5.21.2014

sans photos

my camera needs a new power board and one of my lenses needs an aperature flex repair, and who really knows if fixing them is worth it.  I am now acutely aware of just how (very, very) often I bring (brought) my camera up to my eyeball every day.  in the last two days there have been so many things I've wanted to photograph.  a lot of ordinary things.  I quite enjoy documenting these daily, ordinary things.  I think I do it in a way that allows me to still be fully involved in what is going on and not get trapped in that place where you get so busy taking pictures you forget to actually experience the moment.  because that'd be kind of against the whole purpose, right?  looking back at things and not remembering them well because you were too busy clicking away?  yeah, no fun.  but somewhere in there lies a beautiful balance, I believe.  so.  had I a working camera these past couple days, there'd be photos here.  of strawberry shortcake, of Cinderella ticket stubs, of a box full of pastries from the biscuit shop that were shared by my in-laws before they left town, of the way the winter rye (now 5 feet tall) in a small area of our garden sways with the wind.  maybe if I took a picture of it you could have pretended to have been in the middle of a blue-green sea of grass just like I was pretending to be.  there were tadpoles finding a new home in our pond-in-progress, much planting and gardening, piles of fruit on the kitchen counter, nearly two quarts of strawberries picked from our beds this afternoon (looks as though we'll need to eat more strawberry shortcake this week- maybe with homemade poundcake instead of biscuits this time) and many other day-to-day scenes that begged to be frozen forever through the viewfinder.

but, ah well.  in the end, it's just a predominantly plastic, small black machine that I use(d) heavily.  I could get it repaired, or I could replace the body with a used one for now, one that can be gotten on ebay for a tenth of the original price paid eight years ago (oh technology, how quickly you progress) I could replace it with a newer model in the same general entry-level dslr category, or upgrade to a nicer mid-range model, body only, and add lenses as I'm able.  a lot of options, really.  I look online and see how many options there are and wow, my indecisive libra self is incredibly unsure of how to proceed.  I see there are all new kinds of cameras out there, including these smaller 'interchangeable-lens' cameras that promise similar quality to a dslr with much less bulk.  my photography is a hobby, and that is how it will remain.  I occasionally do photography for friends, get images in print here and there, and sell a couple prints or cards, but I've managed that with my eight-year-old entry level Canon Eos Rebel xTi.  there will always be a bigger, better, more exciting camera out there, I know.  there will always be a bigger, better, more exciting anything and everything out there if I choose to see it that way.....

if you care to share, I wouldn't mind hearing your two cents on current camera options~

10 comments:

  1. I kind of like your camera break! Not rejoicing your camera woes, of course, and I LOVE your photos. But you painted such vivid pictures with your words. I found myself pausing, taking them in, reading them again.

    I'm soon going to be in the same camera position and I'm a little bit in denial (ack, the $$). So for now I'm plodding along with a sort-of-working camera. I'm a Nikon gal (for now?) so I don't have any wisdom/suggestions.

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    1. thank you, Lisa~ it's weird realizing how much I usually rely on my photos to tell my stories. perhaps the unintended camera break will be good in some ways. I find myself often feeling that way when I read your writing- just really wanting to soak it all in.

      I think we'll try to repair my camera ourselves for now (by "ourselves" and "we", I mean that Mike will take it apart and attempt the power board repair while I sit watching with fingers crossed) for now, to buy some time before making any potentially big decisions.

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  2. I don't have any suggestions, unlike you I am a novice with the camera as well as the computer. I am lucky if I can use the photo I have taken at all. Good luck.

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    1. well, I don't really know that I'm much beyond novice status myself, but it has most definitely become a favorite hobby of mine. now the computer? there I am at best a novice! I am constantly asking my husband to help me do things on here!
      thanks~

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  3. I say look at the price you paid 8 years ago and figure out how much it cost you over those wonderful years. Not a lot :) so I think you should buy a new camera that will do what the old faithful did but with some new features. I love my DSLR (Nikon 5100) I like that I can do auto mode or get into settings and manual. I do tire of carrying the heft when out and about and do use my phone on those lazy days.

    You have years ahead of dances, and concerts, vacations, and fireworks, schooldays, and gosh the garden. Get a camera that will capture your life and the cost divided by eight years is not very much ;)

    Consider yourself enabled :)

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    1. good points you make here, Karen~ I like the way you think!
      for now we will try to repair this one and hopefully that will buy some time for bigger decision making. I just don't like being without it completely and don't have a smart phone so pictures with my phone aren't really an option.

      thanks!

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  4. i do miss your photos, but that visual description was wonderful... i could almost see your "photos". sigh. as far as replacing vs fixing your camera goes... if the surgery doesn't work out (hopefully it does) the decision will depend on how much you love your current camera. if you just love it... i would buy another used one just like it... if you would be excited to make some changes or try something new... then get something new. i completely agree with karen... the money would be well spent... we use these to document our lives and the lives of our children every day... they are important.

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    1. thanks, jenny~ I'm thinking if the repair goes well I'll treat myself to a new lens for now (the kit 18-55mm lens with my camera also needs repair but I don't think it's worth it really) and eventually upgrade the camera body later. considering that it's probably my most enjoyable hobby, it's totally worth it!

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    2. Sorry, I'm butting in again...Ah...:) but yes, investing in your favorite hobby is worth it (if you end up needing a new camera body). I'm the same way. I've never regretted the money we paid for my camera. It has truly been used and loved entirely as I know yours has!

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    3. nichole, I LOVE hearing from you, even when you're 'butting in'.
      and I agree wholeheartedly- I am getting itchy to have my (or a) camera back in my twitchy hands!
      xo

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thanks for taking the time to read and comment~