I know I’m always preaching about the evils of over-consumerism and buying things for the sake of spending money, but you see, I really have a need for a new camera at the moment.

Having a new baby necessitates this fact. In the six months since my son was born,  while far from being “countless” — after all, I’m just too lazy to count at the moment — let’s just say that I have taken A LOT photos. Maybe it’s because of this, or maybe it’s because Sony has been putting out a lot of crap products. Perhaps it’s a combination of both with the occasional, “oops I dropped the camera again,” but we need a new camera. Our three-year-old Cybershot is on its last legs. The LCD may or may not work, depending on its mood, but when it does work, it’s horribly blurry and fuzzy.

OK, maybe NEED is a strong word. Sure, I can probably make it last a few more years. I can do without the LCD screen and just shoot from the optical viewfinder. This makes reviewing images on the camera impossible, but that’s why we plug them into our computers, right? The photos it takes are adequate for posting shots of the baby online for friends and family, and printing them out using one of those kiosks isn’t so bad either.

Let’s just say that I WANT a new camera. Specifically, I want to upgrade from a point-and-shoot to a DSLR — a “real” digital camera. This is like upgrading from my point-and-shoot film cameras to a “real” 35mm. There’s something to be said about the feel of a real camera in your hands, not to mention the sound of the shutter.

So while I say “tsk tsk” when buying unnecessary things, I do believe in buying higher quality items because they are investments. I’ve had two 35mm cameras since the 80s, and they both still work. A good starter DSLR camera will last us for years, and it’s something I can build and improve upon over time with different lenses and accessories.

With this in mind, I am most likely going to order a Canon Digital Rebel XTi tomorrow (body only but with a separate 50mm f/1.8 lens).

Filed by Maria in gear