the other day, I was visiting a local photo shop that also sells used equipment. I was playing with a very nice "like new" A* 300/4. Out of my price range, but I couldn't resist the temptation to hold it in my hands. Meanwhile, two youngsters were browsing the digital camera shelves, debating the merits of feature x on model y brand z against feature 1 on model 2 brand 3, and trying to decide which camera was "best".
A middle aged man enters and starts talking with the shop-keeper. Apparently, he was preparing for a vacation in some sunny islands and wanted a camera that takes good, sharp pictures. He said that he had a couple of point&shoot cameras and he was never happy with the quality of the photos, which he characterised as "too fuzzy". He wanted something that is inexpensive enough so that he wouldn't cry too much if the camera gets stolen, broken or lost, but is rather small and light, and takes good quality photos.
After some talk about how much automation would be needed, and the customer deciding that he wanted some sort of "exposure automation", the shop-keeper demonstrated him a mint ME Super with a 50mm lens. 3 minutes later, the man left the shop with his new camera and I could see him through the windows, playing with it outside and looking very happy with his purchase.
Then, I returned to playing with the A* 300, and the youngsters engaged in a new discussion on feature "s" on model "t" brand "u" against feature 5 on model 6 brand 7.
It seems that sometimes we tend to be carried away by the "coolness" of some cameras or accesories, and forget why we wanted a camera in the first place.
cheers, the caveman
