4/24/08

New toy!

Well, it isn’t mine exactly.

For some unknown reason, Irene’s dad owns a Pentax K1000, an aged, heavy, metal brick of a camera which upon scrutiny, I think will work again. It just needs some CLA. It’s being lent to me unconditionally, and Irene’s dad doesn’t even know how to use it. So I think it’s almost mine. Almost.

It’s currently mated with a 50mm F2.0 and I think it’s meter is busted. I wish I had a light meter.

Must go to Hidalgo. Must go to Hidalgo.

But it’s so hot.

4/17/08

 Ain’t That Nifty Anymore

I thought my Canon EF 50mm 1.8 II (a.k.a. Nifty Fifty) was impervious to pain and mishandling. I thought wrong.

I had just been to a rough adventure and upon inspection, my bag (the Tamrac Adventure 9) was holding up pretty good. The lower camera compartment contained my DSLR while I crammed my film SLR into the unpadded top. I would hastily pack my film SLR with the fifty attached into the top compartment whenever we needed to “go.”

Upon reaching our hotel room, I opened my bag and discovered that my beloved prime had decided to come apart. I tried putting them back together but I just couldn’t find the right groove. Oh well.

Maybe this is my cue to get the Canon EF 50mm 1.4 !

4/1/08

Earlier today I was giving a friend contact numbers for photography stores in Hidalgo as she was decided on buying her first DSLR, a Canon EOS 400D. I told her now was the right time to buy since its price is forecasted to drop with the imminent arrival of its replacement, the Canon EOS 450D.

She had a hard time looking for 400D kits as they were all sold-out and the retailers kept on telling her that the model she was looking for was already phased out. She found a 400D body that comes with a free A4 printer for P33,500. She needed a kit.

I didn’t expect the 400D supply to be scarce already at this point. Either the Philippine demand is really high or Canon made it a point not to overlap the sales. I’m sure there are still 400D units somewhere here in the Metro that have not been snapped up yet, most probably in the D-Zone stockrooms. Who wants to buy the exact same camera, that’s exactly the same price, with exactly the same warranty for four thousand bucks more? I wouldn’t. Problem is the main Hidalgo players have ran out of stock.

But there’s a new guy in town.

The Canon EOS 450D is here!

Apparently, the new Canon entry-level DSLR has already hit the greasy shores of Manila. This could just be the reason which explains the 400D-scarcity-phenomenon. Just to help out my friend, I called up some stores to inquire about the retailing price.

JT Photoworld is selling the 450D kit (with Local Canon Warranty) for P37,000, cash. It can be bought under an installment program (6 mos, 0%) for P41,000.

Mayers, in Hidalgo is selling the 450D kit at P36,000 (cash). I’m just not sure about the warranty.

My guess is that D-Zone will sell it in the P39,000-P40,000 price point.

One thing’s for sure. The 450D is one of the best entry-level cams in the market now. I would advice anybody who’s contemplating on buying his/her first DSLR to take a look at this baby. Bigger, better, stronger and with LiveView to boot!

It doesn’t make sense to get the 450D though if you’re coming from a 350D or 400D. Time for the 40D. Haha!

Summer’s hottest.

*Photo courtesy of trustedreviews.com