While I've been mostly a Nikon user since I bought my first camera in 1981, I find that Brandism is one of the most annoying and divisive things about the camera world. The fanboi/troll underbelly is such a waste of time and emotion.
For some changing is out of the question due to the sharp loss of sell out one system to buy into another. There is also a large investment in not just the knowledge of a system, its menu and settings but there is an investment in reflexes. If you have to think about everything you do with a camera you are dead in the water. The camera needs to be an extension of the eyes and hands.
I've been with Nikon since 1971. I sold out once when Pentax started advertising super multi-coated lenses. I though what a bunch of BS. I went to a local camera store where I had an open account. I took a camera outside and in five minutes I was convinced. The next day I sold my complete Nikon system and bought a Hasselblad 500CM and 80/2.8 Planar soon after.
Hasselblad? Not Pentax? Nikon and Canon had already started selling multi-coated lenses but due to stock they needed to sell did not advertise multi-coat lenses for at least months. Hasselblad was already selling their T* multi-coated lenses and in those days with the limits of film it was common for serious and professionals photographers to own both 35mm and 6x6 systems.
When I sold out of Nikon I worked at a print shop. Most of the guys there were into photography and shot Nikon. I sold out in just one day. I sold a pair of Nikon F2(s) and maybe six or seven Nikkor lenses from 20mm to 300mm. I had a plan and the plan was to buy back into Nikon when Nikon offered a full line of multi-coated lenses. This worked well for me as I bought back into Nikon a year or two later not only with multi-coated lenses but also with all AI (auto indexing) cameras and lenses.
Today if I wanted to switch to perhaps Sony or even to Nikon mirrorless I'd take a bath. I have nowhere to sell except to online sellers like KEH and a couple of NY online stores. I don't have any local camera stores who might offer me forty cents on the dollar in trade. Fortunately I have no desire to switch brands. I do have one camera body and lens I want to sell.
Selling out of one brand and system to another has been a necessity for some photographers like professional sports photographers switching from Nikon to Canon in the Canon Envy years. For serious amateurs with lots of expendable cash it's a luxury to switch. My days shooting PR professionally were over by early 1990. Selling out of Nikon is for me out of the question.
Dave,
who aspires to be a has been.