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Nikon P6000: Just Delivered to my Door from Osaka

I finally decided to buy the P6000. I went to Yodobashi Camera and had a short test drive of the floor demo. I liked how the camera felt in my hands. Its small size is very comfortable and the test photos taken were crisp and cool. I did not buy the camera at YC because they were asking for 57,000 yen. Although they were offering a 20% kickback in the form of loyalty points, I did not like the offer. I did not want to come back to the store in order to 'enjoy' spending the money I had just spent earlier. So, I did the next best thing. I went online.

I found the Nikon P6000 at one of online shops. Luckily, I could find one through a shop located in Osaka, my old stomping ground. I was lucky because the shop was offering the camera at the low price of 44,000 yen. I ordered it on Saturday afternoon and it arrived on Tuesday at noon. Not bad.

I am going to YC and pick up the SB400, carrying case and a thin film to cover the back LCD panel. I hate scratches.

I will give it a road test this weekend at Tokyo Disneyland for my annual Christmas vacation with Mickey Mouse. I will post some photos taken with the camera here later.

[Note: I also have the Nikon Coolpix S500 and the Nikon D1X. I'll try some side by side photo tests later.]

Flickr.com: Home to Fast Photos

Thanks to Flickr - many people who were witnesses to the horrific attacks in London got the entire world up close and personal to the blasts. Quick thinking and a willingness to share in the experience will deepen our resolve to never give in to the terrorists.

(NY Times: Flickr to the rescue)

The Vanishing Rolex Trick

Apparently, a recent photograph taken of Klaus Kleinfeld clearly showed the presence of a Rolex on his left wrist. Later, the official photograph (sans Rolex) was published. The airbrushing away of the Rolex was done in order to not upset the German readers and not flaunt his wealth. All of this brings me to my latest thought: If you were a mulit-millionaire, should you hide the fact that you worked hard and earned that money? And should you live like a pauper if everybody knows you are quite wealthy?

For the case of Kleinfeld, I think the airbrushed-photograph should only be used in charity-type promos. However, in company IR materials, show the other photograph. If Kleinfled used his own money to buy the $4700 watch, then let him wear it. It seems so stupid to hide the fact that Kleinfeld is 'well-off' financially.

(The Times: Article by Roger Boyes)

Asperhical Lenses

Never knew what aspherical lenses were all about until now: (see Nikon Technologies). I bought the 18mm-70mm DX in November. Great lens. Got the 24mm-120mm in the summer. Right now, I prefer the 18-70mm over the other right now.

Nikkor 18-70mm DX

Just picked up my first DX lens tonight. I decided to get out of the house today and ventured into Shinjuku. I took a bunch of photos of the Christmas lights around Takashimaya Times Square and realised I needed to buy a new or used lens. I visited a shop in Nishi Shinujuku near the Keio Hotel. The shop's name is Map Camera.  They have two shops about 40 metres apart along one of the shopping streets in the area. I'll take my lens out for a spin tomorrow afternoon. Probably spend a couple of hours in Tachikawa City taking photos of shoppers and passerbys.

Nikon F6

Can't wait to take the F6 out for a test drive. The SLR looks outstanding. (Nikon USA)

Nikon Digital Cameras

I visited the Nikon Showroom in Shinjuku yesterday. How I wish I were a gazillionaire. So much technology on display for the public to play with. I saw one smart father. He brought several 'smart media' cards to take photos of himself and his son. They yanked out the 'demo cards' from the cameras and inserted his own. With his own media in the 600,000 yen cameras, he snapped numerous photos of his son. What a 'smart guy'!!!

Right now, I shoot with an F4 and hope to make the switch over to digital next year. Nikon offers a few 'beautiful bodies': D100, D1H, D1X, and D2H.

Lomography???

I have to admit, I don't know anything about this field of art. If you are in the same boat, check out this web site. I'll have to spend more time trying to learn about it when I get time.