" you will see what I mean. There are other products on the market that do what the iphone does better but the iphone has the "look". Whoever said "Image is nothing" clearly never worked in marketing! 
BigWill
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I'm sailing like a driftwood on a windy bay.
Edited by BigWill (12/11/2007 14:16)
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jeffA
member
Reged: 30/01/2007
Posts: 155
Loc: Sheffield
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First camera an old box brownie used by the family for years.First SLR Zenit B for the same reason as Nick it was all I could afford, eventually moved through the Zenit range before changing to Olympus, now using Canon.
Jeff
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NorthernNikon
Bulls Hitter
Reged: 16/12/2005
Posts: 6180
Loc: Harrogate, North Yorks
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PRICE!
My first camera was a 2nd hand Praktica MTL5B with a 50mm lens which I got for my 13th birthday. As I only had £25 to splash it was the only choice I had when I went to Bradford Camera Exchange.
My second choice was another 2nd hand camera, this time a Fuji compact which I bought on Bradford Camera Exchange's recommendation. I wanted a compact for photos at uni.
Third purchase Minolta X-700 with 28mm, 50mm and 135mm lenses but this time it was bought on the recommendation of the salesman, again at Bradford Camera Exchange.
My forth and penultimate choice came when two of the above Minolta lenses expired and went to the great kit bag in the sky on my travels. On discovering that the cost to replace them wouldn't be far off a whole new AF system I went I narrowed my choice down to a Nikon or Canon based primarily on the fact that these were the brands of choice of the pros I'd met at the Syndey Olympics. Handling the cameras in store led to a quick decision in favour of a Nikon F80, 28-105 and 70-300mmm lenses from Ted's Camera's in Sydney.
Finally, about two years ago after handling my father-in-law's D70, seeing the look in my eye my wife rather foolishly said "Why don't you get one?". I immediately did, this time from eBay where I bought a D70s body only.
The only thing which would make me change now would be to lose all my insured kit at the same time another system made some great advance ahead of the field.
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www.BarneyAllen.com the new home of ComicShots.
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mjc7uk
Am I banned yet?
Reged: 08/07/2006
Posts: 2807
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My first proper camera that actually work is Minolta X-700 with Minolta 50mm F1.7 lens. What prompt me to have it was that it's was price nicely and that it's handling feeling was superb. The Canon and Nikon was out of my price range back then!
I purchase it brand new from Jessops in Nottingham back in 1988.
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The Nikonboy is back...
We can't stand about here doing nothing. People will think we're workmen. - Spike Milligan.
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Iloca
Unregistered at user's request
Reged: 06/12/2005
Posts: 3800
Loc: Northern Ireland
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I'll really need to answer the question in two parts.
The first camera I bought was an Olympus OM10 but I was advised by my dad who in turn had been advised by a guy he worked with. So not really my decision.
The 1st camera that a choose myself was a Nikon D70. My reasons for choosing it were, in order, more or less.
1. In my Price range (couldn't afford a 20D)
2. Felt significantly better than the Canon 350D (Build Quality)
3. Handling felt better than the Canon (I tried both in the same shop, Canon 1st Nikon 2nd. I knew the Nikon was the one as soon as I held it)
4. Kit Lens was massively better than the Canon (proper focus ring rather than a thin lip, plus the front element didn't rotate)
5. Front and Rear command wheels (no need to hold down a button to switch the command wheel function from Aperture to Shutter Speed)
6. Brand Perception (To me Nikon seemed like a higher quality product, not necessarily the case in reality but there you go)
7. Always had a soft spot for a Nikon F80 (never owned one though)
8. Test reports in magazines, although some of the monthlies favored Canon over Nikon in most reviews and some favoured Nikon over Canon I preferred the look of the Nikon images. In reality I probably went on feel more than anything else.
In the end I was really happy with the D70, I'd still recommend one. I have however switched to Olympus as the E-System is by far superior to anything else on the market 
OK, maybe not, no I switched as the E-1 worked better than the Nikon with my OM gear. Other than that I'd probably still be using Nikon.
Richard
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Mi Vid Iloca
My Flickr Gallery
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Bettina
Kein Titel
Reged: 12/02/2004
Posts: 4104
Loc: London
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My first camera (apart from a pocket camera which I got as a pressie) was the Pentax MX. Reason for buying one was:
1 - full manual controls (yes, I was deluded back then),
2 - good choice of lenses,
3 - good reputation of camera brand
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Bettina
http://www.vibrantpictures.co.uk
Vibrant Pictures on Flickr
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parisian
Over the hill and far away...
Reged: 10/02/2002
Posts: 7722
Loc: Môn mam cymru
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First camera I bought was the Agfa Karat for 4/6d. Still got it - and still works.
System wise I saw photographs coming out of Vietnam with the Nikon F dominating. I was hooked into Nikon from then on.
I did stray and had OM1n, OM2n, Pentax MX, Canon EOS 30, Leica 'M'&'R' as well as the medium format stuff but always came back to the big 'N'. For me, simply the feel and the confidence they give in the hand.
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Hells pensioner - born to be mild
Edited by parisian (12/11/2007 15:17)
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Nod
Carpal \'Tunnel
Reged: 08/04/2006
Posts: 4334
Loc: Devon, UK.
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First camera I bought was a Spottie to accompany one I had on loan from my father.
The first system I bought into was the Nikon AF system with an F65 as the first body. Having nailed it down to that, the Canon, Pentax and Minolta equivalents, I went to a local retailer and tried them all on. The F65 filled my hands best so came home with me. I've since tried on a couple of Canons and a Pentax - the Nikon bodies still fit me best!
The price, feature set, reviews etc helped me build the shortlist but it was purely the fit of the body that made me plump for the Nikon.
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MATWSIJ.....
To avoid being offended, please insert apropriate smiley.
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Fen
BAD WOLF
Reged: 12/03/2002
Posts: 20929
Loc: Currently Unknown!
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Well, my first 'system' was Minolta which was down to the review in AP (two part review!)
I bought a Dynax 7xi and a few lenses. I'd previously borrowed a friends Dynax 7000i (I think it was called that) and after reading the AP review I went straight out and tested one for myself and ended up buying it.
I stuck with that camera for years, I never updated the body as Minolta changed the layout and design of the latter bodies and (putting it bluntly) I hated them. Couldn't get on with the design/layout at all.
Then when I needed to go digital I was left with a difficult situation.
Minolta (at that time) had no digital bodies and I expected them to base any future release on the latter bodies. I wouldn't expect them to go back to a design from 1989 for their latest body.
So it was to go with either Nikon or Canon and start from scratch with a new system.
After much research and handling of different bodies (cameras I hasten to add!) I went for Canon and bought a 20D and started my lens collection.
Now thinking about getting a 5D...
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Fen .......... My Galleries - My Blog - My Flickr
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JDCB
Bench Free Zone
Reged: 15/05/2006
Posts: 1236
Loc: On the Edge of the Fens
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My first two cameras were gifts: a Hanimex 110 as a young teenager, then 5 or so years later a used Pentax Spotmatic F. The first camera I bought for myself was a Nikon F601. The reason I chose Nikon over any of the other brands, and that camera particularly is simply because I was certain that over the years I wanted the support of a complete system, and the F601 was the cheapest entry into AF within the Nikon range. I'm glad I made the choice to select a system rather than just one camera on its own merits. Over the years I've bought and traded through part of the Nikon range, but I think I'm now set for the long haul with the current F5, FM3A and D200. I've had a few other cameras in addition to the Nikons, and don't rule out getting back into MF at some point (a used Hassie or TLR), but am certain I'll remain with Nikon for 35mm.
James
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Roger_Provins
Made-it Man
Reged: 22/10/2005
Posts: 3068
Loc: Gloucester, UK
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I've always chosen the lenses before the body and those have always been Zeiss. From early days with Super Ikonta, Contax, Contaflex .. and through Yashica/Kyocera Contax and now to Sony.
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Rog
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mark_jacobs
AP Art Editor
Reged: 07/08/2001
Posts: 1489
Loc: 9th & Hennepin
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An OM10 (+manual adaptor) followed by, after some lo-life nicked it, an ME Super.
I know better now For any newbies that's a running joke btw
Re: What most influenced your first camera purchase?
Reviews, in AP I believe…
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Dave_Cox
old'n'grumpy
Reged: 12/07/2006
Posts: 3107
Loc: somewhere in Sussex
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My first camera, influenced by my father - he had a camera so I wanted to take photos as well. This led to an Instamatic.Followed by a Zorki, not a system camera though.
My first system was mainly dictated by what was in the local shops, and could be afforded at the time. Prakticas ruled for a few years. I'm still a bit fond of them now, with memories of bomb-proof bodies and loud clunky shutters/mirrors.
As I became more affluent, and keener on photography as a hobby, then Yashicas became the favoured tool - influenced by the excellent Contax RTS which was well out of reach.
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Growing old disgracefully!
http://snapper56.deviantart.com/gallery/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dave2006/
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Matt_Hunt
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 07/11/2005
Posts: 2283
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The first camera I used was an Agfa Silette, supplied by my father.
The first camera I owned was a Spottie SP1000 which my 16th (?) birthday present from my parents and the first camera I bought was a Nikon F75 based on feel in my hands, build quality for what I could afford and it had features (manual was obvious).
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/reactivefilm/
My Blog
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Gordon_McGeachie
Joke Historian
Reged: 19/01/2007
Posts: 4140
Loc: East Yorkshire,
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Budget.
So I got the Zenit E
Then the Chinon CM3 which I would have bought first if I had the cash seeing as though I had just started work.
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She (Avro Vulcan XH558)Took To The Sky Like A Lovesick Angel.
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beejaybee
Marvin
Reged: 18/07/2007
Posts: 4982
Loc: Really Here In Name Only
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I had to tick "price" as that was very important to me as a poor student. However features and reviews certainly played a part in my choice of a Praktica LTL with Pentacon f/1.8 lens in 1973, the first camera I bought for myself.
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