Nerdy post about cameras

Don't mind me I'm camera hunting. Seb offered me a wonderful birthday gift in March and I am buying it just now because naturally I wanted to look for it in the US where it would be cheaper. I'm really excited about getting deeper into creating with my camera, but looking for the right camera is very stressful. I had no idea there was so much pressure from the various sides to buy one brand or the other and once you decide on a brand there is the even more complicated question of which model to buy. As for the brands I'm sort of leaning towards Canon but then yesterday I was firmly entrenched in the Nikon camp for a good long while. I just can't seem to decide and I have to soon because we're leaving!

I was lured into buying Canon by hearing my brother go on and on about them over the past five years. He must have about 700 things in his house with Canon stamped on them and he's loyally in love with the company. I'm surprised he doesn't shave the logo onto his dog's fur! He actually quit his job last year and decided to become a professional photographer all based on his love of buying these Canon lenses. So yeah lots of subtle pressure from him about the brand but I'm beginning to think he's being brainwashed by someone because this is all he talks about, well that and Ebay because that's where he buys the lenses.

Nikon for me has firm memories attached to it. I'm finding it hard to give up my affection for all things Nikon and I am in love with my old Nikon film cameras. Nikon seems more like me. I really can't explain it but their cameras just appeal more to me. I do have one or two AE1's in my stash* and I like them, Canon has always made sleek, beautiful cameras, but Nikon conjures up so many photo feelings --National Geographic, the Bridges of Madison County guy, 80's paparazzi pictures in Paris Match, and excuse me but some of my first lusts and the hours spent studying the B&H catalog in bed. Shouldn't my birthday present reflect some of that nostalgia? It feels like it should.

Or should I just worry about who has the best technology and the most lenses?

Oh and is it just me or do people really need or use all of these lenses? Okay just a side note or two about this: If you change lenses all the time you will get dust in your camera. You don't need all those lenses and you probably won't use them. It's completely nuts for a non-professional to spend over 1,000 dollars on a camera lens!

*I'm a dork with about 10 old film cameras that I've moved all over the world--note I never use them anymore but I love them dearly and I would be one of those people who would display them on a shelf or something if I had the room to do it!