Eleven days after Christmas, two internet scams (I didn't even tell you all about the first one), one attempted mugging (I'll get to that in a minute) and a Canon EOS 40D later, I finally have my camera. And no, it's not the 30D that I originally wanted. Nor is it the 40D which I did purchase yesterday only to exchange for the Rebel XTi (400D) several hours later. But I finally have my camera and I am thrilled!
After receiving wonderful advice from you all (an extra big thank you to Lisa), a co-worker who happens to be Gibson guitar's East Coast events photographer, and a friend of ours who is an avid amateur photographer (though he is shooting weddings now so I guess that would move him into the pro category), I decided on the Canon Digital Rebel XTi/400D. The overwhelming encouragement that I just kept hearing and couldn't ignore was to "invest in the lenses". The 400D shoots very similarly to the 30D and the 40D and I couldn't justify spending double the price for the camera when I am just a beginner photographer. And for those brief three hours when I was in possession of the 40D, I felt incredibly guilty and anxious about the purchase. Like, ohmyholyhell I own a large, expensive, fancy camera and I don't even know how to use it!
I feel so much better with the Rebel. It's designed for amateurs and I think will be easier for me to learn on. I am very happy with the purchase and can't wait to start using it. I also bought the kit so it came with the 18 mm -- 55 mm lens and I think I'll stick with that for now while I'm learning. Now all I need to do is buy the memory card and away I'll shoot! I'll post pictures here and on Flickr once I take them.
Oh, and about that whole mugging thing I mentioned earlier? On Friday, my poor father happened to be in Baltimore's Inner Harbor for a doctor's appointment so he decided to stop in the Best Buy there to see if they had a 40D in stock (after calling around to all of the stores near their house, he learned most stores didn't have it). He was riding up the escalator when he caught the reflection of a man running up toward him. My dad braced himself for the hit; after growing up in South Baltimore, he knew what was coming. The man (or crackhead as my dad later referred to him) barreled into the back of my dad's knees, knocking him over while trying to grab his bag at the same time. My dad happened to fall on top of the crackhead and started pummeling the guy with his fists, all the while yelling expletives at him. Eventually they made it to the top of the escalator and the guy let go of my dad's bag and said,"Oh sorry, I just fell, no harm!" My dad gave him some more choice words and let the guy up. Except for a sore knee, my dad is okay. Whew.
This whole camera deal has really been quite the experience. After the attempted mugging and the internet scams, my parents said to me, "We are taking you to Circuit City and buying it there. The end." I can't blame them. And it did all work out in the end!
