My New Love

If you've kept up with me recently you may remember that I was having some serious camera envy earlier this year~


Well I'm pleased to announce that you will not have to deal with my whining any longer...I was finally able to purchase ~ my new love ~


After hours...and hours...and a few more hours weeks of research....I decided on the Nikon d300s camera.

Isn't it just divine?

If you've ever had to make a very large, important purchase and you knew you just had to get it right then you know how nerve wracking it is to choose the ideal camera when upgrading.    Here's why I chose this particular camera:

~ it was a definite upgrade from what I already had in ISO performance and overall quality

~ every review I've read {and there were hundreds!} was positive 

~ several pro photographers I've spoken with own this camera and every one absolutely loves it

~ I liked the way it felt in my hands....it's a quirky reason but very important when choosing a camera

~ it was the highest quality I could buy in my price range

But the fun doesn't stop there...after choosing my camera I had to choose a lens and I knew I didn't want a kit lens, I wanted a "pro" grade lens.  I decided on the Nikon 50mm 1.4.

I knew from the first click that I want to be buried with this lens.  That's how much I love it ~

Here's why I chose this particular lens:

~ I didn't already own a 50mm so I was truly getting something new

~ I wanted the 1.4 aperture for more creative opportunities

~ Every single photographer that owns a 50mm 1.4 says it's at the top of their favorite lenses ever

Now don't be a hater because I have some sweet gear now!  I know how that camera envy can sneak up on ya~  Because of this purchase...

~ my kids will not be meeting Mickey Mouse this year....or any other year...ever

~ my kids will not get to ride in a snazzy new car like all their friends have...but instead they get a used minivan that smells like wet soccer cleats

~ leftovers will be on the menu more than ever 

~ those funky, furry boots I'm wanting for fall will just remain on my Wish List...along with that epiphanie camera bag and pretty much everything else I'm wanting

But enough about that....let me show why I've proclaimed that if my house were on fire I would save my new camera first, and then hopefully a few of my kids...

...this is the very first photo I snapped about 10 minutes after I finally figured out how to open the box while I was sitting in the front seat of my van:

I realize it's not exactly art gallery worthy but I was lovin' it.  About 20 minutes later I took these shots at my session.  

{note:  I would not recommend buying a brand new camera, not reading the manual, and attempting to photograph 6 people all within 1 hour}

Those are untouched, uncropped, uneverything...can you say bokeh?  can you see why I'm in love?

Those shots were perfect as-is but I still had to mess with them just a bit~  I added a touch of butterscotch tint and these were my finals:

        f stop 2.2

 f stop 1.6

So to sum it all up, I'm very pleased with my purchases and I'm glad I took my time and did a ton of research before I decided what to buy.  I really suggest that if you're looking to buy a new camera that you go to a camera store and try out the feel of several different models in your range for a good comparison.  Try different lenses too so you can see how fast they focus and what it's actually like to use the zoom ring or work with a prime lens.  

I tried the 24-70 2.8 and the 70-200 2.8 so one of those will be my next purchase...but I just can't decide....any thoughts??

Lenses & More Lenses

Wow!  
I am absolutely *loving* all the tips I'm getting on the cameras & lenses!  


You cannot even begin to fathom how many hours I've poured over investigating into all the different lenses over the last few days.  I'm sure this is also due to the fact that my beloved Mac computer is getting fixed for some hard drive problems so I'm not able to do any editing....uggghh!  So instead I've spent my time reading review after review and daydreaming about my Wish List~


Here's what I've realized on the camera body....I tried out the Canon 7D yesterday at a local store and I didn't like the joystick thingy...I prefer a button or a wheel?  Also, I just didn't like the sound of the shutter click...is that weird?  It was too "clicky" and mechanical....does anyone else obsess over those things?
But I had the 50mm 1.4 lens on it and I was so impressed...and a little depressed that I don't have one!
I'm going to a different store tomorrow to play with the Nikon d300s...I can't find a store anywhere that has both in stock!


On a side note, I also played with the Nikon d700 yesterday, which is a step up from the d300s.  That thing was Huge and Heavy!  It had a big lens on it which added to the weight but ohh how fun it was...I was shooting at ISO 3200 indoors without flash and pics were so sharp...I just couldn't believe how heavy...does anyone shoot all day with that camera?  I'd love to hear how you carry it around for long~


Now to the lenses....I think I've changed my mind completely on my original Wish List!




Somewhere along the line I stumbled across this piece of hardware...

The reviews on Amazon & B&H by owners of this lens say it's absolutely fabulous!  The 2.8 aperture is constant at any focal length which is a huge plus...and also explains the huge price.  I'm thinking this may be a more convenient option also instead of carrying around several prime lenses and a small zoom?


Does anyone have this....use this....don't really care?  


I'll have more tutorials coming as soon as I get my Mac back and start editing again...I'm going stir crazy here ~!~!~!

Camera Envy

I'm having some serious camera envy these days~

I read all the blogs...with all the tips...and all the tutorials...but the part I always, always, always want to get to is the  "What's In The Bag".

I somehow think that if I had that camera with that lens just like that person has then maybe possibly I could produce images like that too?  Am I the only one that thinks like that?

Anyway...I've been torturing myself lately and looking at cameras as if I'm actually going to be buying one...you know, getting together my serious Wish List.  Here's what I've discovered~

I can't decide.

I've always said I wanted the Nikon d300s if I were to ever upgrade, but I've read recently about the Canon 7D and it seems to be a pretty close race.  So I figured why bother wasting my time anymore by reading boring reviews...I'll just take it to the experts...YOU!

I need opinions...I'm wanting this...(without the kit lens)

{These are all screen shots from B&H Photo}

But this is also looking pretty tempting...

And I'm wanting these...

So I'm dying to know....would you choose the Canon or the Nikon?

Does anyone have these...love these...hate 'em...?

And what about the lenses....should these cover every situation?

The camera store lady recommended I get a 35mm too to cover the crop factor...I would have never even thought of that~

Here's your chance...pass along your wisdom and help me create the Perfect Wish List!