sentimental...or just a freak?

cameragirl21 wrote: So today I had to take my camera in for repairs. I have other cameras but this is THE camera I use daily and I noticed dynamic range issues for a few days that I tried to convince myself was just me and not the camera till today when I went to take a pic, something clicked inside the camera and I open it up to find my mirror came off.
So I call my friend, the one who is an engineer and has a PhD and an IQ higher than Einstein's (I'm not joking either, her IQ is higher than Einstein's was, based on a comparative study because there were no IQ tests in Einstein's day) and she tells me to glue the mirror back on.
Um, sure, I'll do that, the day I use the lens as a toilet and grow horns out of my butt. I told her that the day I glue anything inside my camera is the day I want her to check me into the funny farm and leave me there forever because that will surely be a sign of really losing my mind, permanently.
So I take it to the store where they tell me they'll send it for repair and if they can't fix it, they'll replace it free. That will take at least 2 weeks and possibly as long as 4.
I was standing there, holding my camera to my heart with both hands, reluctantly removing the grip and the strap (they just want the bare bones of it so they are not responsible for extra parts) ever so carefully, kissing it goodbye at least 3 times and then, trying to hold back tears, I hear the words, "bye baby, I'll see you soon" come rolling out of my mouth as I speak to an inanimate object.
Then I got home and took out my best backup camera, the one that I loved so much before I got this one and boy oh boy, it's gonna be a long 2-4 weeks.
On the flip side, if they have to replace it, well, they're coming out with the newest, hottest upgrade model in November and I could probably get that instead of the same exact model I have now. The upgrade is actually coming out at a lower price point than what I paid for this one. The new one is so good that in order to really describe how excited I am about it, I'd need to use verbiage that's only acceptable in the P and I section.
Yep, freak, a sentimental one though.

Danalana replied: Well, I guess we all have things we're sentimental about.

Danalana replied: Hey, while we're on the subject of cameras....I have been looking at a particular kind that a couple of friends have. I just love it! It's a Nikon D40...or D40x, I can't remember. Do you know anything about that? I'm kind thinking about asking for it for Christmas...

cameragirl21 replied: I named my favorite cameras. yep....freak.

punkeemunkee'smom replied:
or freaky.....unreasonably freaky.....

stella6979 replied: Aside from Avery, my camera is my baby so I do know how you feel. Of course, my camera is nothing spectacular but I'd be LOST without it.

mckayleesmom replied:
I was going with freak too...

cameragirl21 replied:
You know, I am a diehard Canon girl but for every photog that swears by Canon, you'll likely find one that loves their Nikons. I tried a Nikon once and hated the way it felt but again, it's a matter of personal preference and would never say that Nikon is not an excellent camera because it is, no question. When Nikon came out with the D3, I drooled over it a bit but then found Nikon users switching to Canon and vice versa, Canon users giving up their Canons to get a D3.
Having said that, what I know of the D40 is that it's a P and S DSLR which means you can use it as a dummy camera that does everything for you OR you can have some control as far as the settings. Obviously, you can use various lenses but it won't take any manual lenses, as far as I know.
Depends on what you want--I have always said that DSLRs for the most part are not for the general populace because they usually don't really know how to use them and they're bigger, heavier, more cumbersome and are more likely to get stolen. On the other hand, if you want to become a photography hobbyist and want to experiment with lenses, filters and basically get fancier than a dummy camera, the D40 is inexpensive and probably fairly user friendly as far as DSLRs go.
How about this--go to Best Buy or a store like that and ask to "test drive" it. They'll let you take pics with it in the store and while the store has crappy lighting and is thereby not really a good test of the camera, you'll at least get a feel for it and see if you like the whole DSLR concept. It really is a change from the tiny, pocket sized cameras you're used to.

Danalana replied: When I was in college, I had a Canon EOS Rebel (not diigtal), and I loved it. Right now, we just have a Kodak Easyshare, hich has a been an ok camera. I would like to experiment with filters and such, but I don't wanna waste money. Maybe I will try what you said...thanks for the info!

msoulz replied: Jennifer, as they say, it's ok to love your camera . . . you know the rest!!

Calimama replied: If I had your talent with photography I'd be attached to my camera too.

DVFlyer replied: If you have to ask.........

Fuji S5 FTW.

CantWait replied:
I'm on this boat as well. Next to my kids, it's my camera (even though crappy, it's come in handy) I hold near and dear. I'm sure my husband fits in there somewhere.

Danalana replied:

cameragirl21 replied:
how is the Fuji? That's one I've never tried but have heard great things about it.
Can you post some pics taken with it? I'd love to see for comparison's sake.
I'm calibrated.

DVFlyer replied: My wife is the photographer in the family. She loves the Fuji. I just point and shoot.... and then fix any mistakes in Photoshop.

You can see a few photos I took in the "For The Oaf" post where I took some shots of a car I drove.

We have the S2 and S5. My wife can tell the difference between the two. I *think* I can. Seems like the "pro" world likes the S5's dynamic range. So much so, I've read where they will overexpose shots to get more detail than they normally could and adjust things in PS.

cameragirl21 replied:
That's kind of odd, you usually lose detail when you overexpose. I'm really curious about the Fuji, If you didn't live on the other side of the country, I'd be asking you really nicely if I can take it for a test drive.
Do you have any pics of people you or your wife have taken with it, like pics of your kids or any random people pics? I'm mostly curious how it captures human skin and colors.
What led you or your wife to choose Fuji, if you don't mind my asking? We live in a world where nearly every photog shoots with Canon or Nikon and comparatively few Fuji users but I've heard great things about Fuji and am curious why that is.
Have to admit, much as I love my Canons, this is the second Canon that has broken on me. Now Canon has great repair/replacement programs but if it had happened in the middle of a wedding I'd have been extremely displeased, more so than I was anyway.

DVFlyer replied:

Ya, I didn't understand the overexposure thing too much, but I guess with the wide dynamic range (I think I read 12 stops... but might have that wrong) the Fuji can overexpose to bring out more detail in the darker sections but not blow out the highlights.

I don't know why she chose Fuji..... When we were picking out cameras, she went straight to the Fuji- bypassing Nikon and Canon. I've asked her why before and I don't know that she gave me a reason. She worked at a camera store so perhaps she heard Fuji was good in her time with the store.

Fuji has much more POP in their color whereas Canon is more accurate - think Fujicolor v.s. Kodak film. It's a Nikon based body but has it's own sensor. So sunset photos are more vivid- reflections in the water are more colorful and saturated than they look with the naked eye and don't need any fiddling with PS to get that look.

We owned a Canon 10D when it first came out. Photos were more accurate, but she didn't like the lack of color, not to mention having two different bodies/ lenses was a hassle.

Here is a photo with one of the Fuji's. I'm not sure if it was with the S2 or S5, though.

cameragirl21 replied:
12 stops?! no f-ing way, even film doesn't quite go to 12 stops. If that is true, that is just amazing.
The pic you took looks like you used direct flash, did you? Makes it harder to determine what the quality of the colors are. Do you have any using natural light? Sorry, I know I'm being a PITA but now I'm seriously curious.
Yeah, I know what she means about saturation, the new Canon 5D Mark II, the one I was drooling about in my OP is supposed to offer more saturation. I usually add some pop in my post processing.
I didn't know that about Fuji, now I'm wondering why more people don't use them....

DVFlyer replied: No problem being curious.... just might take me a while to find a naturally lit photo. My wife and I almost always have the flash on the camera.... because we're "pros".

Plus, I want to find a decent photo.

cameragirl21 replied:
flash is unnatural on human skin and tends to make a pic look flat. I do use it sometimes when necessary but prefer to use natural light as much as possible.
You have to find the light...go toward the light....!

DVFlyer replied: So you're saying my daughter has a flat face???

And you say you like persians..... HA HA HA!!!

cameragirl21 replied:
LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! For a second there I didn't get it and then I seriously ROFL, seriously.

AlexsPajamaMama replied: http://www.amazon.com/Fujifilm-Finepix-Dig...l/dp/B000NOUP0SI have a Fuji Finepix and loove it!
Im not a professional but I love photography and have sold many photos that I have taken.

lisar replied: I have the Nikon D90
and a
Kodak Z740
and for my film camera
I have a cannon
and I have a polaroid
And I have 2 under water cameras

My next buy is going to be a digital under water camera

DVFlyer replied:
Have you thought about getting an underwater housing for one of your other cameras? I've only used the Seamaster (I think) set up and my dive instructor had a Nikonos of some sort, but I've always wanted to try an underwater housing....

lisar replied:
My sister has this really nice digital under water, I want one like hers but they are to expensive still. I cant remember the brand or anything on what it is, I will have to ask her.
I have never thought about getting a housing for one of mine though. I dont think I could do it though. My 2 good cameras cost alot of money. I didnt pay that much for them though, I always buy them at pawnshops to get them cheap. I have a thousand dollar camera that I got for $350.00. Good deal. But I dont wanna take the chance of putting the housing on wrong and them screwing my whole camera. KWIM?

DVFlyer replied:
Ya, my humor is like a joke grenade..... After I say something, you have to count to 8 to get it.

I know what you mean about lighting, though. I prefer natural lighting whenever I can. I love (but can't really "see") the shadows and variations created by nature.

My wife started as a portrait photographer so uses her lights quite a bit. I know her New York Institute of Photography studies had courses for all sorts of things and I'm sure natural lighting was one of them.