Have I done the right thing?
Have I done the right thing?
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Cock Womble 7

Original Poster:

29,908 posts

259 months

Thursday 6th September 2012
quotequote all
Right, firstly a quick précis of my photographing history:

I studied photography at school (GCSE, I think - that'll date me) and my parents were kind enough to buy me a Pentax ME Super (that'll date me too) to help with my endeavours. The ME Super was a brilliant little camera and did everything I needed it to. I saved up my pennies and added various accessories (winder, flash gun, 80-200mm zoom etc), but I always hankered after Pentax's flagship (at the time) model the LX. Sadly, the bank of Mum and Dad wouldn't quite stretch to an LX, so it had to remain a dream.

Then, in my late teens, I discovered women and alcohol and my interest in photography waned somewhat.

...Until about ten or so years ago, when I discovered this new thing called "Ebay" and set about amassing the camera collection I'd always dreamed of. I ended up with this:



The LX complete with motor drive, AF400T hammerhead flash and various lenses (pictured here with a Nikon F3 I briefly dallied with).

I took thousands of photos with the LX (just ask my sick-of-having-her-photo-taken ex girlfriend) but, sadly, once again my interest began to wane and the LX sat gathering dust.

So, it was back to Ebay and I managed to sell all the LX kit for about what I paid for it.

I then spent a few years in the photography wilderness and - being a dyed in the wool film man - snobbishly looked down my nose at the emergence of this newfangled "digital" nonsense.

That was until the aforementioned ex girlfriend gave me a hand-me-down little Kodak jobby after she upgraded:



The Kodak was a basic little thing, but it was enough to re-ignite the photography bug (if you can re-ignite a bug). The ease of use compared to film was what got me - no sending off the films to Truprint (and paying through the nose), no waiting for the prints to return and no limit to the number of photos you could take.

So, I was back "into" photography and it didn't take long before I wanted something a bit better than the little Kodak.



The Panasonic Lumix LX3. Nominally, almost a homage to my beloved LX. Great little camera that was easy to use, but had enough features to stretch my creativity.

Inevitably, I wanted to upgrade and one day saw one of these in the window of my local camera shop:



A few more magapixels than the LX3 and a few more features. The idea was that the G10 would replace the LX3, but the LX3 was such a handy little pocket-sized camera that I continued to use it alongside the G10.

Fast forward to last weekend, spent camping out at Santa Pod for the "VW Action" show with mates from around the country. Two good friends of mine from Kent were showing off their new Nikon DSLR (I forget which model) and, knowing I was "into" photography, they let me have a play.

Well, that was it. Having a "proper" camera in my hands again made me want one so much. When I got home, I did some research, read some threads on this very forum and decided on what I was going to get.

So, in an impulse purchase/belated birthday present to myself (I turned 45 last Thursday) I ordered this little lot:



D7000, 18-200mm f3.5, MB-D11 battery grip (I like a chunky camera) and the SB-910 Speedlight.

A fair few bob's worth, but something I hope will let my creativity grow and challenge me at the same time.


Sorry for the long and rambling post, but I have done the right thing - haven't I?

dave stew

1,502 posts

196 months

Thursday 6th September 2012
quotequote all
Yes of course! Your photographic journey (that sounded very 'Guardian') sounds similar to mine. I bought an Olympus DSLR a couple of years ago, but perversely I am now wanting something small and pocketable. All I photograph is work stuff (property faults) and the kids...

GetCarter

31,236 posts

308 months

Thursday 6th September 2012
quotequote all
OP: yep. A very good choice.

And a very fine taste in cars, of course.

DibblyDobbler

11,489 posts

226 months

Thursday 6th September 2012
quotequote all
Let us see some shots with the new gear then we'll know wink

AndWhyNot

2,359 posts

228 months

Thursday 6th September 2012
quotequote all
Good man!

flat-planedCrank

3,697 posts

232 months

Thursday 6th September 2012
quotequote all
Congrats! Nice kit smile

(Nice Caterham too!)


Don't forget to post some pics! smile - http://www.pistonheads.com/xforums/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Pints

18,451 posts

223 months

Thursday 6th September 2012
quotequote all
I hope there's a camera hiding behind all that kit.
I'm working myself up to spend the money and make the leap from bridge to SLR.

CommanderJameson

22,096 posts

255 months

Friday 7th September 2012
quotequote all
Nice gear.

Now shut up and start taking pictures.

rumple

15,032 posts

180 months

Friday 7th September 2012
quotequote all
Some nice kit there, my pick there is the F3, still got it.

rhinochopig

17,932 posts

227 months

Friday 7th September 2012
quotequote all
No you haven't done the right thing.

The speaker wood doesn't match the cabinet the turntable is sat on.

Details man, details!

Cock Womble 7

Original Poster:

29,908 posts

259 months

Friday 7th September 2012
quotequote all
rhinochopig said:
The speaker wood doesn't match the cabinet the turntable is sat on.
That "cabinet" is a subwoofer.

GetCarter

31,236 posts

308 months

Friday 7th September 2012
quotequote all
Out of interest, if you need a subwoofer, you haven't got the right speakers.

rhinochopig

17,932 posts

227 months

Friday 7th September 2012
quotequote all
Cock Womble 7 said:
rhinochopig said:
The speaker wood doesn't match the cabinet the turntable is sat on.
That "cabinet" is a subwoofer.
yikes The turntable sits on the subwoofer. Won't somebody think of the children.

PH lurker

1,301 posts

186 months

Friday 7th September 2012
quotequote all
Cock Womble 7 said:
That "cabinet" is a subwoofer.
Subtle hyperlink tells us how much they cost. Smooth.

Nice camera, please post up some pictures you've taken with it. smile

Cock Womble 7

Original Poster:

29,908 posts

259 months

Friday 7th September 2012
quotequote all
PH lurker said:
Nice camera, please post up some pictures you've taken with it. smile
I fully intend to. I'm on a work/sleep/eat/work loop this week, with a horrible night shift, but I'm planning on getting out and about this weekend.

Speed addicted

6,328 posts

256 months

Friday 7th September 2012
quotequote all
Pints said:
I hope there's a camera hiding behind all that kit.
I'm working myself up to spend the money and make the leap from bridge to SLR.
Do it, it's the best step
I took.

As for CW, you now have more toys. How could this possibly be the wrong thing?

Upatdawn

2,202 posts

177 months

Friday 7th September 2012
quotequote all
sounds a familiar story.

My path:-

Zenit B
Zenit E
Praktika TTL
Oympus OM10
Nikon F55

then a big gap....

Fuji finepix 5500 (birthday pressie)
Canon 450d
Fuji finepix S9500
Fuji finepix HS30EXR (love the 3" flip up/down screen)

but now.....i dunno, i fancy a Nikon or Canon DSLR but cant decide which

im captivated by the moon though.....it could be a classifiable illness




Edited by Upatdawn on Friday 7th September 18:23

flat-planedCrank

3,697 posts

232 months

Friday 7th September 2012
quotequote all
Upatdawn said:
but now.....i dunno, i fancy a Nikon or Canon DSLR but cant decide which
I'd say go check the models you like in a local store, some people just prefer the way a manufacturer lays things out smile

Upatdawn

2,202 posts

177 months

Friday 7th September 2012
quotequote all
ive not found a Jessops that stock anything above the £650 pound range, like the Nikon D5100(?)

id have to go 2nd hand, and risk Fleabay, i really wanted to go up a notch, D3? EOS Mk2? (wish list)

one problem with the HS30 is the lack of an automatic dedicated flash


2slo

1,998 posts

196 months

Friday 7th September 2012
quotequote all
Look on the Jessops website if that's who you want to order from and decide what you want making a note of the internet price. Order from your local branch (they don't advertise the fact but they will match the store price to the internet price) If you aren't sure you want something Jessops will order it in for you to go and look at and then buy if you are happy with it. Some of their staff aren't the most knowledgeable but the company seems to have reasonable customer care policies I've found.