DSLR Users: What Brand Do You Shoot With?

[Jamian]

Hey everyone,

I'm just curious what the breakdown of DSLR shooters is on the DIS...

 

[Golf4food]

Woo hoo! First of the handful of DIS Pentaxians to respond! Do I win a new K-7? (Please?)

 

[Code]

Another "what brand" poll?

*sigh*

 

[Jamian]

Another "what brand" poll?

*sigh*

Really?

Thanks Pal, great post.

 

[jann1033]

i think it's kind of interesting to see how things have changed...i think the only dslrs when i first came to the dis photo were canon or nikon, pentax came out not to long after i came here. kind of nice to see the market opening up and imo that means even the old established manufacturers have to keep up with the new guys( even though i know many were involved with slrs ie pentax and Minolta long long ago) so a win win situation for everybody.

 

[MICKEY88]

i think it's kind of interesting to see how things have changed...i think the only dslrs when i first came to the dis photo were canon or nikon, pentax came out not to long after i came here. kind of nice to see the market opening up and imo that means even the old established manufacturers have to keep up with the new guys( even though i know many were involved with slrs ie pentax and Minolta long long ago) so a win win situation for everybody.

I'm fairly certain Minolta DSLRs were around also

 

[ukcatfan]

Another "what brand" poll?

*sigh*

Really?

Thanks Pal, great post.

No offense, but when you are not a regular person on our board, you shouldn't criticize one of the regular well respected contributors. Way to get yourself accepted here.

I agree that these type of "brand war" threads are completely useless. If you want that, go to DPReview and leave us alone. There is nothing special about being a Disboard member that would make the brand spread any different than the general population. The majority of the people are going to be Canon and Nikon. Then there are going to be a handful of Pentax, Sony, Olympus, etc. What is your purpose for posting this anyway?

 

[jann1033]

I'm fairly certain Minolta DSLRs were around also

you are right, the first Minolta dslr i found was in 2000. 2mps for $4000...good thing times have changed i remember pentax and minolta from my high school days( so during the dawn of civilization ) but wasn't sure when they brought out a dslr

personally i always think it's nicer for any "well respected contributors" to be welcoming to newer posters and like any thread , if you aren't interested just keep scrolling.

 

[YesDear]

Jamian:

Welcome to the photography board of the Disboards. You are welcome here! Unfortunately, you touched on an issue that seems very sensitive to some here whether new or long standing participants.

I use Nikon equipment. I use Nikon equipment because that is what I have used for over thirty years. When I started in film Nikon was the default equipment of the vast majority of professional photographers. When digital began to develop Canon took the lead for awhile and they make amazing equipment. I believe in the past round of models Nikon has caught up, but that is for another discussion. I like Nikon because every lens I have for my film camera will work on my D300. I like Nikon because I like Nikon.

I like to pick on my friends on this board who do not shoot Nikon because I like the people and that is a way I show I care. I particularly like to pick on other brand owners that are good photographers.

While I can tell you things about the models I own, I do not keep up with all the specs of all Nikons. That is obvious from some of my recent misstatements about a D90! I do not care about other models other than the one I have and the ones I want! I just do not have time and would rather improve my skills that techno stuff. I particularly could not tell you about other brands, particularly Canon. Their model lines and nomenclature would drive me crazy, but then again, I have used Nikons for 30+ years.

There is a POTD thread, A Canon POTD, and a Nikon POTD thread here and maybe others. Some believe it is a brand war. I see it as people with like equipment liking to share what their brand can do. I look at them all.

While I am a Nikon person, I always recommend a new buyer of a camera play with different brands and figure out which one feels better to them and they understand them. If you don't you won't use it and you have wasted money and time. I just recommended my sister get a Canon G10 for a trip she is taking and I love that camera! The bottom line is I like Nikons, if you want one I will try to help you. If Canon is what you want, that is great for you! If you have a photography question, I will try to answer it no matter what brand you own.

I always think it is fine if you ask what brand I use. You can ask me that question anytime regardless of how long you have been here. If you make a purchase decision soley based on the fact that more people use a particular brand then you may disappointed but hey, that is what makes America great! You can do what you want!

I am now going to get myself in trouble here. I know there are many of us who use major brands feel we are very comfortable with the brand camera we use regardless of what it is. It seems to me, (I will not say us) that it is those that made the decision not to purchase a major brand that feel they have to defend their decision by calling questions like yours brand wars. I think for the majority of us we are glad you are interested in photography and want to share tips and ideas.

The bottom line is I do not care what brand you or anyone use as long as you like to take pictures. Pictures of Disney is a plus! I get far more frustrated at those who do not know photography and do not seem to want to learn; that blame their camera for the poor results; they think the wonderful pictures shown here by some really really good photographers are only the result of an expensive camera, not the skill, and understanding of the person using that equipment.

I am sorry for anyone I have upset but I am tired of those that think any reference to a brand preference is a war!

 

[Gdad]

+1 John.

Just looks like a poll to me- I hope I did not declare war on anyone by answering it.

Personally I could not care less what everyone shoots with. And I really don't care to advertize what I shoot with- hence the removal of my gear list from my signature a long time ago. I agree that all too often some of the 'which dslr' threads go south rather quickly- people feel very passionate about their choice in system- people feel the need to defend- I typically avoid those threads these days unless I see a specific question I can answer. I know about my system but to be honest I just don’t have the time or the inclination to keep up with the others just so I can argue in threads like this about what my system has that they don’t- or vise versa. Each system has pros and cons but at the end of the day I see awesome results from all of them. Go take pictures and have fun. Post some online if you have a thick skin- to be honest I’m about over that too.

 

[annnewjerz]

+ 1 here as well. The OP didn't say anything negative about any other brand, but just because he has Canon listed in his signature that makes it a "brand wars" thread??

I didn't see his poll as anything more than harmless curiosity to see what all of us shoot with. I've only been on this board for about a year now, but I have never seen anyone brand bash. If anything, it is the complete opposite. I frequent the "brand" boards and enjoy looking at everyone's work and have gotten huge amounts of extremely helpful advice from people using every camera make and model under the sun. It seems like any mention of brand (such as the brand POTD) gets everyone all riled up. I guess I just don't see the big deal.

So what I shoot with a Nikon? I still think that people like Groucho get amazing shots with Pentax, Bob with Canon, Linda with Olympus, Mickey with Sony, etc.

 

[Code]

I didn't mean for my post to turn the thread into this. It isn't about "brand wars" per se, but rather the pointless delineation of this great community of photography lovers along brand lines for no other reason than the brand. I just felt that the results of this poll should be roughly known in advance (as ukcatfan pointed out), but I made my feelings well known when the brand-specific PotD threads popped up, and should have just let it lie there.

So, I apologize.

 

[ukcatfan]

I guess I am just gun shy of these type of threads because just a few years ago this board was no better than any of those other boards out there on the net. (anyone remember a certain Kelly G?) There were constant arguments, name calling, rudeness, locked threads, etc. but that seems to be gone now. I don't want to see it come back! It has nothing at all to do with my brand preference b/c I am not very invested and could change at any time (I have less $ in my entire set than many of you have in your body alone). Anne, I did not even see the signature showing that the OP uses Canon b/c I ignore almost all signatures, so that had nothing to do with my opinion. I just want our nice spot to stay the way it is and these threads can go bad quick.

 

[annnewjerz]

I just want our nice spot to stay the way it is and these threads can go bad quick.

I completely agree and my apologies about the signature. I guess I just assumed that since this was deemed a "brand wars" thread that it was because it was being looked at as another "big brand" user picking on the brands that may be less prominent. We all know what happens to those who assume though, so I should have known better.

As someone who has only used a dSLR for a year now, I don't have any experience with threads where people name call, get rude and act "holier than thou" because they use one brand that they deem "better" so I guess I just can't understand a simple poll on what brand you shoot with turning into something so mean-spirited.

Personally, I really enjoy everyone on this board and you all are so helpful, it would be great to keep it that way. Make love, not war!!

 

[oregondaddyof2]

Group Hug !!!

 

[boBQuincy]

I use Canon because they had the first DSLR that I could afford, the D30.

As far as I am concerned we could put *all* the SLRs into three groups; entry level; prosumer; and pro; and find very little difference between brands within a group. For the most part I doubt we would find much difference in image quality between any of the SLRs, period! The same can be said about lenses as well.

Take a look at DXOMark and apart from high ISO the image quality ratings are not that far apart. Brand wars are ok but they should be backed up with data, and so far I have seen far too little hard data to support any claims of superiority for a brand.
Except Canon!

 

[Morganw42]

When I was choosing a DSLR I went with the body in my price range that felt best in my hands and haven't regretted it for a second.

More importantly the most crucial investment you can make for your photography has nothing to do with brand, is time!

Getting out and shooting everyday-hundreds and then thousands of pictures. Then learning how to edit RAW files in post production. The investment of your time and grey matter will improve your photography 99% more than brand of equipment.

Since I began shooting again in march after a 15 yr hiatus I've shot over 500 photos and only gotten a handful of useful shots. I liken the return rate to panning for gold in a swimming pool. No brand will net you instant keepers every time. My best advice to anyone is to go to their local camera shop and have the sales person line up all of the models that they're considering, close their eyes, ask the salesman rearrange the order and then pickup and handle each camera without the bias of brand knowledge. Choose the camera that you feel most comfortable with. This is going to be a long relationship and you'll be spending a lot of time together if you want it to be successful!

 

[racreel]

I shoot with a Nikon D40 now, but I shot film with a Canon T90 for years. Since my Canon manual focus lenses would not work with any of the DSLRs, I could choose from any brand when I went digital. The D40 had the features I wanted in my price range.

 

[jann1033]

groucho told me about m45 adapters . i think you could use an adapter to use your canon lenses on your nikon if they are decent lenses. the canon one was about $25 so i would imagine the nikon adapter would be a similar price.

 

[gokenin]

My only question is does everyone only shot one brand? I have a Pentax DSLR, a Canon powershot S3 IS that i use every so often and a Casio Exilim point and shot as well. I also have a Kodak film P&S and Pentax film cameras. So am I the oddball