Until recently I have been taking all my photography with my Canon Digital Rebel (300D). It was a great camera, we went through a lot, and I probably had told Chantelle to use the camera strap about…well, I probably lost count…she still loves me though. Anyways, the tale of my new camera came about during Christmas when Chantelle was buying her own digital camera when Colin’s dad mentioned that I could probably get upwards of $200 for my camera on a trade-in - trade-up program that Henry’s has. I seriously considered it, since only weeks before I was trying to clean some dust on the CCD lens, when i unintentionally scratched its surface. The photos still turned out fine, but anytime I looked through the view finder, all i could see were my stupid scratches. Needless to say this really really annoyed me, and being a gear head, I knew that it was only a matter of time until i caved and upgraded. Even with Kieran’s offer, I had my heart set on a new computer before I even thought about buying my new camera…January came and went and, as I now type this on my new Mac Laptop, I don’t regret that decision one bit.

But to any story…there is always that…well…’but’… This particular moment came when tax season was sweeping through our nation, and to my surprise I had a $500 refund! Chantelle and I both agreed that this year, probably being our last, we would get to spend our own refunds to our own desires. The spark that Kieran planted all of a sudden came flying back into my brain and if you know me or Chantelle, as soon as we start thinking of something that we want to buy, it’s all that we can think of until we actually go out and buy it. So on a random Wednesday, I walked down to Henry’s after work and asked the salesman how much he would offer me for my camera (body, charger, 2 batteries and hand grip)..he tells me $250. DING…He then proceeds to tell me about this great lens - Canon 17-85mm…it looked amazing compared to my ok stock lens that came with my Digital Rebel 3 years ago. I himmed…I hawwed…Trying all along to look like he hadn’t already sold me on the camera, and at the same time trying to do the math.. (new camera - trade in - tax refund + new lens = final cost) I finally told him I’d take the camera, but will think about the lens. He then said that he would give me $50 for my old lens on top of the $250 he’d already offered. This is where the salesman pretty much told me i’d be an idiot if I didn’t buy the lens right now, as he was pretty much giving it to me for half price with my trade in, as well the lens I was trading in is worth $50 brand new…So I caved and I don’t regret my decision one bit.

So now my shopping impulses have subsided…I have my new computer (might I add, I am in the Web Design Industry and all my friends couldn’t understand how me of all people had a 8, going on 9 year old computer that took 15 minutes to start up..), I now have my new camera, so I now can stop and let Chantelle have her moments of impulse and start to buy all her crafting tools (I think she just bought a kiln…I try to describe to people what it is, and why she bought it..I just say that she’s gonna make stuff and sell it on her ETSY Store)

Overall, I love my new camera. It’s faster, It has a built in self-cleaning sensor, the LCD Screen kicks ass, and it’s a cool shade of black. The lens is incredible…I never thought there would be a big difference from the stock (still decent) lens that Canon ships with its Digital Camera line up, but after using this lens, I’ll never go back. It has ‘Image Stabilizer’, which for all you non camera folk out there, the lens kinda self adjusts itself when taking a photo to make it ‘not as crappy’. And this lens has pretty decent macro on it, so for all the fans of my flower photos, you will be happy to know that they will be even better.

So what’s next for my photography / computing needs? Well, a flash might in the picture down the road (even though I don’t take that much night photography), or perhaps a really good tripod, but Chantelle’s will work for now..since I hardly use hers as is now. I guess I will be having this conversation with a salesman in another 3 years as the next latest and greatest laptop and Digital Camera comes along..because we all know I’m not one to resist technology. I guess I can finally set my eyes on that car!

Filed under: Equipment on May 26th, 2007