My Camera Gear (a nostalgic history)

Back in the old days, when people used film, I did so too. I shot a lot of film (both black and white and color) in my beloved screw mount SLR Pentax (which I no longer have), and later played a bit with a 4x5 view camera, but never got really serious.

I have acquired three Minolta SRT101 cameras and a collection of lenses, two as gifts, the third in a thrift store (for $8.00 and with a 28mm lens). I never took a single photo with them and ultimately donated them to an interested party.

When I began these pages, I was still clicking away with a tiny little Canon S200 and had taken something over 4000 pictures with it. Point and shoot cameras definitely have their place. In particular, a camera in your hand is worth two in the bush (or sitting at home).

That little camera pleased me so much, that I found myself pondering the purchase of a digital SLR and ultimately (in early 2006) settled on the Canon EOS 20D. I have had no regrets or problems with this camera.

Sometimes the Canon versus Nikon question comes up. Both are fine camera systems, and I think it is pointless to try to answer the question of which is better. I chose Canon probably because at the time I was making my decision, photographers I knew and trusted were using Canon gear. Now that I have an investment in Canon lenses, it would be difficult to switch, even if I wanted to.

I find it interesting to note (in early 2011) that after 5 years the Canon 20D that I paid roughly $1200 for, is now selling for $200 on the used market. On the other hands, lenses I invested in are selling for nearly the same as what I purchased them for (the prices of the same lenses new has risen). There are some clear conclusions that can be drawn here.

It is early 2011, and I am considering upgrading the 20D. I liked the Canon 50D, but I don't think so highly of the 60D. The advent of the 60D and demise of the 50D led me to serious consideration of the 7D (a wonderful camera). After some serious contemplation of the 7D versus the 5D Mark II, the full frame 5Dii won out. In a nutshell, a full frame camera was more important to me than a fast autofocus system.

Now it is late 2013, and another camera body has caught my eye. I have always wanted to own a 1D body, and began watching sales of used Canon 1Dii (which are selling for under $500, sometimes as low as $300). One of the biggest attractions of one of these is the build quality -- they are built like tanks with full weatherproofing. It became clear to me though that the 1D mark 3 had a number of things to offer that made it much more attractive than the mark 2 or 2n. In particular live view and the ultrasonic sensor cleaning, but people who have long used the Mark 2 say that there are many nice changes in the Mark 3.


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Tom's Digital Photography Info / tom@mmto.org