The Gearhead Diaries Part 1 – The Warning Signs

This is going to be one heck of a long story, but possibly done in parts so that I can bore everyone with my reiteration of the same things.

As a photography enthusiast, it is so easy these days to be seduced by the notion that the better the camera, the better the images. My story begins with the humble Canon Powershot A70 before moving on to a Canon 350D.

The history of my photographic life I might one day ramble about, but for now let’s NOT go into that.
The trouble started with the entry level Canon 350D.

Prior to owning a DSLR, somehow when the images don’t quite come out the way you want it to come out, you could happily blame the camera, and say “Ah well, that’s the best my camera can do…”
However, upon moving into DSLR, suddenly the potential is limitless.

“Darn, can’t shoot wider…” Solution: Get a wider lens or UWA (Ultra Wide Angle)
“I want more of those professional portrait kinda blur (bokeh)….” Solution: Get a prime with a fast aperture (small f/stop number)
“I want to take photos in the dark…” Solution: Get a flash

And the list goes on and on and on…

And even when you’ve gotten yourself a nice UWA, nice prime… suddenly the f/4.0 lens you owned isn’t good enough, and you want the f/2.8 or f/1.8 or even the f/1.2.

Suddenly, the bokeh of the f/1.8 is not enough, you lust over the f/1.4… “It’s so nice… and it’s got USM too… look at what the reviewers say….”

Flickr, I have to say is a double edged sword. By showing the EXIF of images online, you get gearheads like myself, always wanting to know what camera and what lens was used for a shot that caught your eye. And the immediate response in your head when you see an ‘expensive’ lens or camera… “Wah, no wonder la… he/she’s using a *insert expensive camera/lens here*…”

Sound familiar to any of you?

If it does, you might be showing the first clear cut symptom of being a gearhead…

Be afraid, be very afraid… because even if you aren’t, the wallet/purse in your pocket is shivering…

More to come…

The Gearhead Diaries

Part 1 – The Warning Signs
Part 2 – The Photographic Equation
Part 3 – The Need For Speed & Bokeh
Part 4 – To Be Continued