CANON CAMERAS & GEAR [ NO ]

CANON cameras and related gear I’ve used together:

CAMERAS: AE-1, G9, T4, T5 and T6
CANON LENSES: Canon FD 50/1.4, EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6
OTHER LENSES: Vivitar Series 1 70-200/4.5-5.6
ACCESSORIES: Really Right Stuff G9 Accessories

My first SLR camera was the Canon AE-1. When I changed from commercial artist to photographer, I sought gear advice, and the pro photographers I knew recommended the Nikon F3. Aesthetically, the later Canon DSLR bodies did not appeal to me. However, the AE-1 pictured above is my own, and I have always thought Canon SLRs were nice-looking cameras. If I had stayed with them, I would have gotten into an “F” model at some point.

I have always been happy with Nikon film and digital cameras, but the AE-1 holds a special place in my heart, and I acquired another for nostalgia reasons many years later. I learned much about composition and exposure shooting the Canon AE-1 with a Vivitar Series 1 70-200 mm zoom lens. To think it was purchased from Sears Roebuck makes me laugh. And that zoom lens came as a holiday gift from a guy I would later marry, but when he handed it to me all wrapped up with a bow, I promptly dropped it! The drop did not harm the lens, as I shot with it for thousands of frames afterward. I have nothing but sweet memories when I reflect on my photographic journey with the AE-1.

The first compact digital camera I owned was the Canon G9, which I acquired from accumulating credit card points (almost free). The G9 is a capable camera, as shown by my favorite Iceland pictures made when it was too cold to set up the medium-format gear. I sold the G9 when I decided the Fujifilm x100 series of cameras was best for me after moving from Nikon DSLR bodies to Fujifilm mirrorless. The convenience of having the x100 series and the X-Pro series models share batteries from the same manufacturer made my decision. I do however miss the compact zoom lens of the G9.

During my photography instructor days, the Canon T4, T5, and T6 cameras with kit lenses were available for classroom instruction as the school recommended this kit for students to purchase from the school bookstore. However, the camera I chose for my instructor camera (a/k/a “the studio camera”) would always be a Nikon DSLR, ending with the D750 body. I chose Nikon not because I prefer their cameras but because I wanted my students to have experience with both Canon and Nikon gear. I did this through required in-studio assignments made with the “studio camera.”

I have always enjoyed the results Canon cameras provide, but I like the haptics and UI of Nikon more. If I ever need to purchase another pocket camera, I would seriously consider a Canon, and I still enjoy looking at the older “F” line of Canon SLR cameras.

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