Wednesday 27 May 2009

new camera

Jumping for joy. New camera ... finally. I've only wanted one for a hundred years. I've been using dicky little point and shoot numbers forever. I figured out my budget, did my research and came up with the perfect camera for my needs. All was well.

Well, that it is, until I got it home. It's so damn fandangled! The last time I had a decent camera it was well before the D appeared in DSLR. It used to be a matter of light, aperature, speed. But this new number has so many buttons, knobs and dials that I don't know where to start. I'm terrified of it.

I've taken it out for a few runs and it keeps producing unexpected results. This camera is the boss of me. I can see myself spending the next year or so attempting to subjugate it.

The first pics are of the apartment. I thought I'd show the folks back home, who are never gonna come and visit us, what the place looks like. The aim of this first one is to make the balcony look bigger as it's really just a tiny elongated postage stamp. And because the folks are not likely to visit, they'll never know the deception I've perpetrated.

View from the postage stamp.
And the loungeroom. The aim here was to give an impression of what the room looks like. That didn't work! I'm sure it doesn't look this messy in real life, does it?
As you can see, it might be a year or more before I can both manage all the bits and bobs on the camera and take a pleasing shot. At any rate I do expect, in 365 days, to be able to award myself a Master of Cameraology. Oh and the camera ... a Canon 450D ... and I'm so far out of my depth it's silly! Imagine being able to step up and manage the Canon 5D MkII. Crikey! How do you do that?
Oh, and we're off to Rome. What are the chances of coming out of the trip camera intact?

4 comments:

Someone in Al Ain said...

congrats for the camera :)

Anonymous said...

Hi, I am an aussie and have been offered a job in Al ain. Would love it if you could contact me so i could ask a few questions about life over there.
hecto21@hotmail.com

Cheers,
Ryan

nzm said...

That's awesome - the 450D is a great camera.

I've had no trouble with the 5D2 - the menus are completely logical to me and it's the first DSLR that I've owned too. But then I've always had Canons in film SLR and pocket digital formats!

Rome is wonderful! We were there in January when it was less crowded than it will be for you. Watch your stuff - there are pickpockets galore.

Read this to prepare yourself, and carry the camera in a non-descript backpack when you're not using it:
Bob Arno Tips.

It's best if one of you carries all the important valuables and the other protects the person carrying them - that's worked like a charm for me and Jen. I carry and she protects me. She looks for directions and buys tickets while I stand beside her, facing out with the backpack protected and watching her back.

Be especially careful when using public transport or in crowds. Walk towards oncoming traffic - the scooter bandits are ruthless at grabbing bags and making off with them.

I also posted some tips on the Expat Woman Forum for someone who was also going to Rome. I'm on there as.....nzm!

If you do St Peter's - which you will - read my tips for there especially. Go early!

When are you going?

aliasghar said...

Best movers in dubai Mr Movers Packers, We Provide Movers and packers services for Houses, Villas, Offices, Warehouses Commercial, and Residential in the Whole Dubai. Call Now: 0555320375
movers packers dubai home