<mumble!> My mother's Leica Rangefinder
<mumble> Bought my first SLR - just-released Minolta AF 7000 (aka Maxxum), 24mm f2.8, 35-70mm f4, 70-210mm f4 "beercan." After a few too many snap-happy weekends (20+ 36-exp films) it was mothballed, to save my aching hip-pocket nerve! The 'keeper' rate on this camera was astonishing.
1999 (Sony DCR-TRV900E - video)
2003 Canon IXUS 400 - great little camera; still have it, still use it occasionally (keep it in the car)
2008 Canon 30d / 17-85 IS USM because I needed a half-decent camera
now and the 5D2 was too late; compromise camera ought 2nd-hand with the intent of replacing it with a 5d2 - which quickly turned out to be a white elephant due to AF issues and the price.
2011/2 (Sony HDR CX130E - video) To simplify my workflow - mini-DV is a hassle, SD cards mount right up
With no '5d mark 3' available at the time - again - Canon left me high and dry. Again.
2012 Would have a 5d3, 24-70 II and 70-200 IS II if Canon Australia weren't gouging the Aussie market. Every dollar they jack up the local price actually costs $1.16 to the Oz customer. We do not get the "rebates" that Canon offer to their US customers either.
I've also looked into buying a Sony A33/35/37/57 body to mount the old Minolta glass on. It seems a terrible waste to have that Leica-designed glass gathering dust - but the AF is soooo slooooooow, I suspect it'll be wasted money. The negatives (and 8x10 prints) from the Minolta are amazingly sharp, with wonderful bokeh (especially from the beercan). The beercan is a bit 'slow' for the dog sports though, at f4 in fading light. Even if it was great for Formula1 in very bright sunlight
I am one of those sitting right on the fence right now - the 5d3 kit is well over my budget, and I'm not about to invest in more glass for the 30d until I know what 'system' I'll end up with. So Canon get 100% of nothing, instead of 80% of a lot!
(I know I'm not alone in that sentiment, either!)
So I might end up with just an EF 70-300 (non-L) or a 70-200 F4 USM and wait a few more years with my 30d
A friend has trouble getting enough light with a 7D/70-300L doing the same things I plan to do.
Why invest a boatload of cash in a compromise? I vote with my wallet.
Yes, I've considered a 5d2 *and* a 7d as well... but it ends up costing the same or more than a 5d3 (no rebates here!)
Nikon prices here for the equivalent are comparable, so it's a wash vs 5d3 - so I'd choose Canon on that basis for the glass.
In about a month or less, I'll give up trying entirely and wait another year or two.
