Talking about photography again. The camera I have my sights on is not in stock in any Best Buy in the Phoenix Valley. I really want to hold one in my hands to make sure it is a comfortable fit. Joan got on Sony's website and found an actual camera store about a half hour from us. A camera store... who knew they still existed? The photos on their website looked promising: actual cameras, lenses, and lighting equipment on display. I called them to ask if they have the camera in stock... yes, they do. I asked if they take trade-ins... yes, but not on film cameras, like the Hasselblad gear I'd like to swap. But, KEH camera (from Atlanta) is coming to their store for 3 days this month to acquire used gear.
Interestingly enough, I have been corresponding with KEH, sending them photos of the Hasselblad gear and they shot me a price via e-mail. And attached a shipping label in that e-mail. Easy enough. But, if I can just hand over the gear at the camera shop and not have to mess with packing the gear, that's even better.
We drove to the camera shop (Foto Forum), met Anna (the lady on the phone), and she was very helpful with showing us the Sony model camera. Yes, it is a comfortable fit. I decided to wait until KEH is going to be in their shop to sell them my gear and buy the camera from this local shop. That said, when I asked about a particular lens to go with that camera, Anna told me they have a used lens in "like new" condition... and then said, "We will always have the new lens in stock, but I can't say whether this used one will still be here in a couple weeks (when KEH will be there). The price was right - I decided to buy that lens, but still wait on the camera (KEH will also give a 10% additional price if you buy something in the shop at the same time as you make your trade). So, delayed gratification, and a lens with no camera for a couple weeks.
It was almost nostalgic going into that camera shop...
It has been a couple decades since I've been in a camera store. It used to be that every decent size town had one of these. I bought my first darkroom equipment in one in Sioux Falls, SD, and taught myself how to use it all. It was working in the darkroom that really hooked me on photography. Surprisingly, this camera shop (one of two, apparently, left in Phoenix) still does film processing and printing... also becoming a lost art.
No, I have no interest in working in a darkroom again. Or, messing with film. But, there is still a market for that, I guess. I've read that some GenZ youngsters think vintage camera gear is cool. That must be the case, since KEH offered me more than I thought my Hasselblad gear would bring... and they wouldn't buy it from me if they couldn't resell it. A few years ago, it had almost no value. Still, the price KEH is offering me is a small fraction of what this gear went for 25 years ago. Better than nuthin'. ;-)
--------
An ever-increasing industry...
Cat viewing. I can't speak for the rest of the world, but in our household, this is a very popular pastime. Murphy enjoyed several outdoor experiences this morning. 56º to start the day - warmer than it has been, with most mornings the last couple weeks starting in the 40s.
I got this photo of the furry boy with my phone...
That intent stare wasn't for my benefit - he was fascinated by a crippled bee. I steered him away from it a time or twelve; not wanting my boy to get stung and hoping that the bee might recover enough to fly away.
2 comments:
The last time I visited the local camera shop (all three stores now gone) it was to buy really nice Manfrotto tripods for my sound meters for field use at about $185 each. I kinda lost interest in photography overall when everything went digital, being an old film guy. It took consumer-grade digital a long time to equal film. My progress through the "twelve f-stop" program apparently worked! If not for my phone, it has been years since the last photo shoot.
Gotta protect Murphy from stinging things in the desert. We don't want him learning the hard way. I worry to see Lucy flinging around a small snake about once a summer. Mostly these are garter snakes and harmless (and ecologically useful) but we do have some rattlesnakes around here. We weren't happy the couple of times she brought her "trophy" indoors for praise. Snakes are outdoor toys, Lucy.
Hi Earl - Izzy and Rufus learned about bees through hands-on (paws-on?) experience. I'm trying to spare Murphy of that experience.
Back in the 90s, I was eager to get that first digital camera. My first one was a 1mg rangefinder type camera that I bought in 1997. It pretty much took the place of film cameras for my personal use - it was great for the regular newsletter we were sending to family, documenting our travels. It also gave me the opportunity to delve into Photoshop earnestly. So, when that first professional level digital camera came to the market, we were ready to be early adopters. It was an exciting change from hand-held light meters and manually setting f/stops and shutter speeds, and manually focusing - and "thinking square"... to using a Nikon F5 based Kodak digital with autofocus and immediate feedback. The best we had before that was a 2.25" square image on Polaroid to check exposure for commercial set-ups. A histogram? You could see the exposure? Before you pressed the shutter release?? What working photographer wouldn't want that?
It was an expensive leap of faith, mostly in going from a full film-based lab set up to handle our volume, to a full digital lab. New computers to be able to handle the work-flow. We already knew how to balance color - by eye and the use of a VCNA (Video Color Negative Analyzer) and going to color balanced (synced daily) monitors where WYSIWYG. And 3 printing stations... in the light.
Interesting to look back on that now and see how fast that entire industry changed... and mostly imploded.
Post a Comment