Thursday, June 18, 2009

How I Will Prove the Existence of the Loch Ness Monster

So I leave on the first leg of my England-Scotland trip (the leg where I go celebrate Father's Day with my Dad in New Jersey) on Saturday, and in preparation, I have been experimenting with my brand-new, not-really-all-that-shiny-but-still-very-pretty Nikon D40.

Aside from the fact that I was sold on Nikons through years of reading blogs - is it just me, or is this camera pervasive among art/craft bloggers? - the reviews I read before actually making the purchase were glowing. Probably the best reviews I've read for any product I've purchased in a long, long time. Glowing.

It's not hard to see why. The camera makes my front patio look interesting, and this is just pointing and shooting - I haven't yet added the filters (immediately, I promise!) or changed a single setting on the camera, and it's cloudy outside, as you can probably tell.


In fact, it makes grass look interesting. Well, I already find grass interesting. I find everything interesting. Except lima beans.


I keep saying that this trip - which is in support of a family friend, who is graduating from the University of Dundee - is going to be a great research opportunity, but since I managed to kill both of my compact cameras in the past months, I needed some way to actually document my research. You know, so I can take photos of castles, palaces, cottages, fairies, and the Loch Ness Monster.

I was tempted to take it back and trade it for a D60, solely out of megapixel greed (well, and to prevent those naysayers who will say my photo of Nessie is fake), but I've read hundreds of reviews in the past few days, and consensus seems to be that, unless perhaps you're a billboard photographer or make your main living with a digital camera, megapixels don't matter all that much these days. This is the page that convinced me.

I was also convinced by this photo, which may just look like a shoe to you, but in which I can see the texture of my shoe better than I can when I pick it up and hold it up to my face.


Hmm, maybe I should go see the optometrist again. But seriously? If you click on the photo, you'll see what I mean. This camera rocks.

Too bad this guy didn't have it:


4 comments:

Jeannine said...

Oh, lucky you - I'm sure you'll have the most wonderful time! Can't wait to see the photos and hear about your trip!

:)

Amy said...

cute shoes!

Rowena said...

I've started dreaming of my own DSLR camera. My point and shoot is leaving me short, even though it's served me well. I think I am with you, your post is making me think. The Nikon d40 might be the answer for me. It doesn't need to be hifalutin professional for me. I am an amateur photographer and that is just fine for me. But I do want to take nicer pictures.

Fantasy Arts & Entertainment said...

Very good luck to you on your explorations and discoveries. What would Marco Polo have given for such splendid implements of documentation as your fantastic camera!