Before I get started, I can't even remember if I ever updated you on the camera debacle. I believe I left off telling you I'd sent the camera to the Los Angeles to be repaired at the Nikon facility. I was very disappointed when I received an email from them telling them they wouldn't...not couldn't, but wouldn't...repair the camera because it was identified as a "gray market" purchase. Well, if you're like me, you're reading that term for the first time. As it turns out, camera manufacturers build cameras differently and price them differently depending on the country in which they are intended to be sold. Cameras built for, say, Timbuctoo, cannot be sold in the USA. We here in the USA are expected to pay more for our cameras. If some unscrupulous merchant happens to have less expensive cameras built for sale in Timbuctoo and sells them to an unenlightened consumer in the USA, then that consumer (me, in this story) is basically F'ed if they want their camera repaired.
If you're tempted to get all outraged over this, save your energy for when your seams won't align. I've already done enough stomping of my feet for all of us. The bottom line is that I can't have my Nikon camera repaired locally...Nikon makes that impossible...and Nikon won't repair it for me either. So I'm out of luck. Only a new camera can solve my current problems. And so that's where we find ourselves...with a new camera...and not a Nikon. Piss me off, and I won't do business with you again.
Instead, I bought a comparable Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS80. For a point and shoot camera, it's fairly complicated, and I've spent the past afternoon and morning reading the manual and trying to figure it out. There are lots of buttons and settings, some performing more than one function, and so there will be a steep learning curve with this. I'm at a place where I think I just need to start taking some pictures and figure it out as I go along.
For starters, Sadie couldn't wait to try taking a selfie with it.
But before I go on, I should warn you about all the ways you could die using this camera...mainly related to the battery.
When I couldn't take the frustration of trying to learn something new any more, I did some work on my slow-stitching. And not just a little...I filled my hoop working off the exasperation.
I've played with some of its new and dazzling features. One thing I really like is that it takes good macro shots, and it is possible to focus manually, even though it is a fixed lens camera. I took this picture of one of my quilted table runners, and the lens was less than 6 inches from the subject. Generally, it's hard to get that close and get good focus. I like macro photography, and so I'm happy about this feature.
On the other hand, I nearly drove myself crazy this morning trying to figure out how to force the flash to fire. When I'm taking a photo like this, where the subject is backlit, fill flash is required to light up the subject.
Without going into great detail about the confusion over this, I'll just say that I started poking buttons...anything that might make a difference. If I zoomed in on Smitty, I could get the lighting I wanted, but the flash still wouldn't fire.
The only way I could control the flash was to put the camera in "Manual" mode. Then, it worked. (Do you think Smitty is getting tired of this photo shoot?)
It doesn't make sense that I can't force the flash in other modes, and so I continued poking buttons and finally made it work. I have no idea why, but at least I'm over that hurdle...temporarily. I'm sure this confusion will be back to vex me in the future. For now, I'm just going to start taking pictures and deal with any obstacles as they come. Getting a new camera is like getting a new sewing machine. There's a lot to learn, and I know I'll be happy once I've mastered it. In the meantime, there will be probably be some tears and no small amount of frustration.
There were some other things going on. Prior to receiving the camera, when life was relatively normal, I went to work quilting some more of the Charm Stars quilt. Smitty would ordinarily be my quilty helper for these kinds of activities, but he was watching Formula One racing with Mike.
Despite having no kitty help, I quilted six more blocks. It's a little hard to see the quilting in this picture.
Here's how it looks from the back...even harder to see there.
Here's a little close-up.
The open areas between the stars want to pucker some. The quilting is fairly dense on the stars, and so those open areas are loose in comparison. I'm going to quilt something there to help even things out. I have some ideas about what to quilt, but I haven't decided for sure yet.
So today, I'm hoping we'll get some sunshine, but not really counting on it. I want to do some more experimentation with my camera, and I want to quilt four more stars. Maybe I'll do some work on those open areas too if there's time. I have an idea the camera will keep me distracted for much of the day. Fingers crossed I can get things figured out enough to carry on with my picture-taking life.
9 comments:
If I could tell the story in words, I wouldn't need to lug around a camera. ~ Lewis Hine
The "HEY" embroidery [with an added exclamation point !] is perfect for your new attitude toward Nikon. We buy in "good faith"--how do we know if something is from a "gray market?" (which by the way I've never heard of before now!!)
My DH has a Panasonic Lumix and is happy with it...most likely an older version of yours, but he has been satisfied...your shots look good to me...
Still very cold here with a blustery NW wind brr...
hugs, Julierose
How frustrating for you - and sneaky on the part of the retailer. No longer doing business with Nikon is a good plan. I'm confident you'll figure that new camera out quickly, and the kitties don't seem to mind being your subjects.
Cameras, like phones are so frustrating until you have them sussed out. John has an older Panasonic Lumix and still gets frustrated with it at times but it does produce good photos, so fills it s job remit. You take a lot more photos than John so I'm sure you'll soon have it sorted out.
I'm sorry. I have to admit I laughed right out loud when I read the dire warning about not throwing the camera into the fire. Ummm....ya think? Mind you, I suspect you might want to do that very thing with the offending Nikon. I have a little point and shoot Canon that I've used for altogether too many years to count and I have a feeling that one of these days it's going to die a natural death. Remind me to steer clear of Nikons!
I'm sorrier though that your camera couldn't be fixed. The nerve of them to refuse to fix it. Who knew there was such a thing as 'gray markets' with cameras. And how do you know when you buy it that it is or isn't?
"save your energy for when your seams won't align" LOL I love Sadie's selfie. And the zoomed in one of Smitty
"Gray markets" how do we know that's what we're buying from if it's reputable dealer?
Well, wow. Gray markets - who knew? Glad you had that stitching to do, so you could stab something - haha. Hope you get the new camera figured out and it ends up being a good purchase. The kitties look content, and your quilting is looking good on the stars quilt!
What the ?X&? grey market? You didn't buy your camera off the street in China. I'd like to see proof Nikon has that this is a grey market product, what they have done to warn their loyal customers, as well as what they have done to try to shut down the businesses selling this product in the grey market? I think they are complicit and should service your camera, or better yet, provide you a completely new model for free. Did you tell them I bought one like yours, just because you are famous for your great photos? And maybe they will know I'm famous as we have a long family history of buying Nikon & Nikonos cameras, but no more if they dropped the ball on servicing your camera, bought in the US. Shame on them.
New camera's are fun, but yes there is that huge learning curve that usually involves lots of missed shots till you figure it all out. Good luck!
Post a Comment