ABOUT ME

I live in a camper van with a West Highland Terrier for company.
My passion is creating images but it is a work in progress.
I am always willing to share what knowledge I have and can be contacted through the comments on this post or e-mail ADRIAN
ALL IMAGES WILL ENLARGE WITH A LEFT CLICK

Sunday 23 December 2012

CAREFUL. (23/12/12)

Santa has been again…..Wot a good boy I am! First a Kindle and then a camera.

I went into Sheffield with my estranged wife, super star she is…Sometimes!… To Harrison Cameras. I have had my eye on a second hand Canon 5D II. I have eventually got it.

My first impressions are that it takes a good picture. I haven’t got a charger for it nor a flash gun…sorry strobe….sorry again, Speedlight.. The battery charger is on it’s way.

I CAN’T WORK IT!

Time will cure that. It is a bit tacky compared to the E-3/E-5 Olympus cameras.  I won’t be popping this one under a hose pipe any time soon. I won’t be taking it to the bottom of waterfalls.

I want a still camera, this has video as well but no swivel screen for macro focus in live view. Means much rolling around on the ground. I’ll ask the Ex. to assist she looked good today.

I also got an old 17mm/40mm zoom lens. It’s only f4 but that will do for landscapes. I had thought a cable release leaf shutter prime might have been chucked into the deal..I dream. Apparently though the technology is a hundred years old. The lenses are still 2K and upwards.

I did fancy an F2.8 400mm Canon prime but as long as I eat porridge I could not justify spending £6.5K on a lens. It is like new if anyone fancies one.

I spent my money wisely. I did get a cable release, A UV filter and a polariser. Wanted a couple of ND Grads but all they had were Cokin and I wasn't going to invest in them. I’ll get a Cokin holder and  Lee Grads. That will do for my New Year present. Like learning a foreign language is the first hour with a Canon. The lord alone knows what trials and tribulations the old Hasselblad  is going to entail.IMG_4218_edited-1      Alfie was handy for the first Canon shot. I haven’t a clue what it was set on……Nothing new there then!… I’ve had Olys for years and years and hadn’t much more idea with them.  All I can say is Alf is tired….Shopped out.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA     This is what I got. A camera with only ten thousand clicks on it and a battered but serviceable lens. The red stripe means it’s waterproof….not waterproof as I know it!…I’ll be careful.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA   Not an imaged stabilised lens but it will do.  They even put a flock fur coating inside the lens hood. Akin to Indian restaurant wallpaper but without the lurid red bits.  I’ll have to be careful with that.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA    The business end 77mm across…like a basking sharks maw…. so I’ll have to pay a fortune for filters and filter hoods. I need four inch square Grads. Nothing in my life pans out as cheap as I anticipated it would be. It’s because I’m not careful.

I am dreading and at the same time looking forward to making it do as I bid it. It will take a while so though it isn’t heavy I’ll still carry the E-3. I’ll be getting fitter and more desirable day by day.

We will see how it goes.

Cameras have been a factor of my life, so have fast cars and fast ladies. All have to be learnt.The ladies learn’t but I never did…This one, the camera….. It will be a beauty.

Merry Christmas.

PS. The cardboard box is what I got my investment in. Nowt like shopping in the north. They did offer a bag to put the box in…..Waste not want not. The box was fine for me.

 

30 comments:

  1. what a find! used is the only way I could afford my Canon. I bumble along with it. Hate reading pages and pages of instructions. occasionally, I look up what I need to do at that particular time. best wishes for fun with your camera, and a happy new year!

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    1. I find them Nora. The book doesn't help but neither does a harmer, Look at the book and be brave or set it to auto.

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  2. Brilliant. Can't wait to see some more results. For a few months I have toyed with the idea of swapping my 50D body for a 5D Mk2

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    1. John, I really don't like the build quality but I will learn to love it as a 35mm frame camera. I got the E-5 Olympus and didn't like it or the dearth of lenses. Zuiko lenses are not a patch on Ziess et al. Old lenses are worth getting as the Canon mount is big. SRGB Gritern will machine one for you and supply a cable release.
      I am looking forward to macro and medium format....There will lie a megga challenge.

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  3. Congratulations on your new camera! I love Canons and have an older one -- a very old simple and basic one which I love ...

    I was given a Nikon once, but could never figure out how to work around the multiple focus points (which drove me nuts!) so I finally took it back to the store and wheedled them into taking it back, even though I'd had it about a month.

    We'll look forward to many new and interesting photos in the weeks to come. In the meantime, hope you and Alfie and Mollie have a wonderful Christmas! xoxo

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    1. Wait till you see how I bugger up a perfect shot with a Hasselblad. Made Sweden and only understood by Swedes. I forgot....the Americans took them to the Moon. The cameras are so good that they made the Old Glory flutter.
      Shoot wih what you are happy with. I just needed a new challenge

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    2. Hey Adrian, If you get a Hasselblad, make sure you live near a Hasselblad repair shop. The lenses are great but the bodies are real finicky.

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    3. I have had discussions with a chap in Darlington. He repairs them.

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  4. So Adrian, you're part way to leaving behind that old mountain and have now joined the band of the big guns!!! (good move!!)

    Looks like a grand piece of kit to me, I'm sure you'll get your head around it in no time, and we'll soon start to see some of those masterpieces that we now take for granted...no pressure then?

    A Kindle, a camera and lens and socialising with the ex!! seems like you're on the way to having a good Christmas?

    Have fun...[;o)

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    1. I am not impressed with it. Neither was the old Mrs Ward. Camera much the same.
      She is leaving the old homestead for her tea tomorrow. Get her in the camper and I'll be away back to hell.
      She is a lovely lass and loves her sister.....wish I could!

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  5. You're all well set up Adrian. Now the fun can start. Looking forward to seeing the results.

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    1. Katherine, so do I I'm cooking tea for the ex tomorrow. Waste of time and effort. She knows nothing about cameras.

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  6. A lovely Christmas present Adrian. Don't worry too much about instruction books, I still haven't read mine yet, and I've had this camera about a year. I'm sure you'll get some wonderful results with it.

    I wish I had an ex like that, but all mine have either died or hate me.

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    1. Keith, they are are a bit fragile....I'll learn to be a gentile with them. The lens is an old beauty. Not a Zeiss or Schneider or however one spells their names but good enough. Good enough is near enough. but near enough is never good enough. I'll see how I get on with old technology.

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  7. Well, that's better than my ex, mine didn't even send me a xmas card, miserable cow, mind you, her sister does send me one, yippee. I'm glad that you have a canon 5D II, I can watch you to see what I am doing wrong.

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    1. I Don't send mine one Bob. Perhaps we could swap ex misses.
      No I wouldn't put anyone through that pain.
      Bob definitely nothing wrong with your shots.. I have only had mine for a few hours and am struggling, it's totally different to Olympus. I'll post about it but I've just been chatting to Keith. No point in me spending a fortune on a long lens when you and he get perfect results. I'll just ask to borrow one of yours for the blog when I see a bird.
      Happy Christmas.
      hAVE A GOOD cHRISTMAS

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  8. Have a very Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year Adrian. Love your new Canon 5D.

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    1. You too Horst. It will take a day or two to master it.

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  9. I'm sure you'll get the hang of your knew camera in a hurry.
    I misread one part of your post. I thought box for investment meant like stocks , bonds, cash? and then I saw the box was empty so I thought poor Adrian. Then I reread and linked camera as investment.

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    1. It will take a while. Awful having a choice of so many buttons and not knowing what they do.

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  10. It just goes to prove that you can be naughty and still be nice on Santa's list :) The talk of ex's and the comments, too, made me chuckle...we could all go on about that topic. Alfie does look like he's ready for a good rest ~ Happy snapping :)

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    1. Glo, we get on fine as long as we are not in the same house for too long. I'll have a good snap.

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  11. Wonderful christmas present Adrian!! Hoping to see fab shots with the new cam.

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    1. Ruby, I have only just worked out how to turn it on. The rain has stopped so tomorrow I'll take it out and swear at it.

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  12. ¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨. *
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    ¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨*o*
    ¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨*♥*o*
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    ¨¨¨¨¨¨**o**♥*o*
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    ¨¨¨¨**o**♥***♥*o*
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    ****o***♥**o***o***♥ *
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    Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year!

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  13. You have a good Christmas and more important have a magical 2013.

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  14. Merry Christmas , Adrian!



    daliana pacuraru/ photographis

    ROMANIA

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  15. You too have a great day and an even better 2013

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  16. Great purchase.....you'll figure it out:) I'm reading your posts from most recent to Christmas past:) You're going to have fun.....I'm contemplating a new lens for mine...but I'll need to save for that beauty:)

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  17. Chris, I'll get used to it. There are plenty of lens choices for Canon. Then all the third party ones from Zeiss through to Tamron.

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