The first real camera I purchased was an Exacta 35mm around
1959-60. I saved for months in order to afford it and then bought an enlarger
and developed my own B&W photos. Slides I sent in and I took a lot of photos but
couldn’t afford to really take my hobby beyond that. I always had cameras and
took many photos through the years but it wasn’t until digital cameras that I
was able to take the number of pictures and be able to experiment to get
somewhat decent. My first digital camera was an
Olympus
600L which I bought in March of 1999. It had a
1.4mp sensor and took really small phots but we managed to get some decent
shots. Later in September of 2002 I bought a Nikon Coolpix 5700
which I hoped would last a
long time and I would be rewarded with the ability to take all types of
pictures. This camera had a 5MP sensor and a lot more control so it was a big
improvement from the 1.4.MP 600L but my experience wasn't as great as anticipated
as I had numerous problems with the lens mechanism breaking. The picture quality
was acceptable but I couldn't trust it.
The Nikon D70 came out in 2004
and I bought one in February of 2005. The D70 had a 6MP sensor with
interchangeable lenses and many more controls and the ability to shoot in RAW.
It was a real camera. I took thousands of pictures with that camera and it still
works fine. I now had the bug and when the D80 was announced in 2006 I bought
one as I wanted an extra body. The D80 was a large improvement as it had a
10.2MP sensor with better low light capabilities. I stayed with these until
early 2010 when the D7000 was announced and I talked myself into one in
February, 2011. The D7000 had a 16.2MP sensor and much better low light
capabilities. I thought I would be fine with this camera for the duration but on
Veterans day of 2017 the shutter broke. The camera had lasted six years and was
the only SLR that I have had a problem with. At that point the D7200 was the
current camera in that price range so I ordered one. Fely was starting to
enjoy photography and I wasn’t getting enough time with my camera so I
ordered her one and I got myself a new lens. The D7200 has a 24MP sensor as well
as much better low light capabilities. It is a fine camera. It has been replaced
by the D7500 which in many ways is less of a camera.
Some folks may wonder why I such
a Nikon diehard fan. Truth be told it’s equipment. I own the original kit lens
for the D70, a Sigma 10-20 lens, a 50mm macro and a 150, a 500 Sigma telephoto,
a Nikon SB 800 flash and a Nikon R2 SB20 Micro Flash. I could never afford to go
to Canon if I so wished. All these lenses and flashes work on any of the Nikons
from the D70 to the D7500 and I use some I purchased 16 years ago. Both Fely and
I have Tamron 18-400 lenses which I love. I also use a Tamron 150-600 lens for
birds. Fely usually gets more good shots than I as my body just doesn’t function
as well any more. The new cameras allow pictures to be taken hand-held that
would have been absolutely impossible with the older cameras. It’s so much more
fun now.
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