I had a good luck!
Sep. 14th, 2011 09:22 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sailorstarsunMaybe more than just one. .^^
For a little while now I've wanted a new camera. While I can usually take ok pictures with the one I've had, it's been frustrating me. Usually I have a difficult time getting it to focus, especially if I'm doing a closeup shot, or if there isn't absolutely perfect lighting. I've almost thrown it out the window on several occasions, that's how frustrated it makes me. And also, more and more in the past year and a half I've been wanting a camera that can record video... with sound. The old camera has a video function, but they apparently forgot to put a microphone anywhere on the thing. So if video is recorded, it's silent. And really... what's the point of that?
I've been thinking of getting a DSLR. Yeah, they're expensive, but they can do great things. Right? In fact, on Saturday I was in Ginza for a dentist appointment, so stopped by the Bic Camera there. They had a very large selection! But... none of the DSLRs I played with would focus. I fiddled with a few different ones, but couldn't get any one of them to focus on anything. Not anything up close, nor far, nor anywhere in between.
Now, I know those are just floor models, touched and abused by anyone who wanders in. And even more than that, I know that I don't actually know how to use a DSLR. I was probably just doing it wrong or something. I've used nothing but point-and-shoot cameras for...ever, so it really was probably just me.
I know they were just floor models, but...
But...
But those floor models are what's supposed to sell the product to me, and they didn't do that. They failed to wow me, so I decided to pass on a huge, fancy DSLR after all.
Plus there's the fact that after spending $500+ on a camera like that (and that's for the cheaper ones), I would then have to spend another $450 for a macro lens. And I just can't do that.
But I still wanted a new camera, so on Monday I decided to go up to the Yamada Denki after work. The bank was closed by the time I got out of work, so I couldn't get any money (and I didn't feel like going to 7-11 and paying a fee to use their ATM), but I went to Yamada anyway, just to look.
I found a camera that I loved.
It was a Panasonic Lumix, which is what the old one is, but this was a higher quality model. It's touch-screen, and the focus can be chosen by touching a subject on the screen. It has a higher iso, while still producing less noise. And, if I'm feeling silly, it can color in makeup right on the camera. =P
At 22,000 yen, the price wasn't bad at all, so I decided I would research it a little more on the internet that night, and probably go back and buy it the next day.
Tuesday I sneaked out of work before the bank closed and got some money from the ATM, then headed back to Yamada. When I got there I played around with the Lumix some more, then called over a worker person to get one for me. And I was actually able to answer all but one of his questions! =D
It turned out - and this is the good luck - that the camera went on a short, 4-day sale starting that day. =D So by not being able to buy one on Monday, I actually saved money. And on top of that, I had a bunch of points on my Yamada Denki point card (from when I bought the Wii), so I used those, and saved even more! Yay!
Then on my way home, every single traffic light I crossed was green. .^_^
The first picture I took with the new camera was this.
Then I was like "Oops, forgot to turn the flash off." Fixed that, then took this.
One of my favorite features is the 'focus on this! ::poke::', so I practiced with that.
Then played with some other settings. .^^
Which I'll probably never use seriously.
Now, one issue, which probably won't even be an issue, is that the camera was, like, the only one in the store that didn't have a language setting. It's Japanese only, so all the menus and everything are all in 日本語. Most everything is pretty instinctive, though, and I did find an English language manual online. And if that doesn't help, there's always the trial and error method of figuring things out.
But one issue that probably will be an issue, is that it only has its own, rechargeable battery. That means if I'm in the middle of a photoshoot and the battery runs out, I'm fucked. I have to drop everything and wait two hours for the battery to charge, because I can't just swap out with a new set of batteries. Or if I'm at a festival or on top of a mountain or something and the battery dies, oh well, no photos for me. It's risky, and I hate the concept. So probably, I may end up buying a second battery. How convenient for Panasonic. .>_>
Anyway~
And just for the record, it has a name. ;P Because, yes, I name everything.
The old camera, because it was pink, was named Sakura.
So with this one, I was thinking of a name, and thought about how the Japanese word for camera is... kamera (カメラ). I thought "Kame..." But 'kame' also means 'turtle'. Then I immediately thought about Kamen Rider Den-O, and how Momotaros is always calling Urataros "Kame," 'cause... well, he's based on a turtle.
Clearly.
Then I thought about how Urataros's image color is blue, and the new camera is blue. And clearly, it was meant to be.
And thus it came to be named... Urataros.
And I love him.
... For now, until he pisses me off and I decide I need something newer and better.
And that's the story! And since it has a video mode, I can do a tour of my new apartment, with sound!
... Once I clean it. .>_>
For a little while now I've wanted a new camera. While I can usually take ok pictures with the one I've had, it's been frustrating me. Usually I have a difficult time getting it to focus, especially if I'm doing a closeup shot, or if there isn't absolutely perfect lighting. I've almost thrown it out the window on several occasions, that's how frustrated it makes me. And also, more and more in the past year and a half I've been wanting a camera that can record video... with sound. The old camera has a video function, but they apparently forgot to put a microphone anywhere on the thing. So if video is recorded, it's silent. And really... what's the point of that?
I've been thinking of getting a DSLR. Yeah, they're expensive, but they can do great things. Right? In fact, on Saturday I was in Ginza for a dentist appointment, so stopped by the Bic Camera there. They had a very large selection! But... none of the DSLRs I played with would focus. I fiddled with a few different ones, but couldn't get any one of them to focus on anything. Not anything up close, nor far, nor anywhere in between.
Now, I know those are just floor models, touched and abused by anyone who wanders in. And even more than that, I know that I don't actually know how to use a DSLR. I was probably just doing it wrong or something. I've used nothing but point-and-shoot cameras for...ever, so it really was probably just me.
I know they were just floor models, but...
But...
But those floor models are what's supposed to sell the product to me, and they didn't do that. They failed to wow me, so I decided to pass on a huge, fancy DSLR after all.
Plus there's the fact that after spending $500+ on a camera like that (and that's for the cheaper ones), I would then have to spend another $450 for a macro lens. And I just can't do that.
But I still wanted a new camera, so on Monday I decided to go up to the Yamada Denki after work. The bank was closed by the time I got out of work, so I couldn't get any money (and I didn't feel like going to 7-11 and paying a fee to use their ATM), but I went to Yamada anyway, just to look.
I found a camera that I loved.
It was a Panasonic Lumix, which is what the old one is, but this was a higher quality model. It's touch-screen, and the focus can be chosen by touching a subject on the screen. It has a higher iso, while still producing less noise. And, if I'm feeling silly, it can color in makeup right on the camera. =P
At 22,000 yen, the price wasn't bad at all, so I decided I would research it a little more on the internet that night, and probably go back and buy it the next day.
Tuesday I sneaked out of work before the bank closed and got some money from the ATM, then headed back to Yamada. When I got there I played around with the Lumix some more, then called over a worker person to get one for me. And I was actually able to answer all but one of his questions! =D
It turned out - and this is the good luck - that the camera went on a short, 4-day sale starting that day. =D So by not being able to buy one on Monday, I actually saved money. And on top of that, I had a bunch of points on my Yamada Denki point card (from when I bought the Wii), so I used those, and saved even more! Yay!
Then on my way home, every single traffic light I crossed was green. .^_^
The first picture I took with the new camera was this.
Then I was like "Oops, forgot to turn the flash off." Fixed that, then took this.
One of my favorite features is the 'focus on this! ::poke::', so I practiced with that.
Then played with some other settings. .^^
Which I'll probably never use seriously.
Now, one issue, which probably won't even be an issue, is that the camera was, like, the only one in the store that didn't have a language setting. It's Japanese only, so all the menus and everything are all in 日本語. Most everything is pretty instinctive, though, and I did find an English language manual online. And if that doesn't help, there's always the trial and error method of figuring things out.
But one issue that probably will be an issue, is that it only has its own, rechargeable battery. That means if I'm in the middle of a photoshoot and the battery runs out, I'm fucked. I have to drop everything and wait two hours for the battery to charge, because I can't just swap out with a new set of batteries. Or if I'm at a festival or on top of a mountain or something and the battery dies, oh well, no photos for me. It's risky, and I hate the concept. So probably, I may end up buying a second battery. How convenient for Panasonic. .>_>
Anyway~
And just for the record, it has a name. ;P Because, yes, I name everything.
The old camera, because it was pink, was named Sakura.
So with this one, I was thinking of a name, and thought about how the Japanese word for camera is... kamera (カメラ). I thought "Kame..." But 'kame' also means 'turtle'. Then I immediately thought about Kamen Rider Den-O, and how Momotaros is always calling Urataros "Kame," 'cause... well, he's based on a turtle.
Clearly.
Then I thought about how Urataros's image color is blue, and the new camera is blue. And clearly, it was meant to be.
And thus it came to be named... Urataros.
And I love him.
... For now, until he pisses me off and I decide I need something newer and better.
And that's the story! And since it has a video mode, I can do a tour of my new apartment, with sound!
... Once I clean it. .>_>
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no subject
Date: 2011-09-15 09:58 pm (UTC)And yay for saving money. How much did you manage to save off of the original price?
no subject
Date: 2011-09-19 11:15 pm (UTC)The original price was 22,000 yen, but it was on sale for 17,300 yen. Then I saved another 3,498 by using my points. So I think I saved 8,198 yen altogether? (I can't math.) Which I guesstimate is around $100. =D
I'm gaining a new love and appreciation of Japan's obsession with point cards. .^^