The cool dude camera caper
I've got a huge Black's photo gear bag that contains my old but sweet Canon AV-1 SLR camera. It's sitting on a shelf in my bedroom clothes closet, marking time with an accompanying array of lenses, filters, etc. Untouched. Collecting dust. I also have at least one point-and-shoot film camera stashed in every drawer of every room in the house. Untouched. Collecting dust. I have unlimited personal use of the digital camera that I use for facility audits and investigations at work. So why is it that I was compelled to purchase yet another camera, a digital camera of my own? Because I am a gadget dork, a techno weenie, a toys-for-men freak.
I originally wanted one of those sleek, slim, point-and shoot digitals that all the cool dudes use; you know, casually slip it out of a shirt pocket with one hand, insolently hold it up with a sneer on your puss and snap a pic or two, then nonchalantly flip it back into the pocket. But after researching 30 or 40 thousand different brands, models, features, prices, photo quality, and dependability, I concluded that they just didn't fit me or what I wanted to do with my photos. So naturally, I bought a clunky, older model, a Canon G-6. Near as I can explain it, the G-6 is encased in a SLR body and is midpoint in price and function between the cool dude point-and-shooters and professional, I-am-media digital models.
Of course I had to purchase additional flash cards with bazillions of gigabytes and an extra battery pack because God forbid, using rechargeable AA cells just isn't proprietary enough (or as costly) and you can find them anywhere. You need an extra battery pack when stalking the wilds of downtown Miami while filming Danica Patrick and the Grand Prix held in the streets. But now, the worst part of all begins: the dreaded Learn The Camera phase.
Visions of point-and-shoot laying in pieces at my feet, I must now lug the official Getting Started brochure and uber-official Guide to Operations book wherever I go. One good thing, however, is the fact that unlike my work digital, the G-6 does not have to think about whether or not it actually wants to take a picture when you depress the button. Nope. It's just 'Bang!' picture is done, no shake, no delay...sweet.
Soon, very soon, I will learn enough so that I can leave my portable photographic library home and no longer be branded on sight as a digital newbie or camera dork. By the way, did I mention this camera has its very own huge RoadWired photo gear bag? Best not store it in my clothes closet...