Ramblings on Obsessive Brand Loyalty

[Stephen]

[Pops]

Re: Ramblings on Obsessive Brand Loyalty

Having read this I am prompted to wonder how the personal choice of camera
is actually decided in the first place.
It could just simply be getting a good deal!
Responding to persuasive marketing!
Recommendation from a friend!
Whatever...something causes a personal choice. If your satisfied with the results then the obsessive loyalty which Stephen describes so well starts. For many I think it's a natural reaction to defend something you own/use on a regular basis. Surely standing by your choice of camera can be compared to standing by your choice of transport, your choice of beverage or any other personal choice.
An Englishmans castle springs to mind

I can't ever imagine myself going to that extreme. If I'm asked what camera I'm using I say so but i have found that I am more likely to be asked about the lens than what it's mounted on.

[peter]

Re: Ramblings on Obsessive Brand Loyalty

Like Stephen has said it happens with all things cars,football teams and such like. I think a lot of people just like to think that they have the best and others are just easily led by what they read and are told by people who they think they know what they are talking about. The reason I had my first slr and the fact that it was a canon was that it was the 300d which as we all know broke the price mould when it came to the slr market back then. After that it was a case of wanting to upgrade to the 20d and with some money invested in different lenses and kit it was the route to go. Maybe as time has gone on and things have moved on I may well have gone down the nikon route who knows.

[Stephen]

Re: Ramblings on Obsessive Brand Loyalty

Having read this I am prompted to wonder how the personal choice of camera
is actually decided in the first place.
It could just simply be getting a good deal!
Responding to persuasive marketing!
Recommendation from a friend!
Whatever...something causes a personal choice. If your satisfied with the results then the obsessive loyalty which Stephen describes so well starts. For many I think it's a natural reaction to defend something you own/use on a regular basis. Surely standing by your choice of camera can be compared to standing by your choice of transport, your choice of beverage or any other personal choice.
An Englishmans castle springs to mind

I can't ever imagine myself going to that extreme. If I'm asked what camera I'm using I say so but i have found that I am more likely to be asked about the lens than what it's mounted on.

Pops I have often thought about this myself. Its especially true of someone who is totally new to the SLR camera. There is no influence from having old legacy lenses from the film days. But for those who did have lenses from the old film days then perhaps the choice is made more easily. I suspect though that there are many who had a compact of a particular brand and because they always thought they got a good result they are happy to stick with the brand.

[Autumn]

Re: Ramblings on Obsessive Brand Loyalty

Recommendation from a friend!

When I wanted to move on from my first Digital Camera an Olympus Camedia 2 mp (from which I had some excellent shots,) I asked Stephen and he suggested a Canon G3 Powershot, which I bought and still love and use.

I also joined the Canon G Series Forum, which at the time was incredibly useful, but now the G3 is not mentioned so much.

I like the G3 because of the tilt and turn lens and I like to get low angle shots without crawling on the floor.

I then moved to the Fuji Finepix 9 Meg with a 300 mm built in lens and a movable lcd viewfinder as well as an optical viewfinder. I also like this.

Then it was time to have a baby camera and again I asked Stephen who suggested the Panasonic Lumix FX01. I carry this with me all the time and again get some very good pics.

ATM I don't have any real desire to go down the SLR route because until they have a tilt and turn lens or similar (I believe you can pre view with some of the DSLRs now) I wouldn't get what I wanted. I also don't want to be changing lenses.

When all is said and done, I know I don't get the best out of my cameras - and there are many in our Photographic Society who have the knowledge to push my cameras to the limit, but I am reasonably happy with what I do and at least I can carry them! Next week we are going away and I shall take all 3 plus the wide angle converter for the G3.

Should I take a flash gun as well?

[paul.r.w]

Re: Ramblings on Obsessive Brand Loyalty

Well, I wanted to move up from my old SLR, but I couldn't find a Chinon!

I bought the D80 because it was just about in my price range and it fit well in my fat hands.

[StuartR]

Re: Ramblings on Obsessive Brand Loyalty

Well, I wanted to move up from my old SLR, but I couldn't find a Chinon!

I bought the D80 because it was just about in my price range and it fit well in my fat hands.

Nowt wrong with Chinons m8, my ol' CE3 memotron was a great camera, wish I still had it now so I could fondle it along with my sadly departed OM1 and FTbn. Wouldn't use them mind, just take 'em out and stroke 'em now and again. I wouldn't go back to film if you paid me....

..well, I guess it depends on how much.

I think the only brands I haven't used in 40 years of picture taking (I started young!) are Nikon & Leica and, if I'm brutally honest with myself, it was due to what I can only describe as inverted snobbery. My Chinon's shutter may have kicked like a 12 bore and have been damned by the fact that you could only buy it from Dixons but I didn't need a Nikon to take good pictures! In reality of course, I couldn't afford a Nikon.

My final film SLR was a Canon so I went digital with Canon expecting my Sigma lenses to still work - but they didn't and they couldn't be chipped so they went in the bin. In the end, having bought the camera, I had to invest in some Canon glass and that's why I'll probably, like Stephen, stick with Canon for the foreseeable future.

I don't worry too much about what other togs are carrying although I'll admit I'll look out of interest, but I do get pangs of jealousy when I see those big white trombones.....if I had one of those I'd be a better photographer wouldn't I

[yoshi]

Re: Ramblings on Obsessive Brand Loyalty

interesting topic! - I'm reading with lots of curiosity.

I can answer to a question "which model do you use?" but cannot do so at least immediately to " which model(s) do you like best?" - whether digital or film.
IMHO the answer(s) would not come from specifications or so but mainly from memories attached to specific model(s) - such as my first personal camera (a present) or my first SLR I purchased myself after long time saving (before started to work) and so on. These are however not digitals.

I currently carry/use more often a compact digicam, although I was not an enthusiastic lover of that non-traditional camera brand. It changes over the time anyway, imo.
yoshi

[Pol]

Re: Ramblings on Obsessive Brand Loyalty

Well ............ ALL brands are well represented in this house! A different camera for every day of the week, according to Stephen. He's wrong though - more like one for every day of the month.

David also has several old lenses and adapters so some of them get used on various cameras. He sometimes uses a very old Tamron mirror lens on his Nikon D70. The KM Dynax 5D also gets a regular outing, as does the Fuji s7000 and the Canon and Nikon compacts.

Pol

[Stephen]

Re: Ramblings on Obsessive Brand Loyalty

Nowt wrong with Chinons m8, my ol' CE3 memotron was a great camera, wish I still had it now so I could fondle it along with my sadly departed OM1 and FTbn. Wouldn't use them mind, just take 'em out and stroke 'em now and again. I wouldn't go back to film if you paid me....

..well, I guess it depends on how much.

I think the only brands I haven't used in 40 years of picture taking (I started young!) are Nikon & Leica and, if I'm brutally honest with myself, it was due to what I can only describe as inverted snobbery. My Chinon's shutter may have kicked like a 12 bore and have been damned by the fact that you could only buy it from Dixons but I didn't need a Nikon to take good pictures! In reality of course, I couldn't afford a Nikon.

My final film SLR was a Canon so I went digital with Canon expecting my Sigma lenses to still work - but they didn't and they couldn't be chipped so they went in the bin. In the end, having bought the camera, I had to invest in some Canon glass and that's why I'll probably, like Stephen, stick with Canon for the foreseeable future.

I don't worry too much about what other togs are carrying although I'll admit I'll look out of interest, but I do get pangs of jealousy when I see those big white trombones.....if I had one of those I'd be a better photographer wouldn't I

I'd say so Stuart In all honesty though a lens like the 70-200 f2.8L is a superb bit of kit. and I soon realised that I was getting more keepers than I had previously been getting from a 70-300 lens. Also you really can't put a price on the smug sense of satisfaction it gives you when you use it

[Ian]

Re: Ramblings on Obsessive Brand Loyalty

interesting topic! - I'm reading with lots of curiosity.

I can answer to a question "which model do you use?" but cannot do so at least immediately to " which model(s) do you like best?" - whether digital or film.
IMHO the answer(s) would not come from specifications or so but mainly from memories attached to specific model(s) - such as my first personal camera (a present) or my first SLR I purchased myself after long time saving (before started to work) and so on. These are however not digitals.

I currently carry/use more often a compact digicam, although I was not an enthusiastic lover of that non-traditional camera brand. It changes over the time anyway, imo.
yoshi

Probably the only main brand I haven't owned at some point is Nikon, even though I remember dreaming of owning an F2 Photomic back when I had my first credit card (I was still at school!).

The DSLRs I have owned include Zenit, Minolta (SRT-101 and XE-1), Various Olympus OM, Miranda (dx-3 and EE2), Canon EOS 100, Sony A100, various Olympus E-System.

I've also had long term use of various Hasselblads, Pentax K-series, Canon F-series, Prakticas, Canon EOS digital (various), Pentax istD, Nikon digital, etc. DSLRs - thoroughly enjoyed them all. I'm sure I have missed a few.

I think it's normal to want to be different to others. The 'clan' or tribal mentality is also in our genes.

Ian

[yoshi]

Re: Ramblings on Obsessive Brand Loyalty

Miranda?! - a brand I completely forgot for years till now. That reminds me of Petri, Topcon ...(what else?)
Yeah, you really used a lot of brands and lots of models, although its not difficult to guess. My experiences are rather limited to ... as far as film SLR's are concerned, Nikon, Canon (FL/FD/EF mounts), Olympus, Pentax...(well Minolta too but this one was borrowed from my sister for a few years).
And for non-SLR's, Canon, Nikon, Minolta, Pentax, Contax, Oly.
Pentax MF format cameras are still in occasional use.
This mixed brands use were not contradictory in my mind. Just adds more fun - in the past at least.

Pol talked about Tamron manual focus lenses (500mm mirror lens, I guess). Manual focus Tamron lenses are to be blamed for my brand addtions during film days. I really liked the idea back then. I behave myself much better now ... well just imho.

I'm of the opinion that multi brands use makes a man less obsessive - though I do have a model I really liked - it's however not a brand loyalty, I think.
yoshi

[Pol]

Re: Ramblings on Obsessive Brand Loyalty

Pol talked about Tamron manual focus lenses (500mm mirror lens, I guess). Manual focus Tamron lenses are to be blamed for my brand addtions during film days. I really liked the idea back then. I behave myself much better now ... well just imho.

Yes - that looks like exactly the same 500mm mirror lens as David's. He sometimes gets some pretty good results off it too. It's lightweight and fun.

Pol

[Ian]

Re: Ramblings on Obsessive Brand Loyalty

Miranda?! - a brand I completely forgot for years till now. That reminds me of Petri, Topcon ...(what else?)
Yeah, you really used a lot of brands and lots of models, although its not difficult to guess. My experiences are rather limited to ... as far as film SLR's are concerned, Nikon, Canon (FL/FD/EF mounts), Olympus, Pentax...(well Minolta too but this one was borrowed from my sister for a few years).
And for non-SLR's, Canon, Nikon, Minolta, Pentax, Contax, Oly.
Pentax MF format cameras are still in occasional use.
This mixed brands use were not contradictory in my mind. Just adds more fun - in the past at least.

Pol talked about Tamron manual focus lenses (500mm mirror lens, I guess). Manual focus Tamron lenses are to be blamed for my brand addtions during film days. I really liked the idea back then. I behave myself much better now ... well just imho.

I'm of the opinion that multi brands use makes a man less obsessive - though I do have a model I really liked - it's however not a brand loyalty, I think.
yoshi

I was really hooked on Mirandas because I thought a 4 claw bayonet was cool compared to the usual three and most of the models had removable pentaprisms, so they were cheap alternatives to a Canon F1 or Nikon F

I also thought the styling was funky! I remember writing to them in Japan - I was just a teenager, but they sent me loads of information back which the UK distributor wouldn't. I was devastated when they went bust

I think the camera brochures of that period really influenced me, something I can't say does any more.

When I was in the photo retail business in the early 80s, I did see a second hand Topcon SLR or two. My grandparents had a Petri compact. I used a friend's Canon FTb for a while - goodness that was heavy...

Those were the days!

Ian

[DTD]

Re: Ramblings on Obsessive Brand Loyalty

I've tended to be quite loyal to Olympus – I thought the OM1 was one of the best conceived SLRs and was incredibly well designed and crafted. So that's what I used for 20 odd years.

When digital came along I was lucky to win a camera on this site, which by chance was another Olympus (C5060).

When I'd got up to ramming speed with digital and started looking at dSLRs, I was tempted by the Sigma SD9 – but was able to get a deal from Olympus on an E-1, which had been too expensive for me when it was launched. So that's what I use and will probably get an E-3. I should also declare that Olympus have been very generous with sponsorship/equipment loans etc. so I'm quite happy to sing their praises. But choice of brand was due to a combination of preferences and circumstances.

When my brother was looking at E400s and Pentax K10Ds I was the first to say the Pentax was a better camera. Also like a lot of people, I use different cameras for different work. My most used camera is probably a Ricoh GR1 film compact and my next digital camera will be another compact, either a Ricoh GRDII or a Sigma DP-1.

My least used camera is a Leica – bought partly because I wanted the peculiarities of a rangefinder and partly because it is so well put together. A lot of Leica owners can be terrible snobs who ever take decent any pictures ;-)

So overall I'm not really that bothered about camera brands, though I admit to being very sorry for people who don't use macs.