Toy Story
Wednesday, 2. July 2008, 12:39:41
The Flickr mafia has been after me to upgrade to a digital SLR and, bowing to the peer pressure, I have recently made a pilgrimage to the local photography guru to take some test shots. I tested the Canon EOS 40D (a professional DSLR model) and the Canon EOS 450D / Digital Rebel XSi (their consumer model). Suddenly I saw the power of managing depth of field coming into my control! These are really pretty toys (especially the 40D) and super fun to play with, but the wicked-wants that afflict me just couldn't find a work-around for the hassles of lugging around either of these bricks. The 40D housing weighs 822 grams (!) while the 450D is a more manageable 524 grams; but then you have to add a lens (or preferably two) and suddenly you are hauling around upwards of a kilo, in addition to the other required gear of daily life (like a phone, iPod, books, etc.). No thanks! For as much as I hate to stand out in a crowd, I'll take my puny little PowerShot A710 IS (at just 210 grams) any day.
Then there is this whole business with the iPhone. Since it was introduced last summer I have wanted an iPhone more than I have ever wanted any other gadget. I know, it's completely irrational but it's true. Over the past year I have eagerly followed all news and speculation about its release in Norway, and now that it is finally here (or will be as of July 11) it appears unlikely that I will be queuing up to buy one. The subscription models that were announced for the iPhone are so far a field of my use patterns that it would end up costing me a minimum of kr400 per month for what would amount to be the privilege of simply owning one. Unfortunately, I'm just not cool enough to be able to justify an expense like that. I can count on one hand the number of people I have regular phone contact with so what am I going to do with 100 minutes/messages/megabytes per month? I would gladly pay the kr6,000 annual price tag for the iPhone up front with my current pay-as-you-go subscription, so obsessed am I with this little gadget, but alas I just don't think it is meant to be. Oh well!
My recent disappointment in the acquisition of new toys, however, was rectified yesterday when I plunked down a deposit on a new mountain bike. Since returning to Norway in early June I have explored all the trails in my immediate vicinity. They are great, but with such steep relief around Grefsenkollen and Trollvann they are a little exhausting and I figured a bike could take me more efficiently and deeper into the forest than walking could so why not splurge. It is the height of summer after all and I'm planning to spend my vacation in the area.
My previous bike was a Scott that I regretfully parted company with in 2001 when I moved to Norway. I had so many great adventures on that bike, including my most physically demanding achievement to date: the Boston to New York AIDS ride—300 miles over three days. Oh, what fun that was! Unfortunately, none of the Scott models I've ridden lately have impressed me so I ended up with a Wheeler Pro 69. It was love at first sight, and what a comfortable ride! She's being assembled now but I get to pick her up on Thursday. I can't wait!
Then there is this whole business with the iPhone. Since it was introduced last summer I have wanted an iPhone more than I have ever wanted any other gadget. I know, it's completely irrational but it's true. Over the past year I have eagerly followed all news and speculation about its release in Norway, and now that it is finally here (or will be as of July 11) it appears unlikely that I will be queuing up to buy one. The subscription models that were announced for the iPhone are so far a field of my use patterns that it would end up costing me a minimum of kr400 per month for what would amount to be the privilege of simply owning one. Unfortunately, I'm just not cool enough to be able to justify an expense like that. I can count on one hand the number of people I have regular phone contact with so what am I going to do with 100 minutes/messages/megabytes per month? I would gladly pay the kr6,000 annual price tag for the iPhone up front with my current pay-as-you-go subscription, so obsessed am I with this little gadget, but alas I just don't think it is meant to be. Oh well!
My recent disappointment in the acquisition of new toys, however, was rectified yesterday when I plunked down a deposit on a new mountain bike. Since returning to Norway in early June I have explored all the trails in my immediate vicinity. They are great, but with such steep relief around Grefsenkollen and Trollvann they are a little exhausting and I figured a bike could take me more efficiently and deeper into the forest than walking could so why not splurge. It is the height of summer after all and I'm planning to spend my vacation in the area.
My previous bike was a Scott that I regretfully parted company with in 2001 when I moved to Norway. I had so many great adventures on that bike, including my most physically demanding achievement to date: the Boston to New York AIDS ride—300 miles over three days. Oh, what fun that was! Unfortunately, none of the Scott models I've ridden lately have impressed me so I ended up with a Wheeler Pro 69. It was love at first sight, and what a comfortable ride! She's being assembled now but I get to pick her up on Thursday. I can't wait!
WIDGETIZE