Thursday, April 17, 2008

Click! Snap! Ting! Sap! Blitz!

Whatever sound it makes, the objective is very simple: capturing the moment. I love cameras and taking pictures. And when it went digital, it became much easier and affordable.

I jumped into the digital bandwagon back in ’03 with a Minolta Dimage Xi. It’s got 3.2MP (wah!), telescopic lens (uuhhh!) and 3X zoom (drooool!). It was ahead of time back in ’03. And it was a whopping RM1700 with a 256Mb card (gulp!). Since then, I changed camera every year. Last week, I made a huge leap. I jumped into the SLR bandwagon. I’m still unsure if I made a right choice or not, but let’s see how it goes for the next few months.

So, this particular blog is mainly a tribute to all the cameras I’ve owned and to the world of ‘point-and-shoots’ that I will look down from now onwards *hehe*.

’03 Minolta Dimage Xi
Thank you for the beautiful moments. You’ve taken lots of Mariam’s picture, and for that, I’m keeping you forever. I just wish I can get a replacement battery for you.

’04 Panasonic FZ2
You’ve introduced me to Image Stabilizer and Aperture F2.8. And with your 12x optical zoom, you’ve also introduced me to voyeurism. You’re an amazing camera.

‘05 Panasonic FX7
Your design is a classic. But unfortunately, you were just a bridge to the next generation of LCD, wider lens and better battery technology.

’06 Panasonic FX9
You’re basically an FX7 Mark II. Yet you’re so flawless. But I had to let you go to satisfy my hunger for wide-angle lens. Sorry.

’07 Panasonic TZ3
10x optical zoom in a compact shell --- ahh, the world of voyeurism just a snap away (kidding!). Thank you for your priceless wide-angle views. But, you’re just too noisy at ISO100 and I can’t bear that at all. But, anyhow – you’ll remain as the best all-rounder I’ve ever gotten.

’08 Sony Alpha DSLR-A350
An entry level DSLR no doubt, but beggars can’t be choosers. I love you for your live-view features and the lovely quality pictures you take. Plus I can now shoot at ultra high shutter speed and in low light conditions. I just wish I have better artistic taste when taking one.

*update on June'08
I bought a Fujifilm F100fd. Yup, another point and shoot. And guess what, it's once heck of a camera. I sold it just a month after that, mainly coz I found that I hardly used it. And I wanted to buy another lens for my SLR. But anyhow, I'd really recommend this camera.


*update on May'09
Guess what, I bought another compact: Panasonic FT1. I realized that I needed a compact since I always seem to leave my DSLR at home. I bought this because I was getting ready for a trip to Perhentian Island. This camera is waterproof and shockproof. Noise level is tolerable up to ISO200. But for its durability, highly recommended!

*update on May'10
Hours before my travel to Beijing for a vacation, I bought myself an Olympus EP2. It was an expensive unit, bundled with a 17mm f/2.8 lens + filter, an EVF, extra battery and an 8Gb SD card. Noise level was OK all the way to ISO1600. This camera is WICKED!