Actions speak louder than words

[rover]

Into my pocket went my DSLR money and out the door I went. I have been looking a little bit more seriously this past week or so, I have a discount offer from Circuit City and printed their online prices which very competitive to start with, just in case the in store prices aren't the same.

My son met a bunch of kids for a play group thingy and then he was meeting his bestest friend at an indoor play-scape fun place. Colin's mom was going to watch the boys so I had a few hours of free time. I also had a couple camera bags in the trunk. I was tired and didn't take them out of the car yesterday. I stopped for a quick lunch, and then shopping I was going to go.

But then I remembered, the St Patrick's Day parade was postponed until today, and I had film in two cameras that I wanted to finish up. Lunch wasn't that great and I needed a pick me up.

Well, I finished the two rolls and most of a third. AFGA 400 was in the Himatic, HP5 in the M6. I loaded some Arista 100 in the M6 for the walk back to my car. I don't think I made any great photos today, but it felt good to go and do some shooting.

I got back to pick up the boy just in time as things were winding down. He had a good day too.

Oh, I did get close to the Circuit City, just across the street, picked up a couple Star Wars toys at Target on the way home, something to play with, but not for me.

My "new" toy was waiting for me when I got home, a nice little Canonet QL17 GIII. The Himatic may be in trouble, I really liked my first Canonet. And my DSLR money went back to its hiding place.

Maybe some other day, but I think I showed my true colors today. I really really like my RF cameras. And processing those three rolls of film this morning, and having the need to do three more tomorrow is pretty satisfying too. There is always tomorrow for digital, but I will stay with my film for now.

[amateriat]

Funny how things wind up, isn't it?


- Barrett

[FrankS]

Digital will only get better and cheaper. No need to rush!

[fraley]

Good story. I share your ambivalence! There's a grass-is-greener syndrome when considering digital results. I know rationally that nothing is perfect. I enjoy using film. At some point I'll use digital too. It won't cure all my photo problems. It will provide some advantages over film no doubt, and something will be lost too. I think I will always want to use film. It should be an and/and situation, not an either/or.

[mike goldberg]

Would you believe it? Four months ago, I was quite busy over at
DSLRx, and all set to buy a 350D for far too much money.
It did not feel quite right in my hands.
I could not see myself holding a little button with my
right thumb... and fiddling with a little wheel with my index finger,
for 7 variable focus points. Menus, sub-menus, electronics... yikes!

Now, I'm lucky in that I have an RFF buddy close to home, whom I know
from my SLR days. Both Ruben and I have the 'souls of collectors' ...
talk about GAS!

Well, with two Bessa's, a couple of J8's, 2 CV lenses, and a Kiev... here I am.
I thought I was 'done' for a while. On Friday, I had Ruben's beautiful,
near mint FED-2 in hand, and here I am, window shopping again

And, mirable dictu, I'll be developing my own B/W soon...
a first in 12 years! Do actions speak louder than words? You betcha!
What is important here; it feels like I've found myself, so to
speak. It feels good and right to have a direction and to be on my path.

Thanks for listening.
mike

[Dfin]

Stray not on the dark side,Keep the Faith Brother, Keep the Faith.

[Gid]

I've said several times before, if it wasn't for the time issue ...............

I was looking at some film shots this weekend, taken over the last year, and there is an edge to film (B&W) that you don't quite get with digital - maybe dynamic range is a factor. Also looked at some Provia 400 shots and the colour is great. This is not a film is better than digital position, just observation.

However, looking back with fondness is not the same as being in the middle of a dozen undeveloped and/or unscanned rolls

[rover]

I think if I was heading off on a vacation or had a pressing need for a digital camera I would have done it. The last 2 years I have come home with 20ish rolls of film from vacation, so that is a big bang in processing costs when more than half are color. But the pressing need isn't imminent.

I don't think I am ambivolent as much as I like what I have. No need to fix something that isn't broken.

Will prices come down? I don't know, there may be a little more settling, but I think the price points are being established, sub $1000, sub $1500, Nikon and others in the $600 range with a basic body, kind of like a fancy P&S that you can change lenses on. And then of course the more advanced models. I don't know how much the price levels will change opposed to evolutionary advances in technology now at the existing price points.

Still, what I have is fine for me, more than fine, it is fun.

[cbass]

Rover, I've bought two digital cameras (including my DSLR) at Circuit City and in both purchases the experience was pretty good for a big-box retailer. My only complaint is that C.C. typically does not stock many lenses or accessories. Your store may differ.

For the record I hold a neutral position in the boorish film v. digital argument. However, my good old Pentax *ist DL with the SMC-FA 50/1.4 makes a fast, compact kit that has completely replaced my Bessa R & CV 75/2.5 (both since sold). I've attached a few available light grab shots made with this setup. For family shooting the DSLR rules supreme in our house. These days I only use my RF for landscapes & travel.

Good luck with your purchase, Rover!

Side note: We were actually in Hartford yesterday but we missed the parade. You certainly had a beautiful day for it. I had my pocket digicam with me but we spent the enire day with a realtor, looking at houses. I'm starting a new job there in mid-May. The RF scene in the Nutmeg State will soon be adding another member .

[rover]

Where is the new Job? Send me a PM or email. Since technically if my Co was in RI we would have been competitors, I would be interested to see where you are going. Perhaps I know some folks you will be dealing with.

[fraley]

I didn't mean to paint you with my ambivalent brush , Rover I guess I just want that next film camera more than that first digital. Although I keep coming back to the Sony Alpha. It places well in reviews. What Chris said is a factor for me too, buying from a consumer store means less selection of lenses. I'd probably want a fixed lens or two rather than the kit zoom.

[Joe Mondello]

I shot with my Nikon D200 recently after an unintended hiatus. The hiatus was caused by my acquisition of a Canon G7 and then an Epson R-D1 and a brief fling with an M8.

More and more I find the R-D1 to be the camera I want to have with me. I picked up a clean, used Billingham Small Hadley at B&H for half price and it holds the R-D1 and it my lenses and spare battery quite nicely.

I *need* the D200 for event shooting and love it's long and close capabilities and the wild variety of lenses, but I just haven't *bonded* with any camera like I have with the R-D1 in a long long long time (my 50s-era M3 is the last camera that gave me that feeling at it is long gone).

[rover]

Originally Posted by fraley

I didn't mean to paint you with my ambivalent brush , Rover I guess I just want that next film camera more than that first digital. Although I keep coming back to the Sony Alpha. It places well in reviews. What Chris said is a factor for me too, buying from a consumer store means less selection of lenses. I'd probably want a fixed lens or two rather than the kit zoom.

No problem, I started last week ambivalent actually but ended up content.

The R-D1 is a thought, no need for new lenses. I don't know, but the film I processed this morning looks good. I have to get more APX 400, every time I take it out of the Diafine I am surprised at how good it looks as negatives.

[Gid]

All this talk of film .........................

This afternoon I went out for a dog walk a took my Canon F1 with 100mm 2.8 and finished off a roll of HP5+. Now, I've got a roll of Provia 400 that needs to be used ...................

It is quite nice to come back to manual everything even if it is an SLR. However, I will send the roll to the lab I use and get 6x4 prints made - if I want to post anything on the web I'll scan the 6x4.

[rover]

UPDATE: A week later

Well, I really don't want to feed another camera system. A DSLR is an amazing tool and the right camera, but I don't need one.

I did the most un RFF thing related to GAS I could do, but it was hard. I will at some point soon get a nice high quality Digi P&S. Canon G7, Panasonic FZ8, Fugi something, we shall see. Making this decision off to ebay I went, an M2 in mind. Luckily none were readily available immediately, and although I WANT an M2..... I need another camera like I need an extra hole in my head.

So what non RFF GAS thing did I do? I bought airline tickets. I will pack up my family, M6, some lenses and film, that yet to be determined digi cam, go on vacation and make some pictures.

How about them apples?

[Rhoyle]

When you've already got a good kit, plane tickets are infinitely more valuable than a new gadget. Is it better to own yet another new thing, or to create fabulous opportunities to use what you have?

As far as the DSLR thing is concerned, I want one as well, but it'll probably be quite some time before I get one. The reason is that I, or just as importantly, we as a group shoot what we do because we enjoy the process. DSLR's offer excellent performance and all you have to do is push some buttons. They are convenient, quick and easy. If we all wanted quick and easy, there would be no rangefinder forum. So we take our time and are in control of our results.

[back alley]

Originally Posted by rover

UPDATE: A week later

Well, I really don't want to feed another camera system. A DSLR is an amazing tool and the right camera, but I don't need one.

I did the most un RFF thing related to GAS I could do, but it was hard. I will at some point soon get a nice high quality Digi P&S. Canon G7, Panasonic FZ8, Fugi something, we shall see. Making this decision off to ebay I went, an M2 in mind. Luckily none were readily available immediately, and although I WANT an M2..... I need another camera like I need an extra hole in my head.

So what non RFF GAS thing did I do? I bought airline tickets. I will pack up my family, M6, some lenses and film, that yet to be determined digi cam, go on vacation and make some pictures.

How about them apples?

i admire your discipline, discipline which i completely lack!!
my budget is pretty limited and i jealously keep my camera money seperate and use it for for only gear or film etc.
i have a few bucks in my paypal account now (where the camera budget hides) and it's like a slow burn in my pant's pocket.
i have been making lists, starting threads and looking at internet articles for a few days now and still can't decide.
get an r4m and have a body for each lens?
get a cv 15 for that really wide experience and a bunch of film?
finally get another cle?
sell the 90 and just use the 100 on the om2 if i need?

anyway, where will the tickets take you?

joe

[sooner]

I recently bought my first dSLR, a Pentax k100D and have to admit I love it, especially for the low light color shots and versatility. But it is too plastic and missing for me is the organic connection that exists for most of us with film. Yesterday we took a daytrip and I took an Oly XA with Scala, a Fuji GA645 with Provia 100, and the Pentax digital. We kind of got rained out, but at least I was prepared! But I agree, always spend money on travel over equipment.

[rover]

Washington DC for the 4th of July week Joe.

I still have GAS, but I put priorities first, and before I changed my mind, when my wife said she found a good rate for the tickets I clicked the buy button. The money is gone now, so no looking back.

Joe, which Panasonic do you have? FZ50?

[back alley]

the fz 20.

it's a great camera with a veeeery long zoom.

[Todd.Hanz]

I just read this and had a similar experience.

I had a few "hundies" set aside for a D200 and 80-200 zoom for my kids upcoming summer sports leagues...instead I bought a black paint MP. So much for any sports related college scholarships, there's always academics

Todd

[rpsawin]

I bought a D200 around Thnaksgiving and used it until March. I sold it 2 weeks ago. For what I want out of digital imaging the D200 is overkill (a wonderful camera that has a distinct non-dslr feel to it). I;m very satified with my rf's & mf gear. I'm using a LC1 for digital and it is an excellent fit for my needs.

Bob

[dnemoc]

I love Frank's comment... precisely the words to fit here