New Camera!
For quite a while, I’ve had a running list in my head of “expensive things” I can’t live without, and occasionally I get to check one off. When I was working in networking, I got to check “silly computer” and “car” off that list. My girlfriend checked “80gb iPod video” off the list for me this Christmas, and today the list gets even smaller.
I’ve been ranting and raving about how bad I want a Nikon D70s basically since I decided I liked taking photos. Well, I couldn’t afford one for SO long that Nikon has released the far superior D80 model, and my grandma left me enough money to get the body and a lens or two (Nevermind that she left her favorite grandson enough to start a small business. No, I’m not bitter…).
Although eBay had some extremely tempting package deals (read: too good to be true; fishy), I decided I didn’t want to mess this purchase up and went with a reputable camera dealer, Adorama (through Amazon), picking out a kit that included the body and a Nikkor AF-S DX 18-135mm zoom lens for just over $1200, which is still an incredible deal. I also picked up a wireless shutter trigger remote and a 2gb SD card. It should all be here Friday (Well, except for the remote, which is backordered at every retailer on the planet. I checked.).
It wasn’t an easy task. Originally I planned on buying the camera in-town, because on a purchase like a camera, I expect a certain level of customer service that you just don’t get shopping online. Unfortunately, I learned there are no Nikon dealers in my entire state. Of course, this was after I trekked clear across town in the snow (not kidding) to just about the only camera store left in this god™-forsaken city. The nearest Nikon dealer is four hours away in another state. Why can’t I purchase Nikon bodies or lenses in the entire state of Wyoming? I blame Bush.
My next stop was eBay. I don’t particularly like eBay…I’ve only purchased one item in my life off eBay (an NES game), and I feel dirty just browsing the damn site. The dealer with the best D80 packages just seemed a little…off. One package I was interested in included the D80, 2 Nikkor lenses, a tripod, a bag, two 2gb SD cards, and a mess of other accessories for something like $1300. How is that possible when the two Nikkor lenses alone cost $1000 from any other retailer on earth? I don’t care that they had 19,000 positive feedbacks. Something is not right there. My next stop was Amazon, which is where I do 99% of my online shopping anyway. Adorama is a huge name in camera retail, and I provided them with my debit card number in confidence, positive I was going to get exactly what was advertised. Fuck eBay.
Friday can’t get here soon enough. Expect a zillion photography posts over the next several months.
