photography geekery below
Ever since I took an introductory photography class this past semester -- out of all the classes I took through high school, that was one of the best -- I've become rather obsessed with those old 35 mm manual SLR cameras and despaired that I could never control my photography with the current excuse that is my cheap, out-dated digital camera. As my trip to China nears, I began wondering whether or not buying a new camera would be worth the money.
Then, thankfully, the mother remembered that the father actually has a Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ20 stowed away in his closet somewhere. The father has an unfortunate disease common among middle-aged males; symptoms involve oogling at expensive electronics, buying said electronics, and never actually using them. This camera is a lovely case in point: it is absolutely envy-inducing (option for completely manual setting! 36-432 mm lens! beautifully high-resolution images! *pounce*), certainly expensive (retail price of around US$500, though the father got it for around $300), and, heh, I think it's been touched a total of three times since it was purchased.
But now it is mine. I've been experimenting with it for hours, and -- oh, I think I'm going to die of glee.
Signing off, V.M. Bell
Then, thankfully, the mother remembered that the father actually has a Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ20 stowed away in his closet somewhere. The father has an unfortunate disease common among middle-aged males; symptoms involve oogling at expensive electronics, buying said electronics, and never actually using them. This camera is a lovely case in point: it is absolutely envy-inducing (option for completely manual setting! 36-432 mm lens! beautifully high-resolution images! *pounce*), certainly expensive (retail price of around US$500, though the father got it for around $300), and, heh, I think it's been touched a total of three times since it was purchased.
But now it is mine. I've been experimenting with it for hours, and -- oh, I think I'm going to die of glee.
Signing off, V.M. Bell