June 24th, 2007 by Mrs Eaves
This is my almost-sad camera story.
Last week, as I was leaving work, our camera wiggled out of its case and hit the cold, hard concrete sidewalk. I scooped it up, took a quick photo to test its function, and all seemed well. However, when I got it home, I noticed that it had a small battle wound and that the shutter button was now in a constant state of semi-depressed - meaning that it was going nutty trying to auto-focus on everything. (Geez, that sounds like me sometimes). When I tried to take some additional test photos, I found that none of the setting or function buttons worked. I couldn’t control the flash, the macro feature, anything. The camera was gimpy, and was taking gimpy photos.
We’ve had our camera for a little over three years, and it has been one of my favorite purchases ever. It’s been with us during family vacations, birthdays, and took the first photos of both Lugnut and Wingnut shortly after their births. Needless to say, I was pretty sad about what happened. But, you know, behind every broken item is the opportunity to consume, consume, consume.
So, even though the last thing we need right now is the expense of a new camera, Bos and I found ourselves perusing the ‘net last night to see what shiny new things we could find. Now Bos had heard about one in particular a few weeks back - the Nikon D40. Evidently, the good (marketing) folks at Nikon gave out 200 of these to residents of Georgetown, South Carolina and instructed them to take pictures, which Nikon is now using in the D40 marketing campaign. Pretty smart.
Marketing campaign aside, I like this camera. It gets solid reviews at CNET, Consumer Reports and several other places. It’s a digital SLR, which, despite my attachment to the current camera, I’ve been wanting for quite a while. And as far as digital SLRs go, it comes at a good price. A good enough price for me to become very tempted at hooking myself up with one.
I mean, come on, how am I going to take decent pictures if I have no control over something as simple as the flash?
I woke up this morning with a serious case of I-wanna-new-camera. I price-shopped a little bit, found some stores in Knoxville that carry the D40 so we could go see it in person. Touch it. Caress it. Oh yeah, I’ve got it bad.
I decided that my Camera Shy photo today should be of the current camera, so I got it out, put it next to the mirror and was going to attempt to take a picture without any of those handy setting and function features.
And you know what? I think I must have scared it into behaving, because this morning, all the buttons worked.
I’m glad it’s working again. Really, I am. But I’m left with the consumeristic momentum that builds when you shop around for something new and shiny. Where do I go with that?
June 24th, 2007 at 12:48 pm
Pent up consumerism is a dangerous thing.
This has been an odd year as far as Cemestos Gardens expenditures go. Last year we hardly spent anything.
June 24th, 2007 at 1:38 pm
Dude, I’ve been eying those D40s too, but between the tv and the ‘roo, I’m trying to curb my spending for a few months.
We’ll see how that goes..
June 24th, 2007 at 2:49 pm
Mrs. Eaves, I’ve never seen Camera Shy. How cool it is! I am jealous of your photography skills, whatever camera you use.
June 24th, 2007 at 3:28 pm
Just got back from the Turkey Creek. Went to H.H. Greg and looked at the d40. It’s nice camera.
June 24th, 2007 at 3:56 pm
I am soooo trying not to buy that camera. I have gone to the Nikon site a million times and dreamed of owning it. It’s the perfect family camera. Damn you Nikon!
My camera broke 2 weeks ago… no zoom. I’m telling you if my dryer hadn’t broken the same day I would so be rocking the D40 right now.
Hey, its summmer… I could always hang the clothes out to dry. hhmmmmm….
Race?
June 24th, 2007 at 4:25 pm
Thanks, VA Bluebelle! I’m glad that you like Camera Shy.
JennC, that’s very strange about your dryer; our dryer broke the day before the camera dropped! We’ve been using a clothesline with great results…does that mean I can get my D40?!
June 24th, 2007 at 4:49 pm
Yeah, yeah that Nikon is cute….but I’m a Canon man.
June 25th, 2007 at 12:04 am
I’ve owned both Nikons and Canons, but when it comes to SLR (digital or analog), you can’t beat the Nikon lenses.
Funny though, how something starts working again once you have your heart set on it’s replacement (or more so, when you’ve already purchased it).
June 25th, 2007 at 7:41 am
Ditto on Nikon SLRs. After using my wife’s Coolpix for a few years and being mostly frustrated, I got a Nikon D200 last year. I’m having fun taking pictures again! It has 10 megapixel resolution and takes all my old Nikon lenses.
June 25th, 2007 at 8:08 am
I still use my old analog Nikon for taking my kids’ portraits and at friends’ weddings and stuff. Its just a great camera and I have so many lenses I could put to use on that D40.
Mrs Eaves, I think I’ll be defrosting frozen laundry over the radiators come January… that camera is begging to come home with me. I’m using the “its good for the environment to save energy” line with the boyfriend and the “it’ll save us money to only hang outside.” His response was, “So, you can take pictures of us in wet clothes?” LOL!
June 25th, 2007 at 8:58 am
I have the Nikon D40. Love love LOVE it!!
June 25th, 2007 at 10:26 am
“So, you can take pictures of us in wet clothes?”
Snappy response! LOL!
Update: the current camera was acting up again this morning - buttons not working, and now the zoom seems to be out, too. Uh…darn.
June 25th, 2007 at 10:54 am
I’ve been a Nikon man for years. The first picture I ever sold to a magazine was on a Nikon and as soon as I had the dough I bought me a D70. One of the best investments I’ve ever made. When I first got it three years ago I was an amature and it was perfect for me. I’ve learned a lot about taking pictures since then and the camera is still perfect for me. I’m not sure I’ll ever outgrow it…
June 25th, 2007 at 9:00 pm
Here, I’ll do it for ya:
Just go buy the damned thing already. You want it. It’ll make you happy. So… go get it. See? Indecision gone.
*crawls back under rock*
*shakes head and unplugs again*
June 25th, 2007 at 9:13 pm
You know, Summers, you’re absolutely right. In fact, at 1:50 this afternoon, I officially ordered Bos and myself a shiny new D40. Woot!
June 25th, 2007 at 10:04 pm
Awesome! An inspiration to us all… (covertly slips out the credit card).
Let us know how it is when you get it!!
Congrats.
June 26th, 2007 at 12:13 am
You will love it! The pics it takes - esp. of the littlest guy will amaze you. Shutter speed rocks. No more back of the kid’s head shots. Mr. Mallard was taking pics of hummingbirds last weekend - great mid flight shots.